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From: jimph@ihlpg.UUCP (Jim Hendricks)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: scoring question
Message-ID: <964@ihlpg.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 26-Jul-85 11:39:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihlpg.964
Posted: Fri Jul 26 11:39:52 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 29-Jul-85 06:13:50 EDT
References: <539@bentley.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 23

> A friend of mine brought up an interesting scoring question. There is
> a rule in baseball that states that for a starting pitcher to get a win,
> he must go a minimum of five innings. In the following situation then,
> who gets credit for the win?
> 
> Team A is visiting at team B. The leadoff hitter for team A hits a home
> run for the game's only run. The starting pitcher for team A pitches the
> bottom of the first, and then is removed with a blister. Team A uses 9
> different pitchers, each of which works for exactly one inning, and then
> is removed for one of several assorted reasons. (Injury, Pinch-hitter, etc.)
> But the final score of the game is 1-0, and team B does not mount any  
> substantial threats against any of the opponents pitchers.
> Off on a side note: If the starting pitcher must go five innings for the
> win credit, why did LaMarr Hoyt win the all-star game? Shouldn't it have been
> Nolan Ryan?

The second pitcher would get the win. The rule states that a STARTING
pitcher must go 5 innings to get the win so the next eight pitchers
are not constrained by the rule. The second pitcher gets the win and
the ninth pitcher gets the save.
In the all-star game, they waive the 5 inning rule for obvious
reasons. Since so many pitchers pitch, the starter never goes five
innings.