how to score this situation, earned run or not??

[Gryphon]

Hi all,

Here is my situation: First batter grounds out (1st out); second batter grounds to SS and beats the throw so I score a single - on the throw there is an E3 allowing the runner to advance to second; third batter up - runner at second steals third; third batter grounds out (2nd out) and runner scores; third batter grounds out - inning over. Is this an earned run or not - iScore shows it as earned, and someone else who scored it on another system also came up with an earned run. But if I understand the rule, I have to play back the inning and determine if the run would have scored if there was not an error - it seems certain assumptions have to be made, but I am thinking the run would not have scored without the error.

Thanks is advance for your thoughts and reasons why this is or is not an earned run.

Regards,
Nick

[titanbaseball]

We had the same situation with the bases loaded and a double play to end the inning. But when we tried with another situation you can recalculate the stats and edit the earned runs to how many were earned and then recalculate. for example a double is recorded but it was actually a single plus error. Going into the stats and editing the double to a single and then error then recalculating should fix the stats.

Hope this helps.

[Gryphon]

Thanks for the reply Titan. But I am not sure I fully understand.... Would you agree this is not an earned run? I did score it a single and an error putting the runner on second - so I am not sure where I would edit anything, it already shows single and an error. What would I change to make the book accurate and also NOT an earned run if it is not an earned run? An if it is not an earned run (and assume I scored/entered everything correctly), why did the software assign an earned run? Do I have to go back and check every game scored this season? I usually don't check. This came to my attention because our pitcher's parent questioned whether it should an ER - and I suspect the parent is correct.

Any thoughts FTM?

Thanks.

[CoachJoe]

Clearly based on the scoring rules this would not be considered an earned run:

Rule 10.16 (d) No run shall be earned when the scoring runner’s advance has been aided by an error, a passed ball or defensive interference or obstruction, if in the official scorer’s judgment the run would not have scored without the aid of such misplay.

Although, I can understand how iScore would ruled this as earned since the runner did advance to home based on being batted in by the ground out by the 3rd batter, iScore would not know if the ground out would not have allowed the runner to score if the runner remained at 1st instead of going to 2nd on error. In most cases, iScore is spot on in making the right decision and only when there is a possible judgment call may there be some conflicting scoring.

Hopefully, in a future release, FTM will allow for edits in play-by-play to allow for judgment discussions for earned and unearned runs that could not be easily determined by the software.

[FTMSupport]

Runner advancement due to error does not count as an out when replaying an inning error-free the way a batter reaching on error does. You can not assume that without the error the runner would have been out. So if a runner advances bases on subsequent play due to steals or advancement by batters, that run can still be earned.

In your specific case, you can probably say the runner would not have scored without the error (but it also seems likely if the runner stole thrid, he could steal second as well, though iScore would not use that when replaying the game for ER calculation). It is a judgment call. iScore will give the earned run in this case. It would also give the earned run if there was any hit after the play because it has no way to determine the quality of a hit for example.

You can always override the Earned Run determination on the stats screen for the game if in your determination the run should not be earned.