Assuming this a game played under NCAA rules, at 1st glance it looks like the OSK made a mistake. However, if you look at b2 below, it can throw a monkey wrench into the gears.
Some folks mistake that to mean its OK to give the pitcher of record the win, even if he’s the starting P and doesn’t have enough innings. I’m no rules guru, but in similar instances, I’ve seen the rules interpreted this way.
Section b is talking about relief pitchers, and only when the starter hasn’t pitched enough innings to qualify under section a. Therefore, nothing in b can be used to give a starter the win.
I can see where someone would make the mistake of assuming the starting P was the P of record by the note in section d, but to me, it doesn’t make any difference because the starter didn’t meet the requirements of section a.
In order to get an absolute answer, someone would have to contact the league or NCAA’s rules arbiter. I suspect though, that the coach had something to do with who was given the win. I’m not knocking coaches, but sometimes they don’t worry about such minute things as the rules, and in this case I’m guessin’ he’d rather see his starter who was 0-1 at the time, get the win, than some reliever getting’ mop up innings.
NCAA - Winning and Losing Pitchers
SECTION 25.
a. For all games of eight or more innings, a starting pitcher must pitch at least five complete innings to receive credit as the winning pitcher. For all games of fewer than eight innings, the starting pitcher must pitch at least four innings to get credit for the win. Additionally, the winning pitcher’s team must be in the lead when he is replaced and must remain in the lead for the rest of the game.
b. If the starting pitcher does not pitch enough innings, the win is credited to a relief pitcher in the following manner:
(1) The winning relief pitcher shall be the one who is the pitcher of record when his team goes ahead and remains ahead throughout the remainder of the game. No pitcher may receive credit for a victory if the opposing team ties the score or goes ahead after he has left the game.
Note: Whenever the score is tied, the game becomes a new contest insofar as the
winning and losing pitchers are concerned.
Exception—If a relief pitcher conforms to the above regulations but pitches briefly and ineffectively, the scorer should not credit him with a win. If a succeeding relief pitcher pitches effectively and helps maintain the lead, the scorer should award the win to that succeeding pitcher.
(2) By prearrangement, if three or more pitchers are to be used, the pitcher of record shall be considered the winning pitcher.
c. When a batter or runner is substituted for a pitcher, all runs scored by his team during that inning are to his credit in determining the pitcher of record.
d. The starting pitcher shall be charged with the loss if he is replaced at any time while his team is behind and remains behind for the remainder of the game. Similarly, any relief pitcher who is the pitcher of record when the opposing team assumes the lead and never relinquishes it is charged with the loss.
Note: The pitcher of record shall be the one who is in the game at the time the winning team gains the lead, provided that the lead never is relinquished, or the one who is charged with the runs by which the opposing team takes the lead, provided that the lead never is relinquished.
e. To receive credit for a shutout, the pitcher must pitch the entire game or enter the game with no outs in the first inning and pitch the rest of the game without any runs scoring. quote:
Originally posted by Southpaw Pop:
Liberty up 18-6 after 4. SP had lead & coach looks to have wanted to see other pitchers this early in the season. SP MAY also had high pitch count (7 Ks, but 9 hits) for this early in season. Liberty never relinquished the lead, so no other pitcher to be considered in the decision. Too big of a lead for a save situation. Some one has to be awarded the W.
Who would you have given it to?
It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, what the coaches may or may not have wanted to see happen, the pitch count or anything else. As far as I’m concerned, the rule is what it is.
From what I see, there’s no doubt that the kid who threw the 3 innings and gave up no runs was by far the most effective relief P in the game, and since the starter couldn’t be given the win. He gets it.
