Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method of evaluating the performance of a relief pitcher in the late innings of a baseball game in which the pitcher inherits at least one player on base, the method comprising the steps of establishing the number of runs Ri scored by such inherited runners; establishing the number of batters B faced in such innings; evaluating the Relief Quotient “RQ”, where:  RQ  =            k      ⁡              (                              Ri            +            E                    B                )              n  where k is first a predetermined constant selected to scale the RQ to a desired range of magnitudes, n is a second predetermined constant that may be positive or negative and E is a parameter that may be an integer or equal to 0 ; andstoring RQ in a tangible medium for subsequent use. 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the runs Ri are modified or weighed by at least one factor reflecting a condition in the baseball game at the time that the relief pitcher is brought into the game. 3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the runs Ri are modified by a plurality of weighted factors. 4. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein said factor is a function of the number of the inning. 5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said factor increases for each subsequent inning. 6. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein said factor is a function of the number of outs. 7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said factor increases as the game moves through the innings. 8. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said factor increases with the number of outs. 9. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein said factor is a function of the base on which the inherited runner is on. 10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein said factor decreases as the base number increases. 11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein a constant “k” is selected to provide an RQ in the range of 1–10. 12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said RQ is computed on the basis of a pitcher's performance within at least a part of one season. 13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said RQ is compiled on a pitcher's performance over a lifetime of pitching. 14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the RQ is compiled as follows:      RQ    =                  {                              {                                          k                ×                                  [                                                            Fi                      ⁡                                              [                                                                              (                                                          k1                              ×                              R1                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k2                              ×                              R2                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k3                              ×                              R3                                                        )                                                                          ]                                                              +                                          F0                      ⁡                                              [                                                                              (                                                          k1                              ×                              R1                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k2                              ×                              R2                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k3                              ×                              R3                                                        )                                                                          ]                                                              +                                          Fi                      ⁡                                              [                                                                              (                                                          k1                              ×                              R1                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k2                              ×                              R2                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k3                              ×                              R3                                                        )                                                                          ]                                                              +                                                                                  ⁢                                          F1                      ⁡                                              [                                                                              (                                                          k1                              ×                              R1                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k2                              ×                              R2                                                        )                                                    ⁢                                                                                                          +                                                                                                          ⁢                                                                                                          ⁢                                                      (                                                          k3                              ×                              R3                                                        )                                                                          ]                                                              +                                          Fi                      ⁡                                              [                                                                              (                                                          k1                              ×                              R1                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k2                              ×                              R2                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k3                              ×                              R3                                                        )                                                                          ]                                                              +                                          F2                      ⁡                                              [                                                                              (                                                          k1                              ×                              R1                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k2                              ×                              R2                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k3                              ×                              R3                                                        )                                                                          ]                                                                              ]                                            +              E                        }                    ÷          B                }            n        ,wherein k is a scaling factor;k1, k2 and k3 are all base scaling factors;Fi is the Inning Factor;F0, F1 and F2 are the “No. of Out” Factors;Ri, R2 and R3 are Base Factors;n is a predetermined constant that may be positive or negative;E is an arbitrary factor for use particularly when “n” is a negative number; andB is the total number of batters faced by the pitcher. 15. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein n is positive. 16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein n is negative. 17. An apparatus for evaluating the performance of a relief pitcher in the final innings of a baseball game in which the pitcher inherits at least one player on base, comprising:means for establishing the number of runs Ri scored by such inherited runner;means for establishing the number of batters B faced in such innings;means for evaluating the Relief Quotient “RQ”, where:      RQ    =                  k        ⁡                  (                                    Ri              +              E                        B                    )                    n        ,and k is first a predetermined constant selected to scale the RQ to a desired range of magnitudes and n is a second predetermined constant; andmeans for storing RQ in a tangible medium for subsequent use. 18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said evaluation means comprises a computer programmed to perform the required computations when the number of runs (Ri) number of batters faced (B) are entered. 19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein n is positive. 20. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein n is negative. 