Baseball/Softball question

A pitcher is only required to get three outs.

It doesn't always have to be an error on the third out for runs to be unearned.

Take the Detroit-Chicago game last night. Guillen committed an error, in what would have been the second out. Chicago went on to score six in the inning, but only one was earned.

Uribe's strikeout would have been the third out, so everything that scored after that is unearned.

 

I think baseball's rules allow the official scorer to change a ruling up to 24 hours after a game or just before the first pitch of the following game. But I don't know if you'd consider that "retroactive" or not.

 

mlb.com has the whole rule book online

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/foreword.jsp

 

also, i believe that if a team changes pitchers after the error, anything scored off the new guy is earned (unless there's an error charged when he's pitching). so pitcher A gets two outs, then gives up a fly ball that's dropped, followed by a homer and a single. then he gets yanked and pitcher B gives up a homer. all three runs charged to pitcher A are unearned; the run charged to pitcher B is earned.

 

I hadn't given that much thought, but it looks like you're right. Also, it is possible for the runs to be charged as unearned to the team but earned to the relief pitcher. Odd.

"Rule 10.16(i): When pitchers are changed during an inning, the relief pitcher shall not have the
benefit of previous chances for outs not accepted in determining earned runs.
"Rule 10.16(i) Comment: It is the intent of Rule 10.16(i) to charge a relief pitcher with earned runs
for which such relief pitcher is solely responsible. In some instances, runs charged as earned against the
relief pitcher can be charged as unearned against the team. For example:
(1) With two out and Peter pitching, Abel reaches first base on a base on balls. Baker reaches
first base on an error. Roger relieves Peter. Charlie hits a home run, scoring three runs. The
official scorer shall charge two unearned runs to Peter, one earned run to Roger and three
unearned runs to the team (because the inning should have ended with the third out when
Baker batted and an error was committed)."

 

In RVS' example, all runs are unearned to team but earned to relief pitcher who comes in after the error has extended the inning.

 

This is why you can't compile Team ERA by simply adding all individual ERAs. Makes doing stats a real pain.

 

i saw beat writers from the padres and dodgers nearly rumble in the dodger stadium press box over whether or not runs were earned. i wish to god i could remember the dispute, because it was awesome.

 

It's really not a stupid quirk. The earned run average is supposed to measure pitching. There can be a question on an error - should it be charged to a pitcher or a first baseman, third baseman, or catcher?

Think of it this way buck... if a pitcher doesn't allow a hit for nine innings but makes an error which allows a runner to reach base, it's still a no-hitter.

 

High school.
Game goes four innings, then is called by darkness.
Is this an official game?

 

The coaches don't know?

 

Who were the writers?