BZ 1985: Scoring Bug #2

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

Here's another one I just got in my solo league. Interestingly, this was the opposite of the last one - here an earned run was charged when it shouldn't have been.

Bottom of the 9th, 9-9 tie. Pittsburgh starts off the inning with a single. The next batter grounds into a fielder's choice, and the defense gets the lead runner, leaving a runner at first with no one out.

The next batter hits a grounder to third, but the third baseman muffs the play, leaving runners at first and second with one out.

The next batter gets a base hit, and the runner scores from second, ending the game. This runner, who got on base on a fielder's choice (not replacing a runner who got on via error/passed ball), advanced to second on an error, and then scored from second on a single, was counted as an earned run against the pitcher.

Again, I refer you to the definition of an unearned run:

* A batter or runner advances one or more bases on an error or passed ball and scores on a play that would otherwise not have provided the opportunity to score.

Here, the runner advanced one base on an error and then scored on a play that would otherwise not have provided the opportunity to score. Textbook unearned run.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

Just had another run get misdirected as an earned run rather than an unearned run.

Detroit at Boston, top of the seventh. Detroit gets a leadoff double. The next hitter strikes out, but reaches first on a dropped third strike (which is correctly scored as a strikeout and a passed ball), and the lead runner takes third. The next hitter flies to deep center, scoring the runner from third.

The problem is that OOTP immediately gave the pitcher an earned run. Again, referring back to the MLB rules:

An unearned run is given when:

* A batter or runner advances one or more bases on an error or passed ball and scores on a play that would otherwise not have provided the opportunity to score.

Here, that's exactly what's happened: the runner advanced from second to third on a passed ball, and then scored on a sacrifice fly, which is indeed a play that would not otherwise have provided the opportunity to score.

Now, it's also not a simple uneaerned run, because if the next hitter clobbered a double to the gap, the runner would have scored anyway, and so the run really would be earned. The problem is that the game doesn't do any of this correctly. At the moment this run scored, it should have been counted as an unearned run. Then if it turns out he would have made it in regardless, it becomes an earned run. Does this make sense, or should I explain it again in a different way?

[Nutlaw]

Bz 1985