I hate to break into the euphoria of last nights and todays events with a non LSU post but I am putting this on the main thread hoping for a quick answer. My 12 year old nephew just called me because he is doing his homework and the question he has to answer is What is the minimum number of pitches that a pitcher has to throw to pitch a complete game? Assuming that a pitcher would throw one pitch to each batter and the batter would either fly out or ground out a pitcher for the road team would go into the top of the 8th inning having thrown 21 pitches through 7 innings. Assuming that the team of the pitcher throwing this imposibly perfect game hadn't scored either and he gets the first two batters out with his 22nd and 23rd pitches and on his 24th pitch gives up a home run. On his 25th pitch he gets out # 3 in the eighth inning. His team then comes to bat in the top of the 9th and dosen't score. The game is over and his great game is worth a 1-0 loss. Anybody see anything wrong with that? I asked him about rainout games that have gone 5 innings and are official games but thats not in the question.
To pitch a complete game, he would have to pitch until the game is over which has no set limit or minimum for pitches. If a reliever comes in at any time during the game, the complete game is over no matter if it's the 5th inning or the 9th inning with only one out. To pitch a "perfect" complete game, the minimum number of pitches would be 27, though that's virtually impossible. There are games on record where a pitcher threw 1 pitch and got the win (not a complete game). There is no real minimum for a complete game, but it starts at 27 and can go up from there. Hope that helped a little, if I read correctly.
Re: Re: Important Question If a reliever comes in at any time, even with 2 out in the 9th it is not a complete game for the starting pitcher. A pitcher can be credited with a complete game whether his team wins or loses but only if he is the only pitcher of record for his team. In reality a pitcher can throw one pitch in the first inning, the batter lines it back into his head and he is replaced because of the injury but that is not a complete game and even if the pitcher who relieves him finishes the game by pitching all the other pitches for his team. The reliever would be the pitcher of record for the win or loss but he would not be credited for a complete game. There are lots of games where a reliever has thrown one pitch and ended an inning and if his team was behind and then rallied for the win in their half of the inning to win the pitcher getting that last out with one pitch gets the win (or a save if his team is ahead already) My nephew's teacher certainly won't be looking for out of the box answers but here is a situation for a one pitch compete game. I don't know the rule about this whether the pitcher would be credited with a complete game but say a pitcher hits a batter with the first pitch. Both teams charge the mound and a huge brawl breaks out. Players are ejected but not the pitcher. The manager of the team whose player was hit makes his team walk off the field and a forfiet is declared. In that case if the rules are written that way the pitcher would be credited with a one pitch complete game win.
The minimum number of pitches for a complete game is 25. His team is away, bottom nine first pitch home run game over.
