Local youth leagues make up these "special" rules that have nothing to do with the definition of "stealing". Every one of them considers a runner scoring on anything but a hit or fielding error is a steal. That's WRONG, and is one of my pet peeves. Thedefinition is in the rule book. If you're using The Official Baseball Rules (OBR), and LL uses that, except for modifications. In OBR, look in Rule 10,The Official Scorer.
STOLEN BASES
10.08 A stolen base shall be credited to a runner whenever he advances one base unaided by a hit, a putout, an error, a force out, a fielder's choice, a passed ball, a wild pitch or a balk, subject to the following:
(a) When a runner starts for the next base before the pitcher delivers the ball and the pitch results in what ordinarily is scored a wild pitch or passed ball, credit the runner with a stolen base and do not charge the misplay.
EXCEPTION: If, as a result of the misplay, the stealing runner advances an extra base, or another runner also advances, score the wild pitch or passed ball as well as the stolen base.
Therefore, in your scenario, it's NOT a steal, but advancing on an error. Now, I'll give you 1,000 to 1 odds their definition is the runner coming home on anything but action by the batter. Unfortunately, no one who writes the dumb local rules understands the difference, and never consults an umpire.
Bob
|