Baseball scoring question....earned run?

Question

Batter singles.
Runner is then moved to second on SAC bunt.
Runner then steals third.
Runner comes home on a smash to third. 3b bobbles the ball and the throw home is late.

My question is this. What constitutes an "earned" run, especially if the runner in question both merits his way ON to base but scores involving an error somewhere.
Since there are so many scenarios that would contradict, can someone explain the governing philosophy on how to properly score an earned run and the process to do so?

Its slightly less frustrating than the infield fly, lol.

Thanks.

Answer 1

In the scenario you outline, it would be unearned because the runner would have been tagged out if not for the error. The general rule is that a run is unearned if the runner scored only because of an error. The error in question might be one that leads directly to the run, such as in your example; or indirectly, such as a player reaching base only because of an error and later scoring, or an error that causes a 3rd out not to be made (which would make all later runs that inning unearned).

Answer 2

If a batter reaches base or scores, and the play that allows him to reach base or to score is an error, it is not an earned run.

You need to remember that it takes nothing away from the batter (well, unless he reaches base on an error that is), but is rather in relation to the pitcher. It's about whether the run was earned off of the pitcher, or if they only earned the run because of a fielder's mistake.

Take your scenario. Had the third baseman fielded the ball cleanly, he could have easily held the runner on third, or else at least been able to make a play at the plate. In that scenario, if the runner say slides in under the tag and scores, then it's an earned run.

To me, the more confusing ruling is that in that case, the batter would reach not on a hit, but on a fielder's choice. So is it just that if/when he scores, it's unearned, or does the runner coming from third also get scored unearned, since he was advanced without a hit?

Answer 3

That's an earned run.

A run cannot be earned if the runner reached on an error.

Any runs that score after a 2-out error are unearned.

If an error allows a runner to advance or to advance and eventually score, it depends on whether there was a sufficient combination of subsequent hits, walks, etc to have allowed the runner to score without having moved up on the error.

If the run scores or the runner has advanced on a passed ball, it also depends on whether there was a sufficient combination of subsequent hits, walks, etc to have allowed the runner to score without having moved up on the error.

It can be a bit frustrating, so listen to the announcers at the end of the innings, who will give you, hits, runs and earned runs for that inning.

But the infield fly rule is simple. With runners on first and second, or first, second or third, if the ball is fair and the infielder can make the play with ordinary (for him) effort, the batter-runner is out on any popup and the runners can tag and advance, at their own risk. The infield fly can only be called by the umpire closest to the play, who will signal the infield fly, and if the play is to be close to the line, will also yell, infield fly, if fair. It goes with the balk rule, in that it's intent is to not deceive the runner.

Rule 10.16 tells how to determine if a run is earned or unearned, and infield flies are in rule 2.00

Answer 4

The error is a fielding error, so it is not a base hit, it is a base on error, it was not a throwing error, nor is there any way to determine whether he would have made a play on the runner, so in your scenario it should be an earned run, an error on the third baseman, and a no decision for the batter.

Answer 5

It will depend on how many outs there are. If they appeal at first: With 2 outs - 0 runs score as the batter has to reach 1st base safely for the runs to score. If he never touched first it is the same as getting forced out at first. With less than 2 outs - the batter is out, but the other two runs score. If they appeal at home the batter is out, but both other runs score.

Answer 6

If an error is the reason he scores, it is not an earned run.

The answer in you senario is it depends what happens next. If the batter afterwards gets a hit, it will be an earned run, since he would have scored anyways. If there are no more hits the rest of the inning, he only scores because of the error and it unearned.