Would it be fair to say that if a relief pitcher throws 9 consecutive innings without giving up a hit.........

Question

he should be given credit for a no hitter? After all, it's his only opportunity to receive credit for one. Consider the fact that consecutive records like scoreless innings, hitting streaks, games played involve more than one game. Why not relief pitchers outings as well. Your thoughts.

Answer 1

no way that should count as a no hitter.

if john lackey got to sit down and take a day of rest between the 8th and 9th inning last night he would have had a no hitter. that's what makes it so difficult.

Answer 2

That would be like saying that a pinch hitter who hits home runs on 4 consecutive pinch hit appearances should be given credit for hitting 4 in a game because he didn't get the chance to hit more often.

A no - hitter is defined as pitching a complete game without giving up a hit, not pitching 9 straight innings without a hit. Even a starter can pitch 9 no hit innings and not be credited for a no hitter if he were to give up a hit in extra innings.

And of course hitting streaks and games played involve more than one game. How can you possibly have even a 2 game hitting streak without counting more then one game?

No, relief pitchers do not have opportunities  to pitch a no hitter. But, a starting pitcher will never be able to break the record for most saves in a season either. It just comes with the territory.

Answer 3

No, because that is not a game, it is parts of several games.

Lee Smith once went at least nine perfect innings over a couple of weeks. I'd have to check the specifics.

Answer 4

No. A no-hitter is one game, not a bunch of innings.

Answer 5

no, a no hitter is not giving up a hit against the same team for nine consecutive innings.

Answer 6

No because he gets rest between those innings.   A no hitter is so great becasue you know in the 8th and 9th inning that pitcher is tired but is still giving his all and trying to throw his best.

Answer 7

no, relief pitchers get a whole day to rest maybe more after short outings.

they also face different lineups each day and dont have to fool the same hitters and get them out three to four times in the same night.

Answer 8

No, last year Bobby Jenks tied the record for consecutive outs with 41. That equals 13 2/3 innings of a perfect game.

But I agree with you that its harder for a reliever to be that good over a few games and against different teams than to have one good 9 inning game by a starter against 1 team.

Answer 9

No, because a reliever would be able to bring his best stuff all 9 inning.  Where as, a start would be losing velocity and movement by the 8th and 9th.

Answer 10

No I don't think they should get credit.

Let me ask this: If a starting pitcher throws 5 innings in one game without giving up a hit but is taken out for some reason, then goes the first 4 innings of the next start without giving up a hit, does he get a no-hitter? No he doesn't

What about a player who hits a single, double, triple, and home run all in a period of 9 innings played (spread over 2 or more games)? he doesn't get credited with hitting for the cycle.

A No-hitter is a complete game, not just 9 innings. If a game goes into extra innings, a pitcher must maintain the no-hit (or perfect game) status for the entire game in order to get credit.

Every stat or record has different criteria. Some records are for consecutive innings with an acomplishment, others are for an acomplishment within the context of a single game. There is no sport anywhere that doesn't have this distinction. If a basketball player scores lots of points in the 3rd and 4th quarters of a game, and lots in the 1st and 2nd quarters of a game, they don't get credit for most points scored in a game because it was 2 different games. The same types of things are true in every sport.

9 consecutive hitless innings will get recognized, but it should not count as a no-hitter just like any other single game sports statistic. Single game stats are for single games, not for acomplishments spread over 1 game worth of time. This includes overtime or extra innings in all sports. Why should baseball make a special exception to something that is standard across all sports?

Answer 11

Ernie Shore once did that in a game on June 23, 1917.  Babe Ruth was the starting pitcher and after walking the first batter he argued with the ump and was tossed from the game.  Shore came in relief and the runner was caught stealing and the next 26 batters got out without reaching base.  It was originally ruled a no-hitter and perfect game for Shore but when MLB redefined the no-hitter rules in 1991, Shore lost his no-hitter since he didn't pitch a complete game and it was rules as a combined no-hitter.

By the way the do have records for the most consectively no-hit innings (Cy Young) and most consecutively batters retired (41 by Jim Barr [2 games] and Bobby Jenks [14 games]).

Answer 12

No, I don't think a relief pitcher should get credit for throwing 9 consecutive hitless innings for the for pretty much the same reasons that have been stated above.

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Answer 13

It is a no-hitter if the pitcher pitches 9 complete innings.  Even if it goes to extra.   He will still get credit for the no-hitter.  John Lackey last night pitched 8 1/3 of no hit ball.

Answer 14

In baseball, a no-hitter (also known as a no-hit game) refers to a game in which one of the teams prevented the other from getting a hit

so even though that closer may have thrown 9 no hit innings, the team(s) got hits off other pitchers, and thats where it no longer becomes a no hitter.

Until thy redefine a "no-hitter" then this is how it will be. 1 team preventing another from getting a hit

Answer 15

yah one of the biggest advantages of being a hitter against a starter is being able to see him pitch 3-4 times during a game.  Many times relievers only face 3 guys at a time, and they havent seen his arm angles, pitch selection, speed, etc.

Answer 16

No.  A starting pitcher that throws a no-hitter and gets taken out in the 10th with the game tied 0-0 doesn't get credit for a no-hitter. so why should a reliever? .

While we are at it, why don't we give a starting pitcher that throws a complete game and wins by less than 3 runs a win and a save?