Errors - First Base "scoops"

I would say E6 because he made the throw. The 1B picking it makes up for the SS's throwing error.

The only time I have given an error to the 1B on a throw in the dirt was when the throw bounced probably 15 feet away and went by at waist level. If the ball is around their ankles in the dirt, I figure they are doing the other fielder a favor by saving them an error.

That not only goes for 1B, but should also be scored for any bag. The fielder, no matter what position, is in their respected positions to do two things correctly, "Field the ball and Throw the ball accurately". If it is in the dirt or causes the receiving player to be pulled off the bag, it is on the Fielder in my opinion. That is the way I have always scored it for the past 10 years.

If the throw goes into the dirt, it is on the fielder. If the throw bounces 15 feet in front of the 1st baseman it is definitely an error on the fielder. A good throw does not bounce. When they have to bounce it, hopefully the first baseman can pick it, but you cannot consider it a routine play (although we do expect it to be. )

what about the play where the SS has to range deep in the hole and jump throw the ball and bounces it on purpose in the grass? If the 1B doen't catch it do you score a hit?

The play you describe would not be considered routine and yes would usually be considered a hit.

Scoring H or E via a web description is difficult at best.

Some of the discussion I read suggest we're a bunch of hard tushes around here. Then I attend a D-I college game and I see things scored hits that I would score errors at 13U travel ball. I've seen things this week at MLB scored hits that have me scratching my head.

Bottom line, watch the play, when its over ask should a player at this level have made that play with normal effort. Since most difficult scoring decisions involve your own kid (don't ask me why, it just works that way). Ask, if my kid hit it, how would I score it? Then ask, if my kid fielded it, how would I score it? Then ask, if my kid was pitching, how would I score it? After the three questions have been asked, the emotion of the moment will be over, so you simply say decide if the play would have been made with normal effort or not.

If you still can't decide, ask those around you what they saw. We don't get instant replay and I don't know about you guys, but my short term memory isn't what it used to be, nor is my eyesight (except when arguing balls and strikes from the stands, but that's another thread).

I've left ? marks in my book for an inning or two until I could rationally think about a situation and then gone back and did my best. I've had parents of hitters yelling in my ear, "HIT HIT HIT". I've had parents of pitchers screaming, "HE SHOULD'VE CAUGHT THAT" when the ball is out of the park by 20'. The smartest thing I've ever done as a score keeper is to point to an innocent bystander and say, "She has the book we use for stats."

I have never scored an error on a first baseman on a ball that bounced on the throw. I have scored hit on such balls, based on the IF making an 'above normal' play to get to the ball in the first place. I've scored errors on great stops, where the IF has time to set after making the great stop and then throws it away. Always, a throw that allows the runner to go to second on an over throw results in an error. I do my best to decide the difference between 2 base error and hit & error as many scorers use this as a win/win out.

I give consideration for hard hit balls, bad bounces, sun in the eyes (I know this shouldn't count), defensive hustle (getting gloves on balls that others might not have gotten to), etc.

In the end, its up to the score keeper. Amazing that in a seven inning game, there are rarely more than a play or two that will differ between books.

JMoff - Great advice! If I am unsure I usually ask 3 people if the saw the play and what their thoughts are. This way I know I'll get a 2 of 3 agreement at worst. With that I can either agree or not but at least I have better info.

btw how often have you seen a fielder's choice go down as a hit in someone elses book? I have seen that so often that I'm surprised more players don't hit between .500 and .600