Infield Pop-up...error or not?

[J-Man]

If there is an infield pop-up, and no one catches it and no one touches it, is it considered a hit or an error? If it's an error, do you just give it to the closest player (i.e., the one that SHOULD have caught it)? Thanks in advance!

[ScottG33]

In my experience, if we are talking about competitive leagues in which players have played a number of years, then I would charge an error to the fielder that should have caught it or whoever called for it.

In a youth league, where players are developing skills, no error. Ordinary effort is not the same for the youth as it is for a developed player.

Scott

[team mom]

Did no one even try for the ball? If not, then it sounds like maybe it was a mental error, and you are not supposed to assign errors for mental errors.

[J-Man]

I make it a real judgement call...I was just wondering if there was an "official" rule. You're right, team mom...it's probably most likely a mental error. But, I don't necessarily agree that you're not supposed to assign errors for mental errors. I think it's a case by case issue.

I think I'll just continue with making a "judgement" call. Thanks all.

[PetroGuy]

The are "official" rules on how to make the judgment calls about errors. For MLB rules, the main details are in rule 10.12.

The main judgment to make is if a fielder using ordinary effort (judged by the level of play) could have made an out. The ball does not have to be touched to be considered an error.

As for mental mistakes...

Rule 10.12(a)(1) Comment:
The official scorer shall not score mental mistakes or misjudgments as errors unless a specific
rule prescribes otherwise. A fielder’s mental mistake that leads to a physical misplay—such as throwing the ball into the stands or rolling the ball to the pitcher’s mound, mistakenly believing there to be
three outs, and thereby allowing a runner or runners to advance—shall not be considered a mental mistake for purposes of this rule and the official scorer shall charge a fielder committing such a mistake
with an error. The official scorer shall not charge an error if the pitcher fails to cover first base on a
play, thereby allowing a batter-runner to reach first base safely. The official scorer shall not charge an
error to a fielder who incorrectly throws to the wrong base on a play