Overview:
1. Baseball games are spilt up into 9 different innings. The innings are divided
into the top and bottom. The team that scores the most by the close of the last
inning wins. The game starts when the pitcher throws the ball at the batter
across home plate. When the batter hits the ball, he can run to whatever how
many of four bases he can with out being put out.
The Field:
The baseball field has two areas: infield and outfield. The infield is the area around the inner diamond. Around the diamond there are a series of four bases: home plate at the base of the diamond, first base, second base in the center of the field, and third base. The batters bat on either side of home plate, depended upon whether they are right or left handed. The pitcher stands on the pitchers mound. Base lines cover the field to show running boundaries. The lines that go from home the very end of a field are called foul lines. Anything to past them is foul. When they are not batting or fielding, players sit in the dugouts, or on the diagram, coach's boxes. The entire field is fenced off.
Equipment:
Baseball equipment includes a hardball, bats usually wood ore aluminum, padded leather gloves for catching, cleats, and helmets. An assortment of equipment is used for the catcher including shin guards, a mask, a helmet and chest protectors. The baseball has a cork center and is covered by string and layers of leather. Rules prohibit the use of oversized bats.
The Team:
The baseball team is made of 9 players. Each player has a particular part of the field to cover. The pitcher throws the ball at the batter in what is called a pitch. He can throw the ball in a variety of ways. He throws the ball to the catcher. His job to the catcher the ball and throw it back to the pitcher and guard the home plate from runners. Other members of team in clued the first, second and third basemen and the shortstop between second and third base. Their job is field hits in the infield and tag out runners before they score. 3 players called outfielders are stationed in right, center, and left field and are responsible for catching all balls in the outfield. When one team plays, the other bats, they switch off in each inning. Batter rules very in different each league.
Umpires and Managers:
Managers in baseball determine where people will play, etc. coaches train the team and in games the stand in the boxes near first and third base to tell runners what to do. Both communicate with players on the field such as the pitcher, to tell them what to do.
Umpires enforce the games rules and interpret them. They determine when a player is out, have complete control of the game, and can throw out players, mangers and coaches. They station themselves at home and around the first and third baselines and around second base.
The basic rules are as follows:
1. In baseball, there are two teams the home and the visitor team. The visitor
team goes first.
2. While they bat they are scoring points for offence, while the home team fields.
3. Runs are scored when some one hits the ball, and get to one of the three
bases.
4. After three outs, inning half is over and the players switch roles.
Pitching:
The pitcher and the batter make up most of the action in the game. The pitcher
has to get the ball in the strike zone (from the players knees to his chest).
Any of the pitches thrown in this area are not hit they are called strikes.
After 3 strikes a person is out. Anything outside the strike zone is a called
a ball. If a player gets four of these he gets what is called walk. He gets
to go to first base. The umpire determines these.
Getting on Base and running:
Once player has hit a ball and made it to the base successfully, it is called a base hit. When a person hits a ball and just gets to 1st base it is called a single, if he gets to 2nd it is a double, etc, etc. People can get on base in numerous ways and errors by the other team. Teams can get runs by hitting sacrifice fly balls and bunting, when you hold out the bat, the ball hits it and the goes on the field. Runners can also advance by stealing the base, which can take place at the appropriate time, and are tagged out when some one touches them with the ball.
Fielding:
Players in the infield and outfield all have the job of fielding except the catcher. Their job is to retrieve and throw it the base were the runner is going. They can tag the runner outright or the base to which they are headed. Since players advance when another person hits, fielders can make double plays when they get two people out in one play.
Scoring:
When a player scores, it means he has moved around the field successfully and
crossed home plate. They can get around in a home run, in one hit. When this
happens the ball usually goes over the fence surrounding the field. Some times
there are grand slams, when three people are on base and a person hits a home
run.