162 Inning Pitchers are Disappearing

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

Currently a starter has to pitch 5 innings at the start of the game for a win, do you think this rule will change in the future ? Maybe 4 innings etc.
Is it right that a starter pitches 4 innings and all the relievers pitch 1 inning and one of them gets credit for the win ?

Unless the starting pitchers are averaging more than 7 innings per start, the whole concept of winning and losing pitchers is of little value. Changing the rule to 4 innings is not the answer.

What percentage of games are decided in the first 4 innings?

Too many games are decided in the late innings. A lefty-righty relief specialist comes into the game to get the third out in a late inning. He succeeds in striking the batter out. His team then scores in the next inning to assume the lead. The pitcher is replaced by a closer in the next inning.

Is one late inning strikeout worthy of a win? Really?

With the vanishing 162 inning pitchers, look at the rosters of the playoff teams. I believe all of them have several bullpenners whose body of work is less than 50 innings and some of them probably have more wins than 5 inning starters with less than 162 innings.

Perhaps the concept of winning and losing pitchers should be abandoned. Perhaps the distinction between starting pitchers and relief pitchers should be abandoned. Let’s just call them all JAPs (Just Another Pitcher) instead of SPs and RPs.