2019 SMVLL Scorekeeping and Pitch Count Clinic Final for print › files.leagueathletics.com... ·...
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SMVLL Pitch Count and Scorekeeping Clinic
Transcript of 2019 SMVLL Scorekeeping and Pitch Count Clinic Final for print › files.leagueathletics.com... ·...
SMVLL Pitch Count and Scorekeeping Clinic
Agenda
• Introduction to pitch count
• Introduction to scorekeeping
• Helpful resources
We will take you from this… To this…
Pitch Count
What Is Your Official Role as Pitch Counter?• Keep track of the official pitch count (number of pitches a pitcher throws in a game) for the Home and
Visitor teams.
• The Home team is responsible for keeping pitch count.
• Ensure the pitcher has received the required days of rest in-‐between games – pitcher safety is KEY.
• Assist your scorekeeper in keeping track of strikes and balls.
• Recommended: when interleaguing, keep a record of pitch count regardless of Home or Visitor. Check with the opposing team that your records match every ½ inning when Visitor.
Before the Game• Arrive 15-‐20 minutes prior to game start to give enough time to be prepared.
• Grab a pencil from the snack shack (or bring your own).• Always use a pencil! DO NOT SCORE with pens• Plan ahead for sharpening your pencils
• Grab 2 pitch count sheets, one to keep track of the Home team, and one to keep track of the Visitor team.
• Seat yourself near home plate and the Official Scorekeeper.
• Introduce yourself to the umpiring staff.
• Ask your Official Scorekeeper for the lineup or starting pitcher names.
• Ask the Official Scorekeeper or Managers for their Pitcher Eligibility Tracking Forms.
Before the Game: Pitcher Eligibility Form
Before the game:1. Obtain the eligibility from both Manager’s
prior to the game start.2. Review the log and double check the
required days of rest has been met for each pitcher.
3. Days of rest start with the day after the last game pitched.
4. If you have a question on the number of days of rest not being met, ask the Plate Umpire prior to the game starting.
Date of game
League age determines how many pitches a pitcher can per day.
First pitch of the last batter, NOT the total number of pitches thrown!
During the Game: Pitch Count Sheet
During the game:1. Record every pitch of the game for both Home and Visitor teams according to the legend.2. After each ½ inning, confer with the Official Scorekeeper to ensure you have the same pitch count.3. The official Pitch Counter should inform the Plate Umpirewhen a pitcher has reached his/her maximum limit of
pitches for the game.4. The official Pitch Counter should inform the Plate Umpire if it appears a pitcher is being brought into the game that
is not eligible to pitch.
Key thing to know:1. Illegal pitch/balk – if the umpire calls an illegal pitch or balk, this pitch does count against the pitcher.2. If you are unsure of a call on a pitch, please refer to the Plate Umpire for clarification.
Legend
Marking Means Example
Box First pitch of inning 1 2 3
X Strike 5 6 7
/ Ball 13 14 15
I New Batter 22 23 24
Let’s Practice!
After the Game: Pitcher Eligibility Form
After the game:1. Review with your Official Scorekeeper on the
final pitch count for each pitcher to make sure you have the same number.
2. Enter the threshold for pitches thrown (first pitch of the last batter), and calculate the days of rest required according to the below chart. Important to note, you do not enter the total number of pitches in the chart. You only record the pitch threshold.
3. Once you confirm the information is accurate, have your Scorekeeper sign the forms.
4. Give each Manager their respective form, and ask them to sign in front of you.
5. Leave the eligibility form with the Managers.
Scorekeeping
What Is Your Official Role as Scorekeeper?• The Home team’s scorekeeper is the Official Scorekeeper.
• Scorekeepers play a critical role in the game. They provide data to the coaches, statistics to the team and may be called on by the umpire to verify game information.
• The minimum requirements for scorekeeping are:• Strikes• Balls• Base running movement • Additional game documentation is encouraged, but is not required
• The scorekeeper is responsible for obtaining the lineups from both Managers and should enter both in the scorebook before the game starts.
• Report back to the Plate Umpire on the score of the game each ½ inning.
• Please note: Manager’s and coaches are unable to speak to you directly. They should communicate with the Plate Umpire, and the Plate Umpire can ask you the question.
• Recommended: When interleaguing, you will want to keep score regardless of Home or Visitor even though not required (when Visitor do NOT use the official scorebooks of your Division. Use sample/spare sheets). Check with the opposing team so that your records match every ½ inning when Visitor.
Let’s Get Started!
Player Positions
Player Positions1. Pitcher
2. Catcher
3. First base
4. Second base
5. Third base
6. Shortstop
7. Left field
8. Center field
9. Right field
Breaking Down the Scorebook
Player uniform number
Player nameLast Name, First initial
Position number legend
Player position (not required for A and AA Divisions)
Not required
Not required
Game time is when Umpire calls game start. NOT the time the game
was scheduled for
Record Necessary Game Information
Game time is when the Plate Umpire calls game start. NOT the time the game was scheduled for.
