Rainout Rule in MLB???

[Hitman26]

If the visiting team is leading and the game is called in the bottom of the 6th (7th,or 8th), does the visiting team get the official win? Also say that going into the top of the 6th, the visiting team is down by a run or more, but scores to take the lead in that inning, then the game is called before the home team gets to bat, what is the ruling there?

 

[DarrylParsons]

The rule is that the result at the end of the last FULL inning is what counts, except if the home team is leading in the bottom of the inning in which case the home team gets the win.

 

[Journeyman]

You must play 5 innings...if the visitor takes the laed in the top of an inning and the home team does not get to bat, the game score goes back to the last completed inning...assuming 5 full innings have been completed

 

[SteveMcGarrett]

Are you asking for BETTING purposes or just the MLB rule? I believe MLB has anew rule regarding rainouts this year, not sure exactly what it is but betting and MLB are completly different.

 

[royalfan]

they do have a new rule. For instance yesterday if the Nationals would not have been able to bat due to field conditions in the ninth it would have been a suspended game since Atlanta scored two in the top of the ninth to take the lead 2-1. You are saying this would have been a win for National bettors though? Are you sure about that?

 

[Journeyman]

How can that be? Where did you see this new rule?

 

[DarrylParsons]

Well I'll be darned! I didn't know about the new rule...so I take back what I said...just checked the official site and here's what they say...


From section 4.12, subsection 5:

Weather, if the game is called while an inning is in progress and before it is completed, and one of the following situations prevails: (i) The visiting team has scored one or more runs to tie the score, and the home team has not scored. (ii) The visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not tied the score or retaken the lead. (b) Such games shall be known as suspended games. No game called because of a curfew, weather, or a time limit shall be a suspended game unless it has progressed far enough to have been a regulation game under the provisions of Rule 4.10.

Full text:

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/start_end_4.jsp

Just goes to show you can't spend too much time on the Rx without learning something new!

For betting purposes, though, the books each have their own rules about it so players are wise to check it out, especially before doing a big scalp because you may end up with a loss and a push if the rules are different at the 2 books.

 

[DarrylParsons]

So based on my interpretation of the rule, the short answer to Hitman's question is that in both cases the game is suspended and shall be continued at a later date, assuming of course it went 5 full innings, otherwise the whole game is just postponed.

 

[Journeyman]

That's what it looks like Darryl..I didn't know they had changed this to make sure all games were completed in full...interesting

 

[DarrylParsons]

Journey,

I don't think it will apply to very many games because, for example, if it's called in the top of the inning and the visiting team hasn't scored yet, then the old rule applies. Same is true if it's called in the bottom of the inning and the visiting team didn't score in the top of the inning. Same is true if the visiting team scored in the top half of the inning but was leading anyway. Same is true if the visiting team scored in the top of the inning but the home team is still leading.

The only time it applies is if the home team would win under the old rule AND the visiting team scored to tie or take the lead in the top half of the inning. I guess they want to avoid awarding a win to the team which isn't even ahead when the game is called.

 

[DarrylParsons]

So I guess the answer to Hitman's first question is that if the visiting team was leading BEFORE the inning in question, then it would be awarded the win.

Geez this is confusing but I think I get it now.

 

[Doug]

Does anyone know of any grading differences between major books on this issue ? Are they all consistent ? Is push/ lose possible if on both sides ?

I'd like to have a heads up on any differences that exist !