BASEBALL...

Rules

The field

The ball

The ball looks like a tennis ball but it is made of yarn wound around a core of rubber or cork. It weights 141.7 to 148.8 g (5-5.1/4 oz) and has a circumference of 22.8 to 23.4 cm (9-9,1/4 inches). The maximum width of the bat at the top is 6.9 cm (2.3/4 inches)

The bat

The bat is made of wood (ash) or stressed aluminum, (although aluminum bats are not allowed in Major League baseball) and is thicker at the top than at the handle part with a maximum length of 1.07 meters (3 feet 6 inches). The handle may have a cover on it (like tape or cloth) to help grip, which can extend only 45.7 centimeters (18 inches) up the bat, although players can wear a glove if they wish instead.

Protective equipments

Designed to protect the players: gloves, helmets or chest, legs and throat protectors.

The bases
The home base is a five sided piece of hard rubber set into the ground, 43.18 centimeters (17 inches) wide, and 43.18 centimetres (17 inches) long at its widest point. The second, third and fourth bases are usually made of a canvas bag secured to the ground, filled with a soft material. They are 38.1 centimetres (15 inches) square, and 7.62 to 12.7 centimetres (3 to 5 inches) thick.The pitchers mound is a circle with a 2.74 meter (9 feet) radius. It is 25.4 centimeters (10 inches) above the level of the home plate. At the top of the mound there is a plate known as the pitchers plate, and it is made of hard white rubber. It measures 60.96 centimeters (24 inches) by 15.24 centimeters (6 inches).

Batter and runners are offensive players. Batting players play in rotation. If the innings ends with one player being put out, that team restart batting with the next player.

Defensive players are divided into two categories, infielders, and outfielders. Below is a example arrangement of how the fielding team might position themselves.

Pitcher - the player on the defensive team who throws the ball to the batter.

Catcher - the player behind home plate who catches pitches, and advises pitcher what type of pitch to use, by making hand signals as the pitcher is preparing to throw the ball.

First base player - the infielder who covers first base, has the most balls thrown to them than any other base player, and tags out runners from the home plate.

Second base player - the infielder who stands nearer to first base than third, because the shortstop player covers the area between second and third base.

Third base player - the infielder responsible for fielding and covering the third base; throws the ball to either the pitcher or other base players, and tags players out generally less than the other bases.

Shortstop - infielder between the second and third base player who retrieves a lot of balls, tags runners, and throws to base players.

Left fielder - the player positioned on the left side of the outfield who returns balls to the base players.

Center fielder - the player positioned between the right and the left fielder who returns balls to the base players.

Right fielder - the player positioned on the right side of the outfield who returns balls to the base players.

The playing positions on the field

Pitching and batting

Almost all runs are scored by players running from base to base. If the player runs all the way around the bases to the home base (fourth base, home plate), they have scored a home run, also called a homer.

When a offensive player runs after hitting the ball, all offensive players that are on bases advance.

The pitcher must pitch the ball into the strike zone.

The strike zone is the area between the batter's knees and armpits. The ball must go into this area to give the batter a fair chance of hitting it.

If the ball is not pitched into the strike zone and the batter does not attempt to hit it, the umpire will call a ball.

The pitcher may pitch up to three balls. If the fourth pitch is also a ball, the batter may proceed to first base without hitting it. This is called a walk. If there are other players on bases, they also advance. In this case there is no chance of any of them being put out.

Strikes

A strike is when a ball is pitched, and one of the following happens:

• the batter swings at the pitch and misses
• the ball goes into the strike zone whether the batter tries to hit it or not
• the ball touches the batter as they swing
• the ball touches the batter within the strike zone
• the batter plays a foul tip, where the ball is hit into the hands of the catcher
• a bunted ball is played into foul territory
• the ball is played into foul territory

A batter may have two strikes against them. On the third, they are out.

Rule: if the ball is played (not bunted) into foul territory, the player is not out if they have already had two strikes against them.

Rules for strikes
A player is not out after three strikes if the catcher does not catch the ball after the third strike only if:

• the first base is unoccupied
• the first base is occupied, with two players out on the batting team

If the batter successfully hits the ball into fair territory, he drops the bat and runs to first base, and further if he can. The fielders on the bases will try to retrieve the ball and make contact with the base before the runner (who was the batter) gets there. If the fielder succeeds, the runner is out, otherwise, the runner can occupy that base.

Runners on bases can try to get to the next base before the pitcher throws the ball. This is called a steal. If they are seen doing this and the fielders are quick enough to tag them or tag the base, the stealers are out.

The defensive team can put out more than one player from one play. If a fielder makes a tag and throws the ball to another fielder in time for them to make a tag also, then it would be called a double play or triple play depending on whether two or three players are put out in one go.

