Why are Yankees and Orioles finishing a game that got rained out in the 8th inning?

Question

I don't understand because the rule is its a game after 4 1/2 if the home team is winning and 5 if they are losing.

MrGlich, thanks you'll get best answer after 4 hours.

Answer 1

There are completing the game because the Yankees went ahead in the top of the inning and MLB no longer goes back to the last completed inning. In this case they complete the game.

Answer 2

It's not a new rule, guys.

Unlike in most amateur leagues, the score does not revert back to the last completed inning when a game is halted while an inning is in progress in a regulation game. If the visiting team ties or takes the lead and the inning is halted, the home team still gets its chance to bat. In Little League and high school ball, the score would revert to what it was after the preceding inning and the game would be over.

What is a new rule this year in the majors is if the teams are tied after a completed inning and a regulation game is halted before the next inning begins, the game will continue later. Such games used to be declared ties, with the stats counting and the two teams replaying it from the beginning later.

Answer 3

Rule changed this year -- If a game is stopped in the middle of the inning AND it has gone at least five innings AND the home team was winning at the beginning of the inning AND the away team is winning (or game is tied) when play was stopped, the game must be completed.

Baltimore took the lead in the Seventh (after first rain delay) and the Yankees had taken the lead back in the top of the Eighth right before the rain stopped the game for good. So the game must be completed.


EDIT: Luke is wrong about how the new rule works.

EDIT: But Luke, that is not what you said the first time.... the first time you just said "if they can finish it at a later date, they finish it." That is not correct. You need the precise situation that happened here (i.e., the Yankees (visiting team) tie or take the lead in the inning where the game is suspended). Your quote is from the AP story after the game, and that is more accurate (although not completely accurate either -- rule changed again this past year for this precise situation).

Edit: Don't take it personally, Luke. You don't need to post the whole rulebook in answer. Your original answer was just plain WRONG. Your final answer gives way too much information without really answering the question. All I did was answer the question.

Answer 4

4.12
SUSPENDED GAMES.
(a) A game shall become a suspended game that must be completed at a future date if the game is terminated for any of the following reasons:

(5) Weather, if a regulation game is called while an inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, and the visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not retaken the lead;

Answer 5

BECayuse MELVIN MORA IS A Baby and complained about it. so the ump had to say ok fine we will suspend it... i saw a game the mets won 2-0 after 5 innings vs the cardinals and they got the win... its bullshit that the yankees have to play that game cuz they should have the win already and i think the pitchers that were on the mound at the time should still be on hte mound... but thats not happening because Chris Ray is on the DL now so its all messed up

Answer 6

Because that's a new rule. If it can be finished at a later date then the game is "paused" where it is currently and resumed at the next possible time in the schedule. Otherwise it can be called by the head umpire. The first guy got more in depth and explains it a lot better than I. And it's not a new rule totally. It is a new rule in how they determine suspending a game. What the first guy said has been around for a while.


EDIT as to refute the first guy saying I was wrong:

New York was leading 8-6 in the top of the eighth when the game was halted for the last time. Play will be resumed at the point it was stopped when the Yankees return to Camden Yards on July 27.

Before 1980, the score would have reverted to the start of the inning, giving the Orioles a 6-4 win. But the rule was changed after a game on Aug. 13, 1978, when Baltimore led 3-0 after six innings and the Yankees scored five runs in the top of the seventh.

The game should have been called but it wasn't which gave New York a chance to score runs. Like the guy below me it was unfair that it was even allowed.

Rule 4.10 (c) (2)
(2) If the home team has scored more runs in four or four and a fraction half-innings than the visiting team has scored in five completed half-innings;

Rule 4.11 (d)
A called game ends at the moment the umpire terminates play, unless it becomes a suspended game pursuant to Rule 4.12(a).

