Holds question

[StlSluggers]

Why aren't a loss and a hold mutually exclusive? If a pitcher gets charged with the loss, he was obviously responsible for the lead not being held. I have a better understanding of the rule now, but not so much the logic behind it. I think I understand why holds aren't an official stat now.

That's what is screwy about it. I have a feeling that the official version would be scored requiring an out and requiring that any runners on base be charged to the correct pitcher.

Now to get MLB to make it official...

[buffalobillsrul2002]

There are 2 types of holds. One is the "no-out" version and one requires the pitcher to record at least an out.

Other than that, here are the rules for holds:

PItcher must enter game in a save situation
Pitcher must leave game with lead and not relinquish lead while he is in the game.

Basically, the idea of the hold is to give MR some type of save-like stat that credits when they do a "good" job in a game (MRs can also pick up Blown Saves). Personally, I have grown to like the way the hold is defined, as it offsets some of the "unfair" blown saves a MR can pick up from coming into a big jam and "failing" to hold the lead...