Baseball dropped foul ball scoring question

If a catcher drops a foul pop up, it is an error, right?

Moreover, if it is an error, there's two outs, and the batter eventually reaches to extend the inning, all runs scored thereafter are unearned, right?

It ignited quite a debate in the press box I was in, I think the yokels who argued otherwise are dead wrong.

 

I'm pretty sure it's an error, same as if a guy reached on a strikeout/passed ball. It should've been the third out.

 

Error. Treated like any other error.

I knew an SID who said "No, we have to wait and see if he gets on base."

No. It extended the at-bat, and it's an error. Period.

But ... the same "reasonable effort" rules apply. Simple drop? Yeah, an error. Dives but can't hold on to it? Not an error.

 

Really depends on the context.

If the foul pop is one where the catcher (or any other fielder) can camp under it to catch it, yet drops it, then it's an error.

If it's one where the fielder has to exert himself (i.e. dive, lunge into the dugout), then it's no play.

As far as the error goes, if the inning would have been over, then the any runs should be unearned.

 

Does it matter whether its high school or college? I know it's a MLB error. I can't think of a logical reason why there should be a difference.

And this catcher camped ... it was a very makeable play. It popped in and out of his glove.

 

I don't think there's a difference. An error is an error is an error.

 

Error, and all subsequent runs are unearned.

 

You are exactly right. E2, though the batter is not charged with an at-bat (at the time). So if he/she sould get a hit, it still counts as a hit. But the error is treated (in your case) as any subsequent runs are unearned.

A run scoring on a PB is unearned, but a WP is earned. That's a big difference there. They created the PB so the C isn't charged with so many Es.

 

Standards of reasonable effort are different in high school and college based on the skill level.

 

I give a hell of a lot of leeway at the high school level. Even college, to a degree. Some scorers I've seen are brutal, though. If it touches the mitt, they give them an error. I think that's ludicrous. It has to be pretty obvious to me.

 

When I'm scoring a game ... on a foul ball, it has to be a clear, C was camped under the ball and flat-out dropped it drop to be an error.

But if that batter reaches base, or if it would've been the 3rd out, all runs are unearned.

 

How can you catch a ball you can't get a glove on? Hence, no error. But it is a cheap hit.