Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-04-08
SCORING RULES ARE
SENT EACH OFFICIAL
Basic Principles Governing
Determination Of Important
Point Given Out Officially

New York, April S.--The pitcher al /.
ways has been the dominant factor in
baseball game. More rules govern his
work and prescribe how it shall be
performed than handicap or enhance
the efforts Of the other eight players.
The baseball public, even that part
of it which is usually well informed in
the rules, never has thoroughly under
stood the rules for determining the
runs earned off pitchers and the basic
rules and principles governing the de-
termming of games won and lost
where two or more pitchers participate
for the same team in the same game
These rules are the result of years of
experience and are considered as near
perfect as expert baseball knowledge
can devise.
John A. Heydler, secretary of the
National league, will send this week
to each official scorer of the league a
copy of the rules, to determine the
perplexing questions arising under
these two heads. These rules are for.
warded annually to the official scorers,
yet there are frequent discrepancies in
the Interpretation of the rules The
rules follow:
Determining Games Won and Lost.
While it is not possible to make
hard and fast rules for determining
which pitcher should be credited with
winning, or charged with the loss of
game, vet there are certain funda-
mental rules in arriving at decision
which have stood the test of criticism.
and which are as follows;
l. When one pitcher is relieved by
another, with runners on bases, charge
up all such runners, in case they score
to the first pitcher. The relieving
pitcher, coming into the game "cold" J"
and possibly in the midst of batting
rally, cannot be held responsible for
runners he NAV find on the bases; nor
should he be charged up with the first
batsman he faces reaching first if such
batsman had any advantage because OF
the wild pitching of the first pitcher.
.. Where the relieving pitcher goes
in with the score tie on even innings,
he must win or lose the game, regard
less of the number Of innings, or how
effectively the first pitcher may have
pitched. If the first pitcher is relieved
with the score in his favor, and later
the score is tied up off the second
pitcher, then the latter wins or loses.
A tie game at any stage with no one
on bases) must be considered to all IN
tents and purposes as the start of a
new game for the second pitcher.
3. Where the first pitcher is retired
after pitching, say, seven innings, he Is
entitled to the benefit of all runs scored
by his side in an equal number Of IN
nings. For instance, Brown, OF the
home club, has pitched seven innings
with the score > to 0 against him. he
is taken out when his turn at bat comes
in the seventh. Before the close OF
that inning his team has scored two
runs. Brown retires with the game
tie and the next pitcher becomes
responsible
4. Do not give the first pitcher the
credit for game won, even if score Il
in his favor, unless he has pitched al
least the first half of the game. a
pitcher retired at close of fourth III
ming. with the score to l in his favor
has not won game. If, however, h'
is taken out because his team havint
secured commanding and winning
lead in a few innings he is then en-
titled to the win. The good judgmen
of the scorer must determine in sucl
eases. as much depends ON whether th'
{ pitcher is relieved because Of ineftec,
tiveness. or because he has a command
inc lead. or because it becomes neces
saTy at a critical stage 70 replace Inn
by stronger batsman.
r Regardless Of how many inning
the first pitcher may have pitched, n
is charged with the loss Of the game
, if he is retired with the score agains
. him, and his team is unable thereatte
either 10 tie or overcome that lead
No attempt has been made in III
foregoing to cover all of the man,
situations that present themselves Z
the scorer in games where pitchers ar
changed. in isolated cases the applica
ton of these rules may work hardship
Z TO one pltcHtI vt INV "th'Ai ""' va -"
seasons play, coupled with your goo
Judgment, results following observanc
Of these rules should prove as sati'
factory as they have for years past.
The following rules and suggestion
, are submitted for your guidance J
D determining runs earned off the pItcf
q er.
o Rule.
An earned run shall be scored ever
time the player reaches home tbefof
fielding chances have been offered
retire the side) by the aid Of.
, J.. Base hits
=, .. Sacrifice hits.
3. Stolen bases
4. Bases on balls.
3. Hit batsmen.
6. Wild pitches,
Z. Balks.
The intent Of the rule is 10 iuclud
under the heading Of earned runs a
the factors that produce runs for whic
the pitcher is chiefly responsible
Use your best judgment where di
!. ferences Of opinion arise regardin