Baseball's Perfect Game Dilemma?

Question

Baseball's Perfect Game Dilemma?

Answer 1

A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher (or combination of pitchers) pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher (or pitchers) cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any other reason - in short, "27 up, 27 down".



By definition, a perfect game must be both a no-hitter and a shutout. Since the pitcher cannot control whether or not his teammates commit any errors, the pitcher must be backed up by solid fielding to pitch a perfect game. An error that does not allow a baserunner, such as a misplayed foul ball, does NOT spoil a perfect game.



I'm Just Me is completely incorrect - a dropped foul ball is ALWAYS scored as an error.



Rule 10.12 (a) states: The official scorer shall charge an error against any fielder:

(1) whose misplay (fumble, muff or wild throw) prolongs the time at bat of a batter, prolongs the presence on the bases of a runner or permits a runner to advance one or more bases, unless, in the judgment of the official scorer, such fielder deliberately permits a foul fly to fall safe with a runner on third base before two are out in order that the runner on third shall not score after the catch.



So, since a dropped foul ball "prolongs the time at bat of a batter" it is scored as an error.

Answer 2

I foul ball can be a error... in Roger Clemens' 20 K game Don Baylor had an error on an easy pop up in foul ground and Clemens struck the batter out on the next pitch... or in that at bat at least... he got the record b/c of the error it was kinda ironic and that's why I remember it.



However, an error on a foul ball when the runner does not get on base does (obviously, b/c its foul) not spoil a perfect game... it is out of the pitcher's control... 27 up 27 down... but this has never happened.

Answer 3

"I'm just me" is totally incorrect. An error can be charged for prolonging a hitter's at bat, such as dropping a foul fly ball or popup...



An error is a statistic charged against a fielder whose action has assisted the team on offense, as set forth in this Rule 10.12.



(a) The official scorer shall charge an error against any fielder:



(1) whose misplay (fumble, muff or wild throw) prolongs the time at bat of a batter, prolongs the presence on the bases of a runner or permits a runner to advance one or more bases, unless, in the judgment of the official scorer, such fielder deliberately permits a foul fly to fall safe with a runner on third base before two are out in order that the runner on third shall not score after the catch;



(the above paragraph is followed in the official rules by a long comment, not reproduced in this answer)



(2) when such fielder muffs a foul fly to prolong the time at bat of a batter, whether the batter subsequently reaches first base or is put out;

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Perfect games and No-hitters:

An official perfect game occurs when a pitcher (or pitchers) retires each batter on the opposing team during the entire course of a game, which consists of at least nine innings. In a perfect game, no batter reaches any base during the course of the game.





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So in the case of a fielder dropping a foul ball which prolongs an at bat, he can be charged with an error. But if the hitter subsequently makes an out, the perfect game would still be intact.



A perfect game is simply defined as a game in which a pitcher does not allow an opposing batter to reach base in any manner.



Therefore, a perfect game most certainly can have an error occur (at least theoretically) as long as no opposing batter reaches base.

Answer 4

Tweety and everyone who agrees with him (her? Honestly, I've never been sure what gender Tweety Bird was...) is correct.



Those who cited Rule 10.12, particularly subrule (a)(2), are correct.



Those who claim a dropped foul ball is not an error are wrong.



A defensive misplay which results in the batter prolonging his plate appearance is properly ruled an error.



Such an error does not impact the perfection of a perfect game, since the batter still has not reached base.



The perfection is in keeping the bases empty, not in absolute flawlessness of all defensive play (which is, of course, quite preferable).



Question's answered. Move on.

Answer 5

I don't know if there is an official definition of a perfect game. I'd say that if nobody got on base it's a perfect game. But I'm sure if it ever happened baseball would create a definition which screwed things up. Like their determination that if a pitcher loses a no hitter, it's not actually a no-hitter.



In any event, it would still be noted as a perfect pitching performance.



What's nuts is that the best pitching performance of all time has to be the Pirates' Harvey Haddix pitching 12 perfect innings. But because he gave up a run in the 13th and lost, it's not counted as as anything. So who cares about these official definitions.

