Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez leads the majors with 30 saves, closing out 65.2 percent of his team’s 46 wins. He’s recorded 40 or more saves in each of the last three seasons, and at age 26, the right-hander is on course to surpass his single-season high of 47 in 2006.

Second in the majors in saves is more of a surprise. Left-hander George Sherrill, who moved to Baltimore when the Mariners acquired ace southpaw Erik Bedard in February, has 25 saves. Sherrill didn’t reach the major leagues until he was 27. Now 31, he’s consistently nailing down Baltimore wins in his first season as a closer.

Sherrill leads all big league closers by recording a save in 65.8 percent of Orioles victories this season. Since saves became an official stat in 1969, only Bryan Harvey for the 1993 Florida Marlins has saved a higher percentage of his team’s victories. Harvey recorded 45 saves that season, or 70.3 percent of Florida’s 64 wins.

Highest Pct of Team’s Wins Saved by One Pitcher in a Single Season, since 1969

Reliever. . . . . . . . . . . .Team. . . . . . . . . . . Pct
Bryan Harvey. . . . . . . .1993 Marlins. . . . . . . .70.3 (45 of 64)
George Sherrill. . . . . . 2008 Orioles. . . . . . . .65.8 (25 of 38)
Francisco Rodriguez. . .2008 Angels. . . . . . . . 65.2 (30 of 46)
Eric Gagne. . . . . . . . . 2003 Dodgers. . . . . . . 64.7 (55 of 85)
Mike Williams. . . . . . . .2002 Pirates. . . . . . . .63.9 (46 of 72)
Randy Myers. . . . . . . .1993 Cubs. . . . . . . . . .63.1 (53 of 84)

Bullpen roles have become increasingly specialized over the last 30 years, so it’s not surprising that Harvey’s mark is at risk. Still, it’s hard not to be impressed with Sherrill’s emergence and Rodriguez’s dominance since arriving in Los Angeles in 2002. K-Rod will have close to 200 saves at the close of 2008.

Among the top five in saves all time, the most saves through their age-26 season belong to Lee Smith, with 80. Closers rarely have long careers; the job takes it toll. But if Rodriguez stays healthy, he’ll be competing for the all-time saves record at a much younger age than those who have come close to it.