New Rule Change Proposed for Major League Baseball

If the first relief pitcher in place of a starter blows a game for a starting pitcher and ends up getting the win, the credited victory should not go to the relief pitcher who blew the lead. It happened again Friday night in the Mets-Cubs game. A starting pitcher leaves after seven innings with the lead, and then the bullpen comes in a blows the lead. In this case it was Bobby Parnell of the Mets going seven strong (109 pitches), before being relieved to start the eighth inning by Brian Stokes.   Now, after a pretty decent season where he was solid save for a couple of bad appearances, Stokes had the wheels fall off August 28, when he allowed four runs in one-third of an inning, blowing Pat Misch opportunity for his first ever victory. Then on September 2, he allowed three more runs in one-third of an inning, allowing three hits and three walks. Friday night was brutal again. Stokes was blowing a lead and the win for Parnell, who needed a good appearance AND A WIN to get the co...