Scoring bug on passed balls

[playshogi]

In this example, Keith McDonald disappears on the bases.

In the middle of the second, St. Louis trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Keith McDonald singled up the middle.
Jesse Garcia hit an infield single to short.
Placido Becker flied out to center.
Alan Barclay allowed a passed ball. [runners advance]
Vladimir Guerrero flied out to right. [scoring a run]
Jesse Garcia tagged up and reached third.
George Cady singled to left, scoring a run.
Moises Alou walked.
Todd Helton tripled in the right field gap for two RBIs.
Frank Thomas singled to right, scoring a run.
Kerry Kudlick came in to pitch for the Browns.
Neifi Perez flied out to center.
4 runs, 5 hits, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the second, Pittsburgh leads 6 to 0.

[ozias]

playshogi

I wonder how often this has happened? You lose a run here and there, it could amount to quite a bit or runs, and loses. :(

You should of had 5 runs, ouch!

I hope that you didn't lose because of that run.

John

[playshogi]

Also, in this example, the pitcher was not charged with any earned runs even though the passed ball had no effect on the scoring, since the way it happened all the runs would have scored anyway. I'm not very familiar with how earned runs are determined. If St. Louis could've got the third out after the sacrifice fly, maybe that would be 1 unearned run, otherwise logically all 5 runs were earned the way it happened.

BTW, I was St. Louis. A team decimated by debt. The party is over in St. Louis. (temporarily).

[ozias]

ouch...sorry to hear your St. Louis

The earned run part is right I believe. If there is an error in the inning all runs after the error are unearned(I think that's right).

The reason is you can't predict what could of happened if the passed ball never occured. The batter could have hit into a double play, which then would have been 2 outs, then the fly out to right filed occured. So no runs would have scored in my example. But like I said you can't predict what would have happened.

john

[dougummel]

The factor that is used to determine whether a run is earned or not is whether it is reasonable to expect that the run would have scored without the error. In this example, all the runs should have been earned because, even had they not advanced on the fly balls, they would have scored on the single and triple.

Using this method to determine earned runs, any error that should have resulted in an out would mean that all runs scored after there are two outs in the inning are unearned (bc. there should be 3 outs.) However, if the error simply advances a runner and due to what happens later in the inning it is reasonable to assume that he would have scored anyway, the run is counted earned. (ie. a catcher throws the ball into CF trying to get a basestealer and the runner advances to third. The next batter hits a HR. Both runs are earned.)

You should have had 5 runs that inning, though. Bummer!!

[vancedave56]

I HAD a catcher that I just got rid of (M. Meluskey) that had 10 passed balls in the first ten games (3 in the last game, all in the same inning, all led to a run). Is this a glitch or is a d- fielding catcher actually that bad?

[Cipster]

A D- fielding catcher is indeed horrible. A catcher handles 120-200 pitches a game so over 10 games that is 1200 to 2000 chances at a passed ball (roughly, don't get picky :) ) So 10 passed balls is really about .5 % of those pitches. Makes you realize just how good sure handed catchers are...