milagros317
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- Jan 12, 2002
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The gift runner rule for extra innings during the regular season is an abomination!
It's absurdity was on display again last night in a game which the Dodgers, alas, lost to the Angels in 10 innings, 3-2.
A left-handed relief pitcher named Anthony Banda made his 13th appearance of the season last night. He was called upon to face the Angels in the top of the ninth inning with the score tied, 2-2. He pitched a perfect inning, retiring all three batters, giving the Dodgers a chance for an easy, 1-run, walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth. They failed to score.
Since the first batter in the top of the 10th inning was left-handed, Banda was left in the game to get the first out in the top of the 10th. He did so.
A right-handed relief pitcher entered the game with one out in the top of the tenth inning, with the gift runner still on base. He got the second out but then gave up an RBI single. The run was charged to Anthony Banda, who had left the game with one runner on base, the one who scored.
When the Dodgers failed to score in the bottom of the 10th, Banda became the losing pitcher.
Think about that. Banda pitched a perfect 1-1/3 innings. He faced four batters and he retired four batters. He gave up no hits and no walks, nor did anybody reach base via HBP, error, or catcher's interference. He was perfect!
But the stupid abomination known as the "gift runner" made him the losing pitcher, lowering his W-L record to 1-1.
From now on, W-L records for relief pitchers are unreliable as indications of how they pitched.
It's absurdity was on display again last night in a game which the Dodgers, alas, lost to the Angels in 10 innings, 3-2.
A left-handed relief pitcher named Anthony Banda made his 13th appearance of the season last night. He was called upon to face the Angels in the top of the ninth inning with the score tied, 2-2. He pitched a perfect inning, retiring all three batters, giving the Dodgers a chance for an easy, 1-run, walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth. They failed to score.
Since the first batter in the top of the 10th inning was left-handed, Banda was left in the game to get the first out in the top of the 10th. He did so.
A right-handed relief pitcher entered the game with one out in the top of the tenth inning, with the gift runner still on base. He got the second out but then gave up an RBI single. The run was charged to Anthony Banda, who had left the game with one runner on base, the one who scored.
When the Dodgers failed to score in the bottom of the 10th, Banda became the losing pitcher.
Think about that. Banda pitched a perfect 1-1/3 innings. He faced four batters and he retired four batters. He gave up no hits and no walks, nor did anybody reach base via HBP, error, or catcher's interference. He was perfect!
But the stupid abomination known as the "gift runner" made him the losing pitcher, lowering his W-L record to 1-1.
From now on, W-L records for relief pitchers are unreliable as indications of how they pitched.