Rule 4.12
SUSPENDED GAMES.
(a) A game shall become a suspended game that must be completed at a future date if the game is terminated for any of the following reasons:
(1) A curfew imposed by law;
(2) A time limit permissible under league rules;
(3) Light failure or malfunction of a mechanical field device under control of the home club. (Mechanical field device shall include automatic tarpaulin or water removal equipment);
(4) Darkness, when a law prevents the lights from being turned on;
(5) Weather, if a regulation game is called while an inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, and the visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not retaken the lead; or
(6) It is a regulation game that is called with the score tied. National Association Leagues may also adopt the following rules for suspended games. (If adopted by a National Association League, Rule 4.10(e) would not apply to their games.):
(7) The game has not become a regulation game (41/2 innings with the home team ahead, or 5 innings with the visiting club ahead or tied).
(8) If a game is suspended before it becomes a regulation game, and is continued prior to another regularly scheduled game, the regularly scheduled game with be limited to seven innings.
(9) If a game is suspended after it is a regulation game, and is continued prior to another regularly scheduled game, the regularly scheduled game will be a nine inning game.
EXCEPTION: Optional Rules 4.12(a)(7), 4.12(a)(8) and 4.12(a)(9) for National Association Leagues will not apply to the last scheduled game between the two teams during the championship season or league playoffs.
No game called because of a curfew (Rule 4.12(a)(1)), weather (Rule 4.12(a)(5)), a time limit (Rule 4.12(a)(2)) or with a tied score (Rule 4.12(a)(6)) shall be a suspended game unless it has progressed far enough to have been a regulation game pursuant to Rule 4.10(c). A game called pursuant to Rules 4.12(a)(3) or 4.12(a)(4) shall be a suspended game at any time after it starts.
NOTE: Weather and similar conditions—Rules 4.12(a)(1) through 4.12(a)(5)—shall take precedence in determining whether a called game shall be a suspended game. If a game is halted by weather, and subsequent light failure or an intervening curfew or time limit prevents its resumption, the game shall not be a suspended game. If a game is halted by light failure, and weather or field conditions prevent its resumption, the game shall not be a suspended game. A game can only be considered a suspended game if stopped for any of the six reasons specified in Rule 4.12(a).
(b) A suspended game shall be resumed and completed as follows:
(1) Immediately preceding the next scheduled single game between the two clubs on the same grounds; or
(2) Immediately preceding the next scheduled doubleheader between the two clubs on the same grounds, if no single game remains on the schedule; or
(3) If suspended on the last scheduled date between the two clubs in that city, transferred and played on the grounds of the opposing club, if possible;
(i) Immediately preceding the next scheduled single game, or
(ii) Immediately preceding the next scheduled doubleheader, if no single game remains on the schedule.
(4) Any suspended game not completed prior to the last scheduled game between the two teams during the championship season shall become a called game. If such game becomes a called game and
(i) has progressed far enough to become a regulation game, and one team is ahead, the team that is ahead shall be declared the winner;
(ii) has progressed far enough to become a regulation game, and the score is tied, the game shall be declared a “tie game.” A tie game is to be replayed in its entirety, unless the league president determines that playing the rescheduled game is not necessary to affect the league championship; or
(iii)has not progressed far enough to become a regulation game, the game shall be declared “No Game.” In such case, the game is to be replayed in its entirety, unless the league president determines that playing the rescheduled game is not necessary to affect the league championship.
(c) A suspended game shall be resumed at the exact point of suspension of the original game. The completion of a suspended game is a continuation of the original game. The lineup and batting order of both teams shall be exactly the same as the lineup and batting order at the moment of suspension, subject to the rules governing substitution. Any player may be replaced by a player who had not been in the game prior to the suspension. No player removed before the suspension may be returned to the lineup.
A player who was not with the club when the game was suspended may be used as a substitute, even if he has taken the place of a player no longer with the club who would not have been eligible because he had been removed from the lineup before the game was suspended.

Answer 7

Because the UMPIRES are stupid. They let it pour while the O's were on defense and let the stupid Yankees take the lead and then decided to call the players in and postpone the conclusion. Ridiculous@

Answer 8

So that AROD has 500 hrs at 31 not 32!!