Dear dimwit on the phone

It's like telling the parent of a Little Leaguer that Little Johnny Bedwetter didn't actually hit a home run. It was a fielder's choice and three errors that allowed the monster to roam the bases all the way home. They look at you as if you had just stolen the child's soul.

 

One of our guys questioned why a bookkeeper didn't credit someone with an error on a catchable ball that fell between multiple players. The answer: Nobody touched it.

 

Some softball scorekeeper thought a hit was anytime the batter hits the ball into the field of play. Ground out, fielder drops the ball, double, all the same thing.

 

So what's the problem. They hit it, right?

 

Tell that to the scorekeeper of the Rangers/Sox game last week. Gave an error to a ball that dropped in the 8th of a perfect game for Yu Darvish between the 2B and the RF. Kept the no-hitter intact until a hit was given up in the 9th.

 

Well, there is leeway for use of discretion in that case, I beleive. But MLB changed the scoring on that. Guessing if it had been a no-hitter it would have been different.

 

Yeah - While I think that not awarding an error there is stupid, most fans and MLB itself seems to have it setup that you're not given an error if you don't physically make contact with the ball. It's part of the reason why it's not an especially useful fielding stat.

 

I had a coach call me tonight saying one of his players went 3 for 3. . . . . a single, a double and he was hit by a pitch

 

From the e-mail box:
"Would you please write a story about our 7U softball team if we win the county championship? It would really life our spirits and might give them a little something to keep playing the game."

 

You'd better do it. Middle school scholarships are on the line.

 

Shouldn't winning a title "life" their spirits?
Oh, wait...it's not about wins and losses, it's about having fun and participating!

 

What if they lose? Can you write about the other team because they need an incentive to keep playing the game too.