Sacrafice?

[greymule]

I don't think they'll be changing anything like that - as they'd have to retroactively apply that to all RBI and batting average records

I agree that they probably won't change it, but wasn't the sac fly rule different at one time? Or was it some other difference from today in charging at-bats?

Along those lines, at some point in the past few decades, a sacrifice stopped being awarded when a batter was bunting for a hit, even if a runner advanced. But was that only in cases where a sacrifice was poor strategy to begin with? For example, tie score, top of the ninth, runner on 3B with 1 out. Batter pushes a beautiful last-instant bunt up the 1B line but is put out on a great play while the runner from 3B scores the lead run. Though it appeared to be an attempt for a hit, the sacrifice was obviously beneficial, so doesn't the batter get credit for the sac?

Did the statisticians go back and recalculate saves every time the rule was changed? In the 1960s, I think a reliever could get a save for coming in and getting the last out in a 19-1 game.