One of Bill James's more famous inventions is the Game Score, which rates a pitcher's start by adding and subtracting points for specific events. Striking someone out is so many points, but giving up a homer subtracts points from the score, et cetera. It's more of a debate starter than stopper, but it's a fascinating curiosity at the very least. There are some interesting nuggets to be gleaned from a Game Score, such as noting Matt Cain has the 20th-highest average score in both leagues this season.
Maybe I'm just a sick little monkey, but I might need a Game Enjoyment Score to know what I enjoyed most about last night's game. Did I enjoy the comeback win most, or the scoreboard providence? Heckuva win for sure, but I need a formulaic number and some pack consensus because I can't think for myself. A rough draft of Game Enjoyment Scores:
Win by 10 runs or more: +25
Win by three runs or more: +10
Win by two runs or less: +20
Win after trailing by three or more runs in the first inning: +20
Win after trailing by three or more runs after the seventh inning: +20
Win after trailing in the ninth inning: +30
Walkoff: +20
Walkoff homer: +35
Winning the same day a fellow contender loses: +5 for each rival
Winning behind a great pitching performance by a prospect: +15
Winning behind a great offensive performance by a position player prospect: What in the heck is that?
No-hitter: +150
Perfect game: +200
In-game record set (e.g. five home runs in a game, 21 strikeouts): +150
Career record set (Depends...up to +200)
Loss: -50
Loss by 10 runs or more: -30
Loss by three runs or more: -15
Loss by two runs or less: -30
Loss after leading by three or more runs in the first inning: -25
Loss after leading by three or more runs after the seventh inning: -30
Loss after leading in the ninth innings: -50
Loss the same day a fellow contender wins: -10 for each rival.
No-hitter against: -100
Top prospect leaves the mound in pain: -200
Perfect game against: neutral (c'mon, there have only been 17 in the history of the sport....)
Perfect game against, thrown by a Dodger: Like, -50,000
Greg Papa in the booth (most people): neutral
Greg Papa in the booth (people who can't get, "Touchdown, Rrrrrrraiders!" out of their head): -15
A Neifiish player does well while you are loudly ripping him to anyone who will listen: -5
Brandon and Kelly kiss behind Steve's back: Drink
Randy Johnson: The Ugly (-10 for every steely gaze into the camera)
I think this could be refined by a community effort into a neat little somethingorrather, with an outside chance of being a cool thingie. I also think it could be ignored for the entire day, while a diary comparing Randy Winn's defense to Marquis Grissom could get 90 comments. That's the kind of risk taker I am. Have at it.