Field location.
Home Plate Umpire last name.
Your last name.
Date game is being played.
*If the Plate Umpire starts the game without calling out the game time, please ask for clarification on official game time in-‐between batters.
Starting a Game• Arrive 15-‐20 minutes prior to game start to give enough time to be prepared.
• Grab 2-‐3 pencils from the snack shack (or bring your own).
• Always use a pencil! DO NOT SCORE with pens
• Plan ahead for sharpening your pencils
• Grab your division’s scorebook (there are 2 per division) from the snack shack. It doesn’t matter which book, as long it is the correct division.
• Seat yourself near home plate and the Plate Umpire.
• Introduce yourself to the umpiring staff.
• Fill out the lineup information as soon as you have the lineups.
• Tell the Plate Umpire immediately if you need extra time to get set up prior to the game starting
Player Line-‐Ups
1. Transfer the coach’s line-‐ups to the scorebook.2. Home is the team in the 3rd base dugout, Visitor is in the 1stbase
dugout.3. Remember: don’t let the game start until you’re ready!
Common Questions About the Line-‐Up• If a player is in the line-‐up, but is not at the game.
• The player is “scratched” and you move the next player in the line-‐up
• If a player leaves the game (e.g. injury, illness, or had to leave early).
• If the player isn’t returning, he/she is “scratched” and you move to the next player in the line-‐up
• If a player is absent from their one at-‐bat, but returns to the game, you skip to the next player for that inning. In the following inning, the line-‐up returns to normal
• If a player is not in the line-‐up, but shows up to the game, this player is added at the bottom of the line-‐up.
• It is the Manager’s job to notify the Plate Umpire of this change; the Plate Umpire will notify you as the Official Scorekeeper
Starting with the Basics….
5 Baker”/” or “x”here forballs
”/” or “x”here forstrikes
”/” or “●”here for foulsonce the initial
strike squares are used
If batter gets on base,indicate in this column
how it happened*exception: HBP
Use the infield diamondto record/chart batter
movement during his/herentire time in the field,
NOT just at-‐bat
Abbrev. Definition
HBP Hit by pitch
K Strikeout swinging
ꓘ Strikeout looking (not swinging)
E Error
FC Fielder’s choice
During the Game• Record the Pitcher and Catcher of each inning at the bottom of the inning column.
• For instance, Home team Pitcher/Catch when Visitor is at-‐bat
• Baker singles in his first at-‐bat, so you draw a line from home to first, and circle "1B" in the column in the batter box.
• Smith, the second hitter, then grounds out to first, so you draw a dotted line to first base. Add a ① in the box to indicate the first out.
• Baker advances to second, so you draw a line from first to second
• Advanced note: write "3U," meaning the first baseman made the unassisted out.
• Brady then hits a single, and Baker scores.
• Circle the "1B" in the column in the batter box and write "RBI" in the lower right
• On Baker ’s line, draw a line from second to third and third to home. Shade in the infield box so you can easily see runs at a glance
• Jackson flies out to right field; draw a solid line to the 9 position on the field. Write a "9" in the box to denote that the right fielder caught it. Add a ② in the box to indicate the second out.
• Jones then singles and Brady advances to second
• Circle the"1B" in the column in the batter box.
• Brady advances to second, so draw a line from first to second
• Henry grounds out to the second baseman, who throws to first. Draw a dotted line to the 4 position and mark it as a "4-‐3“. Add a ③ in the box to indicate the 3rd out.
• Draw a solid arrow pointing to the right in the box under Henry and color through the rest of the lineup for the 1st inning.
Baker
Smith
Brady
Jackson
Jones
Henry
5
27
6
9
33
4
Let’s Practice!
Common Scorekeeping Notes
• At the end of each ½ inning, add the number of runs scored to the top of the score sheet.
• At the bottom of each inning’s column, note the player number for the pitcher and the catcher, as well as the running pitch count.
• If you run through the entire line-‐up in one inning, simply move to the next column and continue scoring. Make sure to adjust the column headers accordingly.
FAQ’s• Q: What happens if I notice a batter is out of order?
• A: You are not allowed to say anything to the Manager or the Umpire. It is up to the Manager in the dugout to identify if the batter is out of order
• If this happens, replace with proper batter and continue with the same count
• Q: What if I have a different strike/ball count than the umpire?
• A: You are allowed to ask the Plate Umpire to call time, and confer with he/she on what they have. However, the official count is kept by the umpire, the Scorekeeper is backup
• Q: What happens if a game is protested?
