How many strikeouts can one pitcher possibly pitch before the game is over?
457115
there are 27 outs in a game so conventionally it's 27, however, if on strike three the batter swings and misses and the ball gets passed the catcher, he can run to first and be safe although it still counts as a strikeout, there really is no set possibility.
530712
I used to play in college.  Once a team is ahead by 10 runs AFTER THE 7TH INNING (if you're playing 9 inning games) then the game is over.  If you're only playing 7 inning games, then its after the 5th.  But most major conferences (ACC,SEC,PAC 10) don't have this rule.
1019070
The pitcher is a relief pitcher who came in after the first pitcher gave up 3 runs.  The relief pitcher struck out the next 27 batters.
721707
seven\nyou can get a hit...you can get hit...you can get walked...you can get walked on purpose...you can get struck out but if the ball gets away from the catcher and you beat his throw to first...you can reach on a fielders choice
353586
According to the official MLB rules book:\n\nSAVES FOR RELIEF PITCHERS \n10.20\nCredit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions: (1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and (2) He is not the winning pitcher; and (3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions: (a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or (b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces); or (c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.
387393
Three strikes for a strikeout.  Three outs per half an inning.  The pitcher threw 9 balls, all for strikes.  Striking out all the batters in a half inning is called striking out the side.  Normally, a pitcher throws more than 9 balls per half inning - fouls and called balls.  So to strikeout the side with the minimum needed is a feat.
430341
Yes. There is nothing wrong with that. However, odds are you will probably lose the Wins and Strikeouts categories as you need to accumulate more innings to be competitive. You are better off starting your pitchers trying to win as many statistics as possible.
378230
Yes, it has been done by 12 players.  Most recently by Bill Mueller in 2003 for the Boston Red Sox.  He hit one grand slam from each side of the plate in the same game.
1185376
WIN:\n(1) Pitcher must pitch at least 5 innings.\n(2) Pitcher must pitch all of next half inning to qualify if team takes lead after 5 innings. (i.e. if home team takes lead in bottom of 6th, the pitcher must get all 3 outs in top 7th in order to win)\n***if not, the pitcher who gets the final out gets the win.***\n\nLOSS:\n(1) When leaving the game, pitcher's team is losing or was responsible for the winning run (as in he left with a man on base)\n\nSAVE:\n(1) The last pitcher to pitch for the winning team, but cannot be the winning pitcher.\n(2) Either enters the game with a lead of no more than three and pitches a full inning or gets the final out with the tying run on base or at the plate or he pitches for the three last innings.\n\nHOLD:\n(1) Relief pitcher enters the game in a save situation, and leaves with the game still in a save situation.
636328
Only once has someone struck out 20 in 9 innings, I think it was Steve Carlton or Roger Clemens. More than a dozen have pitched a perfect game. So I would say 20 strike outs as being more impressive.
396247
SECTION 26. If a relief pitcher meets ALL of the following conditions, the\nofficial scorer should credit that pitcher with a save:\na. He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team;\nb. He is not credited with the win, and\nc. He meets one of the following conditions:\n(1) He enters the game with a lead of not more than three runs and\npitches at least one inning;\n(2) He enters the game with the potential tying run on base, at bat or on\ndeck, or\n(3) He pitches effectively for at least three innings.\nNote: No more than one save may be credited in each game.
1028578
Greetings from the Yahoo Brain in New York City!  \nHope you're watching the live Answers webcast at http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/asktheplanet/brain.html !\n\n\nA pitcher need not be a closer, nor must it be the ninth inning, to blow a save.\n\nIf a pitcher comes in as a reliever in a save situation, meaning that the tie, winning, or go-ahead run are either on base, at-bat, or on deck, then he is eligible to earn a Blown Save.  If he allows any of those runs to score (even if it's just the run that ties the game), he has blown the save.  If he doesn't and he preserves the lead, he will earn a Hold if he is a middle reliever, and a Save if he closes it out.\n\nIt's important to note that many 7th and 8th inning specialists, who are not in a position to earn a Save, can, however be charged with a Blown Save.  Not fair, but hey, that's life.  Or baseball.\n\nHope this helps!\n\n--J.
