The Cubs were hanging tight to a 2-1 deficit against the Braves Wednesday afternoon when Kevin Gregg promptly surrendered two runs in the top of ninth to lock down what statisticians are now calling a “reverse save.” Chicago wound up losing 4-1.
A reverse save occurs when a reliever enters the game with his team trailing by fewer than three, gives up any runs and his team winds up losing the game. It was the Cubs bullpen’s 15th reverse save of the season.
The reverse save is technically not yet a statistic, but experts say it will be any time now, thanks to the 2009 Cubs.
“The combination of poor hitting and a weak bullpen have been lethal for the Cubs this year,” said noted Sabermetrics expert Bill James. “I’m sure by the time this season’s over, Major League Baseball will honor reverse saves as a legitimate stat and guys like Aaron Heilman and Kevin Gregg will be among the all-time leaders.”
By Brad Zibung, founder and editor in chief
