Scoring (not that kind!)

[DDG]

Ok, I am new to this whole “keeping the book” thing. Each game, there always is a gray area.

Two questions:

1. Winning run on 3rd (R1). One out. Batter hits ball sharply to F5 who throws to F2. R1 slides in safe, beating the throw, batter reaches 1st safely. Game over.
a. Does batter get credited with an RBI?
b. Is this a hit? (batter would have been out had F5 gone to F3, FC )
2. On Base Percentage – Does this take into account all plate appearances versus any time they get on base, regardless of the cause (hit, error, walk, hit by pitch, dropped 3rd strike, etc.)? Are there any situations excluded from this?

Thanks in advance for the education.

[hotwheels]

It is NOT a hit it is a fielders choice and I would also give them an RBI.....

The program I use for OBP does it automatically but I believe it takes into account ALL at bats and situations.....

[thedoanezone]

Ok, I am new to this whole “keeping the book” thing. Each game, there always is a gray area.

Two questions:

1. Winning run on 3rd (R1). One out. Batter hits ball sharply to F5 who throws to F2. R1 slides in safe, beating the throw, batter reaches 1st safely. Game over.
a. Does batter get credited with an RBI?
b. Is this a hit? (batter would have been out had F5 gone to F3, FC )
2. On Base Percentage – Does this take into account all plate appearances versus any time they get on base, regardless of the cause (hit, error, walk, hit by pitch, dropped 3rd strike, etc.)? Are there any situations excluded from this?

Thanks in advance for the education.

1a. yes
1b. fielder's choice
2. OBP = (H + BB + HBP)/(AB + BB + HBP + Sacrifice Flies)

[SnocatzDad]

MLB doesn't recognize reaching on an error as helping your OBP

In 12 AB's if you had 3 singles, 1 walk, 1 HBP and 1 ROE

your batting average would be .300 (3 for 10, walk and HBP don't count as At bats)

Your OBP would be .417 (ROE does not help your OBP but does count as Plate Appearance)

For me personally, I keep books and count ROE same as a walk or HBP for OBP but do count it as an at bat so for my books the above would be .300 avg and .500 OBP.

With the emphasis in softball on the short game I think that slappers/draggers are creating situations where they "press" the defense and expect to get on base a certain percentage of the time due to errors in addition to getting on due to pure speed. When making line ups I want to know who is most likely to get on base to get into scoring position and if a kid is fast enough that they regularly make the other team commit errors I want to track that as a positive offensive statistic.

[DDG]

I agree that ROE should be a positive factor in the OBP.

I look at it the same way, “who cares how they get on base, as long as they are on base, and are a potential run”. If they are reaching due to defensive errors, maybe its because their speed or hitting, or magic rabbit’s foot is pressuring the defense into making mistakes.

[rbi]

MLB doesn't recognize reaching on an error as helping your OBP

In 12 AB's if you had 3 singles, 1 walk, 1 HBP and 1 ROE

your batting average would be .300 (3 for 10, walk and HBP don't count as At bats)

Your OBP would be .417 (ROE does not help your OBP but does count as Plate Appearance)

For me personally, I keep books and count ROE same as a walk or HBP for OBP but do count it as an at bat so for my books the above would be .300 avg and .500 OBP.

With the emphasis in softball on the short game I think that slappers/draggers are creating situations where they "press" the defense and expect to get on base a certain percentage of the time due to errors in addition to getting on due to pure speed. When making line ups I want to know who is most likely to get on base to get into scoring position and if a kid is fast enough that they regularly make the other team commit errors I want to track that as a positive offensive statistic.

So true about the slapper, we have three slappers and over two seasons they are regularly leading the team in ROE's. I think as a someone keeping the books when you have a slapper you have to determine would the fielder been able to throw batter out if they would have fielded the ball cleanly or not. Too many times a slapper will chop one in the whole and fielder trys to rush and doesnt field cleanly. Too me any fast slapper is going to beat a lot of those out even of it is fielded cleanly, so its a judgment call by scorekeeper. But again, as long as speed is on the bases it doesnt matter how they got there.

[Coach11]

I'm witchu guys.....ROE counts towards OBP.

Official scorers generally are very lenient when awarding base hits for bunts, as it is recognized that the defense is being forced to make an atypical play, thus don't penalize players as readily for a bobbled ball, or an imperfect throw.

IMO, slappers are forcing the defense similarly.

Can't give them a hit....but OBP is what it's all about anyway.