scoring on outfield play

Question
QUESTION: In 10U baseball, batter hits hard fly ball to vicinity of  leftfielder.  Leftfielder takes about five quick steps towards leftfield line, kind of jumps and holds up glove hand to attempt to backhand the ball while he is moving for the ball.  Ball goes in glove but the momentum of the play makes the leftfielder fall backwards and drop the ball.  We are having a debate on the scoring:  hit or E7?



ANSWER: Brooks,

This is a judgement call.  The rule is that if the fielder should have caught the ball with an 'ordinary effort' then it is ruled an error.  Only by watching can you make the call if this play was an ordinary effort.

This is one reason why error scoring is so prone to mistakes.  It makes me not want to have errors at all sometimes - just give the batter a hit and move on.

Brian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Brian,

Thanks for the quick response.  Our issue is that we know the rule but are having a hard time on agreeing what ordinary effort is and we seem to have one of these plays come up every other weekend.  Do you think the following are some reasonable guidelines for 10U for these situations:

1. if the fly ball sits up for a long time and there is plenty of time to get under it, it should probably be an error (probably an error even if the kids doesn't touch it, much less drop it)

2. if the fly ball is moving fast and the outfielder obviously misplays the ball (by moving forward three or four steps before trying to back up, etc), then it should probably be an error

3. if the flyball is moving fast and the outfielder properly plays it but the momentum of the play causes him to fall over in the act of catching it (generally from being stretched out at the time of the catch), it should probably be a hit

If you can have anyother suggestions or insights, I would appreciate it.

Thanks - Brooks


Answer
Brooks,

I think your guidelines above are a good start.  However, on #2, if the ball is hit where the outfielder wouldn't have made the play even if they went the right direction, they shouldn't get an error charged to them.

Other then that, I think it makes sense.  By the way - it doesn't matter if a fielder touches the ball or not when scoring an error.  Many people believe the ball must be touched in order to score an error and that is a myth.

Hope this helps!

Brian