Last night Miguel Tejada made an error on the first batter in the bottom of the 1st. The result 5 "unearned runs", no more errors after that first one and Wandy Rodriguez gave up 10 hits and 6 unearned runs. That's just nuts. Here's how the 1st went down. <pre> HOU CIN W Taveras reached on infield single to shortstop. 2 0 J Hairston Jr. reached on bunt single to third, W Taveras to second. 2 0 C Dickerson walked, W Taveras to third, J Hairston Jr. to second. 2 0 J Gomes singled to center, W Taveras scored, J Hairston Jr. to third, C Dickerson to second. 2 1 R Hernandez fouled out to third. 2 1 A Gonzalez grounded into fielder's choice to first, J Hairston Jr. scored, J Gomes out at second, C Dickerson to third. 2 2 A Rosales singled to left, C Dickerson scored, A Gonzalez to second. 2 3 P Janish singled to left, A Gonzalez scored, A Rosales to second. 2 4 A Harang singled to center, A Rosales scored, P Janish to second, P Janish to third advancing on throw. 2 5 W Taveras flied out to center. 2 5 </pre> So how is it that all those runs are unearned?
I think I can explain, but first I need a clarification. The news quote you cited described Tejada's fielding play as an error, but in the play by play it is called a hit. Which was it? I'm going to assume it was ruled an error, in other words, a would-be out. Thus, Taveras' run is unearned. That would make Hernandez' pop foul the would-be 2nd out. The fielder's choice out at second would have been the third out, so the run scored on that play and every run thereafter would be unearned. Thus, all 6 runs were unearned.
Because had the error not kicked off the inning, there would have been one out to start the inning. Later R Hernandez and A Gonzalez got out. No other batter would have come to the plate had that initial error not been made. That's the egg timer way of looking at it.
Taveras reached first on an error. I get it now. Just seems odd that Wandy can give up 10 hits and 6 runs none of them earned.
another way of looking at it. error starts the inning W Taveras reached on infield single to shortstop. 2 0 J Hairston Jr. reached on bunt single to third, W Taveras to second. 2 0 C Dickerson walked, W Taveras to third, J Hairston Jr. to second. 2 0 J Gomes singled to center, W Taveras scored, J Hairston Jr. to third, C Dickerson to second. 2 1 R Hernandez fouled out to third. 2 1 A Gonzalez grounded into fielder's choice to first, J Hairston Jr. scored, J Gomes out at second, C Dickerson to third. 2 2 THIS SHOULD BE THE END OF THE INNING HERE. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, IT IS THE ERROR TO START THE INNING THAT MAKES ALL THAT FOLLOWS POSSIBLE A Rosales singled to left, C Dickerson scored, A Gonzalez to second. 2 3 P Janish singled to left, A Gonzalez scored, A Rosales to second. 2 4 A Harang singled to center, A Rosales scored, P Janish to second, P Janish to third advancing on throw. 2 5 W Taveras flied out to center. 2 5
Yeah it is one of those things.. The guy got punched around pretty good. At the same time, one could make the case that no one would have scored if not for the error.
Yeah. If Tavares lead off was an error and not a hit, then you can't assume the run would score on the single. Had the next hitter singled then it would have been 1 ER I believe.. but the next 2 got out, thus negating everything else for the inning.
It varies. Runs scored on FC plays can be earned. In this case, the FC out would have been the third out but for Tejada's error to start the inning. Thus, the run would not have scored on the FC play. Here is an oversimplified clarification: A FC run can be earned if the circumstances leading up to it show that the pitcher is responsible for the guy being on base and moving around to score. Essentially, unearned runs stem from errors and when those errors are made in relationship to what the circumstances would have been if the errors had not happened.