Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
September 14, 2004
Earned and Unearned Runs

When I see a line like Jeff Suppan's tonight, I really think that the rule for awarding earned and unearned runs should be changed. In the top of the fourth, there was an error by Pujols with two outs that loaded the bases. Suppan then gave up a walk and two doubles to lead to five runs. Somehow, it seems Suppan is a lot more responsible for the runs in that inning that Pujols' error.

Maybe only players who reach on an error, or runs that score directly because of an error should be unearned. Suppan's ERA got an undeserved break tonight. Does anyone else have an interesting idea?

Update: Seawolf comments on something I noticed watching BBTN this morning. The error charged to Pujols didn't look like an error to me. Even if Albert had fielded the ball cleanly, I don't think he would have gotten the runner at first. So Suppan ERA was doubly lucky last night.


Posted by David Pinto at 11:23 PM | Pitchers | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Certainly consideration has to be given to the supposition that Suppan got himself out of the inning save for Pujol's error. Everything after that is only possible because of that error as the inning should be over. However what if there were only one out, then Suppan become 'more responsible' as he will get charged with more runs of he walks a man and gives up two doubles. What the current rulw reflects is the critical importance of the third out as it introduces a conclusion the inning.

Posted by: Bill Martiin at September 15, 2004 01:25 AM

I don't think a pitcher should get a free pass after all the runners have scored who were on base immediately after the error occurred. I say this because, after this point, the primary problems the error caused/prolonged are gone. The way the rule works now, as you point out, the assumption is everything happens should not be the pitcher’s fault because the inning should be over. Now perhaps you can continue to blame the error for additional runners because of the defensive/pitching adjustment made because of the runners on base. On the other end of things, if an error happens with 2 outs, there is a runner on base, the next batter hits a home run so the bases are now clear. There is no excuse after that. At that point, the pitcher would get a free pass on earned runs for no other reason than because the batting order had changed. If that is the case, he should get a free pass on earned runs the rest of the game.
Just my thoughts as a less informed baseball fan. I am interested to see what your regular contributors have to say

Posted by: ron at September 15, 2004 09:58 AM

I think a bigger problem is the official scoring of a game. For example, Clemens is charged with a run because his shortshop drops the ball behind 2nd base and Womack is credited with a hit. Granted, he's a fast man, and the announcers said nothing, but at the time, I was thinking error the whole way, and the look at Vizcaino's face matched it. The replays didn't change my mind, but then, they don't show you a simultaneous view of the runner going down the line and the fielder. Then, in the inning in question, Pujols is charged with an error on a tapper to first. From the replays, I don't think he or Suppan could have beaten Beltran to first, Suppan and Beltran were basically neck & neck at the point Pujols mishandled it, and Beltran is faster. Definite signs of "hometown" scoring to me. I've thought for a long time that baseball needs to revisit how the official scoring is done. Back to your point though, I agree with the thought that only if the error directly leads to a run (either the run scores on the error or the player who reaches on the error comes around to score) should be unearned. However, what would happen on a situation where a runner on 1st, no outs, goes to third on a fielding error in the infield, then the next guy picks him up with a ground out or sac fly? The error indirectly lead to the run, he wouldn't have scored from second.

Posted by: John in Austin at September 15, 2004 10:20 AM

Just eliminate the error as a stat, it's a silly idea anyway and count all runs as earned all the time.

Posted by: Bob at September 15, 2004 10:50 AM