Why must SP pitch 5 innings for win?

Pine Tar said:

Because it is an official game after 5 full innings so that is why.
and if the reliever got 2 outs that inning then the staring pitcher only pitched 4.1
since each out is 1/3 of the inning .

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200lbhockeyplayer said:

A better question is...

Why is it referred to 4.1 when a pitcher pitches 4 innings plus an out? I'm no Archimedes, but four and a third should be 4.3333333333 innings? If there were four outs per inning I would find it hard to believe that pitching 4 innings plus two outs would be 4.2 instead of 4.5.

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scotty21690 said:

This shouldn't be up for debate...

Every starting pitcher SHOULD pitch at least 5 innings every start. This is not saying that some starters have their bad starts in which they just can't get out but think about it.....let's just say the average SP throws 100 pitches to get 5+ innings they should average 20 pitches/inning which is actually on the high side for # of pitches for an inning. If a starter is getting rocked and is throwing a lot of pitches because of it then well he won't go 5 and doesn't deserve a win. If they are pitching well and getting outs then there is no reason for a pitcher NOT to go 5+ innings and he will be deserving of a win. (Also what Pine Tar said; 5+ innings = official game)

Why didn't Zito pitch 5 innings today is he only had 2 ER?

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10.17 Winning And Losing Pitcher
(a) The official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher that pitcher whose team assumes a lead while such pitcher is in the game, or during the inning on offense in which such pitcher is removed from the game, and does not relinquish such lead, unless
(1) such pitcher is a starting pitcher and Rule 10.17(b) applies; or
(2) Rule 10.17(c) applies.
Rule 10.17(a) Comment: Whenever the score is tied, the game becomes a new contest insofar as the winning pitcher is concerned. Once the opposing team assumes the lead, all pitchers who have pitched up to that point and have been replaced are excluded from being credited with the victory. If the pitcher against whose pitching the opposing team gained the lead continues to pitch until his team regains the lead, which it holds to the finish of the game, that pitcher shall be the winning pitcher.
(b) If the pitcher whose team assumes a lead while such pitcher is in the game, or during the inning on offense in which such pitcher is removed from the game, and does not relinquish such lead, is a starting pitcher who has not completed
(1) five innings of a game that lasts six or more innings on defense, or
(2) four innings of a game that lasts five innings on defense, then the official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher the relief pitcher, if there is only one relief pitcher, or the relief pitcher who, in the official scorer?s judgment was the most effective, if there is more than one relief pitcher.
Rule 10.17(b) Comment: It is the intent of Rule 10.17(b) that a relief pitcher pitch at least one complete inning or pitch when a crucial out is made, within the context of the game (including the score), in order to be credited as the winning pitcher. If the first relief pitcher pitches effectively, the official scorer should not presumptively credit that pitcher with the win, because the rule requires that the win be credited to the pitcher who was the most effective, and a subsequent relief pitcher may have been most effective. The official scorer, in determining which relief pitcher was the most effective, should consider the number of runs, earned runs and base runners given up by each relief pitcher and the context of the game at the time of each relief pitcher?s appearance. If two or more relief pitchers were similarly effective, the official scorer should give the presumption to the earlier pitcher as the winning pitcher.
(c) The official scorer shall not credit as the winning pitcher a relief pitcher who is ineffective in a brief appearance, when at least one succeeding relief pitcher pitches effectively in helping his team maintain its lead. In such a case, the official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher the succeeding relief pitcher who was most effective, in the judgment of the official scorer.
Rule 10.17(c) Comment: The official scorer generally should, but is not required to, consider the appearance of a relief pitcher to be ineffective and brief if such relief pitcher pitches less than one inning and allows two or more earned runs to score (even if such runs are charged to a previous pitcher). Rule 10.17(b) Comment provides guidance on choosing the winning pitcher from among several succeeding relief pitchers.
(d) A losing pitcher is a pitcher who is responsible for the run that gives the winning team a lead that the winning team does not relinquish.
Rule 10.17(d) Comment: Whenever the score is tied, the game becomes a new contest insofar as the losing pitcher is concerned.
(e) A league may designate a non-championship game (for example, the Major League All-Star Game) for which Rules 10.17(a)(1) and 10.17(b) do not apply. In such games, the official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher that pitcher whose team assumes a lead while such pitcher is in the game, or during the inning on offense in which such pitcher is removed from the game, and does not relinquish such lead, unless such pitcher is knocked out after the winning team has attained a commanding lead and the official scorer concludes that a subsequent pitcher is entitled to credit as the winning pitcher.

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200lbhockeyplayer said:

A better question is...

Why is it referred to 4.1 when a pitcher pitches 4 innings plus an out? I'm no Archimedes, but four and a third should be 4.3333333333 innings? If there were four outs per inning I would find it hard to believe that pitching 4 innings plus two outs would be 4.2 instead of 4.5.

Click to expand...