What about HBPs? Most guys that rack up lots of HBPs are either fatasses that are too slow to get out of the way, or really big assholes that pitchers like to bean a lot. The one exception being Craig Biggio, of course. How about a stat for relievers that shows how many game tying or game winning runs they give up?
Not too well, actually. I remember back in the mid '90s one of our pre-Wagner "closers" in early April had a 3-0 record with 3 BS. Cheap wins.
Right, the bullpen "vulture". Blown Saves covers that. Generally, man, generally. To answer your original question: any stat taken in isolation and without context is pretty much useless.
There have been many. The term also covers the reliever who - after the starter leaves later in the game, tied or down a couple of runs or so - comes in for an inning or less & then gets the benefit of an offensive burst the next half inning & picks up the win.
