Scorekeeping, like anything else that requires judgment, is not science, but art. For the most part, however, the hit/error call is a basic and simple one.
League scorekeepers are shown guidelines with which they are to follow when scoring a game. I would like to share a few of those guidelines with those that care to be informed as well as those that think they are informed and feel compelled to force their mis-information upon league statisticians in hopes of getting them to change their stats.
One question I ask our scorekeepers to ask themselves when confronted with a hit/error decision is, “Should the ball have been caught"? If the answer is yes, they should score it an error. If the answer is no, they should score it a hit.
If, in the scorer's judgment, a play on a batted ball should result in an out, but because of a fielder miscue an out is not recorded, the play should be ruled an error. When an error is given to the fielder on the play, the batter does NOT receive credit for a hit. Just because you reach base doesn't mean you will receive a hit. As stated before, if you reach base due to fielder error, your at-bat is recorded as an error (E).
Another instance in which you can reach base on a batted ball and not receive credit for a hit is a fielder's choice. If you reach base on a fair batted ball as a result of a fielder choosing to make a play on another baserunner, your at-bat is recorded as a fielder's choice (FC).
When you do reach base on a hit, please understand that the scorekeeper will credit you with only the base hit you deserve and not the bases you received as a result of errors. Let's look at an example. You hit a hard ground ball in the hole between shortstop and third. The left fielder charges to make the play and the ball skips through his/her legs. You run all the way around the bases and score. This is NOT a home run. Unless the scorekeeper felt you would have made 2B with ease, the correct scoring would be a 1B and a 3 base error on the left fielder.
I bring this topic to light once again in hopes of initiating a few of the newbies and some of the stubborn vets. If league scorekeepers and statisticians can add to this topic, that would be great.
League scorekeepers are shown guidelines with which they are to follow when scoring a game. I would like to share a few of those guidelines with those that care to be informed as well as those that think they are informed and feel compelled to force their mis-information upon league statisticians in hopes of getting them to change their stats.
One question I ask our scorekeepers to ask themselves when confronted with a hit/error decision is, “Should the ball have been caught"? If the answer is yes, they should score it an error. If the answer is no, they should score it a hit.
If, in the scorer's judgment, a play on a batted ball should result in an out, but because of a fielder miscue an out is not recorded, the play should be ruled an error. When an error is given to the fielder on the play, the batter does NOT receive credit for a hit. Just because you reach base doesn't mean you will receive a hit. As stated before, if you reach base due to fielder error, your at-bat is recorded as an error (E).
Another instance in which you can reach base on a batted ball and not receive credit for a hit is a fielder's choice. If you reach base on a fair batted ball as a result of a fielder choosing to make a play on another baserunner, your at-bat is recorded as a fielder's choice (FC).
When you do reach base on a hit, please understand that the scorekeeper will credit you with only the base hit you deserve and not the bases you received as a result of errors. Let's look at an example. You hit a hard ground ball in the hole between shortstop and third. The left fielder charges to make the play and the ball skips through his/her legs. You run all the way around the bases and score. This is NOT a home run. Unless the scorekeeper felt you would have made 2B with ease, the correct scoring would be a 1B and a 3 base error on the left fielder.
I bring this topic to light once again in hopes of initiating a few of the newbies and some of the stubborn vets. If league scorekeepers and statisticians can add to this topic, that would be great.
