This score book is large by any definition. At 11X17 per half inning, it is the largest score book I have ever seen. I designed it to structure the keeping of the book such that one person could keep score for another to read accurately.
The Over-Under Edition can be seen here
The Side-by-Side Edition can be seen here
The Stadium Edition can be seen here
- Score Book XXL -
Why another score book?
While a coach for my sons baseball team, I tried to find a score book that was easy to record the details of the game sufficient to put stats in a computer program after the game. I was coaching, someone else 'kept the book'. I found that the format was so small that sufficient detail could not be recorded to convey what happened when. The goal of this scorebook to structure the keeping of the book such that someone else could keep score for me to read accurately and provide enough room for them to do it effectively.
In addition, I find that knowing exactly what was going on during each pitch we can, as a team, discuss how situations change pitch to pitch.
- Basic Layout -
The 10 man batting order accommodates the 'Extra Hitter' used in some leagues. Some of the younger leagues require you to 'hit all players', when that happens you wrap around to the top of the page. Since there are no substitutions, it is easier than you would think.
The 12 inning (10 inning in the Stadium Edition) format accommodates batting around, extra innings. I have used the extra space to make a point during a game one on one with a player explaining how a play works.
-The Pages are Different-
The two facing pages are left for the Visitors and the right is for the home team. The home page is described here, but the visitor page has all the same features. Where there is space to duplicate some information, like game time, choose one - there is no need to write it twice.
The Home Teams Page
Across the top of the event boxes is space for the offensive summary.
Run - Runs scored
Hit - Hits (singles, doubles, etc)
Err - Fielding errors
Lob - Left on Base
At bat - Plate appearances
In play - number of balls put in play for a hit or not
#Bases - the total of safe bases. Count the colored in bases.
Across the bottom of the event boxes is space for the defensive summary.
Ball - Pitches called 'ball' don't forget the forth ball on a walk or hit by pitch.
Srk - Pitches called 'strike' don't forget the balls put in play for a hit or out or foul or what ever.
Total - Total number of pitches for that inning.
1st - Number of strikes as the first pitch to a batter.
Ks - Strike out swinging.
K - Strike out looking
GbO - Ground Ball Out
FbO - Fly Ball Out, including line drive.
Wk - Walk (includes Hit by pitch and intentional)
At the bottom is a place for the date and type of game and space for the 'game summary'. The date and game title makes it easy to find a specific game, and the game summary shows easily the score.
I like to emphasize the total bases, in play, left on base, and errors sections. The runs, hits and wins will take care of them selves if you put the ball in play and maximize total bases while minimizing left on base and errors.
In the Top right is the defending team defense. This is done so that you do not have to 'flip the book' to see who is playing where. There is plenty of room to show substitutions, and make scouting notes.
In the middle right there is room for the other teams pitchers. I like to list all their available pitchers so I can anticipate the other managers pitching changes. During our tournaments this has proven very useful where there are maximum out counts for pitching.
Pitcher - The pitchers name
IP - Innings Pitch (Each out is 1/3 inning)
Batters faced -
Run Allowed / Earned - Runs scored that were his responsibility (earned or not) and earned. For example, 3 runs 2 of which are earned would be "3 / 2"
Hits/EBH - Hits given up (including extra base hits) and extra base hits. For example, 6 hits total, 2 extra base hits is 6 / 2.
Def. Errors - Defensive errors while this pitcher is pitching.
KS / KL - Strike outs swinging, strike outs looking.
GbO - Ground ball outs.
FlyO - Fly outs, includes line drive.
Wk / Err scored - Walks and errors that scored.
Ball - Total balls called
Strike - Total strikes called
Total - Total pitches (should equal Balls and Strikes)
1st - Strike thrown as the first pitch to a batter
There is room for the umpire crew, game conditions, game time and notable events, notes about 'bad calls' good plays and player substitutions etc.
This arrangement allows the score keeper to see everything on one page. The team at bat, the opposing defence, the opposing pitchers. Enough space to keep inning totals, running totals, game totals, scouting reports and notes, all in a neat efficient space.
