Subject: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: notmrclapton on 12/09/01 at 07:47 p.m.
I watch Baseball on TV here in the UK. I can follow it to a point, but then I seem to loose the plot.
Here are a few points someone might help me with.
1) What is the walk. The pitcher throws a wide ball and the Guy with the bat walks to the first base.
2) Why does the Guy with the bat, sometimes hold it with a hand at each end, and push the ball to the ground.
3) What do the abbreviations on the score card stand for.
I enjoy watching this new game that I have found. Its a lot better than cricket. These are the first three questions of (I am sure will be) many.
NMC
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: ChuckyG on 12/09/01 at 09:15 p.m.
I'm not a huge baseball fan, but I can help a little.. someone else can fill in the details better..
1) you get walked for a couple of things, if you hit a pitch, and it doesn't stay within the baselines, it's considered a foul. Or, if the pitcher throws a pitch which is outside of the batting zone, it's considered a foul. Four fouls, and you get walked. (Though you can't hit a foul ball and then walk, the fourth foul has to be a bad pitch). If you get hit with the ball, that is also a reason to be walked.
2) That's refered to as bunting. The goal is to get on base, or let someone who is already on base advance a base. When you bunt, the goal is to make the ball go halfway out to the pitcher, so that the catcher or the pitcher have to leave their spots to get the ball and throw someone out. You have to be a fast runner (and not a great hitter) in order to make this useful for the most part
3) There's gotta be a good web page that lists those out, I know some of them, but even I get stumped...
I'm curious as to how you're watching it.. ESPN classic perhaps? baseball season ended months ago..
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: notmrclapton on 12/10/01 at 04:27 a.m.
As the ball games are on TV at 4 or 5 am in the UK I used to record them. I used to work shift work so I was coming home at 3.30am having a shower then watch the game. I think its about March or April when the season starts again, is that so ? I've tried a few sites, but nothing for the 'Brit idiots' guide to Baseball.
As a matter of interest. How much does it cost to watch a Ball game in the states. In the UK its about £20 - £40 to watch a football game(oops, sorry 'soccer') I dont know what that works out in dollars !.
Thanks for your help
NMC
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: Jonman on 12/10/01 at 05:35 p.m.
Quoting:
I'm not a huge baseball fan, but I can help a little.. someone else can fill in the details better..
1) you get walked for a couple of things, if you hit a pitch, and it doesn't stay within the baselines, it's considered a foul. Or, if the pitcher throws a pitch which is outside of the batting zone, it's considered a foul. Four fouls, and you get walked. (Though you can't hit a foul ball and then walk, the fourth foul has to be a bad pitch). If you get hit with the ball, that is also a reason to be walked.End Quote
Actually you don't get walked on foul balls...a foul ball is considered a strike, however you can't strike out on foul balls. Your third and final strike MUST be a swing and a miss...you get walked by the pitcher throwing 4 "balls" which is the ball going either wide, low or high...or if you get hit by the pitched ball.
Your explanation of "bunting" is good and is usually used when there is a runner on first base and you want to advance him to second base...or scoring position...so the batter will bunt to advance the runner....
GO BRAVES! Oops...was that my outloud voice? Heheee
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: dagwood on 12/16/01 at 08:05 a.m.
Oh Jonman, you are so misled. Go Braves ???? That makes me so sad. Go Cubs is what you should be chanting. ;)
Thanks for explaining walks, I don't think I could have done as well, but I would have tried. The poor guy would have really been confused next time he watched a game. :)
BASEBALL RULES!!
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: dagwood on 12/16/01 at 08:07 a.m.
BTW, I won't hold the Braves thing against ya. Bon Jovi fans can't be all bad. ;)
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: Jonman on 12/17/01 at 05:31 p.m.
Quoting:
BTW, I won't hold the Braves thing against ya. Bon Jovi fans can't be all bad. ;)
End Quote
Ah thanks Dagwood :) I should also explain that your third strike CAN be a foul ball IF the catcher catches it....
GO BRAVES!
