I've been the scorer and statistician for my son's high school team, and as this is his senior year, I'm writing up a guide for scorers for future years. For context, our school does not have its own field, nor do most of our opponents, so our games are on permitted public fields. There's no press box or public address system or working scoreboard. Spectators often need to bring their own chairs. Our particular school about a decade old and this is only the fourth year of varsity baseball; there is not much institutional knowledge or infrastructure to support the baseball team. Hence parents act as scorers and statisticians
Here is what I'm writing about interacting with the umpire, and I'd appreciate feedback on points you might disagree with, or additional things you wished the official scorers knew.
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The scorer should be situated such that they can hear the umpire and ask questions when necessary. Technically (10-1-3a), the Umpire-in-Chief designates the official scorer for the game, although this will almost always be the home team's scorer. In practice, the umpires usually interact with both the home and visiting team's scorers as equals.
It is acceptable to address the umpire as "Blue," although if they give you their name, you can use that. If possible, the scorer should introduce themselves to the umpire before the game begins: "Good afternoon Blue, I'm <name>, I have the book for <school>."
Umpires usually know what the score is, but they don't keep a written record of it, and will occasionally ask the scorer, and will sometimes also ask what inning the game is. Be prepared to answer without delay.
It is always a good idea to seek clarification on a time play---"did the run score"? One can also ask clarifying questions--did the batter swing at strike 3, or was it a called strike? Hit-by-pitch or ball four? The NFHS umpires manual recognizes that thorough scorers appreciate detailed information.
Announcing substitutions is one of the umpire's listed duties, NFHS 10-2-3d, but often the coach making the substitutions will announce to the scorers.
It is acceptable to ask the umpire what the count is. It is the responsibility of the umpire to count balls and strikes (NFHS 10-2-1), but on rare occasions, they'll ask what the scorer has for the count on the batter, so it is good to always have these facts at hand. The more organized a scorer appears, the more credibility they'll have. If your records show that strike three or ball four has been thrown, it's acceptable to ask if that was the case. But the umpire is under no obligation to discuss their count.
If your records show the third out is made in an inning and the teams don't switch sides, or if the teams begin to switch sides before three outs are made, you should speak up, e.g. "isn't that the third out"? Be prepared to recite the sequence of action as you recorded it to make your case--e.g. "#6 struck out, #8 walked, #9 doubled, #2 walked, #7 was hit-by-pitch, then #10 grounded into a double play." Although NFHS rules don't mention it, in MLB, the only time the scorer is supposed to pro-actively provide information to the umpire is when the teams begin to switch sides before three are out.
Keep in mind, you are under no obligation to volunteer that you think the third out, or strike three, or ball four has just happened when that puts your team at a disadvantage. If asked what your records show, you should always answer truthfully, but baseball is a game of vigilance and it is the responsibility of the other team to be aware of the game situation.
Be exceedingly careful in discussing rulings on plays. If you think the rules were not applied correctly, discuss with the head coach, who then may or may not seek an explanation from the umpire. In NFHS, the instructions to the umpire do not include a recommendation to consult the rulebook in knotty situations, as there is in many youth baseball rulesets. Do not expect a chance to discuss the ruling.
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thmetcalf
I've been the scorer and statistician for my son's high school team, and as this is his senior year, I'm writing up a guide for scorers for future years. For context, our school does not have its own field, nor do most of our opponents, so our games are on permitted public fields. There's no press box or public address system or working scoreboard. Spectators often need to bring their own chairs. Our particular school about a decade old and this is only the fourth year of varsity baseball; there is not much institutional knowledge or infrastructure to support the baseball team. Hence parents act as scorers and statisticians
Here is what I'm writing about interacting with the umpire, and I'd appreciate feedback on points you might disagree with, or additional things you wished the official scorers knew.
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The Man in Blue
I'll err on the side of "Find out what a person would like to be called." I utterly despise hearing my name (first or last) used on the baseball field and far prefer the ubiquitous "Blue." You d
grayhawk
100%, and should be added to this document.
Velho
This explicitly includes Batting Out of Order. The official scorekeeper shouldn't say anything (good to practice how to handle this in Game Changer ahead of time - that's usually what I see scorekeepe
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