D’oh! Missed that completely. :smack:
Zev Steinhardt
Yeah, based on what’s been quoted from the rule book so far the only things that can end the game but not be considered 0.1 inning pitched would be a cancellation. Maybe the losing team refuses to bat against the new reliever so they storm off the field and the ump calls a forfeit. It would seem the reliever should not get a save in that situation.
Also, I’m pretty sure there are no guarantees that the home team gets to bat just because the away team did in the top of the inning. As long as the away team was winning at the end of the previous inning the game can be called and awarded to the team leading at that time (after 4.5 innings, I think). This normally doesn’t happen, of course. If this did happen I’m not sure who should get the save (The pitcher who recorded the last out in the previous inning? Did he really “finish” the game? Nobody? The ump?)
Oh it would have been exquisite.
But really… what, nobody told any of the pitching staff that there was a day game, and they were all out at Ocean City having crabs and beer? Boggles the imagination…
Prior to the rule change this year, it was theoretically possible for this scenario to happen.
Home team leads visitors 4-3 in the top of the 8th. Home team brings in new reliever, who takes the mound throws his warms up. Then before a batter comes up, rain hits the area calling the game.
Officially, the pitcher who warmed up gets credit for a “game played” and he is the finishing pitcher and he could have been awarded a save before the rule was changed this year.
In theory Bill Lee could have been awarded a save for this game:
He wasn’t though and that loophole has been fixed.
The pitcher could even pitch to a few batters… as long as he doesn’t get anyone out.
Top of the seventh, Tigers leads the Devil Rays 5-3. John Smith comes in to pitch for the Tigers to commence the inning. He prompty surrenders a single to Carl Crawford. Then suddenly a monsoon begins. The game is called and it officially ends as a 5-3 Tiger triumph.
The pitcher actually did pitch to a batter but recorded no outs. Under the old rule, he would have been awarded a save, since he met the conditions of completing a game his team won, not being the winning pitcher, and entering the game with the tying run on deck.
Sorry for the hijack, but what was the damage to the Orioles’ pitcher[s]'s E.R.A.? Did anyone rack up an infinity symbol?