Written by Mark Bailey
An error in baseball is a statistic assigned to defensive players when they make a mistake with a ball hit in play that benefits the opposing team. Once the play has concluded, someone known as an official scorer makes a judgment on the play, deciding whether the fielder’s mistake should or should not have happened. Those decisions are based on the performance of the average fielder.
POINTS
- An error in baseball is a statistic assigned to defensive players when they make a mistake with the ball that benefits the opposing team. Examples of errors include failing to catch routine fly balls, not picking up easy ground balls, dropping the ball while trying to tag an opponent, or throwing wild throws.
- Unforced errors are mistakes made by players which do not get counted on the scoreboard but often have negative impacts on games for their teams.
- Errors occur due to fielders having thousands of square feet of playing space and hitters hitting at speeds over 100mph; shortstops and second basemen usually commit more errors as they see more action than other positions.
- Errors affect a pitcher’s Earned Run Average (ERA) and the batter’s batting average; runs scored off an error don’t count against pitchers’ ERAs either.
- The official scorer has the final say on whether an error occurred during play – if it is too difficult for a regular fielder, then it may be ruled as no-error instead – though unofficially, spectators can assign unforced errors too; balks aren’t considered official errors either but dead balls instead.
Examples of errors
An example of an error is when a fielder fails to catch a routine fly ball, does not pick up an easy ground ball, or they drop the ball trying to tag an opposing player. They could also throw the ball and miss their teammate. If the opposing team benefits by scoring a run or advancing on the base paths, then that is an error too. Often, the official call of an error by the scorers is accepted without disagreement.
One famous example of an error committed in a critical game was a throwing error committed in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. With the Yankees leading by one run in the bottom of the 9th inning, the Diamondbacks batter who represented the winning run bunted the ball towards the pitcher.
The pitcher fielded the ball cleanly, but when he threw the ball to his teammate to get a baserunner out, the ball was a wild throw that went into the outfield. This error allowed the runners to advance. A few batters later, the Diamondbacks tied the game and eventually won the World Series. Here is a video of the play:
Unforced error
An unforced error is when a fielder makes a mistake that should not have happened, and with no outside influence. The actual tracking of unforced errors does not happen in baseball like it does in tennis or other sports.
However, while unforced errors are not a tracked, official baseball statistic, spectators and the media will unofficially assign unforced errors on players. This is done because unforced errors can be committed by the defense or offense.
An example of this on offense is when a ball is hit into play, and a baserunner forgets to run to the next base or forgets to step on a base and gets called out. In basic terms, an unforced error is a mistake made by a player that does not get counted on the scoreboard, but most often has a negative impact on the game for their team either by causing an out or affecting the score.
Why do errors occur in baseball games?
Errors occur in baseball games like in all other sports. In baseball, fielders must cover thousands of square feet of playing space on the field.
Additionally, hitters often hit a baseball into the field of play at speeds well over 100mph. With those two factors along with the weather, lights, and potentially uneven playing surfaces, the chance for errors in a baseball game can be high.
Which position makes the most errors?
The baseball positions that make the most errors are usually shortstops and second basemen. The reason for this is that, statistically, those two positions will see the most action on the field. Those two positions are usually less than 150 feet from home plate, so they need to react much faster to a hit baseball than other positions.
Those two positions are also the main individuals who complete what is known as a “double play” which also adds a layer of difficulty throwing the ball to each other to get baserunners out.
How do errors affect other statistics?
Errors in baseball affect other statistics like a pitcher’s Earned Run Average (ERA) and a batter’s batting average, and the amount of hits they are given credit for.
Example: A hitter hits the ball to the outfield, and the outfielder drops the ball which allows the runner to safely reach first base. While the runner did hit the ball and did make it to first base, the outfielder should have caught the ball and the hitter should be out. Since the fielder committed an error, the runner can stay on first, but he does not get credit for getting an actual hit. This reflects negatively on a hitter’s batting average even though they made it to first base safely.
However, the pitcher that threw the ball isn’t charged with a run if the baserunner that reached base by error scores a run. The run will always count for the score of the game, but if a batter reached base on error, that run won’t count against the pitcher or their earned run average. Simply put, the run was not earned if the batter reached base because of an error.
Who decides if an error occurred?
An individual known as the official scorer has the final say on whether an error has occurred on a play.
There is one official scorer assigned to every game. They are all highly trained, and some are even former professional players. Scorers in the professional leagues must apply for the role and pass stringent testing and evaluation to ensure that judgments they make are consistent with league expectations.
An official scorer can choose not to assign an error to a player if the situation allows. For example, if a ground ball is hit towards a fielder but hits something in the field of play that changes its path which causes the fielder to miss the ball, then that may not be an error. If the official scorer believes a play is so difficult that a regular fielder would not be able to make a play, then they can score it as a hit instead of an error.
FAQ
Do runs count against the pitcher after an error?
No, runs do not count against the pitcher after an error. See how errors affect other baseball statistics.
Is an error considered a hit?
No, a hitter that reaches base safely because of an error committed by a fielder is not given credit for a hit. The assumption is that they would be out if the mistake hadn’t occurred.
Why is a passed ball not an error?
When it comes to the pitcher and the catcher, both positions can have errors assigned to them, but not during the actual pitching process. Because pitchers and catchers throw and catch the ball more than anyone else on the field, the chance for errors is significantly higher, so mistakes made on a pitch (such as a passed ball or a wild pitch) are not counted as official errors.
Can a pitcher make a fielding error?
Yes, a pitcher can make a fielding error. Pitchers do not get assigned errors during the process of a pitch, but if the ball is hit into play and is fielded by the pitcher, they are now considered a defensive player and are subject to the same standards as fielders.
Whether it’s catching a fly ball, fielding a ground ball, or tagging an opposing player, if a pitcher fields a ball in play, but makes a mistake allowing the other team to advance, then an error is assigned to the pitcher.
Is a balk considered an error?
No, a balk is not considered an error in baseball. While a balk is a mistake made by a pitcher, it falls under the category of an unforced error and is not officially scored as an error. There are several different kinds of balks, but if one happens, it is considered a dead ball and no errors are charged to pitcher or the team on the field.
Even the best baseball players make errors
Errors in baseball are quite common and often provide fans with some funny or heartbreaking moments depending on which team commits the error. However, whether it is a fielding error on a ground ball or fly ball, or a tagging error, it is a baseball statistic that has been tracked for over 100 years and will continue to be. Professional baseball players are the best in the world, but even the best sometimes make mistakes.