• A: If the game is protested, or play suspended, take notes on all details in the Official Scorebook
• Any other questions?
Other Scoring Symbols
Most commonly used notation symbols.
Abbreviation Definitions
HBP Hit by pitch
K Strikeout swinging
ꓘ Strikeout looking (not swinging)
E Error
FC Fielder’s choice
Basic AdvancedBaker
Smith
Brady
Jackson
Jones
Henry
5
27
6
9
33
4
K1
2
3
Garner8
Baker
Smith
Brady
Jackson
Jones
Henry
5
27
6
9
33
4
K1
2
3
Garner8
P: 14 (___)C: 2
P: 14 (___)C: 2
9
E37-‐2 FC
8
RBI
7
Questions:What was the pitch count for this inning?
When did the Manager go talk to the Pitcher?
MV
Walks, Stolen Bases, Foul Balls, RBI’s & Errors• (BB) Base on Balls is a Walk occurs when 4 balls before 3 strikes are
recorded.
• (FO) Force Out occurs when a runner has to run (all bases behind him are occupied) and the fielder has the ball on the next base before the runner arrives.
• (SB) Stolen Base occurs when a runner advances to the next base while the pitcher delivers the pitch.
• A runner does not get credited with a stolen base if it results from a passed ball or wild pitch
• Foul balls need to be recorded so the pitch count matches the number of pitches thrown. You can add a “│” or “●” in the bottom right corner of the batter’s box.
• RBI’s can be noted in the bottom right hand corner of the batter’s box with an “RBI”.
Advanced Training• (E) Erroroccurs when, in the scorekeeper’s judgment, a player misplays a ball he should have
played cleanly.
• (FC) Fielder’s Choice occurs when a player hits the ball in play and reaches base safely, but another baserunner is retired on that same play.
• For example, Timmy hits a ground ball to shortstop, the shortstop throws to second to retire Joey, who is running from first to second.
• Even though Timmy reached base safely, he is not given a hit because the fielders chose to retire Joey instead.
• (BK) Illegal Pitch/Balk is a rule violation by a pitcher (too many possible balk rules to try and explain here).
• The penalty is that each runner on base gets to advance one base. This rarely occurs in Little League baseball.
• (DP) Double Play is making two outs on the same play.
• (PB) Passed Ball occurs when a pitch, at the discretion of the Official Scorekeeper, should have been caught but gets past the catcher.
• (WP) Wild Pitch occurs when a pitch gets past the catcher, but is deemed uncatchable the by the Official Scorekeeper.
• (CS) Caught Stealing is when a runner attempts to advance from one base to another and is tagged out.
• (CI) Catcher’s Interference occurs when the catcher physically interferes with the batter’s swing.
*The recording of these symbols is at the sole discretion of the Official Scorekeeper.
Advanced Training
• Dropped 3rdStrike (AAA/Majors Only) occurs when a pitch that is called a strike is dropped by the catcher. The batter is not automatically out. He/She can try to run to first base before the catcher either tags the runner, or throws the ball to first. If the runner makes it to first it is scored as an error -‐ E2.
• (MV) Manager’s Visit or (TTM) Trips to Mound is when the Manager calls time, and visits the mound or talks to any defensive player. This should be recorded in the offensive batter’s box when it occurs.
• Middle of Inning occurs when the batter up does not make the final out in an inning. This can only occur when there are runners on base. In this situation a third out can be recorded in the cell of the player who was thrown out. • NOTE: if the inning ends because a runner is thrown out stealing, the player currently at bat leads
off the next inning
After the Game• Make sure the Official Scorebook is complete and accurate.
• Add the pitchers names and total pitch counts to the bottom of the score sheet
• Do a final check on pitch count with your Pitch Counter
• Enter the total number of runs for each team at the top of the scorebook.
• Return the Official Scorebook to the snack shack, along with any borrowed pencils.
Things to Remember1. Remind yourself, you are a volunteer providing the League a service, doing the best you can…..HAVE FUN!
2. Show up early to the game.
3. You are keeping score in an official capacity for the league – behave as such.4. Only the Plate Umpire may speak to you as the Official Scorekeeper.
5. Never identify “batting out of order” to the umpires or anyone – this is the responsibility of the Managers.
6. Always try and bring illegal substitutions (pitcher / player) to the attention of the Plate Umpire before the next pitch to prevent protest from happening.
7. If you are not ready to proceed after a big play or multiple changes, inform the Umpire that you need another minute.
8. If you need clarification, ask the umpire between innings, or if necessary, ask the umpire between batters.
9. Never interrupt live play.
10. Never publicly disagree with the umpires or offer your own opinion.
11. You should announce the pitch count after each ½ inning.
12. Be sensitive when recording errors.
13. The OFFICIAL COUNT is kept by the Plate Umpire.
Thank you!
