One of my favorites is the lack of knowledge on what is a steal.
See below. (Taken from
Stolen Bases | Baseball Scoring Rules) (I know this is from baseball)
When a baserunner advances from one base to the next while the pitcher is
pitching, and reaches safely he is usually credited with a stolen base (SB) and
if he is thrown out he is charged with a caught stealing (CS). But there are
many exceptions and nuances that are covered in section 10.07 of the
official scoring rules.
Here are some basic points to keep in mind in determining whether to credit
the runner with a stolen base, caught stealing or neither:
On a Wild Pitch or Passed Ball
If the pitch is a wild pitch (WP) or a passed ball (PB), then the runner does
not get credit for a stolen base.
Exception: If the runner was running on the pitch
he is given the benefit of the doubt and does get credit for the steal. But if
he only starts running after he realizes the catcher isn?t going to catch the
ball cleanly, then it is not a steal.
If the pitch is a wild pitch or a passed ball, and the runner is thrown out
trying to advance, he is not charged with a caught stealing.
Exception: As in the case where he is safe, if he
was running on the pitch, then the WP/PB is ignored and he is charged with the
caught stealing
Also related to this, note that a wild pitch/passed ball and a stolen base
are mutually exclusive. If the runner was running on the pitch and gets credit
for the steal, then no passed ball or wild pitch will be charged.
This article attempts to explain the difference between a
WP and a PB.
Pickoffs
If he is picked off a base, but makes it to the next base, whether directly,
or by successfully surviving a run down play, he also gets credit for a stolen
base
Note: as unfair as this is, the steal is charged
to the catcher. i.e., his percentage of runners thrown out goes down, even
though he was not involved on that play
If he is picked off a base, and is thrown out trying to advance then he is
charged with caught stealing
Note: Similarly to the above example, the catcher
here gets credit for the CS.
If he is picked off and called out getting back to the base, then no caught
stealing is charged
Sidenote: A baserunner who cares more about his
personal stats then helping his team win, should always go back to the base when
picked off. At worst he?ll be called out but it won?t hurt his negotiating
power in the offseason. If he tries to advance he may get lucky and end up with
a steal, but more likely will have a CS added to his record. If he wants to be
a good teammate, and knows for sure he has been picked off a base, then he
should try to advance. A very small chance of a fielder making an error and him
being safe, is better than a 100% chance of being out at first base.
For purposes of defensive stats, only the players actually involved in the
play get credit for assists and putouts. Even though the catcher may get credit
for throwing out a runner, only the pitcher and 1[SUP]
st[/SUP] baseman would get
an assist on a 1-3-6 pickoff and attempt to advance to second play.
Steals safely on error
If a runner is stealing 2[SUP]
nd[/SUP] base and the catcher throws the ball
into centerfield, the runner is given the benefit of the doubt and credited with
a stolen base. No error is charged to the catcher
Note: If the throw allows the runner to continue
to 3[SUP]
rd[/SUP] base, then an error is charged to the catcher. Second base is
acquired via the steal, and 3[SUP]
rd[/SUP] via the error.
If the catcher throws the ball in time to retire the runner but the fielder
drops the throw, and the runner is safe, then the runner IS CHARGED WITH A
CAUGHT STEALING!
Note: The catcher is given an assist and credit
for throwing the runner out, and the fielder who took the throw is charged with
an error. This is actually a concept that is applied across other scoring
rules. If a fielder makes a good throw, but due to an error on the receiver of
the throw a runner is safe, the fielder does get credit for an assist, and the
runner is charged with what would have happened without an error. For example
on a routine ground ball, and the 1[SUP]
st[/SUP] baseman steps off the bag to
catch the throw when he doesn?t have to, the batter does not get credit for a
hit, even though he is safe. More about this in a later article.
If the catcher makes a perfect throw, but nobody covered the base, then again
the runner is charged with a caught stealing.
Note: Charge an error to whomever you deem should
have been covering the base. (Obviously the 3[SUP]
rd[/SUP] baseman for a steal
on third. Second baseman or shortstop on 2B. Pick whoever was closest to the
base. If in doubt, use the standard infield shift, and for a righthanded batter
assume the second baseman should take the throw and for a lefty assume the
shortstop)
Multiple runners stealing
On a double steal if one runner gets credit for a steal, award the other
runner a stolen base as well
Reasoning: This is giving the baserunners the
benefit of the doubt. If a throw to third base is not in time, the assumption
is that the catcher threw to the base he had the best chance of getting,
therefore the runner stealing second would have been safe if the throw went
there as well
If one runner is thrown out, then do not give the other runner anything. His
advance is treated like a fielder?s choice.
No throw is made
If no throw is made it may be scored as a stolen base, or as defensive
indifference (DI). The distinction is apparently based on your mind-reading
abilities. The rule says to not score a stolen base when a runner advances
solely because of the defensive team?s indifference to the runner?s advance.
Now, as a scorer, you need to guess whether the catcher didn?t throw the ball
because the runner was too fast and he knew he?d be safe anyhow, or if there was
a runner on 3rd base and he didn?t want to risk that runner scoring on a bad
throw, or if the team was in fact indifferent as to whether or not the runner
advanced. The inning, score of the game and how the defense played the runner
(held on, pick off attempts etc) are all used to help read the defense?s mind.