1122294
It goes to the first pitcher, in this case, but not always.  The official rule is 10.18(h):\n\nA relief pitcher shall not be held accountable when the first batter to whom he pitches reaches first base on four called balls if such batter has a decided advantage in the ball and strike count when pitchers are changed.\n\n(1) If, when pitchers are changed, the count is\n2 balls, no strike, \n2 balls, 1 strike, \n3 balls, no strike, \n3 balls, 1 strike, \n3 balls, 2 strikes,\n\nand the batter gets a base on balls, charge that batter and the base on balls to the preceding pitcher, not to the relief pitcher.\n\n(2) Any other action by such batter, such as reaching base on a hit, an error, a fielder's choice, a force out, or being touched by a pitched ball, shall cause such a batter to be charged to the relief pitcher.
1158145
Yes, 4.\n\nTeams must have at least 7 players on the pitch or the game is abandoned.
499448
A pitcher is credited with a perfect game when NO batter of the opposing team reaches base in ANY MANNER (no hits, no walks, no erros, no hit batsmen, no being awared first because of interference or obstruction, none of that stuff).\n\nOne poster had it right when they said, "three up, three down, every single inning".\n\nIf a pitcher pitches a 'perfect' game for nine innings, but the game goes into extra innings because of his own team's inability to score a run, and the pitcher allows a baserunner in extra innings, he is not credited with a perfect game.\n\nThis happened to a Pittsburg Pirate pitcher named Harvey Haddix in 1959, against the then-Milwaukee Braves. He pitched twelve perfect innings before surrendering a couple of hits in the 13th inning, and he lost the game.\n\nFor many years, Haddix was listed in the record books as having pitched a 'perfect' game, but about 15 years ago, baseball amended their rules, and removed Haddix's name from the "Perfect Game" list, although most record book sources will acknowledge that Haddix did pitch 12 perfect innings before allowing baserunners in the 13th.\n\nAlso, a pitcher can not be credited with a pefect game if he allows no baserunners in a rain-shortened game, even if he wins the game. It must be nine or more innings.\n\nJohn Lee Richmond and Monte Ward threw perfect games just 5 days apart in June of 1880, these were the only two perfect games of the 19th century.\n\nRandy Johnson threw a perfect game in 2004, this is the only perfect game of the 21st century so far.\n\nIn between, there were 14 perfect games pitched in the 20th century.\n\nAltogehter, 17 pitchers have thrown perfect games.\n\nHall of Famers who threw perfect games (6):\n\nMonte Ward 1880\nCy Young 1904\nAddie Joss 1908\nJim Bunning 1964\nSandy Koufax 1965\nCatfish Hunter 1968\n\n\nNon-Hall of Famers who threw perfect games:\n\nJohn Lee Richmond 1880\nCharlie Robertson 1922\nDon Larsen 1956 WORLD SERIES (only W.S. no hit game)\nLen Barker 1981\nMike Witt 1984\nTom Browning 1988\nDennis Martinez 1991\nKenny Rogers 1994\nDavid Wells 1998\nDavid Cone 1999\n\n\nThere is also one future Hall of Famer who threw a perfect game:\n\nRandy Johnson 2004\n\nAs you can see, a perfect game is pretty rare.
502317
A few reasons. 1). The five man rotation which cuts down a pitcher's starts to around 30-32 games a season. Up until the start of the 162 game era, pitchers could routinely pitch 38-40+ games a year. Cy Young started 906 games in his 20+ years as a pitcher. 2). To protect their multi-million $ investments, teams "baby" their pitchers so they rarely pitch on less than 3-4 days rest or throw in between starts. Which leads to 3). More time on the DL (and less starts) because they don't throw as much to build up arm strength and brings us to 4).The pitch count. You think Warren Spahn was ever pulled after throwing 110 pitches? Which gave birth to 5). The advent of the middle relief specialists. You can thank Tony LaRussa for bringing in a left handed reliever in the 7th to face one batter. Go 8 innings with the lead and you control your chance to win. Get pulled in the 6th or 7th and you leave it to a guy who couldn't cut it as a starter. A 20 game winner used to be the gold standard. Now it's 15. Who said today's players are much better than the players from the past?
1184636
my best answer would be 6:  first 3 guys up all get singles, to load the bases with no outs, next guy gets a single, but the runner on 3rd is called out for interfering while baserunning.  then this happens 2 more times and the inning is over.  6 base hits, no runs, inning over.  tough question though.