New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-02
PITCHERS HAVE
TO DODGE ALL
THESE RULES
Bound In by More Regula-
tions than Other Players,
Yet on Top Still.

handicap or enhance the efforts Oh the
eight other players.
The baseball public. even that part
Of il which is usually well informed III
the rules. never has thoroughly UNDER
Good the rules for determining runs
earned of pitchers and the basic rules
md nrinciples governing the determin-
inc Of gnmes won and lost where TWO
or more pitchers participate Tor the
same team in the same game. ihese
rules are the result OF years OF eApe-
riencc and are considered as near per
feet as expert baseball knowledge can
devise. ~
John A. Heydler, secretary of the
National League, will send THIS weeK
20 each official scorer Of the league d
c,py Of the rules, TO determine tne
pefplexng questions ARISING unuei
these two heads. These rules are ior-
warded annually TO the oihclai scorers
vet there are frequent discrepancies IN
their Interpretation. The rules follow
Basic Rules for Determining Games
Won and Lost Where Two or More
Pitchers Participate or Side.
While it is not possible to make
hard and fast rules for determining
which pitcher should be credited WIN
winning, or charged with the loss o.
e. came. yet there are certain iuhoa-
,a.ptal rules in arriving at DECISION
which have stood the test OF eriue'sn'
and which are as follows; 81
First When one pitcher is renewed
~ another. with runners on oases'
charge up all such runners, IN cas- TS
tbcv score. TO the first pitcher. me
r,.lieving pitcher, coming into the
oome cold" and possibly in the mldst
of a batting rally, cannot be held re-
snonsible for runners he may ma on
10 bases; nor should he be charged
IN with the first batsman he faces
reaching first if such batsmsn had any
oovantace because of the Wild pitch-
ing Of the first pitcher.
Second-Where the relieving plteher
COOS in with the score tie on even III
,ings. he must win or lose the game
rcgardless Of the number OF innings
OF how effectively the first pltcher may
have pitched. If the iirst pltcher Is
relieved with the score IN ms raVoE'
and later the score is tied up OIL sec
ord pitcher, then the latter wins OF
loses A tie game al any stage with
20 one on bases) must be considered
Il, all intents and purposes as tne
tart Of a new game TOR the secohu
pitcher. .
Third Where the first pitcher IS re-
tired after pitching. say, seven innings
10 il entitled to the benefit of Oil runs
scored by his side in en- equal number
cf innings. For instance. Brown, OF
inc home club. has pitched seven nm
irrs. with the score to 0 against hlm'
no ia taken out when his turn al bat
comes i'm the seventh. Before the close
a. that inning his team has scored two
runs. Brown retire. with the game
lie. and the next pitcher becomes re-
yponsible.
Four,h-Do not give the first pitcher
credit for game won, even II score
is in his favor. unless he has pitched
~ least the first half Of the game
pitcher retired at close Of fourth
inning. with the score to l IN ms
favor. has not a won game. II, now
ovcr. he is taken out because o. has
team having secured q commanding
and winning lead in few innings, then
he is entitled to the win. The good
Judgment os the scorer must determine
I'm such cases, as much depends on
whether the pitcher is relieved because
Of inefTectivencss. or because he has
commanding lead, or because IT be-
comes necessary. at critical stage, 70
replace him with stronger batsman.
Fifth-Regardless Of how many inn
inCs the first pitcher may have pitched,
he is charged with the loss OF the
came IL he is retired with the score
against him and his team IS unable
hereafter either 20 tie or overcome
chat lead
No attempt has been made TO cover
in the foregoing all OF the many SIT
vations that present themselves 20 the
scorer i'm games where pitchers are
changed. in isolated cases the sppliea-
lion Of thee rules may work hardships
20 one pitcher or tho other; but on the
seasons NAV. counled with your good
iudgmc.:. results following observance
Of th-se rules should prove as salts
factory as they have for years past.
Rules for Determining Runs Earned
OF a Pitcher.
The following rules and suggestions
are submitted for your guidance in de-
termining runs earned off the pitcher;
RULE
An earned run shall be scored every
time the player reaches home before
fielding chances have been offered 10
retire the sidel by the aid OF
l. Base hits.
-. Sacrifice hits
o. stolen bases.
E. Bases on balls.
D. Hit batsmen
g. Wild pitches.
Balks.
The intent OF the rule is 10 include
under the heading Of earned runs all
the factors that produce runs for which
the pitcher is chiefly responsible.
Use your best judgment where differ
Cnces OF opinion arise regarding earned
runs. particularly when one pitcher
substitutes for smother. Give the
pitcher the benefit of doubt on fielding
errors and IN determining the base 20
which a runner should have been held
with perfect support on part Of felders.
An error made by pitcher is the
same as though made by any other
fielder. and should not DC charged
against the pitchers earned run record.
40 run can be earned that scores as
result Of batsman having reached FIRST
on a fielding error or passed ball.
No run can be earned after the field
ing side has missed a chance or chances
10 retire the side.
Following are examples, presuming
that perfect play has preceded the
plays outlined.
Before two are out--runners on third
and first; outheider drops Ay ball. but
RECEIVERS and forces man ~ second. the
run scoring on play. DO not score run
- earned on that particular play il the
helder had an easy throw 20 head OF
run at plate.
Before two are out-Smith base on
balls; would have been forced out NJ
second but for error on Browns
frounder 20 short; WILTON triples.
Only Browns run earned, as Smith
.iould have irep ont