PINCH-HITTER

[cpmsms]

It would be very nice if ESPN iScore would recognize a substitute hitter as a pinch-hitter, not a blank position. At the end of the half inning, it would be nice if the program would CHECK DEFENSE so the user can add necessary subs. This would be very beneficial when a team bring in a pinch-hitter and ends up making a double-switch in the lineup, assuring the batting order and defensive positions are correct at all times.

Please make this change ASAP.

Thank you.

[team mom]

iscore offensive and defensive subs are separate as many leagues allow batting for the full lineup while playing the standard 9 or 10 in the field. It is also more "score as you see it" mentality as a team scorer may not know what the defensive subs are at the time of the batting substitution. Those subs are typically recorded at the beginning of the next inning when the team takes the field.

[cpmsms]

As an FYI: I should point out that I get paid to keep score for a living and have a pretty good understanding of Rule 10.00.

When a new batter enters the game, they are considered as a pinch-hitter. When they enter the game defensively, they become a position player.

EXAMPLE: Jones hits for Johnson. Jones is at bat as a PINCH-HITTER. When the offensive inning ends and Jones takes Johnson's spot in the field, he then ASSUMES THE DEFENSIVE position.

Like any statistic in any sport, it is like the law of averages, a cause must also have an effect. The only tricky stat which is little known in baseball & softball, is when a pinch-hitter actually comes to to the plate twice in the same inning (it happened to me 2x last year), the first time, they are the pinch-hitter, the second time, however, they are the ANNOUNCED position player, assuming the position of the player they replaced.

If Jones, the second baseman, was replaced by Johnson and, in the same half inning, comes up a second time, Jones would be considered the second baseman for the second plate appearance, not a pinch-hitter as you can only pinch-hit in a game one time.

Also, the same can be said for pinch-runners, some stay in the game and some are taken out for another player as a defensive replacement.

Details such as this should be tracked in ESPN iScore as it is a simple formality to be aware of when scoring a game and looking back at a box score. It also helps when there is a dispute in the lineup, the scorer should be able to tell the umpire where a player came in and out of a game and at what point they entered and departed the game.

[cpmsms]

Also, FYI: If a league allows a team to bat everyone, all of the players on the field are assigned positions while the rest of the players who are batting but not fielding are considered as DESIGNATED PLAYERS (DP).

[PetroGuy]

As team mom stated, iScore uses a "score it as you see it" mentality. It works well for the wide variety of usage cases we see on the board here. Even watching an MLB game, if there is a pinch hitter, I don't know if he is subsequently taking a position or just batting and another player will be taking that fielding position. If it is to be part of a double switch, I really have no way of determining that. With iScore, I don't have to figure it out at the time. I just make the offensive pinch hitter substitution when I see a different batter at the plate. When the defense rolls out at the end of the half inning, I just check the players on defense and make those changes then.

I understand your point about tracking PH details versus DP details. However, I think it would be a low priority for iScore unless they see a quick fix that works for all the different cases for users.

[OhioTex]

the iscore approach seems to work for the scenarios discussed. do not see the imperative for a change..

the pitch by pitch does track the details of when a player enters and exits the game . (perhaps the wording could be tweak, but it is tracked and described pretty clearly). the score card also notes when players enter for batting.
for defense, at the end of the play by play is a grid that shows who played what defensive positions (but it only shows at the inning level, not the pitch by pitch granularity)

i have not seen leagues specify when batting the whole roster they are called DP. if any thing I see EP more often used in softball for example. as DP has a specific meaning in respect to DP/Flex players. and DH used (perhaps wrongly) in baseball

[randkos3]

This "score as you see it" scorekeeping approach has worked for me in more than 99% of all plays. I have gotten in "trouble" (in particular) several times when double (multiple) switches occur.
EXAMPLE:
At the end of the 4th inning, the umpire comes to me and tells me that Team "A" is making several changes . . . # 14 is coming in to pitch, the original pitcher (#28) is moving to 2B, #20 (the original 2B) is out of the game, also, #6 is coming in to play RF. The original rightfielder (#12) is out. Now on offense, #14 will be batting in the sixth slot (vacated by #12) and #6 will be inserted in the ninth slot (vacated by #20). # 28 stays in the 4 spot. Of course the Ump just says - #14 is the new pitcher, #6 is playing RF, 14 is batting in the 6th slot, and #6 in the 9th slot. Sounds confusing, huh?

I used to say "fine" to the ump and score things "as I see it happening". The defensive changes are obvious (if I can see their numbers before the 1st pitch is made) and I can make those changes easily as "defensive" substitutions. Where I have had my problems was when a new batter -from Team A - (say #14) comes up and singles - my coach questions if this batter was batting in the correct spot - I am not absolutely sure because I just made the "offensive" substitution - "as I saw" #14 come to bat. It might be correct - but I'm not absolutely sure . . . as a result, I now have a pencil and paper and make notes as stated to me by the Umpire (AS IT HAPPENS) - - - this is one instance that "score it as you see it" can get you in trouble.

just my 2 cents . . .

[FTMSupport]

If you have the information, you can always make both the offensive and defensive substitution in iScore immediately... you are not required to wait for the batter to come to the plate. It seems most of the time though the scorekeepers are not necessarily kept in the loop... and many youth leagues have "free substitution" where defensive players change inning to inning.

[randkos3]

Good thought FTM - I guess I should change my ways . . . thanks AGAIN!