What is a "Hold" exactly??

[stymie38]

I apologize if this is a stupid question, but I'm new to a Yahoo! league.

Last night, Quantrill pitches 1.2 innings against Balt. Gives up 1 hit, no runs, and protects a 7-3 lead.

Yet he doesn't get credit for a "Hold".

I've also seen pitchers get credit for both a "Hold" AND a "Win" in the same relief appearance.

What's the criteria?

[Thats NOT Snowflake]

From MLB.com

The "Hold":
The hold is not an official statistic, but it was created as a way to credit middle relief pitchers for a job well done. Starting pitchers get wins, and closers -- the relief pitchers who come in at the end of the game -- get saves, but the guys who pitch in between the two rarely get either statistic. So what's the most important thing one of these middle relievers can do? "Hold" a lead. If a reliever comes into a game to protect a lead, gets at least one out and leaves without giving up that lead, he gets a hold. But you can't get a save and a hold at the same time.

"A Hold is credited any time a relief pitcher enters a game in a Save Situation, records at least one out, and leaves the game never having relinquished the lead.

In other words, you have to enter a game in a save situation, get somebody out, and exit the game with the same save situation intact."


I believe Quantrill didn't get credit for the HOLD because he was protecting a 4 run lead. If it had been a 3 run lead he would have gotten the HOLD.

[stymie38]

Okay, thanks. I was wondering if the 4-run lead was a factor.

Does that mean more than one pitcher can have a hold in the same game? ie. one guy pitches the 7th and another pitches the 8th.

[Thats NOT Snowflake]

Okay, thanks. I was wondering if the 4-run lead was a factor.

Does that mean more than one pitcher can have a hold in the same game? ie. one guy pitches the 7th and another pitches the 8th.

YES - more than one pitcher can record a hold in a single game. I've seen up to 4 Midddle Relievers get credits for holds in the same game. All they have to do is record an out in a save situation.l

[Lofunzo]

I am by no means a holds expert but if Quantrill came into a 7-3 game in the 7th inning, isn't that technically a save situation??

[Tavish]

I am by no means a holds expert but if Quantrill came into a 7-3 game in the 7th inning, isn't that technically a save situation??

It really depends on which stat service you use. The original hold was a STATS, Inc concoction and it uses the Hold definition that is most often mentioned. In the mid-90s SportsTicker took over the contract for USA Today (as well as ESPN) to do the box scores and they came up with their own method which was different in a couple ways.

1. You don't have to record an out to get a hold. Just enter the game in a save situation and leave the next guy a save situation.

2. The new design does not credit pitchers with holds in big run leads. So a 7-3 lead would only be a hold if the pitcher entered the game with the tying run on-base/at-bat/on-deck.

[Spartans Rule]

1. You don't have to record an out to get a hold. Just enter the game in a save situation and leave the next guy a save situation.

You don't have to leave the next guy a save situation. You just can't relinquish the lead. If your team extends its lead from 4-3 to 11-3 while you're in the game, thats still a hold.

[quickfingerz]

you can get a hold w/o pitching an out...