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 …