Scenario: The runner on first base is standing a couple of feet off the bag and is lost in conversation with the first baseman, who is an old team-mate. The fielder is just setting the baserunner up for a pick-off, though, and by the time the victim twigs, the ball is already in the mitt of the first baseman. As the fielder moves to apply the tag, the runner instinctively sets off for second but is well aware that the fielder can beat him in a foot race. The tag is applied about a third of the way towards second.

As the official scorer, do you charge the runner with a caught stealing?

A – Yes.
B – No.

Highlight the text below to reveal the answer:

Answer: A – Yes

Rule 10.07(h)(2) states:
[The official scorer shall charge a runner as “caught stealing” if such runner is put out, or would have been put out by errorless play, when such runner] is picked off a base and tries to advance (any move toward the next base shall be considered an attempt to advance).

In contrast, if the picked-off runner is tagged trying to return to the bag, then the rules state that this would not be a caught stealing.

Scenario: With the bases loaded and two outs, the batter hits a soft grounder back to the pitcher, who throws to the catcher for a force-out. How many players did the team leave on base?

A – 2.
B – 3.
C – 4.

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Answer: B – 3.

Rule 10.02(g) states:
Number of runners left on base by each team […] The official scorer shall include in this total a batter-runner whose batted ball results in another runner being retired for the third out.

So the batter-runner counts as being left on base, even though the player may not have even bothered to run all the way to first. The runner advancing from third was retired so the batter-runner is added to the two other players already on base to give a total of three.

Scenario: The batter hits a fizzing liner straight back at the pitcher, who instinctively tries to turn away from the pitch. The ball loops up off the pitcher’s back and bounces in front of the shortstop, who scoops the ball up and fires it over to first to retire the batter-runner.

How would you put the play down in your scorebook?

A – 1-6-3.
B – 6-3.

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Answer: A – 1-6-3.

Rule 10.10(a)(1) Comment states:
Mere ineffective contact with the ball shall not be considered an assist. “Deflect” shall mean to slow down or change the direction of the ball and thereby effectively assist in putting out a batter or runner.

While unintentional, the pitcher’s involvement is clearly assisting the putting out of the batter-runner, as without it the ball would probably have got through to the outfield.

Scenario: The batter hits a slow grounder straight towards the shortstop. The third baseman dives and knocks the ball with an outstretched glove. This diverts the ball off the path that was taking it straight to the shortstop, but this fielder is still able to grab the ball and nail the batter-runner at first.

How would you put the play down in your scorebook?

A – 5-6-3.
B – 6-3.

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Answer: B – 6-3.

Rule 10.10(a)(1) Comment states:
Mere ineffective contact with the ball shall not be considered an assist. “Deflect” shall mean to slow down or change the direction of the ball and thereby effectively assist in putting out a batter or runner.

The third baseman’s involvement is hindering rather than effectively assisting the putting out of the batter-runner.

Scenario: In the ninth inning of a tied ballgame, the visitors have a runner on first with no outs. The batter lays down a bunt that is picked up cleanly by the pitcher. The pitcher struggles to decide whether to go for the risky out at second or the easy out at first, and in the end throws the ball wide of the first baseman. This enables the batter-runner to reach first base. The lead runner is comfortably safe at second.

Should the batter be charged with an at-bat?

A – Yes.
B – No.

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Answer: B – No.

Rule 10.08(a) states:
Score a sacrifice bunt when, before two are out, the batter advances one or more runners with a bunt and is put out at first base, or would have been put out except for a fielding error.

So the batter’s advance to first goes down as a sacrifice hit with a reach on error, and a sacrifice hit does not constitute an at-bat.

Scenario: With a runner on second and one out, the batter hits a fly ball that is caught on the warning track in straight-away centre. The runner tags up and dashes towards third, where an aggressive base coach is eagerly windmilling to urge the player on to home. The relay is mechanically sound but not particularly quick, and amid a cloud of dust the umpire awards a run on what is a very close play.

Should the batter be charged with an at-bat?

A – Yes.
B – No.

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Answer: B – No.

Rule 10.08(d)(1) states:
[Score a sacrifice fly when, before two are out, the batter hits a ball in flight handled by an outfielder or an infielder running in the outfield in fair or foul territory that] is caught, and a runner scores after the catch.

