Rule 10.18(i)

The only even mildly interesting thing that happened in last night's 10-1 drubbing of the Royals by Baltimore, a game which I scored for mlb.com, was the application of rule 10.18(i). So the rule doesn't role off your tongue? Let me refresh your memory.

"(i) When pitchers are changed during an inning, the relief pitcher shall not have the benefit of previous chances for outs not accepted in determining earned runs. NOTE: It is the intent of this rule to charge relief pitchers with earned runs for which they are solely responsible. In some instances, runs charged as earned against the relief pitcher can be charged as unearned against the team"

And so last night in the 4-run Orioles 7th Matos doubles, Gibbons singles and score Matos, 1 earned run for Darrell May. However, Hairston reaches when Mike Sweeney drops a throw from third baseman Desi Relaford (his second dropped throw of the night but only the first for which he's charged an error). Runners now at first and second. The runners go on to pull off a double steal before Roberts doubles scoring both of them. Clearly Hairston's run is unearned to May. At this point Tony Pena brings in Scott Sullivan and as 10.18(i) indicates Sullivan starts with a clean slate in terms of his earned runs. Sullivan goes on to give up a single to Newhan but Roberts is thrown out at the plate on a nice throw by David DeJesus from centerfield. Tejada then singles and Palmerio pops out on an infield fly to Graffanino. Without the error Palmeiro's popout would be the third out. However, Lopez then singles to left scoring Newhan before Bigbie flies out to left. So Sullivan is charged with an earned run for Newhan's run since Sullivan does not get to take advantage of the fact that there should have been 2 outs when he entered the game. This is then credited as an earned run to the team (TUR in the mlb.com scoring system). As a result, the boxscore for the Royals pitching looks a little strange:

         IP   H R ER BB SO HR ERA 

May      6.0  8 7  6  2  2 1 5.90 

Sullivan 2.0  3 1  1  0  2 0 3.47 

Field    1.0  2 2  2  3  1 0 3.60 

         9.0 1310  8  5  5 1 

Looking for more interest in the conventional manner when I score tonight's game.


Other Royals Notes:
Joe Randa was placed on the DL after last night's game, Allard Baird announced during a mid game press conference. He'll have arthroscopic surgery on his knee, which will then require 3 to 4 weeks recovery time. Hopefully he'll be back before the trade deadline provided the Royals can find a deal he'll approve (he has a no-trade clause). In the meantime it looks like Relaford will play third.

Mike Wood pitches today, his first appearance this year in the majors. John Buck will do the catching and so two-thirds of the Beltran deal will be on display.

The Royals also acquired Jose Bautista from Tampa Bay on a rule 5 pick. Bautista is a 23 year old first baseman who played for both the Orioles and Devil Rays this season. He'll be assigned to AAA Omaha.