Errors

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In baseball and softball, one main topic to understand is the concept of "Errors."  An "error" is given to a player who makes certain types of mistakes on the field. Common errors are overthrowing a base or missing a catch. For those of you who are scorekeepers, this is a topic you will need to know well, because you are the one determining if something is an error or not.

One main item to consider in scoring errors is the concept of "ordinary effort".  Here is the full definition of "ordinary effort."

ORDINARY EFFORT is the effort that a fielder of average skill at a position in that league or classification of leagues should exhibit 152Definitions of Terms on a play, with due consideration given to the condition of the field and weather conditions. (Ordinary Effort) Comment: This standard, called for several times in the Official Scoring Rules (e.g., Rules 9.05(a)(3), 9.05(a) (4), 9.05(a)(6), 9.05(b)(3) (Base Hits); 9.08(b) (Sacrifices); 9.12(a)(1) Comment, 9.12(d)(2) (Errors); and 9.13(a), 9.13(b) (Wild Pitches and Passed Balls)) and in the Official Baseball Rules (e.g., Definitions of Terms, Infield Fly), is an objective standard in regard to any particular fielder. In other words, even if a fielder makes his best effort, if that effort falls short of what an average fielder at that position in that league would have made in a situation, the Official Scorer should charge that fielder with an error.