Scorekeeping in HS ball is BS

Scorekeeping in high school is anything but consistent in the application of the error rules. These rules leave a lot up to the judgement of the scorekeeper, but I have found that how that judgement is applied can vary tremendously...  I find this all very troubling and hard to accept.

 

Moreover, I am blown away by how many baseball parents have obviously not read the rules, and then come back at the scorekeeper with ridiculous comments ... 

 

Yes, and yes, so why let it bother you?

 

For a variety of reasons that go well beyond those you stated, HS stats will never be consistently applied.  Also, parents are not required to know/read the rules of the game but certainly are inclined to have a strong desire for things to go well for their offspring. 

 

Don't fight it.  Embrace it.  Enjoy it. 

 

I keep score and stats for our hs team. My scoring very seldom matches up with anyone elses. It amazes me also how very differently people can see plays and even remember them correctly later on. Recently I scored a throwing error on the third baseman when he threw so wide of first that it was impossible to even put a glove anywhere close to the wild throw. The parent/coach was certain it was the first basemans fault for not catching the ball. Its hard to impossible to debate or discuss a play after the play has expired and it is obvious the other person saw it entirely incorrect! I always explain my scoring as the way "I saw the play" and then cite references to the official rules, perhaps even showing them firsthand, from the official rules which I carry with me to all our games. Most of the time it is clearly shown the faults they have made in not knowing or understanding the rules. I also tell them that my scoring and stats are unbiased and do not change frome game to game and even though my stats/scoring may not line up with another, they at least line up with a proper understanding of the rules. Once I show them in the official rules it then solidifies my judgment for them. Its hard to debate scoring with someone who knows the rules and knows where to find them quickly to prove your point. After that, all thatis really up for debate is how one reads the plays. Sometimes, a different angle shows a different aspect of the play that otherwise is seen differently. For instance, a different angle as seen from a different person from a different location may reveal a bad hop on a batted ball that otherwise from my view looks perfectly normal. On those types of plays I ask others what they saw and then rule accordingly.

"Ordinary effort" is so easily defined it shouldn't be a problem to figure out. Ordinary effort is best defined as what I as the scorer thinks should happen on every part of the ball that I believe requires average ordinary effort to make an out. When the ball first gets hit and the fielders start their reaction and motions to field or attempt to field it, it plays out rather methodically and logically on what I think is a hit or a ball that should be fielded. Occasionally I see fielders who show above ordinary effort and make plays resulting in outs which rob hitters of hits. Pretty easy though when it all unfolds. Mechanical misplay has to be assigned on one or more fielders when an error/errors occur on a play. You have to be able to show where the "mechanical misplay" happened on a fielder when you assign an error. Generally its something like- misread the routine grounder and pulled up too soon, or fumbled the ball trying to grasp it, or threw the ball into the dirt in front of the firstbaseman, or pop fly popped out of glove from fielder camping under it, etc. The same logic applies to assigning basehits. When it first happens, it is rather easy to judge if it is hit into play either too softly, too hard or just plain into an area void of fielders that no fielder can make play on ball under ordinary effort. I always ask myself on every ball hit into play if I think that the results matched my expectations of what should of happened. Whenever it doesnt line up, i then note any mechanical misplay that occurred that allowed runner or runners to not be put out that should of been put out. Often I hear something like - " if so and so was there he would make that play, thats gotta be an error". Whats misunderstood here is the fact that so and so wasnt there and we cannot be sure he would make that play and besides, errors cant be assigned to a player who shows no mechanical misplay under ordinary effort even if they dont move or react as quickly as another player may. We have players on our team that are going to make outs on plays defined as ordinary effort that other players on our team playing that same position will never make even though hey all show ordinary effort in their attempts. For instance- we have a third baseman with above average reaction time and armspeed that allows him to make plays for outs at first that look entirely routine. But, we have another third baseman who is not as athletic, not as fast and doesnt have arm strength to even come close to making same plays. Scoring plays on these two will be the same though using the same standard. The only difference in reference is that the better player uses generally above average skill and effort in making the play over what an "average" fielder would make. The lesser fielder should not be punished with an error just because he isnt blessed with great speed or athleticism like the other is. It really comes down t o if a player shows play that isnt up to par with ordinary effort and clearly shows a mechanical fault in how they played the ball.