Baseball Thought Police push new one for "single stat compilers"

To further disguise a better relief pitcher from recognition, they're now selling the 'HOLD' stat:

• "It appears as if MLB adopted the "hold" stat just to prevent the "save" stat from remaining the stupidest stat in sports. Baseball box scores now provide the funniest stuff regularly printed in newspapers.

In one day, Monday, last week:

• Giants reliever Kevin Correia was credited with his seventh hold. He pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing two hits and two earned runs. Way to hold 'em, Kevin! Correia also got credit for the loss. Yep, in his two-thirds of an inning he got an H and an L. Seriously.

White Sox pitcher Dewon Day threw one pitch. He got a hold.

• Rockies' pitcher Tom Martin also got a hold for getting one out, but he faced three batters; one got a hit and one walked.

In that game, Martin's teammate, LaTroy Hawkins, got a hold and a win.

• And Washington's Jon Rauch got his 18th hold, holding the Astros to only two hits and an earned run in his one inning pitched.

Better stupid stats than no stats at all!"

• From NY Post article, "Self-Loving ESPN is no Longer in the Now," by Phil Mushnick, 7/22/07

(Same thing with "total save" stat hyped by some teams for million dollar awards and publicity while hiding the cheapest performances). sm

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