Baseball rules corner: official scorer's job requires full knowledge of the rules.

THE JOB OF THE OFFICIAL SCORER is always a challenging assignment. Although determining a base hit versus an error routinely raises controversy and discussion, there is much more involved. The-official scorer must have superior knowledge of the official scoring rules. On occasion, one play can affect multiple areas of the rulebook.

Player ignorance of the Infield Fly Rule on May 13 at Pac Bell Park where the Giants hosted the Expos created an enormous challenge for the official scorer. The Giants had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth inning. Dan Smith had just relieved Tomo Ohka when Barry Bonds hit a fly ball that fell in front of home plate. On the play, plate umpire Jim Joyce correctly signaled "Infield Fly." Thinking he had a force at home, Expos' third baseman Fernando Tatis picked up the ball and stepped on the plate unaware that a tag was necessary because the runners are, not forced to go on an Infield Fly situation. Granted, the tag requirement needs to be more clearly stated in the rulebook, but it is still not an excuse for ignorance of the rule by a major league player.

After Tatis stepped on the plate he threw the ball to catcher Mike Barrett, who also stepped on the plate. Neifi Perez, the runner on third advancing at his own risk, scored the tying run.

Tatis and Barrett embarrassed themselves by arguing with Joyce. Finally, Expos' skipper Frank Robinson joined the fray and spared his rules-challenged combo humiliation by intervening. Robbie said, "This was a comedy effort we tried to disguise as a baseball game."

Maybe so, but if you were the official scorer you wouldn't be laughing since multiple decisions had to be made in this situation.

In attempting to untangle this mess, I sought counsel. That's right, I called on Andres Wirkmaa, a Wyckoff, New Jersey attorney who recently wrote a marvelous book titled Baseball Scorekeeping: A Practical Guide To The Rules (McFarland & Co., 2003).

Several questions concerning the the play need to be raised: 1. Who gets credit for the putout of Bonds? 2. Did Tatis commit an error? 3. To what is the run properly attributed? 4. Does Bonds get credit for an RBI? 5. Can Bonds be credited with a sacrifice fly? 6. Was the run that Perez scored an earned run? And 7. Which one of the two pitchers in the inning is properly charged with the run?