Answer Me This!

[LB3533]

I know this is a Celtics (Basketball) blog/website, but just wondering if you fine folks have sufficient baseball knowledge to answer this question:

How many pitches is it necessary for a Pitcher to record a single Inning (3 outs)?

*Note: this is not a trick question, I really want to know the answer. I think I might know the real answer, but want clarification.

[wdleehi]

1


Replace the other pitcher.

at least two men on base.



One pitch that becomes a triple play.


Or, pick off one player or two players.   one pitch hit into a double play (or single if two pick offs)

[Roy Hobbs]

Heck, it's probably zero, technically.  If the bases were loaded, and he picked off all three batters somehow, he could be credited with a full inning with zero pitches.

He can get out of an inning in one pitch if the guy at bat hits into a triple play, etc.

[Birdbrain]

Yeah but the players got on base somehow and that would take pitches.

If it's not a trick the answer is 3.

[wdleehi]

Yeah but the players got on base somehow and that would take pitches.

If it's not a trick the answer is 3.

Those belong to another pitcher.


Remember, the question say pitcher, not team.

[JSD]

1


Replace the other pitcher.

at least two men on base.



One pitch that becomes a triple play.


Or, pick off one player or two players.   one pitch hit into a double play (or single if two pick offs)

This is correct. If  a pitcher comes into a clean inning it would take 3.

[Redz]

Heck, it's probably zero, technically.  If the bases were loaded, and he picked off all three batters somehow, he could be credited with a full inning with zero pitches.

He can get out of an inning in one pitch if the guy at bat hits into a triple play, etc.

Exactly

[Redz]

One that has always bothered me for a baseball potential oddity...

Pitcher comes into a tie game the bottom of the 9th and a runner on 1st.

Batter grounds into a fielders choice forcing the runner out at 2nd.  Pitcher is yanked after one batter.  The next pitcher gives up a double scoring the runner from 1st for the game winner.

The guy who came in and recorded an out to the only man he faced would get credited with a loss.

[Birdbrain]

I understand the concept but, to me that's a trick question. 

[LB3533]

OK so you guys do have sufficient knowledge...actually more than sufficient cause those are some baseball situations that I had not thought up of....thanks!

[Steve Weinman]

OK so you guys do have sufficient knowledge...actually more than sufficient cause those are some baseball situations that I had not thought up of....thanks!

Yeah really, LB, how could you forget the ol' standard triple pick-off?  Happens all the time!   

(I kid, of course)

One that has always bothered me for a baseball potential oddity...

Pitcher comes into a tie game the bottom of the 9th and a runner on 1st.

Batter grounds into a fielders choice forcing the runner out at 2nd.  Pitcher is yanked after one batter.  The next pitcher gives up a double scoring the runner from 1st for the game winner.

The guy who came in and recorded an out to the only man he faced would get credited with a loss.

Wholly agreed, Redz.  Similarly, I enjoy that pitchers who routinely blow late-game leads and then pick up the win when the team scores in their half of the inning are referred to by teammates as vultures.

-sw

[Redz]

Yeah really, LB, how could you forget the ol' standard triple pick-off?  Happens all the time!  

(I kid, of course)

There's also the hypothetical infinite amount of strike outs a pitcher could have in an inning if there are perpetual passed balls on 3rd strikes where the batter reaches first.

[Roy Hobbs]

Yeah really, LB, how could you forget the ol' standard triple pick-off?  Happens all the time!  

(I kid, of course)

There's also the hypothetical infinite amount of strike outs a pitcher could have in an inning if there are perpetual passed balls on 3rd strikes where the batter reaches first.

Crappiest catcher ever!

[Redz]

Yeah really, LB, how could you forget the ol' standard triple pick-off?  Happens all the time!  

(I kid, of course)

There's also the hypothetical infinite amount of strike outs a pitcher could have in an inning if there are perpetual passed balls on 3rd strikes where the batter reaches first.

Crappiest catcher ever!

I guess we could mix in a few wild pitches to give the catcher a break (it being a hypothetical situation and all)

[hwangjini_1]

just to add one more baseball puzzle question...

is it possible for the same pitcher to be both the winning and losing pitcher in the same game?

think carefully.