I like this measure because it's simple and I think valuable at the same time. It doesn't require a high leverage situation like the save statistic but it also doesn't allow for a game where a pitcher gives up runs but still gets a cheap save. It won't work as well for long relievers because it's unfair to compare a pitcher with a lot of multiple inning outings to a pitcher who is strictly a one inning pitcher. I think it serves as a good comparison of short relievers though.
In Table 1 below, Brandon Lyon is compared to current Tigers relievers plus Todd Jones in 2008. Lyon relieved 61 times last year and had 44 clean outings yielding a percentage of 72.1. That is 10 points better than Jones and 9 better than Fernando Rodney. It is better than any other current reliever on the Tigers other than Clay Rapada (76%).
Table 2 presents several free agent relievers who the Tigers didn't get or probably won't be getting plus J.J.Putz. Lyon stands up pretty well to most of them except Francisco Rodriguez (78.1) and Kerry Wood (76.9).
Table 1: Clean Outings for Tigers in 2008
| Pitcher | G | Clean Outings | % |
| Clay Rapada | 25 | 19 | 76.0 |
| Brandon Lyon | 61 | 44 | 72.1 |
| Fernando Rodney | 38 | 24 | 63.0 |
| Todd Jones | 45 | 28 | 62.0 |
| Bobby Seay | 60 | 35 | 58.3 |
| Freddy Dolsi | 42 | 24 | 57.1 |
| Zach Miner | 32 | 18 | 56.2 |
| Joel Zumaya | 21 | 11 | 52.4 |
Table 2: Clean Outings for other pitchers in 2008
| Pitcher | G | Clean Outings | % |
| Francisco Rodriguez | 76 | 60 | 78.1 |
| Kerry Wood | 65 | 50 | 76.9 |
| Takashi Saito | 45 | 33 | 73.3 |
| Trevor Hoffman | 48 | 35 | 72.9 |
| J.J. Putz | 47 | 34 | 72.3 |
| Juan Cruz | 57 | 41 | 72.3 |
| Jason Isringhausen | 42 | 28 | 66.7 |
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