Rivera, Nathan co-winners of 2009 AL Rolaids Relief Award

Newsday, 10/9: "Mariano Rivera and the Twins’ Joe Nathan were named co-winners of the 2009 American League Rolaids Relief Man Award,

• the first tie in the 33-year history of the award that is given to the best relievers in baseball. Rivera (44 saves and a 1.76 ERA) and Nathan (47 saves, 2.10 ERA)

• both accumulated 132 Rolaids Relief Man points during the regular season.

Heath Bell (42, 2.71 ERA) of the Padres was the National League winner with 121 points.

For Nathan, it is the first time he’s won the award while Rivera is taking home the trophy – a silver fireman’s helmet mounted on a silver pedestal – for the fourth time,

• tying him with Rollie Fingers and Bruce Sutter for second place all-time behind Dan Quisenberry, who won it five times."...

How are points calculated?

"...A reliever is given two points for a win, three points for a save and loses two points for a loss.

• Beginning in 1987, blown saves also count as two-point loss.

And in 2000, Rolaids began awarding 4 points for a tough save,

• when a reliever enters a game with the tying run already on base and gets the save. "

Eric Boland, "Rivera, Nathan a big relief for their clubs"

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