Question about the rules

[tclowers23]

I posted this question in the St. Louis Cardinals thread, but I figured that thread may not be checked by many people on this board.

The Cardinals game was postponned until tomorrow night. They were leading 5-1 in the bottom of the 3rd inning. When the game resumes, will they pick up in the 3rd inning or start over?

I seem to have forgotten how this works.

 

[doozer]

pick up from where they left off.

 

[tclowers23]

Thanks... I was hoping so. Seemed like the fair and logical thing, but just wanted to make sure.

 

[GAVol]

Yeah, they changed that rule a few years ago. They used to just declare the game a washout and start all over.

 

[tclowers23]

Well, crap.

The Official Site of The St. Louis Cardinals: News: Cardinals' opener postponed

Looks like it is actually a "washout".

 

[tclowers23]

I don't know what the deal is with this, but if this is the rule, it obviously needs to be changed.

 

[GAVol]

I really thought they had changed the rule.

 

[TennesseeFan07]

I remember watching a Cubs/Cardinals game a few years ago that was like 12-9 in the 4th and it rained it out and they reset the whole thing

 

[Vercingetorix]

They will sometimes finish a game later if it has to be suspended once it's official. But if it doesn't it make it that far, then yeah, it doesn't count.

 

[volfanbill]

I really thought they had changed the rule.

if i'm not mistaken a game has to go through 5 innings to be declared official. anything before that and it all starts over. I have never heard of anyone changing that rule.

 

[volfanbill]

i will also add that I see no reason to change that rule. for one it could really hurt a starter's stats. What if he gives up a leadoff hr and then retires the next six batters before the game is suspended at the start of the third? That would screw with his ERA big time. Secondly, law of averages will take care of any unfairness.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Five complete innings, or four and a half if the home team is leading.

 

[tclowers23]

i will also add that I see no reason to change that rule. for one it could really hurt a starter's stats. What if he gives up a leadoff hr and then retires the next six batters before the game is suspended at the start of the third? That would screw with his ERA big time. Secondly, law of averages will take care of any unfairness.

Yeah, I see what you're saying... but there's also another side to this story. If a pitcher throws 4 shutout innings, his excellent performance is all for not. Oh well, I trust the MLB and their rules.

 

[GAVol]

if i'm not mistaken a game has to go through 5 innings to be declared official. anything before that and it all starts over. I have never heard of anyone changing that rule.

I think the change they made is that if the game is tied after 5 innings, they call it a suspended game and finish it later.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

if i'm not mistaken a game has to go through 5 innings to be declared official. anything before that and it all starts over. I have never heard of anyone changing that rule.

You are correct.