Thought Experiment ...

Tuesday, September 15 2009 @ 10:33 AM EDT

This is Officially Not a Trivia Contest (though it's certainly trivial so maybe close to that!)

I'm not very good with math -- I ignore it more than 60 percent, or almost half the time! So I'm not sure what made me think of this, but I found myself wondering ...

What is the maximum number of hits a pitcher can allow in one inning without giving up a run? I'm sure there must be a "right" answer to this; it's not an "infinity" question like it would be if we added the word "unearned" to the question. So here we go -- check my work, grade my effort, let me know if there is another answer, and post your own favorite "thought experiment" question here.

Is this right?

1. Pitcher surrenders three infield singles, loading the bases. (Three batters, no runs.)
2. Pitcher picks off runner on third, surrenders another infield single (Four, zero.)
3. Pitcher repeats step two, above.  (Five, zero.)
4. Pitcher strikes out hitter for third out.

Final answer: Five base hits allowed, no runs scored.

So -- is that right? And what else you got?

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