If two pitchers both allow 4 earned runs can one have pitched better? (Situation inside)

Question

Pitcher A - 8 innings with 4 earned runs, but he went 7 shutout innings and allowed all 4 in the 8th inning

Pitcher B - 8 innings also 4 earned runs, but he allowed the runs early in the game. The runs came after the team got the lead.

Which pitcher pitched better? Or would you say there is no difference?

Answer 1

If we exclude the total amound of hits and walks, the pitchers each allowed, there still is a difference.  Kinda seperate but equal.

Pitcher A pitched great for 7 innings and then allowed all of his runs in the last inning.  This could have been more fluky.

Pitcher B, allows his run early, but then clamped down.  And it could have been early fluky.

But the big difference is that if we had pulled pitcher A before he pitched the 8th, he woulda had a gem of a game.

But if you pull pitcher B before he gave up the runs, you barely have any innings outta him at all.

Its wierd logic, i know.  But i tend to side with pitcher A cuz he actually pitched through the batting order through 7 complete innigs and maybe it was just fatigue that got to him. While pitcher B, it wouldnt have been fatigue that early, and maybe he was just really bad.

Answer 2

There's no real difference with this scenario unless we know what the WHIP was for each pitcher.  If the 4 runs for pitcher A all came from just 4 (combination of walks, HPB, hits) vs 9 (combination of walks, HPB, hits) for pitcher B, then I would say due to WHIP, that pitcher A had a slightly better game.

Answer 3

Who ever lat off the least amount of hits would be considered the best pitcher. Sometimes, a pitcher lets off zero hits but lets off run(s). If that happened, the pitcher would still get the no hitter but would have let off a hit, off of an error. An error is not considered a hit.

Answer 4

There is no difference. Unless one of there runs was unearned, then that pitched would have done better.

Answer 5

Stats can be deceiving.  Based on your senario, it would be impossible to really know whom was better.  Pitcher B could have had bad luck where the opposition had alot of bloop hits or his defense behind him may not be that good where some hits could have been caught by a better defender.  Some pitchers struggle early in games because they haven't gotten into a rhythm.  Sometimes games can be won in the 1st inning against pitchers that are at their weakest in the begining of games.  Remember pitchers are not machines.  They don't always have control /movement of their pitches every game.  

Pitcher A could have been fatigued.  Alot of pitchers hit the wall after so many pitches.  Or Pitcher A could have been benefitted from alot of balls that were hit hard but right at defenders.  There could have been a pitch hitter (possible a hitter that the pitcher never faced before)that got the big hit against the starter in the 8th which sometimes benefits the other team.  

Basically, there are TOOOO many factors in knowing this answer.  Also the pitchers could have been a Santana vs a teams #4 or 5 pitcher.  In that case, #4 or 5 pitcher could have had a great game for them but a slightly poor game for Santana based on his ability.

Answer 6

Although statisically A and B are the same, from a baseball manager's standpoint, I'd say that A was "better" for 7 innings and then "lost" it in the 8th, while B was consistent throughout, averaging a run every 2 innings. Since B gave up runs "early", he/she apparently found a "groove" and is pitching better than A late in the game. The manager of A will probably bring in a relief pitcher for inning 9; B's manager may well let him/her continue in the game, since he/she has now settled down.  

Answer 7

Based on what you told us, there isn't much difference other than opinion: Whether or not it was more impressive to start great, or shut the opponent down after a tough start.

But there are a lot of other factors that could help decide who pitched better. Pitch count, Walks, Strikeouts, Hits, Hit Batters, Wild Pitches, Ratio of Ground Balls/Fly-outs, Balks, Pitch Control (Ratio of Balls/Strikes), and many many others.

Also, like Vince said, stats can be deceiving.

Answer 8

The box score would show no difference, although I would say pitcher A had a better day/night. Seven shutdown innings is an accomplisment that is not seen very often. A pitcher has to be dominant in order for that too happen. In this situation pitcher A was just plagued with an unfortunate tough late inning.  

Answer 9

It all depends on how you look at it. I'm going to take it back to the 2002 World Series, seeing as how I'm a Giants fan and the scenario is burned into my memory.

Game 6, Livan Hernandez is throwing a great game, so Dusty decides to leave him in. He blows the lead, but ends up giving up only one more run than the Angels starter, but on one less hit. He pitched great, but he got a loss.

What I'm trying to say is, whose team won? He's the one who pitched better. It's not how you get there, but the outcome that matters in the end.

Answer 10

I would say no real difference.