Yes Way Jose!

 "Everyone is a star and deserves a chance to shine."   - Marilyn Monroe

OAK @ SEA, Mariners win 8-7

Highlights:

-Beltre's 1600th hit!

-Branyan and Gutierrez home runs

-Broken Bat double play 4-3-6

-Oakland 6 run inning

-the video hydro race had a ducky crossing!

-Jose Lopez

As I was leaving the park and heading to the car I was asked about the pitch count on Lopez's at bat.  I've been asked questions about the pitch count and the pitcher's stats before and my usual response is that it isn't something one keeps score on.  In this particular situation, I myself was curious as to the pitch count.  I began to question- Why don't I score foul balls?  Is it common for other scorers to keep track of foul balls?  What is the best way of keeping track of foul balls on a scorecard?

Christian at BaseballByTheNumbers.com notes that "Other things that happen in a game, such as, the number of foul balls hit by a batter, ball and strike counts, the location where a base hit first touches the ground, and other such things, may or may not be recorded depending on the individual," and that "The scorecard produced by the amateur scorer has no importance in the official record keeping of baseball statistics. Rather, for the amateur, the game is scored as a means of entertainment, to help a fan "keep his head in the game", to produce a unique souvenir of the game, or, just for the heck of it."

http://www.baseballbythenumbers.com/baseball-scoresheets/baseball-scorebook/baseballscorekeeping.html

Matt Murphy at eteamz.com has a pdf file on "Keeping Score Baseball."  He suggests there are three levels of score keeping- easy, medium, and hard.  "For people interested in doing pitch counts, note all foul balls after 2 strikes have been recorded.  You can do this with dots, dashes or small slashes somewhere in a free area within the batter's box." You can check out his article at:  http://www.eteamz.com/vadistrict5/Files/KeepingScoreBaseball04wo.pdf

Wikipedia suggests counting foul balls as an F just as strikes are S and balls are B.  

I used to not keep track of the count at all (isn't that easier?).  I received "Ultimate Baseball Scorekeeper" by Benjamin Eli Smith from my Dad many Christmases ago.

The book is aimed at young aspiring score keepers and makes a perfect gift for baseball fans.  There is a section explaining basic scorekeeping rules and notations, scorecards with space to make notes about the pre-game show, seventh inning stretch, and post-game wrap up.  There is space to attach ticket stubs, collect autographs and more!  It is where I originally learned how to keep score.  The book doesn't mention a system for keeping track of foul balls and suggests keeping track of the balls and strikes as an advanced technique.  "My father taught me the system you just learned, and I adapted it to my own taste.  Every fan has a slightly different method.  Don't bother arguing.  This scorecard is for your own use in years to come, and the right system is the one that makes sense to you."

For the most part, I'm not sure anyone particularly cares about foul balls in the grand scheme of the game- other than counting total pitches.  There are situations- like Lopez's amazing at-bat last night- where the pitch count is of high interest.  The problem is if one is not in the habit of keeping track of foul balls by the time one finds an interesting enough case it's too late to start counting in the middle of an at-bat.  I am intrigued by attempting to keep track of the pitch count.  I want to at least try it.  It may end up being something I do regularly.  Just as there are many ways of scoring a game, I also think that avid scorekeepers find their methods evolve over time.  Maybe this is my next evolution. 

I was still curious about the Lopez at bat, and luckily when I got home and turned on the tv to wind down a bit before bed, Branyan was in the midst of being walked.  Lopez was up at bat!  And so I sat down and kept track.  Here it is; two outs, bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, game tied seven to seven.  

Pitch                Call

1.                                          Ball

2.                                          Ball

3.                                          Strike

4.                                          Strike

5.                                          Foul

6.                                          Foul

7.                                          Foul

8.                                          Foul

9.                                          Foul

10.                                      Foul

11.                                      Foul

12.                                      Foul

13.                                      Foul

14.                                      Base Hit

2.http://www.amazon.com/Batter-Up-Ultimate-Baseball-Scorekeeper/dp/0811826112