what is baseball
Brief explanation
Baseball is a game played between two teams of nine players each. The game is divided into nine innings, each divided into two halves. In the top half of the inning, the players of one team successively come to bat and attempt to score runs, while the other team plays in the field and attempts to stop the offensive team from scoring. In the bottom half, the teams swap places. The team with more runs at the end of nine innings is the winner of the game.
The game is played on a diamond-shaped playing field, the four corners of the diamond being formed by home plate, first base, second base and third base. In the middle of the infield is the pitcher's mound, where the pitcher stands to pitch the ball to the batter. The area beyond the infield, bordered by the first and third baselines, is called the outfield.
During an inning, the pitcher of the defensive team throws the ball toward member of the offensive team currently in batting position at home plate. The batter attempts to hit the ball with the bat to a location out of the reach of the defensive players in the field and run around the bases. If he is able to round the bases and return to home plate, he scores a run. But if the ball is caught, or can be thrown to first base before he arrives at the base, then the batter is out. A batter is also put out if he strikes out, or fails to hit the baseball three times after three good pitches. The offensive team's time at bat is over when it gets three outs.
The game is played on a diamond-shaped playing field, the four corners of the diamond being formed by home plate, first base, second base and third base. In the middle of the infield is the pitcher's mound, where the pitcher stands to pitch the ball to the batter. The area beyond the infield, bordered by the first and third baselines, is called the outfield.
During an inning, the pitcher of the defensive team throws the ball toward member of the offensive team currently in batting position at home plate. The batter attempts to hit the ball with the bat to a location out of the reach of the defensive players in the field and run around the bases. If he is able to round the bases and return to home plate, he scores a run. But if the ball is caught, or can be thrown to first base before he arrives at the base, then the batter is out. A batter is also put out if he strikes out, or fails to hit the baseball three times after three good pitches. The offensive team's time at bat is over when it gets three outs.
- Pitcher. The pitcher's job is to throw the ball over to the plate in a way that it is difficult for the batter to hit. A pitcher should be able to throw fast pitches, but velocity is less important than control (the ability to throw strikes consistently and not issue a lot of bases on balls). A pitcher should be tough, smart, and keep his or her composure under pressure (such as throw strikes behind in the count or when there are people on base). The pitcher is the fifth infielder and needs to field his or her position on bunts, grounders, and pop ups, and back up the catcher on plays at the plate. Pitchers are often the best all-around athletes on the team.
- Catcher. Generally the team leader since he or she is the only player facing his or teammates. The catcher handles the pitcher, keeps track of balls and strikes (the count), reminds the other players about the number of outs, sets the defense, and backs up 1st base on every infield play. Catchers are usually the most rugged and quickest thinking players on the team. Once base stealing is permitted, a catcher should have a good throwing arm and the ability to get rid of the ball very quickly.
Infield players
Infielders must be able to react quickly toward a hit ball, and have good hand-eye coordination skills. Shortstops and third basemen should have good throwing arms, since they need to make longer throws to first. Playing the infield positions (other than first base) is easiest for right-handed players, since they do not have to turn as far to throw the ball to first.
- First base. The perfect place for a left-handed player who can catch the ball well, even when, as is often the case in youth baseball, it is thrown over his head, bounced in the dirt, or off line. Strength and size (particularly height) are important; a strong throwing arm is not. A first baseman needs to be able to concentrate, as he will potentially be involved in nearly every play.
- Second base. Size and stature are of little importance. Speed, quickness and good fielding ability are. A second baseman needs to know what to do when there are runners on base (such as to know that, if the ball is hit to him with a runner on first, to touch second base, or tag the runner, and then throw to first.
- Shortstop. This player has more ground to cover than any other player does and must be fast, quick, agile and have a strong throwing arm. The shortstop will potentially field more ground balls, in more off-balance positions, than any other player. Like the second baseman, the shortstop needs to be to think ahead.
- Third Base. This player should be able to charge the ball on bunts and slow grounders, and field the ball barehanded, and be able to move side to side quickly on balls hit hard down the line or to his left in the hole between third and short. Because the third baseman has the longest throw of all the infielders, he should have a good arm.
Outfielders
Outfielders must cover a lot of ground, so speed and quickness to react to the ball are important. They must be able to catch fly balls above their head and on the run and throw the ball a long distance and accurately. Younger players may find it difficult to concentrate on the game, since balls are not hit to the outfield as often as to the infield. Therefore, players need to be taught to get into the "ready" position (on the balls of their feet, in a slight crouch) before every pitch.
- Right Fielder. Needs to be able to think-ahead. This player backs up first base on all throws from the catcher and all bunted balls, since the catcher must be available for fielding the ball. They backup second on any ball thrown from the left of the diamond. I.e. shortstop, third base or foul territory.
- Center Fielder. This will be the player that has the best combination of speed and throwing distance. Like shortstop, they cover more 'grass' than any other player and, most likely, will catch the most fly balls. They must backup second on all bunts and throws from the catcher.
- Left Fielder. Of all outfield positions, this player can have the weakest arm, as they do not generally throw the ball as far. They still require good fielding and catching skills and backup third on pick-off attempts from the catcher or pitcher.
Basic rules of the game
- Baseball has two teams of 9 players.
- The fielding team’s positions are made up of a pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman, and three outfielders at left field, centre field and right field.
- Games last for 9 innings of which both teams get to bat once. If the game is a tie after 9 innings then an extra inning will be added until a winner is found. If the team batting second in the bottom of the 9th inning are already ahead in points, then they do not need to complete their batting innings.
- Once a batting order is picked, then it cannot be changed throughout the game. Substitutes are permitted, however, they must bat in the order of the previous player whom they replaced.
- If the batter manages to hit the ball from the pitcher, they must make an effort to at least get to first base. They can then run to as many bases as they wish before being tagged out. Each base must be touched with some part of the batters body when running past.
- A batter gets up to three strikes before getting out. A strike is deemed when a batter swings for a ball and misses it. The batter can leave the ball but, if it’s within a certain area (called the 'strike zone'), then a strike will also be given. If four balls miss the strike zone and the batter does not swing their bat, they can walk to first base.
- When on base, the batter can run to the next base at any point.
- Players can be dismissed by either a 'strike out' (referring to a batsman missing the ball three times), 'force out' (when a player fails to make the base before the defensive player), 'fly out' (when the ball is hit in the air and caught without it bouncing), and 'tag outs' (where a defensive player with the ball tags the batsman with the ball all whilst they are running).
Photo used under Creative Commons from GabboT