In baseball, there are a lot of little things that can go wrong that add up to one big problem. Errors, passed balls, double plays turned too early or too late, and hit batters all contribute to the game’s natural ebb and flow.
However, there are also some simple errors that many players make regularly. When you’re playing on such a small field with so much action around it, even the tiniest of things can have a big impact on the game.
The most common errors are usually not so obvious — which is why they’re so prevalent in every practice and game. Keep reading for more details about these common errors in baseball so you don’t make them yourself!
What are the most common errors in baseball?
The most common errors in baseball come from the basics of fielding and pitching. All of these errors come from players not doing what they’re supposed to be doing on the field. Batter’s Error is the failure to put the ball in play when a batter is struck out looking, is walked, or hits into a fielder’s error.
Fielder’s Error is the error made by the fielder that allows the batter to reach base or causes a runner to be put out. Infielder’s Error is the error made by an infielder that allows a runner to advance to a base or creates a putout. Passing Error is when a pitcher throws a ball that touches a catcher’s glove but doesn’t make it all the way into his hand.
Defensive Mistake Error is the error that occurs when the defensive team makes a mistake that allows the offensive team to reach a base, advance a runner, or put a runner out. Stealing Error is when a runner takes a base that wasn’t his without the intention of trying to advance to the next base.
Batter’s Error
Batter’s errors are the most common errors in baseball. Batter’s errors are the result of a player making an error while trying to hit the ball. Sometimes, a batter will swing wildly and hit the ball right to the pitcher, who snags it out of the air and gets an out.
Other times, a batter will swing at a ball that is slightly off-target, but the pitcher is able to get the ball to either miss the target entirely or make an error that allows the batter to get an out on the play. In either of these cases, a batter can make an error on a batted ball.
The only way to avoid making a batter’s error is to not swing the bat. That’s because, when you swing the bat, you’re taking some of the control away from the pitcher. When you don’t swing the bat, the pitcher has a larger margin for error, which reduces the chances of making an error.
Fielder’s Error
Fielder’s errors are the errors made by fielders attempting to field the ball. There are two main types of fielder’s errors: missed catches and dropped balls. A missed catch is when a fielder attempts to make a catch, but fails to do so because he or she misses the target.
A dropped ball is when a fielder attempts to field a ball, but drops it and allows it to hit the ground and be put into play by the runner. These errors can be made by any member of the defensive team. A fielder can drop a ball that a runner is trying to advance to the next base, allowing that runner to score.
A fielder can also drop a ball that a runner is trying to advance to the next base, allowing that runner to advance to the next base as well.
Infielder’s Error
Infielder’s errors are at the root of a lot of scoring. Fielders are responsible for tagging runners out, which is how most teams score runs. A runner is out when he’s tagged out by a fielder. If the runner is not tagged out, he has to be put out by an infielder. Infielder’s errors fall under the category of passed balls.
A passed ball happens when a fielder tries to throw the ball to a base and it is hit and goes into the stands, allowing the batter to reach first base. A scored run is then credited to the batter. A different type of infielder’s error is the error that causes a double play to be turned too soon or too late.
A double play is when the two infielders in the infield exchange the ball and two outs are recorded. If an error causes the two infielders to miss each other, the play will turn into a third out. If the shortstop misses a throw to second base, the runner is then safe at first.
Passing Error
The final common error in baseball is when a pitcher throws a ball that touches a catcher’s glove but doesn’t make it all the way into his hand. This error is called a passing error and it happens when the catcher drops the ball. A passing error doesn’t score any runs and has no effect on the game.
Catchers are also responsible for recording outs by catching fly balls in the outfield. If a fly ball is caught by a fielder who leaves the ball in the outfield, that out will be recorded as a passing error.
To avoid making a passing error, the catcher must make sure that the ball is touched by the pitcher before the pitcher throws it to the batter. If the ball is touched by the pitcher but doesn’t make it all the way to the batter, it’s called a passing error.
Defensive Mistake Error
A defensive mistake is any error committed by a defensive player that causes a run to score or a runner to advance to a base. A defensive mistake can be a wild throw to first base, a missed catch in the outfield, or a failed attempt to tag out a runner. There are a few things that can cause defensive mistakes.
The most common is when the defensive team commits a passed ball or an error on the field that allows a runner to advance to a base. A second cause of a defensive mistake is when a fielder drops a ball while attempting to field it.
A committed defensive mistake can sometimes be a mistake on the offensive side as well. If a runner is put out on an error on the field and then scores on a passed ball or an unearned base, the defensive error has no effect on the game.
Stealing Error
The final type of error in baseball is the stealing error, which is a stolen base taken by a baserunner who is safe at first base. A stolen base that is taken when a runner is safe at first base is called a stolen base stolen error.
This type of error is only recorded if the batter hits a home run. There are a few things that can cause a stolen base stolen error. The most common cause is when a fielder commits a fielding error that causes a runner to advance to a base before the runner is tagged out. In this case, the error has no effect on the game.
The final type of error in baseball is the hit by pitch. A hit by pitch is when the pitcher delivers the ball to the batter and the batter swings and misses the pitch. Hit by pitch errors count as an out and do not score any runs.
