How is Johnson the Winner in this Game?

How is Johnson the winner in this game?

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/game/267465/689

It has something to do with the starter not going 5 innings, after that someone in the know will have to explain it. This happens all the time and you will get the answer soon I am sure.

Mike

It has something to do with the starter not going 5 innings, after that someone in the know will have to explain it. This happens all the time and you will get the answer soon I am sure.

Mike

This is the answer - that the starter has to go at least 5.0 innings to get the win. If the starter doesn't go at least 5 innnings, then I believe that the answer is that the winning pitcher is a "judgement call" as to which reliever contributed best to the overall game, or performed the best. I really don't know if it is any more specific or objective than that.

Speaking as a Canadian, it's kind of like the traditional "3 stars" announced at the end of every single hockey game. Sometimes you hear who the first star was, and you say "Really?".

From the strat game recap (I love these!):

"Jim Johnson(2-2) earned the victory with a fine relief performance. He did not allow a baserunner in his 1 inning."

There you go. Starter didn't go 5 innings. And the first star (and winning pitcher) is....Jim Johnson!

He simply had the best performance of the 4 relief pitchers, in the game. I think that's as scientific as it gets for the way they choose the winning pitcher in these situations.

Here is the MLB rule - 10:17(b) - that covers this point - for those that care. So Johnson is the winner because he was the most effective of the two relief pitchers that pitched at least a full inning. He did strike out the side!!

MLB Rule 10:17
(b) If the pitcher whose team assumes a lead while such pitcher is in the game, or during
the inning on offense in which such pitcher is removed from the game, and does
not relinquish such lead, is a starting pitcher who has not completed
(1) five innings of a game that lasts six or more innings on defense, or
(2) four innings of a game that lasts five innings on defense,
then the official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher the relief pitcher, if there
is only one relief pitcher, or the relief pitcher who, in the official scorer’s judgment
was the most effective, if there is more than one relief pitcher.

Rule 10.17(b) Comment: It is the intent of Rule 10.17(b) that a relief pitcher pitch at least
one complete inning or pitch when a crucial out is made, within the context of the game (including the
score), in order to be credited as the winning pitcher. 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.

I wonder how HAL gets this right but can't always get the RP or PH in that I want?

Don't know how many umpires are out there, but I thought examinations for certification as an umpire were tougher than my Boards in Internal Medicine!

I wonder how HAL gets this right but can't always get the RP or PH in that I want?