Scenario: A runner on first gets caught in a run-down after a pick-off throw from the pitcher to the first baseman. The first baseman throws it to the shortstop, who throws it back to the first baseman. The next throw from the first baseman, however, is a wild one, which allows the runner to reach second. You feel that the runner could have been retired in the run-down with ordinary effort. 

As the official scorer, with what should you credit the first baseman?

A – An error.
B – An assist.
C – An assist and an error.
D – Nothing.

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Answer: C – An assist and an error.

Rule 10.10(a)(1) states:
[The official scorer shall credit an assist to each fielder who] throws or deflects a batted or thrown ball in such a way that a putout results, or would have resulted except for a subsequent error by any fielder …

Rule 10.12(a)(1) states:
[The official scorer shall charge an error against any fielder] whose misplay (fumble, muff or wild throw) prolongs the time at bat of a batter, prolongs the presence on the bases of a runner or permits a runner to advance one or more bases …

Scenario: A batter enters the game with a 30-game hitting streak. The batter has three plate appearances in the game you are scoring.

One of the performances below will cause the batter’s hitting streak to come to an end. Which one?

A – Base on balls, catcher interference, base on balls.
B – Hit by pitch, intentional base on balls, base on balls.
C – Intentional base on balls, sacrifice bunt, base on balls.
D – Sacrifice fly, base on balls, base on balls.

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Answer: D – Sacrifice fly, base on balls, base on balls.

Rule 10.23(b) states:
… A consecutive-game hitting streak shall not be terminated if all of a batter’s plate appearances (one or more) in a game result in a base on balls, hit batsman, defensive interference or obstruction or a sacrifice bunt. The streak shall terminate if the player has a sacrifice fly and no hit …

Scenario: With runners on first and second and no outs, an infield fly is hit directly towards the third baseman but is not caught. The batter is called out on the infield fly rule and the runners stay put.

Which fielder should be credited with a put-out by the official scorer?

A – The catcher.
B – The first baseman.
C – The third baseman.
D – No put-out should be credited.

 

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Answer: C – The third baseman.

Rule 10.09(c)(1) states:
When the batter is called out on an Infield Fly that is not caught, the official scorer shall credit the putout to the fielder who the scorer believes could have made the catch.

Scenario: In a rain-shortened game, the visiting team takes the lead in the top of the first inning and holds it through to the end of the fifth inning, at which point the game is called and goes into the record books.

What is the minimum number of innings that the visitors’ starter must have thrown to get credited with the win by the official scorer?

A – 3.
B – 4.
C – 5.

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Answer: B – 4.

Rule 10.17 states that to be eligible for the win a starter must pitch:
… four innings of a game that lasts five innings on defense …

Scenario: With the home team trailing by 1 run in the bottom of the ninth inning and runners on second and third, the batter lines the ball into the corner. 

What is the highest-value hit that the batter can possibly be awarded by the official scorer?

A – A single.
B – A double.
C – A triple.
D – An inside-the-park home-run.

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Answer: B – A double.

Rule 10.06(f) states:
… when a batter ends a game with a safe hit that drives in as many runs as are necessary to put his team in the lead, the official scorer shall credit such batter with only as many bases on his hit as are advanced by the runner who scores the winning run …

Scenario: The batter hits a fly-ball to a gap in the outfield and rounds first base, touches second base while rounding the bag, but attempts to run back to second and is put out before making contact again. 

As the official scorer, with what should you credit the batter?

A – An at-bat but no hit.
B – A single.
C – A double.

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Answer: C – A double.

The Comment after Rule 10.06(c) states:
… If the batter-runner overruns second or third base and is tagged out trying to return, the official scorer shall credit the batter-runner with the last base he touched …

Scenario: The batter hits a fly-ball to a gap in the outfield and rounds first base, slides into second, touches the bag, but then overslides and is put out before making contact again. 

As the official scorer, with what should you credit the batter?

A – An at-bat but no hit.
B – A single.
C – A double.

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Answer: B – A single.

Rule 10.06(c) states:
… When the batter attempts to make a two-base hit or a three-base hit by sliding, he must hold the last base to which he advances. If a batter-runner overslides and is tagged out before getting back to the base safely, he shall be credited with only as many bases as he attained safely …

Scenario: It is the top of the ninth inning in a tied game and, with the bases loaded, the #9 hitter just popped up to the shortstop for the second out. Although this was only the second out, the pitcher starts walking towards the dugout, and the rest of the fielding team as well as the batting side also start to leave the field, thinking that the top-half of the inning is complete.

As the official scorer, what should you do about the teams changing sides with only two outs?

A – Immediately notify the manager of the fielding side.
B – Immediately notify the manager of the batting side.
C – Notify the umpire-in-chief before the bottom of the ninth can begin.
D – Keep quiet.

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Answer: C – Notify the umpire-in-chief before the bottom of the ninth can begin.

Rule 10.01(b)(2) states:
If the teams change sides before three men are put out, the official scorer shall immediately inform the umpire-in-chief of the mistake.

Scenario: It is the bottom of the ninth inning in a tied game and the #8 hitter just drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Instead of the #9 hitter coming up to bat next, though, the #1 hitter strides over to the plate and gets ready to receive the first pitch.

As the official scorer, what should you do about the team batting out of order?

A – Immediately notify the manager of the fielding side.
B – Immediately notify the manager of the batting side.
C - Immediately notify the umpire-in-chief.
D – Keep quiet.

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Answer: D – Keep quiet.

Rule 10.01(b)(4) states:
The official scorer shall not call the attention of any umpire or of any member of either team to the fact that a player is batting out of turn.

Scenario: With a runner on first base and no count on the batter, the pitcher throws the ball in the dirt, the batter does not swing, and the ball bounces up to the catcher for the easiest of takes. However, the ball bounces off the side of the cather’s mitt and trundles off towards the backstop, causing the runner to set off for second base. The runner is able to reach second safely.

How would you score the runner’s advancement to second?

A – Stolen base.
B – Wild pitch.
C – Passed ball.
D – None of the above.

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Answer: B – Wild pitch.

It is not a passed ball because Rule 10.13(a) states:
… The official scorer shall charge a pitcher with a wild pitch when a legally delivered ball touches the ground or home plate before reaching the catcher and is not handled by the catcher, thereby permitting a runner or runners to advance …

It is not a stolen base because the runner set off after the pitcher delivered the ball, and Rule 10.07(a) states:
… When a runner starts for the next base before the pitcher delivers the ball and the pitch results in what ordinarily is scored a wild pitch or passed ball, the official scorer shall credit the runner with a stolen base …