How to Play Baseball
|
|
|
The object of the game is to score runs. The game is usually played for nine innings, unless after the nine innings there is a tie, then, the two teams will play until a team is able to take the lead in runs. Innings have two parts to them: the away team which is first up to start the inning, and the home team which is second up and also ends the inning. To score runs a player must completely run in a counterclockwise direction, safely around first base, second base, third base, and then home plate. In the game of baseball, there are both offensive and defensive sides. There are two teams that have a total of nine or more players on each of the teams. The offensive side is trying to score runs by hitting the ball and running around all of the bases until getting back to home plate. The defensive side is trying to find a way to get three of the offensive players out in each of the nine innings. To get three outs, the defensive side has nine players out on the field. When defensive side gets three outs, then they get to bat and the offensive side goes into the field. There is an infield that includes a pitcher, a catcher, a first baseman, a second baseman, a shortstop, and a third baseman. Also, there is an outfield containing a right fielder, a center fielder, and a left fielder. In the game there are either three strikes and the batter is out, or the ball is caught in the air, or if they get thrown out at one of the four bases. A batter gets on the base by either hitting the ball and not getting thrown out or if four balls are thrown. The runner can also advance bases by stealing. That is when a pitch is thrown and the runner runs for the next base and hopefully gets there before the ball does.
|
|
There are four umpires that stand at each of the four bases: home plate, first base, second base, and third base. The umpires determine whether or not to call a foul ball, which is when a ball is hit in foul territory or when a ball is hit fair. In the game, these four umpires all have their own signals that symbolize whether someone is out or safe, of even if a pitched ball is a strike or a timeout. The four umpires that are on each of the four bases, are the ones that call whether or not the runner is out, safe or even whether the ball is hit fair of foul. The umpire that is behind the plate has the most important job of all, he is the one that calls whether or not a pitched ball is a strike or a ball or if there is a balk, or a timeout.
 |
This is an umpire showing that someone is out. |
| This is an umpire showing that someone is safe. |  |
 |
The umpire that is behind the plate is the one that calls balls and strikes. Here, an umpire is showing a strike. The umpire usually doesn't do anything to show a ball. |
| This is what the the umpires would look like if someone would call a time out. |  |
 |
In baseball, a balk occurs only if the pitcher makes a motion to home plate and then turns to try to get the runner out at one of the bases. |