21. A device for evaluating or comparing the performance or efficiency of a relief pitcher in the final innings of a baseball game in which the pitcher inherits at least one player on base, the device comprising means for providing a quantity defined as follows:RQ=k*((Ri+E)/B)**n, where Ri is equal to the number of runs scored by the inherited runners, B is the number of batters faced by the pitcher and k is a first predetermined constant selected to scale the RQ to a desired range of magnitudes and n is a second predetermined constant, said quantity being storable in a tangible medium for subsequent use. 22. A device as defined in claim 21, wherein the RQ is compiled as follows:      RQ    =                  {                              {                                          k                ×                                  [                                                            Fi                      ⁡                                              [                                                                              (                                                          k1                              ×                              R1                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k2                              ×                              R2                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k3                              ×                              R3                                                        )                                                                          ]                                                              +                                          F0                      ⁡                                              [                                                                              (                                                          k1                              ×                              R1                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k2                              ×                              R2                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k3                              ×                              R3                                                        )                                                                          ]                                                              +                                          Fi                      ⁡                                              [                                                                              (                                                          k1                              ×                              R1                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k2                              ×                              R2                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k3                              ×                              R3                                                        )                                                                          ]                                                              +                                                                                  ⁢                                          F1                      ⁡                                              [                                                                              (                                                          k1                              ×                              R1                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k2                              ×                              R2                                                        )                                                    ⁢                                                                                                          +                                                                                                          ⁢                                                                                                          ⁢                                                      (                                                          k3                              ×                              R3                                                        )                                                                          ]                                                              +                                          Fi                      ⁡                                              [                                                                              (                                                          k1                              ×                              R1                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k2                              ×                              R2                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k3                              ×                              R3                                                        )                                                                          ]                                                              +                                          F2                      ⁡                                              [                                                                              (                                                          k1                              ×                              R1                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k2                              ×                              R2                                                        )                                                    +                                                      (                                                          k3                              ×                              R3                                                        )                                                                          ]                                                                              ]                                            +              E                        }                    ÷          B                }            n        ,wherein k is a scaling factor;k1, k2 and k3 are all base scaling factors;Fi is the Inning Factor;F0, F1 and F2 are the “No. of Out” Factors;R1, R2 and R3 are Base Factors;n is a predetermined constant that may be positive or negative;E is an arbitrary factor for use particularly when “n” is a negative number; andB is the total number of batters faced by the pitcher. 23. A device as defined in claim 21, wherein k is selected to provide an RQ in the range of 1–10. 24. A device as defined in claim 21, wherein said RQ is computed on the basis of a pitcher's performance within at least a part of one season. 25. A device as defined in claim 21, wherein said RQ is compiled on a pitcher's performance over a lifetime of pitching. 26. A device as defined in claim 21, wherein n is positive. 27. A device as defined in claim 21, wherein n is negative. 28. A method of evaluating a performance measure of a relief pitcher in a baseball game, wherein same relief pitcher inherits at least one player on base upon entering the game, the method comprising:a first step of establishing the number of runs Ri scored by such inherited runners;a second step of establishing the number of batters B faced in such innings;a third step of calculating a Relief Quotient “RQ”:      RQ    =                  k        ⁡                  (                                    Ri              +              E                        B                    )                    n        ,wherein k is first a predetermined constant selected to scale the RQ relative to a desired range of magnitudes suitable for easy comparison, and n is a second predetermined constant selected from a group including at least one of +1 and −1, and E is a parameter that may be an integer or equal to 0; andstoring RQ in a tangible medium for subsequent use. 29. A method of calculating a performance measure of a relief pitcher in a baseball game, wherein said relief pitcher inherits at least one player on base upon entering the game, the method comprising:a first step of establishing the number of runs Ri scored by such inherited runners;a second step of establishing the number of batters B faced in such innings;a third step of calculating a Relief Quotient “RQ”:      RQ    =                  k        ⁡                  (                                    Ri              +              E                        B                    )                    n        ,wherein k is first a predetermined constant selected to scale the RQ relative to a desired range of magnitudes suitable for easy comparison, and n is a second predetermined constant selected from a group including at least one of +1 and −1, and E is a parameter that may be an integer or equal to 0; andstoring RQ in a tangible medium for subsequent use. 30. A method of calculating a performance measure of a designated relief pitcher in a selected baseball game relative to a calculated average of a plurality of relief pitchers in a plurality of baseball games, wherein each said relief pitcher inherits at least one player on base upon entering the game, the method comprising:a first step of monitoring and recording a performance of said plurality of relief pitchers in said plurality of baseball games wherein said step of recordation includes the recordation, for each relief pitcher, of the number of runs Ri scored by such inherited runners and the recordation of the number of batters B faced in all such innings;a second step of calculating and recording a Relief Quotient “RQ” as a performance measure for each of said plurality of relief pitchers in an accessible database in accordance with the following equation:      RQ    =                  k        ⁡                  (                                    Ri              +              E                        B                    )                    n        ,wherein k is first a predetermined constant selected to scale the RQ relative to a desired range of magnitudes suitable for easy comparison, and n is a second predetermined constant selected from a group including at least one of +1 and −1, and E is a parameter that may be an integer or equal to 0;a third step of calculating and recording an average Relief Quotient and a best possible Relief Quotient of said plurality of relief pitchers in said accessible database;a fourth step of monitoring and recording a performance of said designated relief pitcher in said selected baseball game;a fifth step of calculating and recording a Relief Quotient “RQ” of said designated relief pitcher in said database according to said equation;a sixth step of comparing said Relief Quotient from said designated relief pitcher to at least one of said average Relief Quotient and said best possible Relief Quotient to evaluate said performance of said designated relief pitcher; andstoring RQ in a tangible medium for subsequent use in at least one of said third through sixth steps.