Pitcher Errors And Earned Runs?

[polarisslbm]

If a pitcher commits an error that lets a runner on base, and that runner scores, does that count as an earned run on the pitcher?

Also, how is it ruled if there is a runner on third, and the pitcher tries to pick him off and throws it out of the third baseman's range, and the runner advances and scores. Is that an error, an earned run, or what?

[1927yankee]

[MarkB]

1. No. Any error, by anyone on defense, is an error. If that runner scores, it's an unearned run.

2. If the pitcher throws out out of the third baseman's range, it's an error on the pitcher and an unearned run. If he throws it to the third baseman, but he fails to catch it, it's an error on the third baseman and an unearned run. Both are decided by the scorer of the game.

[sfgiantsflgators]

Just to expand on both answers:

#2 - Any pickoff attempt that ends this way, either with the pitcher throwing it away (E1) or the fielder muffing (not cleanly catching) the throw, that allows the runner to advance, is an error on the fielder the official scorer designates.

Earned and unearned runs are determined as a result of an inning reconstruction. By this I mean that, if the errors are taken out and you replay the inning, would the runners have scored anyway or did they only get the chance to score as a result of an error. For example: runner on first, two outs. Pitcher throws to first and the ball goes over the first basemans head, runner advances to second. Batter then singles and runner scores. Next batter strikes out. In this instance, the run is unearned because, if the error on the pitcher is taken out, the runner would not have scored that inning. Now, if instead of striking out, the second batter mentioned hit a homerun, there would be three earned runs as a result since even without the error the homerun would have driven in all baserunners.

Hope I didn't just make the situation more confusing...the scoring aspect of the game gets pretty complex when you examine it closely.