What is the fewest number of pitches that a pitcher in a major league baseball game can throw and come away with a complete game?

(A real complete game, not shortened by rain or anything like that)

1) There is a rule that a ball will be awarded if not pitched within ten seconds, however it cannnot be used in order to intentionally walk a batter, which would be the case here. At most maybe one batter could be walked this way before the umpire takes greater action against the pitcher (ejection).
2) One rule that may permit a batter to get on base without recording a pitch could be catcher's interfierence, which takes place when the batter's swung bat hits the catcher's mit and the offensive team choose to take the free base as opposed to the outcome of the play. At this rate every batter could reach base and then procede to be picked off, until the last inning where one could score by similar means, thus ending the game. So, if this rule allows the batter first base without recording a pitch, no pitches are necessary to record a complete game.

This could have been said in less words but oh well.

Posted by wonshot on 2003-10-29 16:07:39