Errors during steal attempt

[DoubleUFive]

High School (NFHS) rules. I've looked in the book but still not sure on this.

R1 is at 1B and attempts to steal 2B on the pitch. F2 throws to F4, and R1 beats the throw. However, F4 failed to catch the ball (it was a good throw), and the ball goes into the outfield. The first backup, F6, attempted to get it but never touched it. The second backup, F8, got to the ball and also bobbled it ball, and at this time R1 decided to go to 3B and makes it.

My score is: a stolen base (because, in the scorer's estimation, he beat the throw) and an E4.

It is true that the runner was not going to go simply on F4's bobble, and did go on F8's bobble. However, if F4 had caught the ball as he should have, F8 would not have had to back him up and would not have had the opportunity to bobble it.

Please opine.

[mprusak]

I would score the same way. Someone needs to be charged an error allowing runner to third, and 4 sounds like the right choice. This is a scorekeeper judgement call.

[PPPadre]

Whether or not the runner would have beat the throw is irrelevant. If a runner is attempting to steal, he is credited with a stolen base if he reaches base safely, regardless of whether of not there was an errant throw or what otherwise would be considered a fielding error.

An error is assigned for his advance to third, and since only one error can be assigned, it goes to the first fielder to misplay the ball - in this case, F4. You scored correctly.

[PetroGuy]

I think E4 is the correct call in this case. However, a runner being safe on an attempted steal is not always a stolen base. An error can be assigned in the case of a muffed throw when the runner is obviously beat by the throw in the scorekeeper's judgment.

[mprusak]

I think E4 is the correct call in this case. However, a runner being safe on an attempted steal is not always a stolen base. An error can be assigned in the case of a muffed throw when the runner is obviously beat by the throw in the scorekeeper's judgment.

Agreed. And here is the MLB verbiage on that:

10.07 Stolen Bases And Caught Stealing

The official scorer shall credit a stolen base to a runner whenever the runner advances one base unaided by a hit, a putout, an error, a force-out, a fielder's choice, a passed ball, a wild pitch or a balk, subject to the following:

(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."

(h) The official scorer shall charge a runner as "caught stealing" if such runner is put out, or would have been put out by errorless play, when such runner
(1) tries to steal;

[DoubleUFive]

Thanks for all the input. I'll be back with more I'm sure. After 5 years of coaching and the stress that comes with it, I'm loving my new job of dad, fan, scorekeeper, and stats guy.