Losing Pitcher Issue

BeachBum · 06-12-2007, 09:35 PM

It appears to me there is a problem with determining who is the losing pitcher. The specific example is as follows:

Starting pitcher for home team was lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 6th inning trailing 4-0.

Reliever #1 pitched the 7th inning and the home team got 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th. Also pitched the 8th inning and gave up one run in the top of the 8th. Was lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of 8th. Home team is trailing 5-2.

Reliever #2 pitches the 9th inning and gives up 1 run. Home team comes back in the bottom of the 9th and scores 3 runs making the final score 6-5 in favor of the visitors.

The box score shows the loser as the Starting pitcher who did not give up the winning run. It seems to me that the Losing Pitcher needs to be Reliever #3.

injury log · 06-12-2007, 09:45 PM

If a starter leaves the game with his team losing, and the lead never changes hands, the starter gets the loss. It doesn't matter whether the starter was in when the winning run was scored. See the entry on Won/Lost Decisions here for more:

www.howbaseballworks.com/Statistics.htm

[EDIT- the lead doesn't need to 'change hands', it's enough for the game to reach a tie after the starter leaves, in which case the win or loss will go to a reliever]

BeachBum · 06-12-2007, 10:35 PM

You are right. Thanks for the correction.

06-12-2007, 09:35 PM	#1
BeachBum Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Copalis Beach, WA Posts: 192	Losing Pitcher Issue It appears to me there is a problem with determining who is the losing pitcher. The specific example is as follows: Starting pitcher for home team was lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 6th inning trailing 4-0. Reliever #1 pitched the 7th inning and the home team got 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th. Also pitched the 8th inning and gave up one run in the top of the 8th. Was lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of 8th. Home team is trailing 5-2. Reliever #2 pitches the 9th inning and gives up 1 run. Home team comes back in the bottom of the 9th and scores 3 runs making the final score 6-5 in favor of the visitors. The box score shows the loser as the Starting pitcher who did not give up the winning run. It seems to me that the Losing Pitcher needs to be Reliever #3.

06-12-2007, 09:45 PM	#2
injury log Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 9,162	If a starter leaves the game with his team losing, and the lead never changes hands, the starter gets the loss. It doesn't matter whether the starter was in when the winning run was scored. See the entry on Won/Lost Decisions here for more: www.howbaseballworks.com/Statistics.htm [EDIT- the lead doesn't need to 'change hands', it's enough for the game to reach a tie after the starter leaves, in which case the win or loss will go to a reliever] Last edited by injury log; 06-12-2007 at 09:51 PM.

06-12-2007, 10:35 PM	#3
BeachBum Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Copalis Beach, WA Posts: 192	My Mistake You are right. Thanks for the correction.