Interview with an official scorer

This is a really interesting interview with the official scorer of the Red Sox.

As a side note, it really does point out how much subjectivity there can be in things like errors, earned runs, and so forth.

almost 2 years ago 3460kuri 8 comments 0 recs |

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Just add another ump to each crew, and add Scoring/Review to the rotation of Home Plate, First, Second and Third.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Mar 8, 2010 10:28 AM EST reply actions

Fair point

I tend to agree with you as they ARE on the field. The fact that the guy can’t see the left field corner is inexcusable.

I wish we could continue to just show up and play for no reason. No umpires, no scorers. Just show up and have fun.
-- Alex Rodriguez

by dorsal on Mar 9, 2010 2:36 AM EST up reply actions

3 things

1. Dan Duquette is an asshole.
2. OSs should be allowed to assume the GDP (especially on those easy ones).
3. Clemens comes off surprisingly… well.

by Travis G on Mar 8, 2010 10:41 AM EST reply actions

Actually

I think it’s this guy who comes off like a dick.

As long as the request is made in a civilized manner, I’m always willing to do so. But if I receive uncivilized treatment, that person forfeits any future appeals with me unless I get an apology. MLB wants scorers to report such incidents of incivility, and transgressors can be reprimanded or fined. But I have never reported such an incident to the league, preferring to handle it in my own fashion.

Basically, he’s saying, screw MLB and their review process- I make the rules.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Mar 8, 2010 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

I disagree

because he’s getting hostility from players for doing his job. He recounts numerous events where he was convinced by players to change his rulings based on valid perceptions of the play in question.

I don’t think he’s being unreasonable to require an apology before allowing discussion of future plays.

by phonty on Mar 8, 2010 8:01 PM EST up reply actions

Good read

by ACPhoenix on Mar 8, 2010 11:32 AM EST reply actions

Fantastic article

Great read.

I wish we could continue to just show up and play for no reason. No umpires, no scorers. Just show up and have fun.
-- Alex Rodriguez

by dorsal on Mar 9, 2010 2:33 AM EST reply actions

I agree- fascinating. Never seen a scorer interview before.

He also makes a very valid point about ordinary effort, although I believe that it should mean “ordinary” for a major leaguer. If one is scoring a high school game, then an error should be something handled by an ordinary effort for a high schooler. Otherwise, only the most egregious misplays would ever be errors for major leaguers.

As far as the civility requirement goes, on one hand JScape is right, but on the other hand the scoring doesn’t effect the outcome of the game, only what (the loathesome) John Stirling calls “bookkeeping.”

What I don’t understand at all is the distinction between mental and physical errors. If you throw the ball into the stands thinking that your catch was the third out when it was only the second, that’s an error. Second best judgment, such as trying to get a speedy lead runner instead of the sure out at first shouldn’t be an error.

by designatedquitter on Mar 9, 2010 12:44 PM EST up reply actions