The rec.sport.baseball FAQ

• Charge an error to a fielder who muffs a foul fly whether the batter subsequently reaches base or not.
• Charge an error to any fielder who catches a ball in time to put out the batter-runner but fails to tag first base or the batter-runner.
• Same as previous, but for force plays.
• Charge an error to any fielder for a wild throw which allows a runner to advance when in the scorer's judgement he would have been put out by a good through exceptCharge an error to any fielder whose wild throw allows a runner to advance one or more bases beyond the base he would have acheived with a good throw.
• Charge an error to any fielder whose throw takes a bad hop, touches a base or the pitcher's plate, or touches a runner, fielder, or umpire allowing any runner to advance. A note on this rule says to apply it even when it appears to be an injustice to the fielder because "Every base advanced by a runner must be accounted for."
• Charge only one error on any wild throw.
• Charge an error against any fielder whose failure to (try to) stop a thrown ball allows a runner to advance IF there was occasion for the throw. If, in the scorer's judgement, there was not occasion for the throw, charge the player who threw the ball.
• When a player is charged with obstruction and one or more bases is awarded, charge the player with an error also.

Charge no error in these cases:

• To the catcher, for making a wild throw attempting to prevent a stolen base unless the throw allows runner(s) to advance.
• To any fielder for a wild throw if in the scorer's judgement the runner would not have been put out by a good throw unless the wild throw allows runner(s) to advance.
• To any fielder for a wild throw attempting to complete a double or triple play unless the throw allows runner(s) to advance.
  NOTE: when a player drops a thrown ball which would have completeled a double or triple play, charge an error to him and credit the fielder who made the throw with an assist.
• To any fielder who drops a pop, fly, or line drive but recovers in time to force out a runner at any base.
• When a wild pitch or passed ball is scored, including when a missed third strike allows a batter to reach first. Score that as a strikeout and either a passed ball or a wild pitch.
• When runner(s) advance as a result of a passed ball, a wild pitch, or a balk.

• when a runner breaks before the pitch and the pitch turns out to be a WP or PB, credit the stolen base. If the runner advances an extra base, credit an SB and record the WP or PB.
• when the catcher makes a wild throw attempting to get the runner, score the SB. If the throw allows the runner to advance another base, score the SB and an error.
• if a runner, during a steal or pickoff play, gets into a rundown but advances safely to the next base, score an SB. If another runner advances while the original runner makes it safely to the next base or the base he originally occupied, credit the other runner with an SB.
• a runner who is tagged out after oversliding a base does not get an SB.
• a runner who is called safe because of a muffed throw is charged with an CS, not an SB; the fielder who made the throw gets an assist, and the one who muffed it gets an error.
• "No stolen base shall be scored when a runner advances solely because of the defensive team's indifference to his advance. Score as a fielder's choice."

• safe hit
• sacrifice bunt
• sacrifice fly
• infield out
• fielder's choice
• becoming a batter-runner with the bases loaded by
  • base on balls
  • being hit by a pitch
  • being awarded first for interference or obstruction

An earned run is charged every time a runner reached home base by

• safe hits
• sacrifice bunts
• sacrifice flies
• stolen bases
• putouts
• fielder's choices
• bases on balls
• hit batters
• balks or wild pitches

No run scored by a runner who reaches base on an error (including after an error on a foul fly or by interference or obstruction) is earned.

No run scored by a runner who would have been put out by errorless play is earned.

No run scored by a runner whose advance is aided by

• error
• passed ball
• defensive interference
• obstruction

An error by the pitcher is scored just like an error by any other fielder in determining earned runs.

When fielding errors occur, give the benefit of the doubt to the pitcher when determining assumed baserunner advancement.

• the departing pitcher is responsible for any runners that he allowed to reach base who are there when he leaves.
• if a runner is "replaced" at a based due to a fielder's choice, the "replacement" runner is charged to the same pitcher the original runner was.

If a relief pitcher comes in in the middle of an at-bat, he is always responsible for the first batter he faces UNLESS

• the batter reaches first by a base on balls AND
• the count when the reliever enters the game is 2-0, 2-1, 3-0, 3-1, or 3-2.

Then, there's the infamous rule 10.18(i): "When pitchers are changed during an inning, the relief pitcher shal not bave the beneffit of previous chances for outs not accepted in determining earned runs.
NOTE: It is the intent of this rule to charge relief pitchers with earned runs for which they are solely responsible. In some instances, runs charged as earned against the relief pitcher can be charged as unearned against the team."

This is probably easiest to explain by example.

• Pitcher X gets two outs, then Player A reaches first on an error (all subsequent runs allowed by Pitcher X in this inning will be unearned).
• Player B doubles in Player A - charge Pitcher X with 1 unearned run.
• Pitcher Y enters the game. He does not get the benefit of consideration of the error which occurred before he entered.
• Pitcher Y gives up a home run to Player C.

When the starter does not meet these conditions and more that one relief pitcher is used,

• if the team assumes the lead while the starting pitcher is in and never relinquishes it, credit the victory to the reliver who was most effective (in the judgement of the scorer).
• whenever the score becomes tied the game becomes a new contest insofar as determining winning and losing pitchers.
• the relief pitcher of record when his team assumes the lead and maintains it until the end of the game shall be the winning pitcher EXCEPT when he pitches ineffectively in a brief appearance and a succeeding relief pitcher pitches effectively; in that case, credit the win to the following pitcher.

The starting pitcher is charged with a loss if his team is behind when he leaves the game or falls behind due to runs charged to him after he is replaced and his team fails to tie or gain the lead. Interestingly, the rules do not explicitly specify how to award a loss to a relief pitcher, but the clause above ("whenever the score becomes tied...") together with the immediately preceding section yield the familiar scheme.

• He finishes the game for his team.
• He is not the winning pitcher
• Any one of the following is true:
  • He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches one inning, OR
  • He enters the game with the potential tying run on base, at bat, or on deck, OR
  • He pitches at least three innings effectively.

(Clarification - The missing plate appearances are charged as though the player had gathered the appropriate number of at-bats without hits.)

• 130 AB's
• 50 IP
• 45 days on a major league roster during the 25-man limit (i.e., before September 1). Time in military service or on the disabled list does not count against this limit.

This vote should not be trusted as much as other votes; a coach who sees an opposing fielder only 12 times in the season will vote partly based on reputation, and reputation tends to lag behind the fact. (Thus players who win Gold Gloves tend to win them over a period which is 2-3 years after the period in which they had their best fielding statistics.)

The five-year rule was waived for Roberto Clemente after he was killed in a plane crash in the prime of his career. It is generally waived for players who die before becoming eligible.