MLB Scoring Changes

A side view of the final pitch from last night. Absolutely too close to take on a 3-2 count with two outs in the ninth and the tying run on base. It's closer than people think. #WBC2026

We still haven't seen it ... at least not here. This was ball four, so it was an RBI walk, and then TWO runs scored on the wild pitch. It helped the runners were moving on the 3-2 pitch with two outs.

A Major Leaguer making my exact point.

I have NEVER said it was a strike. I have said it's too close to take in the situation he was in. I think of Mookie Wilson in Game 6 of the 1986 Series. At 2-2, he fouled off two borderline pitches to stay alive. Stanley throws a wild pitch ... tie game. He fouls off two more, one of which was borderline. And then a little roller up along first...

A side view of the final pitch from last night. Absolutely too close to take on a 3-2 count with two outs in the ninth and the tying run on base. It's closer than people think. #WBC2026

@jeimon18 Well it was called a strike, so yes, it was in fact too close to take.

@ScoringChanges No it isn’t.

Here is the wild pitch. I think this is easily handled by Will Smith, and should have been a passed ball. I can tell you analytically, the percentages were 69% WP, 31% PB, but I would have given this a passed ball. It's not a great pitch, but Smith is on his left knee and doesn't move well to this one, but it's right there. I mean it's in the palm of Smith's glove.

@CraigBinTN @dren_braves I'm going to change my bio to "rando dude"

@dren_braves FOX won't do it, but some rando dude on X did

Fox has a side camera angle where you can see that the pitch was at the knees when it crossed the plate, but the big-wigs at ABS will not let them release the footage

@BernieFratto @FoxSportsRadio Keith Hernandez in his book "If at First" talked about this. He got rung up and a bad call for a called strike three, and turned and went to the dugout. One of his teammate said the ball was low and he responded along the lines of "I had my hacks".

Perdomo had an eight-pitch AB... He fouled off two prime fastballs in his happy zone instead of squaring up the bat and driving the ball. He had his chances... #Facts #WorldBaseballClassic @foxsportsradio

@DCanty24 Protecting the plate worked for Pete Rose.

Too close to take is something for high schoolers not professionals.

If he takes: Ball 4 Strike 3 (two outcomes, one bad, one good) If he swings: In play, safe (tied 2-2 or win 3-2) Foul Ball (do it again) Swing and miss (game over) In play, out (game over) I think it's the about the same. You have to protect with two strikes, and the umpire ruled it strike three. Not saying that's right or wrong (it's probably wrong), but it's a closer pitch than folks think, that's all.

@ScoringChanges Too close to take isn't a thing. The odds a positive outcome happens if he swings is far lower than if he takes.

@PadreFanDan "Too Close to Take" means don't leave it in the hands of the umpire.

It was certainly closer than the TV box indicated, however the notion of "too close to take" is fundamentally flawed. The ump's job is to get the calls right. He may not be perfect, but he should be. It was a ball and DR got screwed

@Javier260823 It's not an official MLB game, but it counts as an exhibition, so they use the exhibition rules for pitchers, so the 5 inning minimum for a starter is not needed.

@ScoringChanges Greetings, can you explain to me why you credit the game won to Paul Skenes vs Dominican Republic?

@JasonMathisLive No, because a scorer doesn't know who was right ... the pitcher or the catcher.

@ScoringChanges Does it matter if Miller crossed him up?

@ScoringGuyGuy Would love to see it.

@ScoringChanges Bottom 9th with Julio on first advancing to second. Will smith catching. Please let us know when you get a chance to to look

@ScoringChanges wild pitch? Tell us why please. Clearly a bad pitch but right in the mitt also.

@DrewDark82 I’d have been fine if they ruled that.

@ScoringChanges Yeah. Maybe technically correct, but definitely against the intent of the rules. Still wouldn't award 1B. Illegal pitch and give the runners 2nd and 3rd, but keep the batter at bat. I say the step with the front foot is exactly the argument against HBP.

Here is the rule on this. 11.13.1 says they don't have to avoid the pitch, and 11.13.3.1 says they aren't awarded first is they obviously tried to get hit by the pitch. Since it was hitting her back foot anyways, I think this is the right call, technically. A remember, technically correct is the best kind of correct (according to Futurama). (H/T @JerseyGeneral34)

@DrewDark82 OK I see how it got released and what you are saying. I thought she spiked it but yes you are right in that it should have been an illegal pitch call (and correct its a delayed dead ball). Nice catch.

@ScoringChanges Illegal. You can't let go of the ball before the windmill unless that is the consistent release. If you do that intentionally to get a strike, it is illegal. So why would it not be if you do it by mistake? Btw illegal pitch is delayed deadball, so hit counts but no way HBP.

If you watch, she complete moved her foot to get hit. However in softball, you don't have to avoid getting hit, you just can't step into a pitch. This is probably still hitting her back foot, so a good call. Additionally, the catcher can't step out to get it, as that would be catcher's interference.

@UncleRandy6969 Well, I get paid, so I do work. Also, my mom died by suicide and when I was in my late 30s, so yeah, definitely not living in her basement (my wife and I have a house we are very happy with). You seem like a joy.

The following a college scoring issue that annoys me greatly. I do not like hearing about college baseball coaches bullying scorers to make changes to protect the ERA of a pitcher, especially when the scorer is a female, and especially when she ruled it correctly (it was forwarded to me this morning, I saw it and it was scored properly). There is ZERO chance, and I mean ZERO that if this ball was hit by the coach’s player, it would be ruled an error. Absolutely none. Bullying by coaches is ridiculous, and it needs to stop. Baseball is for everyone, and there has been tremendous progress in getting more females into scoring. MLB has some great female scorers (Kara in Arizona and Jillian in Colorado come to mind). We don’t need coaches bullying women and making them not feel like there is a place for them in this great game. #RantOver