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The little leagues that I coach in have mercy rules for the younger kids. As it stands now, I have to end the inning, but it gets tough when, for instance, the bases are loaded and there's only 3 runs left and the person hits a grandslam. You want to give the kid credit for a 4 bagger, but the only thing you can do is put in a triple. If we could somehow put in the mercy number of runs before the game starts, then we could give him the stat, even if it doesn't count on the scoreboard.

The way to handle this for now is to touch each runner that should not be scored, mark Safe, Home, Run Not Scored (bottom left). This allows the runner to cross home, but the run does not count.

We will try and make this easier in the future, but there are several issues with automating it... what do you do with the stats? Does the batter still get credited with RBIs? Do the runners still get credit with runs scored for stats? Does the batter only get credited with a single when bases are loaded? Too many things that are undefined in this situations --- especially since this type of rule only exists at the lowest age groups where keeping statistics is really just for fun anyway.

FTM, this is the official way to think of it.

Statistically, the inning ends the instant the mercy run crosses the plate, and yes, that includes runners left on base. i.e. in minor league, there is a 5 run limit per inning until inning 6. Once the fifth run crosses the plate, the inning is over and no more action can take place.

FTMSupport wrote:Does the batter still get credited with RBIs?

The batter gets credited with RBIs up to and including the mercy rule. In the aforementioned bases loaded scenario, if the team has scored 4 runs already, and the batter hits a beautiful shot to the fence, he will get credited with a single (even though he probably could've gotten more), 1 RBI and the team will accumulate 3 LOBs.

FTMSupport wrote:Do the runners still get credit with runs scored for stats?

Only the runs that legally cross the plate (above, only the runner on 3rd will get a run scored)

FTMSupport wrote:Does the batter only get credited with a single when bases are loaded?

Yes, see above. This includes if he hits it over the fence, it is a single, 1 RBI and 3 LOBs.

aptman wrote:As it stands now, I have to end the inning, but it gets tough when, for instance, the bases are loaded and there's only 3 runs left and the person hits a grandslam. You want to give the kid credit for a 4 bagger, but the only thing you can do is put in a triple.

Sadly, that is the correct way to score it.

Do you have an official reference to this as the way of scoring it? A web link to an official rulebook? We are not sure this is correct.

MLB Rules: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/of ... rer_10.jsp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

10.06(g):

"(g) When the batter ends a game with a home run hit out of the playing field, the batter and any runners on base are entitled to score. "


This seems like it should apply for statistical purpose for the odd ways of ending innings in lower levels of play too. If a player hits the ball over the fence, it does not seem right to credit them with a single because the inning is ending due to an inning run cap. Yes, only one run would score, but statistics and score can be two separate things.

Any references to official rules are very helpful. Thank you.

I do not have the exact rule number, but I know that it is in Rule 2 - Definition of an inning. I will get it for you tomorrow.

RE: How many runs score on a game winning hit... all or some?

Seems to be an exception in both MLB (FTM citation) and NFHS (rule 4-2-2)
For Over the fence home runs, they can count more than just the go ahead run, so over the fence home run, treated different than a long hit to the fence.. odd..

Source:/citation
NFHS Baseball 2010 Rule 4, Section, 2, article 2 (aka 4-2-2)
"..if the home team scores a go ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning or in any extra inning, the game is terminated at that point" (i interpret that to mean scoure only the go ahead run that crosses the plate and nothing else)

Rule 4-2-2-a
"if an over the fence home run is hit, all runs score before the game is terminated" (i interpret that to mean all runs count to score, even the batter/runner who hit the home run)(using my NFHS 2010 version this time)


bryan - when you look into it, I do not find anything in Rule 2 - inning definition, but did find the above references in Rule 4.2 (including the mercy reference for 10 after 4 1/2)

The rule 2 inning definition was a reference to the little league rule book, not NFHS. There is a rule in the little league rule book that specifically talks about the 5-run per inning limit.

NFHS Softball has the same rule, 4.2.1, however does not make a mention of a walk-off home run. All it says is...

"A game ends when the team behind in score has completed its turn at bat in the seventh inning or in any extra inning. If the home team scores a go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning or in an extra inning, the game is terminated at that point."

4.2.2 talks about weather conditions, .3 is game ending procedures, .4 talks about no-games, .5 is regulation called game with tie score, and .6 is tie-breaker.