Error or not

To me it has to be an error because the run scored. The question I have is do you give two errors (one for the run and one for the batter reaching first) or do you call it a fielder's choice on the putout with an error for the run scored?

Good question: My first response was FC, but..... did the runner on second break on the hit ball or did he wait till the muff? On the hit, I see it as a FC, on the muff, an error.

Here’s the way I would score it (not that it’s correct):

#1. E-5 -- Third baseman failed to handle the ground ball resulting in the batter becoming a runner and continuing the inning. No different than the first baseman dropping a good throw from the 3rd baseman. Once the error is give to the third baseman everything else changes from that point forward.
(I see where biggerpapi is coming from and understand his reasoning for giving an error based on the run scoring. However I think the correct way (even if the run didn’t score is to give the error to the 3rd baseman). The inning was prolonged because of his error if only for a few seconds.

#2 After the fielding error by the 3rd baseman, the putout of the runner advancing from 2b fits the requirments of caught stealing. An automatic fielder’s choice is not an option since first base was open and runners were not forced to advance and it was not the initial move of the 3rd baseman. Here's where it gets "gray" with me. Had the putout of the runner advancing from 2nd to 3rd been the initial goal of the 3rd baseman the run would have probably not scored and I would have scored it a fielder’s choice.

#3. The runner advancing from 3rd to home now fits the description of a stolen base and is liable to be put out. Since he was successful in reaching home safely I would award him a stolen base.

#4. No RBI since the batter’s action failed to produce a run. The error allowed the run.

#5. Run is unearned because the error allowed the inning to continue.

Score it E-5, SB, CS.
Fungo

Fungo explained it well.

What if the ball was muffed and fielder picks it up and tags runner coming from second to third BEFORE batter reaches first base, but after runner on third reaches home? Would have to be ruled "no score"-correct?

MOC1, that's where it gets gray with me. Does this make it a FC? If so I would guess the run doesn't count --- and no error.

Give me your opinion --- Would it be a fielder's choice? I don't think so. I think the 3rd baseman's intent was to go to first and in doing so commited an error. From that point on the 3rd baseman was "reacting" to the runners advancing which was only allowed to happen by him commiting the error and allowing the batter to become a runner.

FIELDER’S CHOICE is the act of a fielder who handles a fair grounder and,
instead of throwing to first base to put out the batter-runner, throws to another base in an
attempt to put out a preceding runner. The term is also used by scorers (a) to account for the
advance of the batter-runner who takes one or more extra bases when the fielder who
handles his safe hit attempts to put out a preceding runner; (b) to account for the advance of
a runner (other than by stolen base or error) while a fielder is attempting to put out another
runner; and (c) to account for the advance of a runner made solely because of the defensive
team’s indifference (undefended steal).

If the tag was made before the runner reached 1B, it would be scored FC-5U. The run would not count and no error scored. If the runner was tagged after the runner reached 1B and the runner scored before the tag I would score it E-5 5U. There is no SB, the error was reponsible for the run scoring or advancing and the runner reaching 1B safely before the 3rd out was made. Just the same as if a runner scored from 3B on any error made before the 3rd out. The run scored because of the error.

Not the world's greatest scorekeeper, but that is how I would score it.

Thanks for the answers. I wonder if I have read too much into the idea of no error on a play that results in an out.

I scorekeep for my son's 15u/16u summer league team and I rely a lot on things I read here to help me out. I pretty much wing it by the seat of my pants otherwise.

Huh? R2 and R3, ball is put into play, R3 crosses the plate before R2 is tagged out for the third out of the inning, right? That run scores, because the third out wasn't a force out, nobody was called out on appeal of a missed base, and the B/R didn't make the third out before reaching first. None of the three exceptions in 4.09 were met in this situation, so it is a timing play and the run scores.

As for score keeping, it clearly is E5, but I don't know about the rest of it.