Am I the only 1 that thinks this is unfair?

Question

Ok, lets say a starting pitcher goes 5 innings and gives up 1 run and he leaves with the score 1-0. Now lets say the bullpen gives up 9 more to make it 10-0. Now the other team starts to make a comeback and loses 10-9. That starting pitcher gets the loss. Are you kidding me? Why not the guy who gave up the eventual winning run?

Answer 1

You are taking up an argument about a baseball rule that has been in place going back to the founder of the game. If a pitcher leaves the game losing and his team goes on to lose the game without ever tying or going ahead in the game, than he is the losing pitcher. I can not think of a single reason why that rule should be changed.

Answer 2

Because, when the pitcher left, he was losing.
The "eventual" winning run was that first run because that team stayed in the lead the whole game.

Those are the rules, and if his team tied it, then lost he game he owuld get a "No Decision"--that is even worse (INHO).

Good example:

Jeremy Bonderman's first 5 starts this year were ND's...3 of those games The Tigers ended up winning...if Bonderman had won those games he would be 12-1 right now.

I feel your pain, but that is just the way the cookie crumbles.

Answer 3

Yeah, it annoys me when this happens. The one that gave up 9 should get the loss. I think whatver pitcher gives up the most runs should get a loss. Or the stats guys should pick the winner/loser just like they decide if a play is an error or not. The pitchers that did the worst lost the game, they should be recognized as the losing pitcher, or the one who blew it for the team.

Answer 4

If the starter had not given up that one run, would the bullpen have given up nine? Would the team have rallied to only lose 10-9?

I see what your saying, but it is really impossible to determine which run is the eventual winning run. Was it the first run scored or the last? In this situation, had the starter not given up his run the score would be tied 9-9. It is not entirely fair, but it is the way the stat is defined.

Answer 5

The starting pitcher does not get the loss in the scenario you just described. Whoever is responsible for the 10th run of the game gets tagged for the loss.

Edit: I stand corrected, I didn't realize that was the rule

MLB Rule 10.17
(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.

That is BS, the rule should be what I said, the guy who gives up the 10th run should get the loss.

Answer 6

the rules stink.how bout this one.a pitcher leaves game with 5 run lead in the eighth.reliever gives up 5 ,then team scores 2 to win.why does reliever get win?

Answer 7

Well... The starting pitcher would have gotten the win because he won the game 10-9 so he would have gotten the win... but if your talking about the other team then that is rediclous the bull pen pitcher should have gotten the loss I dont get that either...

Answer 8

first of all ur question doesnt make sense and second the pitcher would not get the lose cuz he didnt give up the runs. He only gets the lose if he leaves runners on base. but in ur "situation" that doesnt make sense the pitcher would get the win cuz he won 10-9.

Answer 9

*Any* standard will be unfair in a lot of cases. Which ones are unfair depends on the standards/definition/opinion.

Answer 10

Are you stupid?? He gave up the 1 run, sure it's not his fault his team didn't give him some support (Roger Clemens comes to mind), but he is the loser. They never had the lead, figure it out, all the rest of you who agree with him......