Official scoring

Question
I remember a few years ago, Big Papi was playing first base and a ball hit hard to him broke  through the web of his glove and he was charged with an error.  Is an equipment malfunction an error?  He did nothing wrong, except not checking the lacing of his glove before taking the field.

Answer
Mike,

According to the Official Baseball Rules:

10.12 Comment: ...For example, the official scorer shall charge an infielder with an error when a ground ball passes to either side of such infielder if, in the official scorer抯 judgment, a fielder at that position making ordinary effort would have fielded such ground ball and retired a runner.

Because the ball could have been fielded by ordinary effort by a fielder, the official scorer charged him with an error.