Ordinarily, this would be a save for Hoffman, and it would have been his 28th of the season. He came in with the Jays leading and closed out the game. Originally, it was. Reliever Louis Varland, who finished the top of the eighth, was awarded the win and Hoffman the save.
A few minutes later, though, the decision was changed and Hoffman was given the win, his eighth of the season. There was no save.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Rule 9.17(c) states: “The official scorer shall not credit as the winning pitcher a relief pitcher who is ineffective in a brief appearance, when at least one succeeding relief pitcher pitches effectively in helping his team maintain its lead.”
That would seem to leave room for the official scorer to judge what is considered “brief” and “ineffective,” but a subsection of the same rule states that if a pitcher gives up at least two runs, including inherited runners, and fails to record at least three outs, that outing shall be considered brief and ineffective.
“I think one of the most selfless things you can do is get a bunt down,” Clement says.
Varland only pitched to two hitters after taking over for Mason Fluharty with a runner on first and two out in the top of the eighth. He gave up a two-run homer to Marcus Semien, then struck out Rowdy Tellez. Brief. Ineffective. Hoffman got the win.
A pitch-hitter
Eric Lauer wanted to grab a bat Saturday after watching first baseman Rowdy Tellez pitch the final two innings for Texas and catcher Tyler Heineman throw the ninth for ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ in the Jays’ 14-2 win.
“I would love to get an at-bat against a position player,” the Jays starter said. “I think that’s how it should go. You should be able to (pinch-hit with) pitchers when a position player’s on the mound, just make it a little more interesting.”
Lauer, a career .104 hitter with one home run in 96 at-bats, wasn’t kidding. He suggested pitchers be allowed to bat but have position players sub back in to play the field.
“I think it’d be fun,” he said. “It would be a cool rule change. I would love that, I think a lot of guys would.”
Mike Wilner is a ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½-based baseball columnist for the Star
and host of the baseball podcast “Deep Left Field.†Follow him on
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