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I disagree that they are "always" pressure-cooker situations. Plenty of times they have a 2 or more run lead and enter with the bases empty. They often face the bottom of the lineup and whatever reserves happen to be left on the bench. Any non-rotten pitcher should be able to finish that game, and statistically most can.I've watched Strickland and Brian Wilson have plenty of bad innings and get a save. That's why the Rolaids award uses a modified stat.
It was a good idea to credit the Stu Millers and Hoyt Wilhelms that would pitch multiple innings but not get credit for a win, but modern usage "saving" the best pitcher for the 9th inning (or worse, through extra innings when in a tie game on the road) is silly, driven by manager small-mindedness and salary impact (as you imply with all the others in the pen wanting the job).
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