Comments on How to Keep Score in Baseball

Baseball score sheets are two-sided. Write one of the teams on one side and the other team on the other side. That way when the half inning is over and the commercials come on, you can just flip the score sheet over and watch your favorite commercials.

Baseball score sheets are two-sided. Write one of the teams on one side and the other team on the other side. That way when the half inning is over and the commercials come on, you can just flip the score sheet over and watch your favorite commercials.

I put a straight line from home to wherever the ball is hit if it is a ground ball. I make a curved line if it was hit in the air. And for pop ups, I start at home and go to wherever they popped up. It looks like an upside down U. I can tell with a quick glance who has hit the ball and where on either team, and let my players on offense know where the ball went the last time the batter was up to bat.

I put a straight line from home to wherever the ball is hit if it is a ground ball. I make a curved line if it was hit in the air. And for pop ups, I start at home and go to wherever they popped up. It looks like an upside down U. I can tell with a quick glance who has hit the ball and where on either team, and let my players on offense know where the ball went the last time the batter was up to bat.

If you want to get more advanced, you can use the boxes as little infield diamonds. The bottom right corner is 1B, the top right is 2B, the top left is 3B, and the bottom left is Home Plate. Basically, what you do is you record how a batter reaches a certain base by making the mark in the proper area. For example, if a batter hits a ground ball single to right field, in the bottom right hand corner of the box (1B), you would write G9 (ground ball to right field), because that's how the batter reached first base. In another example, let's say that a batter hits a line drive double over the center fielder's head. You would skip the bottom right corner (1B) and in the top right corner (2B), you would write L8 (line drive to center field, because that's how the batter reached second base. Now let's say that you have a runner on base and he is advanced by another batter's hit. What you would do is, in the appropriate corner (1B, 2B, 3B, or HP) you would write the number (uniform number or batting position, your choice) of the player who got him there in the appropriate box. OK, let's try one here. The first batter walks. You would write BB in the lower right hand corner (1B). The second batter singles on a line drive to right field and the runner advances to third. In the second batter's box you would write L9 in the bottom right corner (1B). In the first batter's box, you would write 2 in the top left corner (3B) because the second batter got him there. The third batter hits a sacrifice fly, which scores the runner on third while the runner on first stays at first. In the third batter's box you would write SF (in the middle of the box, because he didn't reach any base). In the first batter's box you would write 3 in the lower left corner (Home Plate) because the third batter got him there. In the second batter's box you wouldn't write anything because he didn't advance at all. This method is tricky, and it takes some practice. People who have scored a ballgame before probably know what I'm talking about, but first-timers are probably lost and should stick to the basics before trying advanced methods such as this.

If you want to get more advanced, you can use the boxes as little infield diamonds. The bottom right corner is 1B, the top right is 2B, the top left is 3B, and the bottom left is Home Plate. Basically, what you do is you record how a batter reaches a certain base by making the mark in the proper area. For example, if a batter hits a ground ball single to right field, in the bottom right hand corner of the box (1B), you would write G9 (ground ball to right field), because that's how the batter reached first base. In another example, let's say that a batter hits a line drive double over the center fielder's head. You would skip the bottom right corner (1B) and in the top right corner (2B), you would write L8 (line drive to center field, because that's how the batter reached second base. Now let's say that you have a runner on base and he is advanced by another batter's hit. What you would do is, in the appropriate corner (1B, 2B, 3B, or HP) you would write the number (uniform number or batting position, your choice) of the player who got him there in the appropriate box. OK, let's try one here. The first batter walks. You would write BB in the lower right hand corner (1B). The second batter singles on a line drive to right field and the runner advances to third. In the second batter's box you would write L9 in the bottom right corner (1B). In the first batter's box, you would write 2 in the top left corner (3B) because the second batter got him there. The third batter hits a sacrifice fly, which scores the runner on third while the runner on first stays at first. In the third batter's box you would write SF (in the middle of the box, because he didn't reach any base). In the first batter's box you would write 3 in the lower left corner (Home Plate) because the third batter got him there. In the second batter's box you wouldn't write anything because he didn't advance at all. This method is tricky, and it takes some practice. People who have scored a ballgame before probably know what I'm talking about, but first-timers are probably lost and should stick to the basics before trying advanced methods such as this.

Mark where a home run went by puting next to the HR an abbreviation such as RC (right center). You could also record the distance when it is announced at the ballpark.

To make tracking pitching stats a little easier, write in the opposing pitchers' names in the space reserved for pitchers (usually at the bottom). This way you won't have to flip pages in order to record pitching changes.

Place an exclamation point (!) next to a play that was particularly spectacular. For instance, a shortstop makes a diving stop and throws out the runner: 6!-3. If the shortstop fires a poor throw, but the first baseman makes a great scoop, mark it 6-3!

I color the whole box for a first pitch strike, or place a circle if the batter fouls it off. This way I keep track of a possible habit for future encounters.

Remember to use a backwards K to indicate Strikeout Looking, as in no swing.

I record first pitch strikes by filling in the entire box. I can clearly see how many batters the pitcher has thrown a first pitch strike.

Put "IW" for an intentional walk.

Mark where a home run went by puting next to the HR an abbreviation such as RC (right center). You could also record the distance when it is announced at the ballpark.

I record first pitch strikes by filling in the entire box. I can clearly see how many batters the pitcher has thrown a first pitch strike.

Put "IW" for an intentional walk.

Remember to use a backwards K to indicate Strikeout Looking, as in no swing.

I color the whole box for a first pitch strike, or place a circle if the batter fouls it off. This way I keep track of a possible habit for future encounters.