Everything about baseball


Baseball general gameplay

Baseball is played between two teams of ninex 6" (~ 61 cm x 15 cm) plate located atop the
players each on a baseball field, under thepitcher's mound — during the entire
authority of one or more officials, calledpitch, so he can only take one step backward
umpires. There are usually four umpires inand one forward in delivering the ball. The
major league games; up to six (and as few ascatcher's job is to receive any pitches that
one) may officiate depending on the leaguethe batter does not hit and to "call" the
and the importance of the game. There aregame by a series of hand movements that
four bases. Numbered counter-clockwise,signal to the pitcher what pitch to throw and
first, second and third bases are cushionswhere. If the pitcher disagrees with the
(sometimes informally referred to as bags)call, he will "shake off" the catcher by
shaped as 15 in (38 cm) squares which areshaking his head; he accepts the sign by
raised a short distance above the ground;nodding. Each team has a different set of
together with home plate, the fourth "base,"signals, though the number 1 is almost
they form a square with sides of 90 ft (27.4universal as a fast ball. The catcher's role
m) called the diamond. Home base (plate) is abecomes more crucial depending on how the
pentagonal rubber slab known as simply home.game is going, and how the pitcher responds
The playing field is divided into three mainto a given situation. Each pitch begins a new
sections:play, which might consist of nothing more
than  the  pitch  itself.
The infield, containing the four bases, is
for general defensive purposes bounded by theEach half-inning, the goal of the defending
foul lines and within the grass line (seeteam is to get three members of the other
figure).team out. A player who is out must leave the
field and wait for his next turn at bat.
The outfield is the grassed area beyond theThere are many ways to get batters and
infield grass line between the foul lines,baserunners out; some of the most common are
and  bounded  by  a  wall  or  fence.catching a batted ball in the air, tag outs,
force outs, and strikeouts. After the
Foul territory is the entire area outside thefielding team has put out three players from
foul  lines.the opposing team, that half of the inning is
over and the team in the field and the team
The game is played in nine innings (althoughat bat switch places; there is no upper limit
it can be played with fewer, such as it is into the number that may bat in rotation before
little league games) in which each team getsthree outs are recorded. Going through the
one turn to bat and try to score runs whileentire order in an inning is referred to as
the other pitches and defends in the field."batting around". It is indicative of a high
An inning is broken up into two halves inscoring inning. A complete inning consists of
which the away team bats in the top (first)each opposing side having a turn (three outs)
half, and the home team bats in the bottomon  offense.
(second) half. In baseball, the defense
always has the ball — a fact thatThe goal of the team at bat is to score more
differentiates it from most other teamruns than the opposition; a player may do so
sports. The teams switch every time theonly by batting, then becoming a base runner,
defending team gets three players of thetouching all the bases in order (via one or
batting team out. The winner is the team withmore plays), and finally touching home plate.
the most runs after nine innings. If the homeTo that end, the goal of each batter is to
team is ahead after the top of the ninth,enable baserunners to score or to become a
play does not continue into the bottom half.baserunner himself. The batter attempts to
In the case of a tie, additional innings arehit the ball into fair territory —
played until one team comes out ahead at thebetween the baselines — in such a way
end of an inning. If the home team takes thethat the defending players cannot get them or
lead anytime during the bottom of the ninththe baserunners out. In general, the pitcher
or of any inning thereafter, play stops andattempts to prevent this by pitching the ball
the  home  team  is  declared  the  winner.in such a way that the batter cannot hit it
cleanly  or,  ideally,  at  all.
The basic contest is always between the
pitcher for the fielding team, and a batter.A baserunner who successfully touches home
The pitcher throws—pitches—theplate after touching all previous bases in
ball towards home plate, where the catcherorder scores a run. In an enclosed field, a
for the fielding team waits (in a crouchedfair ball hit over the fence on the fly is
stance) to receive it. Behind the catchernormally an automatic home run, which
stands the home plate umpire. The batterentitles the batter and all runners to touch
stands in one of the batter's boxes and triesall the bases and score. A home run hit with
to hit the ball with a bat. The pitcher mustall bases occupied ('bases loaded') is called
keep one foot in contact with the top ora grand slam.
front of the pitcher's rubber — a 24"



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