Why does a starter need to go 5 innings for a win?

[Jimbo OZ]

Obviously I own Zambrano who got pulled after 4 2/3 innings when the Cubs were leading 9-2. He wasn't pitching great but deserves the win more so than Rusch. I don't get it. What is the point to that rule?

[NZF]

I guess there has to be a cut off point somewhere.

I agree though, it does seem illogical that the guy that comes in and completes the fifth inning automatically gets the WIN if his side holds the lead. No matter how effective or ineffective he is.

The save rule is just as crazy, maybe even more so.

[TheYanks04]

You can't pitch at least 5 innings/half the game you do not deserve to win. Yeah the rule allows for some clod mop-up man out the pen to vulture a W, but so what? There is no point to padding SPs stat lines (and salaries). Pitchers used to finish what they started in the old days.

[Jimbo OZ]

You can't pitch at least 5 innings/half the game you do not deserve to win.

My math suggests that 4 2/3 innings is half the game (more than half actually).

Plus, with a blowout win developing and the Cubs current injury problems it is safer for Zambrano to come out early to preserve his helf. Therefore, it is unnecessary for him to "finish what he started".

[jjigglers]

You can't pitch at least 5 innings/half the game you do not deserve to win.

My math suggests that 4 2/3 innings is half the game (more than half actually).

Plus, with a blowout win developing and the Cubs current injury problems it is safer for Zambrano to come out early to preserve his helf. Therefore, it is unnecessary for him to "finish what he started".

He wasnt pulled for injury concerns, he was tossed out.
I say 5 innings is fair, like an earlier poster said, you have to draw the line somewhere.

[Jimbo OZ]

He wasnt pulled for injury concerns, he was tossed out.

He was actually pulled out by Dusty and got tossed on his way to the dugout.

[jjigglers]

my mistake.

[TheYanks04]

He had 106 pitches and walked in a run. Half his pitches were balls give or take. What is the problem? Man did not have his top stuff and Baker got him out of there with his pitch count over 100. It is his own fault for not getting the job done and I hardly see why you should reward a starter for that type of line. If you can't go 5 you do not deserve a W. Simple as that. Vulture Ws are for the relievers and mean very little outside of fantasy. Adding on W's to starters for lame performances does what for the real world game?

[thehat]

I would have liked Zambrano to complete the fifth but Dusty made the right move lifting him. He had loaded the bases and was clearly steaming at the home plate ump. His parting shot after handing Dusty the ball earned him the boot.

To be honest, he didn't pitch well today and really didn't deserve a win. But I would have been a lot happier had he gotten one.

[TheRawDAWG]

Nothing to do with Zambrano, but I find one of the strangest things about baseball being when a starter gets yanked with the win and another pitcher gives up the lead. But that team comes back to win in the end, the pitcher that gave up the lead gets the win. I always thought that was kind of a slap in the face to the starter who pitched well. Not only does the guy blow his W but then he gets rewarded for blowing his W. Funny stuff.