Rules for bases

• If a runner leaves their base when a ball has been hit which becomes a foul ball, they must return to their original base. They cannot be put out.
• When batting, the bat should be held over the home base.
• If a runner leaves his base when a fly ball has been caught, he must return to his original base. He can be put out when returning.
• If a runner tries to steal a base, the fielder must tag the runner, not the base, to get him out.
• Runners must run close to the lines within a distance of 0.9 meters (3 feet), unless they are running around a fielder.
• If the base is moved, the runner must aim for the original position of the base. A fielder cannot put a player out by tagging the base in its new position.
• When a batter hits the ball, all runners advance and if there are runs scored, the runs are credited to the player who hit the ball, as well as the player who has made it all the way around, although each run scored counts as one.
• The field outside the foul lines along the edges of the baseball field counts as foul territory. The area inside the foul lines counts as fair territory.
• If a player hits a ball into foul territory, this counts as a strike. Unless that player has already had two strikes called against them, in which case it would not be a strike. If the player bunts the ball into foul territory, even if two strikes have been called, it counts as a strike.
• If the ball lands on the ground between home and first, or home and third base, and then goes into foul territory in front of first or third base, without hitting a fielder or an umpire, it is a foul ball. If it first lands on or beyond first or third base in fair territory, then goes into foul territory, it is a fair hit.

Players out

Ways a player can be out in baseball:

• Three strikes against him
• if he hits a ball into the air (a fly ball) and it is caught by a fielder, whether the ball is in fair or foul territory
• a runner can be tagged (if the fielder touches the runner with the ball or with the hand or glove holding the ball), or the base they are running to can be tagged. The base must be tagged by a fielder. If the ball simply hits the base, it does not count
• the batter hits an infield fly

The infield fly rule

An infield fly is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive or an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two players are out.

The umpire would call 'infield fly' to notify the players. The batter who hit it would then be out, regardless of whether the ball was caught or not.

This is because when a batter hits the ball, they have to run for base. If the catcher deliberately dropped the ball, the batter would have to run, and so would the players on the other bases. This would give the fielding team the possibility of a double play or triple play.

Pitching rules

An illegal act by the pitcher is called a balk. If a balk is called, all runners advance one base. If there are no runners on bases, a ball is called. These are pitching violations:

• the back foot of the pitcher is not on the pitcher's plate (also called the rubber) when he pitches.
• the ball hits the batter outside the strike zone.
• the pitcher makes an illegal pitch, like a bean ball or a quick return pitch.
• pitches a spitball.

A relief pitcher (pitcher who replaces the original pitcher in a game) is allowed up to eight warm-up pitches when first at the (pitching) mound.

Pitch Types

Bean ball
An illegal pitch, aimed straight at the batter's head.

Change up
The pitcher throws a slow ball with the same action as a fast ball.

Curve ball
At the moment of releasing the ball, the pitcher twists the wrist, so it flies towards the pitcher from right to left for a right-handed batter, left to right for a left-handed batter, and dips just before reaching the batter.

Fastball
The ball is pitched in a fast straight line, and usually travel slightly downwards, as the home plate is slightly lower than the pitching mound.

Knuckleball
This pitch does not spin in flight, but it turns as the air picks up on the seams of the ball. It will usually slide as it reaches the batter.

Quick return pitch
An illegal pitch, where the pitcher throws the ball to the batter as soon as it is received from the catcher.

Screwball
The opposite of a curve ball. It curves from left to right for a right-handed batter, and from right to left for a left-handed batter.

Slider
The ball is pitched similarly to the curve ball, and looks to the batter like a fastball, but that it slows and dips as it reaches the batter.

Split-fingered fastball
Similar to the fastball, but held slightly differently. It travels fast towards the batter, and dips sharply on reaching the home plate.

Spitball
A ball with dirt or any other substance on it to alter its flight.

Umpire - a person appointed to rule on plays. There are four umpires on the field, and it is their responsibility to see that the rules of the game are followed.

Home plate umpire
Also known as the umpire-in-chief: calls balls and strikes, keeps a note of the score, and team changes.

The other umpires may take any position on the field, which can provide them with a clear view of play, and a good view of the base that they are responsible for, and that runners keep within 90 centimeters (three feet) of the lines.

First base umpire
Guards the first base, and is responsible for checking that runners reach the base properly, or if a successful tag is made. The first base umpire also watches whether right-handed batters make full or half swings at the ball, which assists the plate umpire in calling a ball or a strike.

Second base umpire
Stands between second and third base.

Third base umpire
Stands about 2.5 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) behind third base. The third base umpire also judges whether a left-handed batter has made a full or half swing at the ball.