[BoomerSooner]

Effectively suggests, at least to official scorers, that of course the lead is not surrendered in which case the reliever is credited with a blown save, but may still get a win. Along with that is the idea that in a 10-1 game if a reliever comes in and pitches the last 3 or 4 innings and only wins 10-9 he wasn't that effective and therefore only maintained the team win by the fortunate effects of good run support and as a result no save should be credited.

I was once told to consider any relief pitcher that gives up 3 or more runs (remember runners already on base aren't credited to him) as ineffective. It goes to the idea that if this pitcher were brought into the game in the 9th with a 3 run lead (largest lead allowed in a typical 9th inning save situation) and gave up 3 or more runs he certainly would get a save in this situation, so why credit a save if he pitched 3 or 4 innings.

Of course, there is always that level of subjectivity involved with making the judgement because there are no set rules as to what is "effective". Its just like so many of those wonderful calls the we umps have to make...its a judgement.