Rule Change?

elutz31 · 02-04-2019, 04:14 PM

I'm have been running an opener themed team the past 8 seasons. All of my starting pitchers are relievers and they will typically go 2-3 innings. Until this season, season 10, the reliever who came in first after the starter would get credit for the win provided I had and held the lead. It didn't matter if it was the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th inning when that first reliever came in. They were getting the win.

I started a similar thread seasons ago when I noticed different pitchers getting the win prior to the 5th inning and not what I thought was the rule of you had to reach at least the 5th inning to get credit for a win. Then another player pointed out there was seldom used rule.

There is also a rarely used clause where an official scorer can deem a relief pitcher's appearance "brief and ineffective." (For example, if a reliever relinquished a one-run lead by allowing three runs, but was still in line for a win after his team scored four runs in the following inning -- that may qualify.) If that's the case, the scorer can award the win to a pitcher who followed that "brief and ineffective" pitcher. Which relief pitcher earns the win specifically is also up to the judgment of the official scorer.

With my starters being relievers and only going a few innings. My long reliever, in this case Doolittle, if rested, would always come in next. If I had an early lead he would always get the win. I started using him as my only long reliever 2 seasons ago about half way through the season. He picked up 10 second half wins in this role. Last season he pitched 85 games, 123.2 innings, 138 k's and was 21-3 with a 2.26 era in his first full season as my only long reliever.

It's now season 10, my team is off to a 6-1 start and yet the first reliever coming in with the lead is no longer getting the win. It's now whoever completes the 5th inning or later with the lead. It's now in line with the way most people know it. I get the MLB rule had some grey in it but why change the rule after 9 seasons? Did MLB amend this rule after Tampa Bay last season? Did Doolittle pull a Bob Gibson and make you lower the mound?

This strategy, while fun, leaves little chance of getting many pp from your pitchers aside from leaving the bases load, saves, or the rare 4 k's or 9 pitch 3 k's.

Matt Arnold · 02-04-2019, 04:32 PM

We haven't made any changes to this rule. The win will still go to the first reasonably effective reliever if the original starter was in line for the win and doesn't finish 5 innings.

elutz31 · 02-04-2019, 08:44 PM

After a few more games there were a couple of wins by the next pitcher up prior to the 5th. It was just strange to see a few pitchers get bypassed in those games.

Matt Arnold · 02-04-2019, 08:52 PM

I think we tend to only give it to the first guy to pitch more than an inning, so in both cases went down to the first guy that did that.

Maddox · 02-05-2019, 08:59 AM

In both cases it looks like the reliever who got the win was the one who pitched the 5th inning while you were ahead.

02-04-2019, 04:14 PM	#1
elutz31 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 108	Rule Change? I'm have been running an opener themed team the past 8 seasons. All of my starting pitchers are relievers and they will typically go 2-3 innings. Until this season, season 10, the reliever who came in first after the starter would get credit for the win provided I had and held the lead. It didn't matter if it was the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th inning when that first reliever came in. They were getting the win. I started a similar thread seasons ago when I noticed different pitchers getting the win prior to the 5th inning and not what I thought was the rule of you had to reach at least the 5th inning to get credit for a win. Then another player pointed out there was seldom used rule. There is also a rarely used clause where an official scorer can deem a relief pitcher's appearance "brief and ineffective." (For example, if a reliever relinquished a one-run lead by allowing three runs, but was still in line for a win after his team scored four runs in the following inning -- that may qualify.) If that's the case, the scorer can award the win to a pitcher who followed that "brief and ineffective" pitcher. Which relief pitcher earns the win specifically is also up to the judgment of the official scorer. With my starters being relievers and only going a few innings. My long reliever, in this case Doolittle, if rested, would always come in next. If I had an early lead he would always get the win. I started using him as my only long reliever 2 seasons ago about half way through the season. He picked up 10 second half wins in this role. Last season he pitched 85 games, 123.2 innings, 138 k's and was 21-3 with a 2.26 era in his first full season as my only long reliever. It's now season 10, my team is off to a 6-1 start and yet the first reliever coming in with the lead is no longer getting the win. It's now whoever completes the 5th inning or later with the lead. It's now in line with the way most people know it. I get the MLB rule had some grey in it but why change the rule after 9 seasons? Did MLB amend this rule after Tampa Bay last season? Did Doolittle pull a Bob Gibson and make you lower the mound? This strategy, while fun, leaves little chance of getting many pp from your pitchers aside from leaving the bases load, saves, or the rare 4 k's or 9 pitch 3 k's.

02-04-2019, 08:44 PM	#3
elutz31 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 108	After a few more games there were a couple of wins by the next pitcher up prior to the 5th. It was just strange to see a few pitchers get bypassed in those games. Attached Images

02-04-2019, 04:32 PM	#2
Matt Arnold OOTP Developer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Here and there Posts: 15,855	We haven't made any changes to this rule. The win will still go to the first reasonably effective reliever if the original starter was in line for the win and doesn't finish 5 innings.

02-04-2019, 08:52 PM	#4
Matt Arnold OOTP Developer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Here and there Posts: 15,855	I think we tend to only give it to the first guy to pitch more than an inning, so in both cases went down to the first guy that did that.

02-05-2019, 08:59 AM	#5
Maddox All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 903	In both cases it looks like the reliever who got the win was the one who pitched the 5th inning while you were ahead.