In other words, there is nothing in the rules to say that the run has to score from third in a sacrifice fly. And, of course, a sacrifice fly does not constitute an at-bat.

Scenario: With runners on first and third, the trailing runner sets off to steal second. The pitch bounces in the dirt and gets away from the catcher; seeing this, the lead runner takes off for home. The catcher recovers the ball and throws it to the pitcher, who is covering the plate, and the tag is applied in time to retire the runner. The other runner comfortably reaches second.

As the official scorer, how would you score the play?

A – Lead runner caught stealing; trailing runner stolen base.
B – Lead runner retired but not caught stealing; trailing runner stolen base.
C – Lead runner caught stealing; trailing runner advanced on wild pitch.
D – Lead runner retired but not caught stealing; trailing runner advanced on wild pitch.
E – Lead runner caught stealing; trailing runner advanced on fielder’s choice.
F – Lead runner retired but not caught stealing; trailing runner advanced on fielder’s choice.

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Answer: B – Lead runner retired but not caught stealing; trailing runner stolen base.

The lead runner cannot be caught stealing because the attempt to advance was triggered by the wild pitch (see Rule 10.07(h) Comment). So this rules out A, C, and E.

The trailing runner was attempting to steal, so the advance cannot be credited as happening on a wild pitch (see Rule 10.07(a)). This rules out D. So it is either B or F.

Rule 10.07(d) states:
When a double- or triple-steal is attempted and one runner is thrown out before reaching and holding the base such runner is attempting to steal, no other runner shall be credited with a stolen base.

However, since the lead runner was not trying to steal (having set off after the pitch got away from the catcher), this does not apply here. There does not appear to be anything else in the rules that says a stolen base cannot be awarded, and the runner reaching second is certainly not benefiting from the catcher attempting a play at the plate.

Scenario: A batter has a count of two balls and two strikes.

In which of the following circumstances would a strike-out be awarded?

A – Batter bunts the next pitch and the ball drops and stays in foul territory.
B – Batter bunts the next pitch and the ball is caught as a foul-tip by the catcher.
C – Batter bunts the next pitch foul, with the ball popping up several metres and being caught by the catcher.
D – A and B.
E - A and C.
F - B and C.
G – A, B, and C.

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Answer: D – A and B.

Rule 10.15(a)(4) states:
[The official scorer shall score a strikeout whenever a batter] bunts foul on third strike, unless such bunt on third strike results in a foul fly caught by any fielder, in which case the official scorer shall not score a strikeout and shall credit the fielder who catches such foul fly with a putout.

Scenario: There are no outs in the bottom of the ninth and runners are on first and third. The game is tied. The batter hits a slow chopper back to the pitcher. The ball sits up kindly and the pitcher has an easy chance to field it cleanly. The runner at first heads towards second base, and the runner at third stays close to the bag. Unfortunately for the fielding team, the ball bobbles out of the pitcher’s glove and rolls several metres away. Spotting this, the runner at third darts towards home, and despite the pitcher’s best efforts to recover the ball and throw it to the catcher, the runner crosses the plate just in time for the winning run. Even taking the difficulty of fielding as pitcher into account, you adjudicate that the batter-runner reached first on an error.

As the official scorer, would you credit the batter with a run batted in?

A – Yes.
B – No.

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Answer: B – No.

Rule 10.4(a)(3) states:
[The official scorer shall credit the batter with a run batted in for every run that scores] when, before two are out, an error is made on a play on which a runner from third base ordinarily would score.

In light of the game situation and the ease with which the pitcher could have prevented the run, a run batted in cannot be awarded.

Scenario: With none out and runners on first and third, the batter hits a blooper over the shortstop’s head. The runner at third waits on the bag to see the play unfold but the runner from first takes up a position half-way between first base and second base. The shortstop dives and manages to make the catch, retiring the batter. At this point, the runner from third leaves the bag and heads home to score while the other runner sprints back towards first base. Unfortunately for the runner, the shortstop makes an excellent throw to complete a double-play at first.

As the official scorer, would you credit the batter with a run batted in?

A – Yes.
B – No.

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Answer: A – Yes.

Rule 10.4(b)(1) states:
[The official scorer shall not credit a run batted in] when the batter grounds into a force double play or a reverse-force double play.

In the example above, though, the batter does not ground into a double play, and so there is no reason to withhold credit for the run batted in.