For verification, in MLB, if the starter leaves the game in less than 5, which reliever would get the W?
Would it be who put the most time on the bump, regardless of a run scored or not.
Specifically this discussion is in regards to last nights win for the cardinals.
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Another scenerio. Starter leaves after 4 2/3.
#1 reliever 2 IP, 4ER, 2bb,0k
#2 reliever 1 2/3 IP, 0ER, 0h,0 bb, 5k
#3 reliever 2/3 IP, 0ER, 0h,0bb,2k
This teanteam never gave up a lead.
I always thought it was at scorekeeper discretion but supposed to be who was most effective after the starting pitcher went out.
In your scenario, I would give the win to the pitcher who had 5 k's.
TPM,
SInce Wainright didn't go 5 innings but the Cards were in the lead throughout all of the relief ptichers, the win goes to the relief pitcher who was the "most effective".
Rule 10.17(b) Comment: "...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."
In this case, Belisle is the obvious winner: He pitched the most, entered the game with one out and 2 base runner and struck out the next 2 batters, and allowed by himself just one base runner.
Maness got the save and doesn't look too bad in the box score, but he entered with 2 runners and 2 outs, following that with a hit batsmen and a double. If he had pitched as effectively as Belisle, Belisle would still have been awarded the win, since he was the earlier relief pitcher.
I agree he should be awarded the win. Thank you.
In the second scenerio, the second reliever would get the W?
Is this the rule for all teams regardless of level?
The second scenario doesn't have enough information. To take an extreme example, if Reliever #2 entered the game with the bases loaded, allowed them all to score, got a strike out to end the inning, got 4 more strikeouts, but left the game with 1 out and the bases loaded, then I guess Reliever #3 was more effective. The scorer needs to take the entire game flow and context into account, so for us to second guess the scorer, a play by play history of the game is very desirable.
The rule is almost the same in college, except that if the coach announces before the game his intention to use 3 or more pitchers, then the pitcher of record gets the win, even if he is the starter who went less than 5 innings. I don't have access to minor league scoring rules, but perhaps there are similar allowances made when it is known in advance that the starter will go less than 5.
High school rules are more different; the starter only needs 4 innings, and if the game goes less than the regulation 7 innings (darkness, or run rule, for example), he may only need 3, But if the starting pitcher can't be the winning pitcher, then once again it is the most effective relief pitcher.
