Iscore, scoring earned and unearned runs

[Rosborn]

Unearned runs are any (all) runs scored after the third out of the inning should have been made but wasn't due to an error. I thought I-Score did this for us automatically when calculating a pitchers ER'S and ERA, but I guess it doesn't, can someone clarify this for me? I had an entry where the first batter got a hit, the second batter grounded out for the first out, the base runner advanced to third base. The third batter hit a fly ball to left field who caught the fly for the second out of the inning, the base-runner on third tagged and went home, the left fielder threw a strike to the catcher who had the runner out by two steps but dropped the ball, committed as error, which would have ended the inning, and allowed that runner to score. The team at bat went on and scored 4 more runs that inning on two different pitchers. My understanding is no earned runs can be counted after the error? But I-Score showed only one of those runs as unearned? Is that a flaw in the program? Can someone help me with this or can support help me out. Do I have to go back a manually edit and correct my pitchers ERA's for every games? Thanks, Ron

[FTMSupport]

We have responded to the message you sent to support... twice. We would appreciate if you could start posting in one place only so we do not have to do the same responses multiple times.

For anyone reading along here, here are the responses we gave:

First... asking about earned runs vs unearned runs:

There is currently no differentiation between an error that simply lets a runner advance when he shouldn't have and an error that should have resulted in the runner being out. For batting this differentiation is currently made but not for base running. In your case, you told iScore that the runner advanced to home by an error on the catcher but iScore doesn't know if the catcher muffed the tag which should have resulted in an out or if the catcher let it get by him thereby letting the runner on third score when he normally would not have. Since this is generally a judgement call and since iScore can not make judgement calls, there are times when you will have to adjust the stats by hand. To override statistics, go to Game Manager, select the game, select Team Pitching (for example) for the team you want to modify, then tap on any non-bold value and iScore will allow you to override it. Changes are saved automatically and you will not have to press the Recalc button.


Second, in response to ERA (which is calculated based on earned runs):

As we explained, when RUNNERs specifically are advancing, we don't know if the runner would have been out without the error, or if the runner just happened to score because an error occurred.

iScore calculates ERA automatically, but in the specific case you described, iScore treated the runs as earned for the reason specified. If you go in and change the runs to Unearned (i.e. reduce the ER count for the pitcher), then ERA will automatically be recalculated.

[Rosborn]

thanks, but look at it this way:

I read your reply but it didn't it make any sense, since IF THE RUNNER WOULD HAVE SCORED WITHOUT THE ERROR IT ISN'T AN ERROR.. it's then shown as a sac fly and the runner beat the throw.. thanks but still makes no sense, I did go in and correct it, but it looks like to me I'll need to do that every time since I-Score doesn't ever know if the runner just happened to score because an error occurred, except I told I-Score, when prompted: the RUNNER ADVANCED HOME VIA AN ERROR ON THE CATCHER and had the error not accord, the runner would have been out, the third out of the inner. You can't give an error unless a batter and/or base-runner extends their time at bat of is allow to advance an extra base because of that error. I thought that was why I-Score was asking me how the runner advanced home, so it could give the batter a SAC fly and not a charged at bat, and also not charge the pitcher with a Earned Run, but I'm guessing it didn't do that either. Can you see how it's confusing going forward and never knowing if it's right?
Thanks, just needs to be fixed I think, I don't know a MLB official would think but I'm confused. I was thinning whoever replied back didn't really know and was giving his best attempt to explain it away. I'm not sure this will be posted, but maybe it'll do some good? thanks, you guys have always been great, just don't understand this one..

[OhioTex]

@FTM and others
(written before last post by Rosborn)

RE: Error post two outs ..

I appreciate "judgment calls" and no way for the "software to know". but that said, It seems there is a valid point here. With two outs, the program could revisit its bias to crediting runs as earned vs unearned especially if errors made post two outs, and even more so if 'how advanced to home'

In iscore in this scenario, if the next batter strikes out the run goes as unearned, but if the next batter gets a hit (single or home run) both runs are now earned according to iscore. The software has assumed the runner was not prolonged by the error, and would have scored on the hit, the software could just as easily have assumed the inning was prolonged by the error, and had all runs post two out error as unearned.

since the user specifically advanced the runner due to error on a previous play. the current logic, seems to penalize the pitcher in the case of a judgment call, when the rules say to favor the pitcher when reconstructing the inning.

my two cents, welcome others view points.

[Rosborn]

Thanks, it also changes the batters stats from a SAC fly out and no official AB's, to an AB and a FO, it also either gives or takes away an RBI by the batter. It isn't just a matter of manually fixing the earned run for the pitchers stats, but now you may need to fix three or four items in the stats if you want them right? SAC, RBI, FO.. are all affected. Thanks again, and I hope this helps..

[PetroGuy]

iScore will only give the batter a sac fly if you tap Sacrifice Fly for the BATTER (In Play, Sacrifice Fly) and the runner scores as Advanced by Batter. If you score the runner as advanced due to an error on the catcher, then the batter should not be credited with a sac fly or an RBI. I do think iScore is doing this correctly and would give the batter an AB and FO and no RBI or SF.

I'm not sure of the ERA calculation in your specific case, but I did want to clear up the sac fly part of the issue.

[OhioTex]

good point on the SAC fly component,

(the original description did not include a SAC fly )