Which leads to the age-old question: Why aren't PB and WP errors? ( I know the balls aren't in play, but still) no, the real question is "why have unearned runs at all?" The only point is to help individual players' ERA's. It's not like the runs don't count. For example, one of the first games this spring had the Cubs giving up like 9 runs, only 2 or 3 of which were earned. So what? The Cubs gave up 9 runs. Don't pretty up the stats and tell a false story here. If you come in and give up 6 runs, you gave up 6 runs.