He will take a win over a "save"

After the Orioles 6-3 win over the Angels, Orioles new manager, Buck Showalter was asked about the way he handled the late-inning relief duties because if he had handled the substitutions just a little differently either Michael Gonzalez or Alfredo Simon could have gotten a "save".

"Believe me, I know the save rule and, quite frankly, it doesn't carry much weight with me. I like the win rule a little bit better."

Give that guy a lifetime contract!

Pay him whatever he wants!

Better yet would be a manager who has never heard of the save rule but you can't have everything, I know.

Phil Hughes saves the day!

In the Yankees 10-2 win over the Orioles Wednesday, incredibly pitcher Phil Hughes was credited (it is hard to say earned) with a save. He retired one batter in the 8th inning with a one run lead and he then retired 3 batters in the ninth inning with an 8 run lead. Good thing for the Yankees. He saved the day!* Yea, Phil!

Remember this the next time you hear someone say that it is a travesty that someone like Lee Smith is not in the Hall of Fame because he racked up all of those saves.

*Actually, Hughes' save was positively nail-biting compared to Wes Littleton who was awarded a save in the Rangers 30-3 win over the Orioles on 8-22-07. Littleton entered the game with a 14-3 lead in the seventh inning and then proceeded to "shut the door" on the surging Orioles to preserve what became a 30-3 win.** True story. Look it up.

**If it was a hockey game, I bet that he wouldn't have even been one of the "three stars" of the game. Good enough for a save though.