Where Have All The Lost Runs Batted In Gone?

I know that is a weird title for an article, but I didn't know what else to call it.

It is a subject most of us never think about or simply didn't know about them.

I am referring to the RBI that are left after a ball caroms off the wall with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th or extra innings walk offs in a tie-game or come from behind.

It happened as recent as Saturday night in the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh game. The Reds were ahead 4-3 entering the Pirate half of the 9th inning. Francisco Cordero pitched for the Reds hoping for a save. He gave up a single, and three walks, walking in the tying run. Then with the score tied 4-4, two-out and the bases loaded, Garrett Jones smacks one off the wall, the Pirates win 5-4.

The bases were loaded, you understand that right? Had it not been a walk-off, there would have been three runs crossing the plate. So, Jones was basically screwed out of an extra base hit (of course he was awarded a single). But what is even bigger is the fact that he was robbed of two RBI.

That may not seem like much, but what if he loses the RBI crown by one? That would sting wouldn't it?

What can (or should) be done about that. If Jones had just a little more on it, he would have had a grand salami, and been credited with a HR and four RBI. Something isn't right.

So, if you look at that offensively, what are the defensive ramifications? Cordero got off lightly. He would have been rung up with two more earned runs.

How could they go about scoring that? Well they could leave it up to the Official Scorer, who could determine what he thought would have happened. How many runners would have scored? How many bases would the batter legitimately have gotten on the hit?

Should a HR also be considered only a single in a similar circumstance? No, then why should a double or triple be treated that way.

Should the players be required to continue to play to completion, giving accuracy to a cloudy situation? The fans have paid good money to sit and watch multi-millionaires go to the dugout with their tails between their collective legs. Is that right? Keep in mind it is always the home team that benefits from a walk-off.

I don't know the answer to the question, but there are a bunch of RBI resting some place besides the record books where they belong.

Chances are rare that it would happen to the same guy more than once in a year, but fate is fickle as hell.

Do you have any thoughts on the subject?

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