No decision

A no decision (sometimes written no-decision) is one of either of two sports statistics scenarios; one in baseball and softball, and the other in boxing and related combat sports.

For the film, see No Decision (film).

Baseball and softball

A starting pitcher who leaves a game without earning either a win or a loss is said to have received a no decision. Major League Baseball (MLB) rules specify that a starting pitcher, in order to earn a win, must pitch at least five innings, leaving the game with a lead that their team "does not relinquish".[1] There is no innings requirement for a starting pitcher to earn a loss, simply that the pitcher allows a run that gives the winning team a lead that they do not relinquish.[2] When a starting pitcher does not earn a win or a loss, it is a no decision, and the outcome of the game does not affect the starting pitcher's win–loss record, as a relief pitcher will receive the win or loss.

Attributing wins, losses, and no decisions can be complex, such as when a starting pitcher leaves a game mid-inning with runners on base, as runs scored by those runners would still be considered the starting pitcher's responsibility. Further, if a starting pitcher leaves a game while losing (colloquially, that pitcher is said to be "on the hook"), he or she will receive a no decision if their team comes back to tie the score or take the lead, regardless of the final outcome. Box scores for completed games indicate who the winning and losing pitchers are, as determined by the official scorer; the absence of a win or loss designation for a starting pitcher indicates a no decision.

Examples

Assume in these examples that each starting pitcher exits the game at the end of the 6th inning.

Example 1
Team123456789RHE
Red400000010550
Blue000000004440
WP: Red Starter   LP: Blue Starter

Red Starter gets the win since, during the time that he or she was in the game, the Red team established a lead that was never relinquished. Conversely, Blue Starter gets the loss. While the run that provided the winning margin could be viewed as having been scored in the eighth inning, after both starters had left the game, the first-inning lead was never relinquished (the Red team was always in the lead).

Example 2
Team123456789RHE
Red400000001550
Blue000000040440
WP: Red Reliever   LP: Blue Reliever

Red Starter and Blue Starter each get a no decision, as the 4–0 lead established in the first inning was later relinquished (at the end of the eighth inning, the score was tied).

Tommy John had 188 no decisions during his MLB career.

The above examples highlight how events that happen after starting pitchers have left the game can affect whether they receive a decision (win or loss) or no decision. This is one reason that wins and losses are generally viewed by baseball statisticians as being an unreliable indicator of pitching effectiveness.[3][4]

MLB records

In Major League Baseball (MLB), the record for the most no decisions by a starting pitcher in a single season (dating back to at least 1908) is held by Bert Blyleven, who had 20 in 1979.[5] Tommy John has the all-time record of 188 career no decisions.[6] The starting staff of the 1918 Boston Red Sox recorded only three no decisions, the fewest of any MLB team dating back to at least 1908, while the fewest in a 162-game season is 16, by the 1980 Oakland Athletics.[7] The record for most no decisions by a group of starting pitchers is 66, set by the 1993 Cleveland Indians.[8]

Not to be confused with No contest (combat sports).
See also: Newspaper decision

Although uncommon in contemporary combat sports, except in white-collar boxing, a no decision (ND) occurs if both boxers are still standing at the bout's conclusion and there was no knockout; that is, it ends in a tie or a draw, as no winner is selected on points. This may be by law, to discourage gambling; by rules to discourage injury of amateurs; or by prearrangement of the fighters, to protect titles from sudden upsets.[9] This should not be confused with the unrelated contemporary term "no contest".

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References
  1. "Official Baseball Rules" (PDF). Major League Baseball. 2018. p. 132. Retrieved May 16, 2019 – via MLB.com. section 9.17 (a)
  2. "Official Baseball Rules" (PDF). Major League Baseball. 2018. p. 133. Retrieved May 16, 2019 – via MLB.com. section 9.17 (d)
  3. "What is the best pitching stat?". CBS Sports. November 19, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  4. DuPaul, Glenn (September 12, 2012). "Let's get rid of pitching wins". The Hardball Times. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  5. "Pitching Game Finder: From 1908 to 2018, Recorded no decision, as Starter, sorted by greatest number of games in a single season matching the selected criteria". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  6. "Pitching Game Finder: From 1908 to 2018, Recorded no decision, as Starter, sorted by greatest number of games in all seasons matching the selected criteria". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  7. "Pitching Game Finder: From 1908 to 2018, Recorded no decision, as Starter, sorted by smallest Performances matching selected criteria by a Team". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  8. "Pitching Game Finder: From 1908 to 2018, Recorded no decision, as Starter, sorted by greatest Performances matching selected criteria by a Team". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  9. "No decision". BoxRec. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
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