Base stealing scoring question

[nicett]

I scored a game last night and I was faced with the following scenario: man on second, no outs. Runner attempts to steal third, catcher makes a perfect throw but the third baseman drops the ball. Now, I understand if the third baseman muffed the throw, he should be charged with an error, the catcher should get an assist, and the runner should be charged with a caught stealing. I have no idea how to score this. Can you help me? Thanks

[FTMSupport]

If the runner would have been out had the third baseman caught the ball, then it is an error on the third baseman:

1. Touch the runner
2. Touch Safe at Third, Error
3. It will then ask who made the error... touch 3B (third baseman made the error)

That's it.

[nicett]

Thank you for your quick reply. My question is a statistical question. I believe MLB rules states the scorekeeper must give an error to the third baseman, an assit to the catcher, and a caught stealing to the runner. If I score this particular play as you indicate, then the third baseman will be charged with an error. What about the catcher and base runner? Is there a way to charge the runner with caught stealing (even though he was safe) and credit the catcher with an assist?

[OhioTex]

- i am not aware of an official guideline that directs scorekepper to give an assist when the play/out was not completed due to an assigned error

- if you have an offiical reference for such, FTM likes to collect those documents to improve future versions, if you have such, please send to FTM

- iscore can assign a one off error, (misc button> assign error) to a defensive player but iscore does not have a way to assign a one off assist. if it is not coded in the 2-5 sequence.

- by definition caught stealing is a type of out, not a type of safe. iscore can not assign an out action without recording it as an out. by definition.

[nicett]

I found the rule. It's MLB 10.07 (f). For statistical purposes, what would be the best way to record this play?

[OhioTex]

i am afraid in this version of iscore, there is no better way to score it than FTM suggested.

If you do not want your runner credited with a steal, you have him advance to third on error not steal

on the out/but not out part..
... in my usage of iScore, no way to assign some one "out, caught stealing", and then leave them on the base bath and not increment the out count by one. iscore just can't do that in its current version. the next version of iscore is reported to likely have a free form notes capability and you could notate such that way for future reference.

on the assist..
...2.0 this was the first release that included fielding stats, and FTM has a number of enhancement requests in work and on the list for consideration for future versions. the idea that you could add an misc assist to a defensive player, like you do an error has some merit. Again, in next version if it has notes that would be a interim means until such an assignable assist option is implemented in a future version.

[OhioTex]

also thanks for the reference.. for others here is the MLB direction

10.07 (f) When in the scorer's judgment a runner attempting to steal is safe because of a muffed throw, the official scorer shall not credit a stolen base. The official scorer shall credit an assist to the fielder who made the throw, charge an error to the fielder who muffed the throw and charge the runner with "caught stealing."

[reggie_hammonds]

I think I have learned more about baseball reading these boards than I learned in 7 years of college.