Issue link: https://www.cominghomemag.com/i/1520927
The Objective Every baseball game takes place over nine untimed innings. During the top (first half) of an inning, one team is at-bat on offense, aiming to hit the ball from home plate, and the other team is on defense, pitching, throwing, and fielding balls in the infield and outfield. In the bottom (second half) of an inning, the teams swap places. Whoever has the most points at the end of the ninth inning wins. To play, the batters on the offensive team try to hit balls from the pitcher out of the defensive players' reach. Pitches and hits come in a variety of styles based on the strategies and strengths of players and teams. Once the batter successfully hits the ball, they'll attempt to run around all the bases, stopping to be safe at one of the three bases or making it back to home plate to score a run. They may also hit the ball out of the area of the play for a home run and get to run back to home plate freely. However, if the batter hits the ball and it's immediately caught by a fielder, thrown to a base before they get there, or they get tagged with the ball, they're out. As soon as the defensive team gets three outs, it marks the second half of an inning, and they'll transition to offense and get a chance to hit and score runs. Outs can also be achieved if a batter gets three strikes while they're at-bat. A strike occurs when a batter swings and misses at a pitched ball in the strike zone around their torso. Hitting a foul ball that lands between home plate and first and third base when a batter has two or fewer strikes is also a strike. A pitch that's thrown beyond the strike zone and a batter purposefully lets pass is called a ball. If a pitcher gets four balls during an at-bat, the batter gets awarded a walk to first base. An umpire makes all judgment calls. The Positions Each position on the baseball field plays a crucial role in the game's outcome. • Pitcher: Leading a team's defense, pitchers stand at the pitcher's mound and start each play by throwing the baseball to the batter. • Relief Pitcher: Pitchers who enter a game after it already started, either as a closer trusted to get outs needed to win or to replace an injured or poor-performing starter. • Catcher: This player crouches behind home plate and receives pitches that batters miss. They also field and catch certain hits, tag players out at home plate, and throw out runners attempting to steal bases. • First Baseman: Positioned near first base, first basemen catch throws from teammates, tag first base to record outs, and throw the ball to bases and home plate. • Second Baseman: Similar to a first basemen, but defends the area between first and second base. • Third Baseman: Defends the area between third base and home plate. • Shortstop: A special position that defends the area between second and third base. They're often considered the most skilled infielder, fielding balls, covering second base on double play attempts, and providing backup to the rest of the infield. • Left Fielder: Plays on the left side of the outfield, fielding balls hit to that area. • Center Fielder: Positioned in the middle of the outfield, they cover a large area with speed, agility, and a strong throwing arm. • Right Fielder: Plays on the right side of the field, fielding balls hit to that area. • Batter/Hitter: Offensive players on the field who take on the opposing team's pitcher, trying to hit the ball and score runs for their team. • Runner: Once a player hits the ball and runs towards a base, they're a runner. Runners can be on first, second, or third base, or reach home plate to score. The Lingo Like any sport, baseball has its own language, filled with unique phrases and quirky expressions. • Bases Loaded: When a runner is on all three bases and another player goes up to bat. • Grand Slam: A home run hit with the bases loaded, resulting in four runs scored. • Runs Batted In (RBI): A statistic that tracks the number of runs scored after a batter's hits. • Bullpen: The area where pitchers warm up. • Dugout: The bench area where players and managers sit or stand. • Single/Double/Triple: When batters hit a pitched ball and safely make it to first, second, or third base without stopping. • Bunt: A pitched ball that a batter taps instead of hits. • Double Play: When the defense records two outs on a single play, typically forcing a runner out at second base, and then throwing to first base before another runner gets there. • Stolen Base: When a runner reaches another base without the ball being hit. • Error: When a fielder makes a mistake that an average fielder wouldn't make, negatively impacting their team.