Cubs? Aren't those Boy Scouts? LMAO! J/K ;)
Like you said...Bon Jovi fans can't be all bad ;)
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: kjayangel on 12/17/01 at 05:50 p.m.
I guess you are a likable character Jonman, you are a Bon Jovi fan and a Braves fan.Two of the best things in life.lol ;D
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: dagwood on 12/17/01 at 07:51 p.m.
Quoting:
Ah thanks Dagwood :) I should also explain that your third strike CAN be a foul ball IF the catcher catches it....
GO BRAVES!
Cubs? Aren't those Boy Scouts? LMAO! J/K ;)
Like you said...Bon Jovi fans can't be all bad ;)
End Quote
Hey, the Cubs did really well this year, at least til they realized that they had been in first place in the central division for most of the season, then they choked. Oh well, I still love 'em. Sorry I am not a fan of the Braves. I will root for them if they are in the series, though. Can't have the American league taking the series. National League Rules!!!
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: kjayangel on 12/18/01 at 00:31 a.m.
:-/Forgive me if this is a stupid question but do they not have baseball in England?I thought by now the sport had spread to other origins of the world even though it is an American sport. ???
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: Jonman on 12/18/01 at 12:54 a.m.
Quoting:
I guess you are a likable character Jonman, you are a Bon Jovi fan and a Braves fan.Two of the best things in life.lol ;D
End Quote
kjayangel you are now my new best friend ;)
Quoting:
Hey, the Cubs did really well this year, at least til they realized that they had been in first place in the central division for most of the season, then they choked...End Quote
At least the Braves don't choke until they get into the Series! LOL...sheesh....so many times to the dance and so many times a wallflower....
GO NL! ;D
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: Kryllith on 12/20/01 at 12:53 a.m.
I just took a glance at the response so I don't THINK someone answered the 3rd question here... If they did, well just ignore this.
I'm assuming by the abbreviations, you're refering to the
R, H, and E
R stands for Runs, which are basically scored points. Teams with the most runs wins, so this is the primary thing you'll want to focus on.
H stands for Hits. Generally this is a successful attempt to get on base. I'm not sure if a homerun awards both a "run" and a "hit" on the board, a player would tag the individual bases, but not stop on them. Additionally, I think at one time "hits" were used to determine a winner if the "runs" were tied at the end of the 9th inning. This may still be true in some leagues, though usually they simply play extra innings nowadays.
E stands for Error. This is uses marked when someone on the defense (when out in the field) makes an error that gives the opposing team an advantage. This might be fumbling the ball, throwing it over the head of the person it's supposed to be thrown to, or various other things that might allow the opposing team to progress a base or score a run.
Hope this helps :)
Kryllith
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: Bobo on 12/21/01 at 02:08 p.m.
They do have baseball in England, but not until recently (like, 2 years), and only on a channel that hardly anyone watches. I guess that's the problem with putting it on so late at night (midnight:30 in some cases)
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: Bobo on 12/21/01 at 02:15 p.m.
The reason we still see baseball when the baseball season is over, is because people ignore it in England for 6 months, then presume the live game is playing 6 months later on the television, when they know the championship result in most cases anyway. As for bunting (it seems that that is the term for hitting the ball so as never to get caught out?) I used to do that all the time... then people got pissed off...
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: Bobo on 12/29/01 at 02:16 p.m.
So that the runner can get around again and have another go... like I always used to do when I was smaller than I am now.
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: silentblue31 on 01/07/02 at 03:45 p.m.
I live in Cooperstown, and I still don't know all the rules, and honestly don't even care for baseball that much. Just thought I'd share! ;)
Subject: Re: Please explain the rules of Baseball
Written By: Kryllith on 01/14/02 at 11:06 a.m.
I'm not a huge fan myself for watching it on tv... less it's the Dodgers in the World Series. It's just a bit slow for me (heck, even American football gets too slow for me sometimes... give me European football, hockey, basketball or some other non-stop sport :)). On the otherhand, if you're actually at the game it's a lot better, and playing it is moreso...
Kryllith
