Errors#
An error is the official scorer’s judgment that a fielder failed to make a play they should have made with ordinary effort — and that failure allowed the batter or a runner to reach base (or advance) when they otherwise wouldn’t have.
Write E followed by the fielder’s number:
- E6 — error by the shortstop
- E4 — error by the second baseman
- E8 — error by the center fielder
- E1 — error by the pitcher (usually a failed fielding play, not a pitch)
What Counts as an Error#
The official scoring rules are clear on the principle but require judgment in practice: a fielder commits an error when they misplay a ball that a fielder in that position, with ordinary effort, would have handled successfully.
Common errors:
- A ground ball that goes through an infielder’s legs on a routine hop
- A throw that sails into the stands or past the fielder’s target
- A dropped fly ball that was catchable
- A bobbled ball that allows the runner to reach safely or advance an extra base
What’s not an error:
- Making a difficult catch look easy (no error if you catch it)
- Failing to reach a ball hit into a gap — if it was a hit, it’s a hit
- A bad hop on an otherwise routine grounder — bad hops can be judgment calls, but a truly unusual bounce usually earns the benefit of the doubt for the fielder
The Official Scorer’s Call#
In Major League Baseball, a specific person (the official scorer) has the authority to make the hit/error call on every play. Their decision affects statistics: the pitcher’s ERA (errors don’t count as earned runs), the batter’s batting average (no hit credit on an error), and the fielder’s fielding percentage.
When you’re scoring recreationally, you are the official scorer. Use your judgment. Was it a routine play? Did ordinary effort get it done? Give the fielder the benefit of the doubt on genuinely hard plays; hold them accountable on truly routine misplays.
Color Coding: Green#
Despite being an out-of-the-ordinary bad play, the batter reached base on an error. That makes the cell green in color-coded scorecards — the same color as a hit. The batter got to first (or wherever), which is what the color tracks.
The distinction is in the notation: E6 looks different from 1B even if both cells are green. The batter reached, but they don’t get credit for a hit, and the pitcher’s ERA is unaffected.
In BaseballScorer#
To record an error, tap Error in the outcome grid. BaseballScorer then displays the fielder selection interface — tap the number of the fielder who committed the error.
After the fielder is selected, the at-bat closes with the batter placed at first base (or wherever they ended up). If additional runners advanced on the error — for example, a runner on second scores because the throw to first was wild — you can record that advancement in the runner resolution step.
The scorecard cell shows the error notation (E6, E4, etc.) with a green background and the batter’s path traced to first on the mini diamond.