Keeping Score -
The 'Event Box' is where the play is recorded. The most confusing part of keeping score is being able to record what happened and when. Who was batting when a base was stolen, did the run count as an earned run? Was that play a routine play or was it spectacular? Does this pitcher normally get behind in the count? I have tried to allow this information to be recorded quickly. To do so, much of the detail is reprinted and the score keeper just lines through the appropriate detail. (Circling the 'answer' gets sloppy)
Along the right are 'standard' scoring results.
Out circle - which out was this player.
HR - Home run.
3B - Triple.
2B - Double.
1B - Single.
Err - Defensive errors on a batted ball.
Fch - Fielder Choice.
2-3x - hit into a double or triple play.
Sac - Sacrifice.
HBP/Int - Hit by the pitch or interference.
Walk - a 4 ball walk and note if intentional
Along the left are HOW the play took place.
RBIs - Runs batted in.
Bnt - The ball was hit as a bunt, whether for an out or not.
Gd - The ball was hit on the ground, for an out or not
LD - The ball was hit as a line drive, for an out or not.
Fly - The ball was a fly ball, for an out or not.
EarnR - Earned run. When the player scored, is the run considered earned.
RunSpP - The batter has runners in scoring position (2nd or 3rd) before his second strike.
Q@Bat - A Quality at Bat, whether for an out or not.
Qfld - A Quality fielding play, whether for an out or not.
RunEr - The runner made a mistake, whether for an out or not.
Balls and Strikes boxes
The 5 boxes are for balls and strikes. Each pitch is represented by a number not an X or /. Above the box place a "c" for called strike, s for swinging strike, and an "f" for foul ball. This will indicate first pitch strikes, the count at any given time and how aggressive the batter is. First pitch strikes are important and monitoring how erratic the pitching is. Foul balls for other than the first two strikes are recorded as well, off to the right of the strike boxes with the number of that pitch. This will give you an accurate pitch count. The last pitch is assumed, a strike for a strike out, or in play and a ball for a walk. Don't forget to count them in your totals.
The fielding diamond has been made large enough to accommodate charting hit locations and to record how the bases were advanced. The stats computer programs I have used allows for 'User Programmable Stats'. I used first pitch strike, walk and errors that score, quality at bat, and quality field, runner in scoring position, and hit with runner in scoring position as my 'user programmable stats'. I find these helpful for the players to see how they contribute by doing the 'little things'.
A single to right field would be recorded by drawing a line to the approximately correct relative position the ball was played, and marking either Fly, LD, or GD on the left list, and 1B on the right list. The box that represents first base will be colored in. Drawing a line from the 'plate' to first is optional.
Advancing the runner on a stolen base is recorded by coloring in the second base square and writing SB23 (this means: stolen base while the number 2 hitter was at the plate and on the third pitch). Again drawing the line from first to second is optional. This places a runner in scoring position so that should be marked on the number 2 hitters 'event box' if he has less than two strikes after the steal.
Advancing the runner to third on a grounder to left would be recorded by coloring in the box representing third base and writing 2 next to the line (meaning that he advanced to third by the number 2 hitter). The runner hesitated and should have scored but didn't or the runner ran through a stop sign (out or not), mark 'RunEr' in that batters event box. After the game you can use this to show missed opportunities, and lack of situational awareness.
The 'Event Box' for the second hitter would have 1B marked as well as Gd and a line to left field. The second hitter had fouled off several pitches to get to the 7th pitch he eventually hit you would mark Q@Bat. You decide what is considered quality.
The Third batter swings at the first pitch and hits into a double play. Mark on the left list Gd, RunSP, 2-3x (No RBI as per Rule 10.04b). This is an earned run. Write 463 meaning the ball was touched by the second baseman (position 4), short stop (position 6), then the first baseman (position 3). In the second batter box write F3 indicating that was forced out when the 3 batter hit the ball. The second batter is recorded as the first out and the third batter is recorded as the second out.
The fourth batter looks at several pitches and is struck out. Write KL (K is for strike out and the L is for Looking). Record the third out. Note which strikes were called and which were swinging or fouled.
The inning is ended by drawing a line under the forth batters 'Event Box'.
The next innings you can see the detail and should be able to tell exactly what happened and when. In brief:
iwantone@scorebookxxl.com
Although I make these for me, I could be persuaded to make one for you. Email me and lets see what we can work out.
