Scenario: The first two batters of an inning strike out. The third hits a home run. The fourth draws a walk. The fifth hits a pop-up to the first baseman for an easy catch in foul territory but the ball is dropped, causing the first baseman to be charged with an error. The next pitch is drilled over the fence in centre field for the second home run of the inning. The sixth batter flies out to the left fielder.

As the official scorer, how many of the 3 runs do you charge as earned runs against the pitcher?

A – 0.
B – 1.
C – 2.
D – 3.

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Answer: B – 1.

Rule 10.16 states:
… In determining earned runs, the official scorer shall reconstruct the inning without the errors …

Without the error, the inning would have ended with the first baseman taking a catch in foul territory for the third out, at which point only 1 of the runs had been scored.

Scenario: While facing the first batter of game, the home team’s starting pitcher suffers a knee injury and has to be replaced. The batter has a full count when the new pitcher enters the game.

As the official scorer, you must choose whether the original pitcher’s statistics or the new pitcher’s statistics will be affected, based on what the outcome is of the plate appearance. Which of the following is true?

A - A strike-out and a walk would be assigned to the original pitcher.
B – A strike-out would be credited to the original pitcher but a walk would be charged to the new pitcher.
C - A strike-out would be credited to the new pitcher but a walk would be charged to the original pitcher.
D – A strike-out and a walk would be assigned to the new pitcher.

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Answer: C – A strike-out would be charged to the new pitcher but a walk would be charged to the original pitcher.

Rule 10.16(f)(1) states:
If, when pitchers are changed, the count is
2 balls, no strike,
2 balls, 1 strike,
3 balls, no strike,
3 balls, 1 strike,
3 balls, 2 strikes,
and the batter gets a base on balls, the official scorer shall charge that batter and the base on balls to the preceding pitcher, not to the relief pitcher.

Rule 10.16(f)(2) states:
Any other action by such batter … shall cause such a batter to be charged to the relief pitcher.

Scenario: In a game that you are scoring, the visting team’s shortstop is involved in three plays during the game. In the first inning the shortstop drops an easy put-out, for which you charge an error. In the third inning, the player is involved in a standard 4-6-3 double-play. In the bottom of the ninth with two out, the player makes up for the earlier error with a spectacular diving catch to end the game.

As the official scorer, what would you calculate for the shortstop’s fielding average from the game?

A – 1/2 = .500.
B – 2/3 = .667.
C – 3/4 = .750.
D – 4/5 = .800.

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Answer: C – 3/4 = .750.

Rule 10.21(d) states:
[To compute] Fielding average, divide the sum of putouts and assists by the sum of putouts, assists and errors (which shall be called chances).

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 …