Stolen base vs defensive indifference

[brian_oshea]

Runners on first and third. Pitch is delivered to the plate and runner on first breaks for second. Realizing that the runner on third might score on a throw to second to tag out the runner that was on first, the catcher merely throws the ball back to the pitcher and thus the runner who was on first is now on second.

Is this a stolen base or defensive in deference? I was always under the impression that it was defensive indifference as the defensive team made no attempt to put out the runner. However on at least 2 occasions , when watching a MLB game on TV, a runner advanced with no attempt to throw him out. The announcer said it was a stolen base. Was he correct and are MLB rules different from girls fast pitch?

[OhioTex]

MLB rules commentary below (emphasis added).. yes it is a stolen base..

most leagues follow the direction of MLB, but that is not to say it is perfectly applicable to all ages all levels etc. .. may be a judgement call. the key for me is to pick a standard and apply consistently in your scoring, and in my opinion age appropriate. I have not seen similar clarification in fast pitch rules, that concur nor contradict this should be anything but a stolen base.

Rule 10.07(g) Comment: The scorer shall consider, in judging whether the defensive team has been indifferent to a runner’s advance, the totality of the circumstances, including the inning and score of the game, whether the defensive team had held the runner on base, whether the pitcher had made any pickoff attempts on that runner before the runner’s advance, whether the fielder ordinarily expected to cover the base to which the runner advanced made a move to cover such base, whether the defensive team had a legitimate strategic motive to not contest the runner’s advance or whether the defensive team might be trying impermissibly to deny the runner credit for a stolen base. For example, with runners on first and third bases, the official scorer should ordinarily credit a stolen base when the runner on first advances to second, if, in the scorer’s judgment, the defensive team had a legitimate strategic motive— namely, preventing the runner on third base from scoring on the throw to second base— not to contest the runner’s advance to second base. The official scorer may conclude that the defensive team is impermissibly trying to deny a runner credit for a stolen base if, for example, the defensive team fails to defend the advance of a runner approaching a league or career record or a league statistical title.

[brian_oshea]

Thanks. I guess that I have been scoring it wrong all season.

[OhioTex]

as you are not scoring for major league.. worry not.. now you know, but that is not to stop you from adapting to your use. lots of other differences between fastpitch and baseball.. If you have been consistent , turn it to your advantage, use it as it best fits your needs.

[team mom]

The rule is the same for fast pitch. It is my understanding defensive indifference is used rarely, and usually only in games with a very lopsided score.

[fmcfish]

It seems unfair to charge the catcher with a "stolen base against" when he/she didn't even try to throw the runner out. In order to get a fairer assessment of the catcher's defensive statistics, I usually score "defensive indifference" in this setting.

[bepeacock]

I've learned that DI should be used sparingly. Typically only in the last inning when a team is batting and is quite a bit behind so it doesn't matter if the runner advances... if he doesn't represent the tying or winning rung, obviously.

[Bovine]

OhioTex is absolutely correct. This situation was discussed at my last Level 3 Scorers Accreditation training clinic.

That said you have to remember that the Rules Of Baseball are written by MLB. Sometimes the scoring rules need to be adjusted for "park ball". The way I score it for park ball, if the runner breaks for 2nd as the pitcher starts their movement towards home and the runner runs all the way to 2nd then it is a stolen base. If the runner leaves later or eases up and jogs or walks into 2nd then I score a fielders choice basically because it has been accepted by the players that it is an automatic steal. In my mind the runner has to earn the steal.