Can a MLB Pitcher Pitch the Whole Game?
Major League Baseball (MLB) is the premier baseball league in the United States and Canada. It is made up of 30 teams, each fielding a team of nine players. Each team plays 162 games in a regular season and the team with the best record earns a playoff spot. The pitcher is one of the most important players on the field, and they are responsible for delivering the ball to the hitter in an attempt to get them out. But can a MLB pitcher pitch the entire game?
The answer is no, as it is not possible for one pitcher to pitch the entire game. The rules of MLB state that a team can only use five pitchers in a game, so it is impossible for one player to pitch nine innings alone. This is why teams use multiple pitchers throughout the course of a game.
Why Can’t One Pitcher Pitch the Whole Game?
There are several reasons why one pitcher cannot pitch the whole game. The rules of MLB limit the number of pitchers a team can use in a game to five, and each pitcher must face at least three batters before being taken out of the game. This means that one pitcher would not be able to pitch for more than three innings, as they would have to be taken out after facing the third batter.
In addition to this, pitchers are not allowed to pitch in consecutive days, and must have at least four days of rest before they can pitch again. This means that any pitcher who pitches nine innings in one game would not be able to pitch in the next game, as they would not have had enough rest.
The Physical Limitations of Pitching an Entire Game
It is not just the rules of MLB that prevent a pitcher from pitching an entire game; it is also the physical limitations of the pitcher. Pitching is a very physically demanding activity and requires a great deal of strength and endurance.
A pitcher must throw a ball with a great deal of force in order to be effective, and this takes a lot of energy. A pitcher must also be able to maintain their accuracy and velocity over a long period of time, which is difficult.
The physical demands of pitching for nine innings are too great for one pitcher to handle, which is why teams use multiple pitchers in a game.
The Benefits of Having Multiple Pitchers
Having multiple pitchers in a game has many benefits for a team. Different pitchers have different styles and strengths, and having multiple pitchers allows a team to use different pitchers at different points in the game depending on the situation.
For example, a team might use a pitcher who is better at striking out batters in the early innings, and then use a pitcher who is better at getting groundball outs in the late innings.
Having multiple pitchers also allows a team to rest their pitchers throughout the game, as they can take out a pitcher after they have thrown a certain number of pitches. This helps to prevent pitchers from being overworked and injured.
The History of Pitchers Pitching the Whole Game
Although it is not possible for one pitcher to pitch the entire game under the current rules, it was not always this way. In the early years of MLB, pitchers were allowed to pitch the entire game if they wanted to.
The most famous example of this is the legendary Cy Young, who pitched the first perfect game in the modern era in 1904. Young pitched all nine innings of the game and struck out 11 batters.
Notable Pitchers Who Pitched the Whole Game
Cy Young is not the only pitcher in MLB history to have pitched a complete game. Other notable pitchers who have done so include Hall of Famer Walter Johnson, Don Larsen, who pitched a perfect game in the 1956 World Series, and Bob Feller, who threw a no-hitter in 1940.
In recent years, the most notable pitcher to pitch a complete game is Clayton Kershaw, who did it in 2014. Kershaw pitched all nine innings and struck out 11 batters in a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres.
The Longest Game in MLB History
The longest game in MLB history took place in 1984 between the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers. The game lasted 25 innings and ended in a 7-6 victory for the White Sox.
The game lasted 8 hours and 6 minutes, and featured eight different pitchers for the White Sox and seven for the Brewers. The winning pitcher was 25-year-old Richard Dotson, who pitched the last five innings of the game without giving up a run.
The Most Innings Pitched by One Pitcher in a Game
The record for the most innings pitched by one pitcher in a game is held by Joe Oeschger, who pitched 12 innings for the Boston Braves in a game against the Brooklyn Robins in 1920. Oeschger gave up just one run in the game, but the game ended in a 1-1 tie as the game was called due to darkness after 12 innings.
The Most Innings Pitched in a Season
The record for the most innings pitched in a season is held by Jack Taylor, who pitched 464.2 innings for the Chicago Cubs in 1908. Taylor pitched 73 complete games in that season and finished with a record of 28-23.
The Future of Pitching an Entire Game
Due to the physical demands of pitching, it is unlikely that one pitcher will be able to pitch the entire game in MLB in the future. Teams will continue to rely on multiple pitchers to get through a game, as it is the only way to ensure that their pitchers are not overworked and injured.
Conclusion
It is not possible for one pitcher to pitch the entire game in Major League Baseball. The rules of MLB limit the number of pitchers a team can use in a game to five, and pitchers are not allowed to pitch in consecutive days, which makes it impossible for one pitcher to pitch nine innings alone. In addition to this, the physical demands of pitching for nine innings are too great for one pitcher to handle.
Despite this, there have been several pitchers in MLB history who have pitched complete games, including Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Don Larsen, Bob Feller, and Clayton Kershaw. However, it is unlikely that one pitcher will be able to pitch the entire game in MLB in the future.
In conclusion, it is not possible for one pitcher to pitch the whole game in MLB due to the rules and the physical limitations of pitching.