| I'm writing this article for the person who knows | | | | Another defensive player is called the catcher and |
| nothing about baseball, the person who | | | | stands on the other side of home plate from the |
| doesn't know the difference between the | | | | pitcher. Typically four more players are arranged |
| Triple Crown and an unassisted Triple Play. I'm not | | | | along the lines between first, second, and third |
| going to write about the history of baseball so if | | | | bases, and the other three are in the outfield. |
| that's what you want look somewhere else, | | | | Runs are scored as follows: starting at home |
| I'm going to tell you | | | | plate, each offensive player attempts to earn the |
| the necessary information so you can sit down | | | | right to run to the next base of the diamond, |
| on a Saturday afternoon and watch a baseball | | | | then to touch the base at that corner, continuing |
| game. Even if you do know a lot I'm hoping you | | | | on to each following base in order, and finally |
| can learn a little. | | | | returning to home, whereupon a run is scored. |
| Introduction | | | | Often an offensive player will achieve a base but |
| Baseball is a bat and ball sport played by 2 teams | | | | be forced to stop there; on future plays the |
| of 9 players a side. The goal of baseball is to | | | | player may continue to advance, or else be put |
| score runs by hitting a ball that is thrown by the | | | | out. |
| pitcher and run around the bases. The bases are | | | | A play begins with an offensive player called a |
| arranged on the corners of a 90 foot square | | | | batter standing at home plate, holding a bat. The |
| called the diamond. Players on the batting team | | | | batter then waits for the pitcher to throw a pitch |
| take turns hitting while the fielding team tries to | | | | (the ball) toward home plate, and attempts to hit |
| get them out. Once a player on | | | | the ball with the bat. If the batter hits the ball into |
| the batting team gets on base he can choose to | | | | play, the batter must drop the bat and begin |
| stop in the hope that a teammate will drive him in. | | | | running toward first base. There are other ways |
| The teams switch between batting | | | | to earn the right to run the bases, such as walks |
| and fielding when the fielding team gets 3 outs. | | | | or being hit by a pitched ball. The catcher catches |
| Once each team gets 3 outs that is an inning, | | | | pitches that the batter does not hit (either by |
| there are 9 innings in a MLB game. The team | | | | choice or simple failure to make contact) and |
| with the most runs at the end of the game wins. | | | | returns them to the pitcher. |
| Major League Baseball | | | | If the batter fails to hit a well-pitched ball (one |
| In the United States and Canada the professional | | | | within the strike zone) or if he hits it so that it |
| baseball league is called Major League Baseball | | | | goes outside of the field of play it is called a |
| (MLB.) MLB is divided into 2 leagues, the National | | | | strike. However, if the ball is hit over the outfield |
| League (NL) and the American League (AL) which | | | | and exits the field there, it is instead (one type |
| in turn, are divided into 3 divisions: East, Central | | | | of) a Homerun: the batter and all other offensive |
| and West. To determine the champion of baseball | | | | players on bases may complete a tour of the |
| MLB uses an 8 team playoff. The teams that | | | | bases and score a run. |
| make it are all 6 division winners plus a Wild Card. | | | | When a batter begins running, he or she is then |
| The wild card is the team with the best record | | | | referred to as a. Runners attempt to reach a |
| that isn’t a division winner. The first round is | | | | base, where they are safe and may remain there. |
| best of 5 while the second round and the World | | | | The runner defensive players attempt to prevent |
| Series are best of 7. Each major league team has | | | | this by putting the runners out using the ball; |
| a farm system of minor league teams at various | | | | runners put out must leave the field (returning to |
| levels. These teams allow players to gain improve | | | | the bench or Dugout the location where all the |
| while playing against opponents with a similar skill | | | | other inactive players and managers observe the |
| level. | | | | game). |
| Equipment and Field | | | | There are many ways that the team on defense |
| There are 4 basic tools in baseball: the bat, the | | | | can get an offensive player out. For the sake of |
| ball, the mitt and the field | | | | simplicity, only the five most common ways are |
| The bat is an offensive tool used by the batter | | | | listed here: |
| that is either wood or aluminum depending on the | | | | 1. The Strikeout: occurs when the batter acquires |
| league. It is a long stick maybe 35 inches long, 2 | | | | three strikes before hitting the ball (within the |
| inches wide and 35 ounces heavy. | | | | field); the batter never becomes a runner. |
| The mitt otherwise known as a glove is worn by | | | | 2. The Groundout: when the batter hits the ball |
| the fielding team to assist in catching the ball. Mitts | | | | but a defensive player retrieves it after it has |
| take various shapes and sizes to accommodate | | | | touched the ground and throws it to another |
| the needs of individual positions. | | | | defensive player standing on first base before the |
| A baseball is about the size of a fist and white | | | | runner arrives there. |
| with red lacing (Although other colors could be | | | | 3. The Forceout: occurs when a runner is required |
| used.) | | | | to run to advance bases ahead of a teammate's |
| Baseball is played on a field in which the | | | | hit but fails to reach it before a defensive player |
| dimensions vary depending on age. However | | | | reaches the base with the ball. The "ground out" is |
| every field has bases which are arranged on a | | | | actually a special case of "force out." |
| diamond that offensive payers try to run around | | | | 4. The Flyout: if a defensive player catches a hit |
| counterclockwise. The part of the field closest to | | | | ball before it touches the ground, the batter (now |
| the bases is the infield and the part farther away | | | | a runner) is out (regardless of his location). |
| is the outfield. | | | | 5. The Tagout: while between bases, a runner is |
| Game Play | | | | out if a defensive player touches him with a held |
| Baseball is played in a series of 9 innings, each of | | | | ball. |
| which are divided in to 2 halves, top and bottom. | | | | |
| In each half-inning, the offensive team attempts | | | | Baseball Statistics |
| to score runs until three of its players are put out. | | | | Statistics play an important role in summarizing |
| After the third out, the teams switch roles for | | | | baseball performance and evaluating players in the |
| the other half of the inning. The home team plays | | | | sport. Since the flow of baseball has natural |
| defense first, and so plays defense in the top of | | | | breaks to it, the game lends itself to easy record |
| every inning and offense in the bottom of every | | | | keeping and statistics. This makes comparisons |
| inning. At the beginning of each half-inning, the nine | | | | between players' on field performance relatively |
| defensive players arrange themselves on the field. | | | | easy, and therefore gives statistics more |
| One defensive player is called the pitcher and | | | | importance in baseball than in most other sports. |
| stands at the center of the diamond on a | | | | Statistics have been kept for professional baseball |
| designated spot, called the mound or the rubber. | | | | since the creation of each league. |