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If a pitcher commits an error and allows runs to score....

4.03
When the ball is put in play at the start of, or during a game, all fielders other than the catcher shall be on fair territory.
(a) The catcher shall station himself directly back of the plate. He may leave his position at any time to catch a pitch or make a play except that when the batter is being given an intentional base on balls, the catcher must stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher’s box until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand.
PENALTY: Balk.
(b) The pitcher, while in the act of delivering the ball to the batter, shall take his legal position;
(c) Except the pitcher and the catcher, any fielder may station himself anywhere in fair territory;
(d) Except the batter, or a runner attempting to score, no offensive player shall cross the catcher’s lines when the ball is in play.
 
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As to the original question:

EARNED RUNS
10.18
An earned run is a run for which the pitcher is held accountable. In determining earned runs, the inning should be reconstructed without the errors (which include catcher’s interference) and passed balls, and the benefit of the doubt should always be given to the pitcher in determining which bases would have been reached by errorless play. For the purpose of determining earned runs, an intentional base on balls, regardless of the circumstances, shall be construed in exactly the same manner as any other base on balls.
(a) An earned run shall be charged every time a runner reaches home base by the aid of safe hits, sacrifice bunts, a sacrifice fly, stolen bases, putouts, fielder’s choices, bases on balls, hit batters, balks or wild pitches (including a wild pitch on third strike which permits a batter to reach first base) before fielding chances have been offered to put out the offensive team. For the purpose of this rule, a defensive interference penalty shall be construed as a fielding chance.
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Peach said it correctly. ERA is a pitching statistic. Errors are a fielding statistic. Once the batter puts the ball in play, the pitcher is technically a "fielder" and not a "pitcher" any longer.
 
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The written rules of baseball are pretty simple, it's the unwritten rules of baseball that are stupid.

I wish to God they would get rid of the stupid tradition that managers wear player uniforms. Let them wear suits like most every other manager does in sports.
 
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Is there a rule that says you have to have a catcher? Because if there are no runners on base and less than 2 strikes, the catcher really serves no purpose. So, let him go line up between 2nd base and 1st base and become an extra fielder. Why not?

Dryden beat me to it, but the catcher must stay in the catcher's box until the pitch is made. Hence the reason why on an intentional walk he can't just stand 3 feet to the other side of the hitter. He must stand in the box then jump out when the pitch is made.
 
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