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Answer 7

A foul ball which is not caught is not ruled an error. Since the fielder does not have to make a play on the ball to keep the hitter from reaching base, it can't logically be ruled an error.

He doesn't have to, therefore why penalize him? No scorekeeper in his right mind is going to charge an error on a dropped foul ball.



An error is constituted as a play that can be made under normal effort by the fielder but for whatever reason was not made, resulting in the hitter reaching base. That's why a ball clanging off a guy's glove when he dives for it and barely misses is not called an error, because he was making an extra-ordinary effort.



So therefore, your second question is irrelevant because there is only one type of error: one that results in a baserunner and thus ruins the perfect game.



You can analyze the situation to death but those are the rules and a perfect game under the rules is as it is. No one reaches base.

Answer 8

It's a perfect game. Definition of a perfect game: A game in which one pitchers throws the entire game and no players on the opposing team reach base.

Answer 9

I thought errors are only considered errors if it results in a runner on base. That's so instead of giving the batter credit for a base hit, when it should have been an easy out, it is scored as an error instead. I could be wrong, but if the "error" doesn't result in a base runner, I don't think it even is an error. So basically I'm pretty sure that the perfect game is intact.

Answer 10

First off - the definition of a perfect game is a game in which the pitcher does not allow any base runners. So whether or not an error is charged on a foul ball is inconsequential, since the hitter does not reach base as the result of that error.

And sorry folks,but it is possible to have an error on a foul ball.

Rule 10.12(a) of the MLB rulebook -

The official scorer shall charge an error against any fielder:

(1) whose misplay (fumble, muff or wild throw) prolongs the time at bat of any hitter .... (it goes on, but none of that is necessary for this argument).



The fact that a hitter should have been out if the fielder had made the catch means it is an error. There is no distinction for fair and foul balls. As a matter of fact, later in the rule it talks about a fielder deliberately dropping a foul fly (for instance, less than 2 outs and a man on third base - an outfielder might drop the ball so that the runner can not tag up and score. In this case, the scorer does not give an error)



So yes, the perfect game is still intact.

And yes, an error will be charged for a dropped foul ball.



(Link below to rule book - scroll to rule 10.12)



Edit - Mr. Dodger beat me to it.

Amazing how many "fans" think you can't have an error on a foul ball. And a little bit scary as well.

Answer 11

Problem with your theory is that a pop up that is foul and dropped is NEVER counted as an error. I don't care how easy the catch would've been...that play is never an error. For the play to have been an error it would have had to taken place in fair territory. And for an error to occur, there has to be a base runner.



Let me give you a situation. If Jeter hits a pop up to Longoria in fair territory and he drops it, its not automatically an error. For it to be one, Jeter would have to reach first base. If Longoria picks the ball up and still throw Jeter out...no error.



Very nice tweety but what if the official scorer and his judgement don't give an error? I've watched enough games to have seen a runner on third and the outfield let the ball drop...while giving not 100% in the attempt to catch it...and no error be given. But none of that matters because the question that the asker had consisted of no one on base.

Answer 12

to answer your question...the ruling of an error would not be put on the scoreboard until the batter successfully reached base, if the at-bat continued and he got out then there wouldnt be an error

Answer 13

I dont know the rules, atleast the official ones, but I say no.



Of course we all hear of 27 batters up, 27 battesr down=perfect game.



But a perfect game is not solely a pitchers, it's the team's.



And if an error does occur, although not costly, its not perfection.



Reason:

1. It will increase the pitcher's pitch count, thus tahts a flaw.

Answer 14

I don't think dropping a pop-up in foul territory is considered an error. Just like not completing a double play because of an errand throw and only recording one out is not considered an error. It can't be assumed that the double play will be made even though it's a double play ball. Perhaps running into foul territory and catching a fly ball cannot be assumed either. I've never seen an error recorded for dropping a foul ball.

Answer 15

I agree. If that is the official rule then it shouldnt be a perfect game.

Answer 16

if the ball is in foul territory, it's foul, it's not in play. Meaning if someone dropped the ball in foul territory, it would be considered a foul ball not a error

Answer 17

its foul so it aint a hit