Saves are not worthless, altho you may think that they are not worth enough.

A Save is worth +2.

A Blown Save is worth -6.

That way a guy who convets 75% of his opportunities.....below average for a closer, winds up with a net of zero.

It's just like Wins a Losses.

A SP with a W-L reord of 6-7, below average for a SP, winds up with a net of zero.

A decent SP who goes, say, 18-12 over the course of the season, better than average, winds up at +54 for his wins and losses.

A comparable closer, who saves, say 35 out of 40 over the course of the season, better than average, winds up at +50 fo his saves and save opportunities.

I still don't see what's wrong with that or the proportions.

Isn't a SP who goes 18-12 roughly as good and as valuable as a closer who saves 35 out of 40?

"Difficult....not impossible"