Ever wondered why some seemingly simple plays in baseball end up as errors on the scorecard? The answer lies in the concept of “ordinary effort.”
This term, rooted in the Official Baseball Rules, serves as a benchmark for determining whether a fielder should have successfully made a play.
It’s not about the fielder’s best effort but rather what an average player at that position would have accomplished under similar conditions.
Understanding “ordinary effort” can enhance your appreciation of the game and its intricacies. Weather conditions like wind and rain are considered, but factors like sun and darkness aren’t.