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Show Keeping the Pitching Marks H M H B H Rules That Govern Scoring Who Is to Be Credited With Victory or Charged With Defeat. RECENTLY there has arisen in Salt Lake no little discussion regarding the figuring of pitching pitch-ing records. Several of that class of Salt Lake fans who are always al-ways betting on something about a bal) game have been "in doubt as to some of the numerous things that have happened in the pitching of the last three weeks, and many communications from the celebrated Messrs. A. and B., Old Subscriber and Ardent Fan have arrived with requests for disentanglement disentangle-ment of certain snarled skeins. In order that everyone may study and learn the method by which pitching pitch-ing performances are recorded, the rules prepared by John B. Heydler, secretary sec-retary or the National league, are herewith here-with reproduced. Mr. Heydler has given scoring rules much attention during dur-ing the last six or seven years, and has evolved a system of scoring pitching efforts, which, while not to te applied by a fast and hard rule, nevertheless covers most of the points about which confusion exists. Heydler 'b suggestions sugges-tions to National league scorers have been adopted by President Baum of the Coast league and are followed in this circuit. The principal items contained in the code follow: Relieving Pitchers. While it is not possible to make hard and fast rules for determining which pitcher should be credited with winning, win-ning, or charged with the loss of, a game, yet there are certain fundamental fundamen-tal rules in arriving at a decision which have stood the test of criticism, and which are as follows: 1. When one pitcher is relieved by anothor, with runners on baBes, charge up all such runners, in case they score, to the first pitcher. The relieving reliev-ing pitchor, coming into the game "cold" and possibly in tho midst of a batting rally, cannot be held responsible respon-sible for runn?rs he may find on the bases; nor should he be charged up with the first batsman he faces reach-, ing first if such batsman had any advantage ad-vantage because of the wild pitching of the first pitcher. ' 2. Where the relieving pitcher goes in with the score tied on even innings he must win or lose the game, regardless regard-less of the number of innings or how effectively the first pitcher may have pitched. If the first pitcher is relieved with the score in his favor, and later the score is tied up off the second pitcher, then the latter wins or loses. A tie game at any stae (with no one on bases) must be considered to all intents in-tents and purposes as the start of a new game for the second pitcher. 3. Where the first pitcher is retired after pitching, say, seven innings he is entitled to the benefit of all runs scored by his side in an equal number of innings. For instance, Brown of the home club has pitched seven innings, in-nings, with the score 2 to 0 against him. He is taken out when his turn at bat comes in the seventh. Before the close of that inning his team has scored two runs. Brown retires with ; the game a tie, and the next pitcher ; becomes responsible. Must Earn His Credit. 4. Do not give the first pitcher credit for a game won, even if the score is in his favor, uiiless he has pitched at least the first half of the gme. A pitcher retired at the close of the fourth inning, with the score 2 to 1 in his favor, has not won the game. If, however, he is taken out because be-cause of his team having secured a commanding and winning lead in a few innings, then he is entitled to the win. The good judgment of the scorer must determine in such cases, as much depends on whether the pitcher is relieved re-lieved because of ineffectiveness or because he has a commanding lead, or because it becomes necessary, at a critical crit-ical stage, to replace him by a stronger batsman. 5. Regardless of how many innings the first pitcher may have" pitched, he is charged with the loss of the game if he is retired with the score against him, and his team is unable thereafter either to tie or overcome that lead. No attempt has been made to cover in the foregoing all of the many situations situa-tions that present themselves to the scorer in games where pitchers are changed. In isolated cases the application applica-tion of these rules may work hardships to one pitcher or the other, but on the season's play, coupled with your good judgment, results following observance of these rules should prove as satisfactory satis-factory as they have for years past. Runs Earned Off Pitcher. The following rules and suggestions are submitteti tor your guidance in de- JOHN B. HEYDLER J VA' J A HV - f $ X'Al ' lAir I I vCvA ?W 'j A'vAAA -tiflF rffAA - . Xv xa A V termining runs earned off the pitcher. RULE. An earned run shall be scored every i time the player reaches home (before fielding chances have been offered to retire toe side) by the aid of: 1. Base hits. 2. Sacrifice hits. 3. Stolen bases. 4. Bases on balls. 5. Hit batsmen. 6. Wild pitches. 7. Balks. The intent of the rule is to include under the heading of earned runs all the factors that produce runs for which the pitcher is chiefly responsible. Use your best judgment where differences differ-ences of opinion arise regarding earned runs, particularly when one pitcher substitutes for another. Give the pitcher pitch-er the benefit of doubt on fielding errors, er-rors, and in determining the base to which a runner should have been held with perfect support on part of fielders. An error made by pitcher is the same as though made by any other fielder, and should not be charged against the pitcher's earned run record. No run -can be earned that scores as result of batsmen having reached first on a fielding error or passed ball. No run can be earned after the fielding field-ing side has missed a chance or chances to retire the side. Some Examples. Following are examples, presuming that perfect play has preceded the plays outlined: Before two are out Runners on third and first; outfielder drops fly ball, but recovers and forces man at second, the run scoring on play. Do not score run as earned on that particular play if the fielder had an easy throw to head off run at plate. Before two are out Smith base on balls; would have been forced out at second but for error on Brown's grounder ground-er to short; Wilson triples. Only Brown 'b run earned, as Smith should ! have been out. ! None out Smith hit by pitcher; to 'second on an out; to third on wild pitch; scores on another out. Earned run. Before two are ou t Smith singles ; steals second; should have been out at third but for an error; Brown hits home run. Only last run earned. Smith first on balls; second on Brown being bit; two more bases on balls force Smith home. Earned run. None out Smith singles; Brown sacrifices; sac-rifices; Smith scores w;hen third baseman base-man makes error on Wilson's grounder; Green doubles. Smith's run becomes an earned run. as he would have scored from second on hit without help of the error. In cases where runner advances as result re-sult of poor judgment by fielder, but where no actual fielding error is made, the same must be scored as perfect play. Errors and passed balls can he construed only as designated in sections 8 and 10, respectively, of scoring rule 85. Do not score a double play in a case where an error intervenes between two pnt-outs, thus breaking the continuity of the play. Do not give an assist to the infielder who, with a runner on first, makes a bad throw in fielding a batted ball to that base and on which play the bats: man is safe, but the first runner is subsequently sub-sequently retired in trying to advance. |
