Some questions about baseball

[Memnoch]

OK, I've joined the dark side and started to watch the Red Sox play (since Australia aren't playing any cricket at the moment). I re-read the rules as it's been close to 20 years since I last played, and I understand the general concepts, but I have some questions:

1. what happens when someone at bat is walked with bases loaded? Does the team score a run?

2. when calculating the batting average (hits/at-bats), do you only count "legal" hits or are foul hits counted? (eg is it a measure of how many times you get bat on ball or a measure of how often you get on to at least 1st base)

3. when pitchers get a measure of how many games they won or lost, what happens when a starting pitcher only plays 4 innings and the rest are pitched by relief pitchers? Who gets credited with the win/loss in that situation?

4. If someone is on 2nd base and the batter hits a flyball which is caught by the time the guy on 2nd gets to 3rd, does he have to return to 2nd?

5. Can you get out off a foul ball? What if you nick the ball and it goes into the catcher's hands, is that an out or a strike?

6. Is there a limit to how many pitchers can be used? If someone is substituted can they return at a later stage?

7. How is the batting lineup determined? Can this be changed during the game? If you send in a pinch hitter for someone is that person now substituted and out of the game?

8. What happens to the DH when an AL team plays an NL team?

9. If a batter has 2 strikes and fouls the ball, why isn't that called as a 3rd strike and hence an out?

10. Why are the Yankees the most hated team in America?

Help would be appreciated!

[Albromor]

Originally posted by Memnoch: OK, I've joined the dark side and started to watch the Red Sox play (since Australia aren't playing any cricket at the moment). I re-read the rules as it's been close to 20 years since I last played, and I understand the general concepts, but I have some questions: 1. what happens when someone at bat is walked with bases loaded? Does the team score a run? Yes. 2. when calculating the batting average (hits/at-bats), do you only count "legal" hits or are foul hits counted? (eg is it a measure of how many times you get bat on ball or a measure of how often you get on to at least 1st base) Legal hits: Hits divided by # of at bats = batting average. The first two fouls count as strikes, but you can foul off as many times as you want and it won't count as the third strike. 3. when pitchers get a measure of how many games they won or lost, what happens when a starting pitcher only plays 4 innings and the rest are pitched by relief pitchers? Who gets credited with the win/loss in that situation? A starter must complete 5 innings to get a win. Whoever was in relief at the time the team went ahead and stays ahead is declared the winner. 4. If someone is on 2nd base and the batter hits a flyball which is caught by the time the guy on 2nd gets to 3rd, does he have to return to 2nd? He better get back to second! The outfielder will try and throw it to second before the runner gets back. If the outfileder succeeds the runner is out. The only exception here is the runner does what we call a tag up. The runner watches the fielder and the ball while remaining on the bag. As soon as the outfielder catches the ball the runner will then make for the next bag trying to out run the throw. Because the runner stayed on the bag as the ball was being caught and he makes the next bag, he is safe. 5. Can you get out off a foul ball? What if you nick the ball and it goes into the catcher's hands, is that an out or a strike? Yes, you can get out with a foul ball as long as it is caught in the designated area of play. Since every ballpark's dimensions are different the in-play dimensions will be different. As long as the batter doesn't "nick" (considered a foul, too) the ball above his head, no he is not out. But if he hits it in the air above his head and it is caught he is out. 6. Is there a limit to how many pitchers can be used? If someone is substituted can they return at a later stage? No and no. But remember, a team will carry no more that 11 to 12 pitchers. 7. How is the batting lineup determined? Can this be changed during the game? If you send in a pinch hitter for someone is that person now substituted and out of the game? Batting line-up: average, power, speed. Changed during game: Players can be substitued, but once a player is taken out he cannot return which answers your third question. 8. What happens to the DH when an AL team plays an NL team? You go by home team league rules (I hate the DH!) 9. If a batter has 2 strikes and fouls the ball, why isn't that called as a 3rd strike and hence an out? Good question! It adds drama to the game, that is for sure. Really good hitters can foul off the ball to be "kept alive." 10. Why are the Yankees the most hated team in America? One because they have won so many pennets and World Series over the years. No one has come close and in today's multi-million dollar sports world they can afford to pay top dollar for the top talent. Hope this helps. Help would be appreciated!

[Memnoch]

Thanks mate. Just a clarification of my 1st question - so a walk is effective for people on base too? Eg if you have a runner on 2nd and you walk the batter to 1st, then the bloke on 2nd will walk to 3rd too? And same if you have someone on 3rd (even if there is nobody on 1st or 2nd), if you walk someone to 1st then the bloke on 3rd gets home?

[johnny]

No, that's only the case when the bases are loaded.

[T-D-C]

Only if their is some on one the bas behind them will the head runner walk.

Eg if you only have a runner on 2nd and the batter gets a walk then only the batter walks to 1st the other runner stays on 2nd.

If you have a runner on 1st & 2nd and the batter gets a walk then all walk to the next base.

If you have a runner on 3rd and 1st and the batter gets a walk then the runner on 1st walks and the batter walks.

Hope this helps!

[Memnoch]

Thanks fellas. I know that spitballs aren't allowed, but is a pitcher allowed to scuff up one side of the ball (eg by rubbing it against his pants) to affect the ball's movement through the air?

And how often are balls replaced? I don't suppose they get them back after homers into the crowd?

[Gemmel]

Baseballs have protruding stitching on them anyway so they are much easier to control through the air(as opposed to a cricket ball which are smooth)

Balls are replaced all the time. Every foul ball, homer, etc. results in new balls. The pitcher can ask for a new ball from the umpire at any point too.

[Marathon]

Memnoch - check out this page for a list of pitches allowed, etc.

EDIT: it won't let me put in the link - so go to www.Wikipedia.com and search the term baseball pitches. They have a great listing, including history on spitterballers, the exemption, etc. Pretty cool.


Scuffing is still illegal, although there have been some pitchers caught with the old "emery board in the pants" routine. Boston has one of the only knuckleballers in the game, Tim Wakefield. Things are always interesting when he pitches.

[Albromor]

Originally posted by Memnoch: Thanks fellas. I know that spitballs aren't allowed, but is a pitcher allowed to scuff up one side of the ball (eg by rubbing it against his pants) to affect the ball's movement through the air? And how often are balls replaced? I don't suppose they get them back after homers into the crowd?

Ah, homers and the crowd. Well Mem if you are at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, and the opposing team hits a home run the crowd throws the ball back onto the field in contempt. Other fans in other cities have picked up on this. And, no, those balls aren't used again.

Scuffing the ball is a major no-no.

[johnny]

Btw...don't spent too much time in the presence of Boston fans, in the long run it'll not work in your favour.