Questions tagged [baseball]
Questions about the sport of baseball in general. For the American professional baseball league, see [mlb]. Note that autograph identification questions ("Who signed this baseball?") are OFF-TOPIC and will be closed.
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How to recognize baseball pitches when watching television games?
When I watch Baseball games on TV, I have trouble to identify the pitch that the pitchers are throwing. I know the pitch types but can't tell the difference of a fastball to a slider when watching ...
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5
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Why does a foul ball not count as a third strike?
From the Wikipedia entry for foul ball
A strike is issued for the batter if he had fewer than two strikes ...
A strike is, however, recorded for the pitcher for every foul ball the
batter hits, ...
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8
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What baseball rules or calls have become customary despite them not being in the rule book?
There are some rules in Major League Baseball that have "evolved" over time. One such example is the checked swing rule. Announcers talk about the bat "breaking the plane of the plate" to judge ...
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Why is a foul bunt on strike three an out?
Following up on "Why does a foul ball not count as a third strike?", I can understand caught fouls and foul tips being counted as strike 3. But what is the logic behind a 3rd strike foul bunt being an ...
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4
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Has there ever been a situation where the outfielder has intentionally dropped a foul ball to prevent a run from scoring from third?
I can foresee a situation when a team is tied or up by one run, late in the game, where an outfielder may intentionally drop a catchable ball in foul territory to prevent an opposing runner from ...
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3
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What's the reasoning behind the Uncaught Third Strike Rule?
In MLB, if a Catcher drops or misses the third pitched strike, the batter becomes a runner and can attempt to reach first base before tagged out or forced out at first.
6.09 The batter becomes a ...
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4
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What gives a left-handed pitcher an advantage over a left-handed batter?
In baseball, a pitcher is often assumed to have an advantage over a batter based on his handedness (i.e. left-handed vs right-handed). I think it is that right-handed pitchers have an advantage of ...
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2
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Why do umpires indicate whether a caught fly ball is fair or foul?
If a batter pops up or flies out down a base line, and the fielder catching the ball is within a couple feet of the foul line, the umpire will always signal the out, and then "fair" or "foul" ...
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19
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2
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If a play ends with two runners at the same base who is safe?
In baseball if a play ends and two base runners are at the same base who is safe and who is out? Does the situation change if one of the runners can be forced?
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Why does the catcher decide what sort pitch the pitcher has to throw?
I have been reading few baseball related comics and, in all the comics what I have observed is that,the catchers always signal what the pitcher has to throw. It is as if the catchers are the brain ...
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What do baseball umpires say when a strike/ball is thrown?
I am currently watching the Yankees vs. Rangers game. Just saw a few strikes and balls thrown, and it seems that, for a strike, the umpire just points to his right/left and yells "HO!".
Furthermore, ...
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2
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In baseball, can a player be replaced during an at-bat?
In baseball, a player can replaced by any other player who hasn't yet appeared in the game. Can this replacement be made after a player has started batting and is still at the plate?
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2
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What are the criteria for wins, losses, and saves in MLB?
I've read the rules for determining Wins, Losses and Saves for pitchers, and I've never been able to make heads or tails of it. Is there an easier way to explain it?
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Why are forfeits in baseball scored as 9-0?
In baseball, when a forfeit occurs, the score is 9-0. Why 9-0? What does this score mean, and what is the historical reason for this value?
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Does a run count if it's made on the same play as the 3rd out?
Under what conditions can a run be scored on a play that results in a 3rd out for the team? I was under the impression that if a 3rd out happens, all runs that might have scored before time during ...
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Is the runner on first forced to run?
Looking for some clarification on this situation that came up today:
There is one out and a runner on first base (R1). The batter hits a fly ball in the infield. The first baseman (1st) makes an ...
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2
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Walkoff homer, decisive run scores but following runner leaves base path
This question is a hypothetical based on the last play of Game 5 of the 2014 NLCS.
San Francisco batting in the bottom of the 9th, score tied 3-3, runners Arias at second and Belt at first, one out. ...
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1
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Why are pitcher's mounds higher than the rest of the baseball field?
On softball fields, the pitcher's "mound" appears flat. However, on baseball fields, the pitcher's mound is a mound. MLB Official Rules state (Rule 1.04, in part):
The pitcher’s plate shall be 10 ...
user527
13
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2
answers
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What team has the shortest "longest losing streak" within a season in MLB history?
Don't know if the wording of the title makes sense, but I want to know what team had the longest losing streak that was the shortest in MLB history (or at least the live ball era)
A completely made ...
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1
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When and why did baseball players start exclusively running the bases counterclockwise?
In modern baseball, the players always run around the bases counterclockwise (anticlockwise). However, a book written in the 1830's - one of the first to describe the version of the sport we know ...
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2
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What is the history/reasoning behind the defensive indifference rule in MLB?
I'm struggling to find a good answer as to why a player would not be credited with a stolen base under the official MLB rules. It seems to me that most indifference calls are made when the defending ...
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Why can't MLB teams trade draft picks?
Why can't MLB teams trade draft picks like the NHL or NFL?
It would make for much more interesting drafts, and teams could "stock up" on young talent, then burn picks for veterans to make a playoff ...
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Can a pitcher also be a designated hitter?
Suppose an American League Team ended up with a good-hitting pitcher e.g Yovani Gallardo, or from an earlier era, Ken Brett, who had established this reputation in the National League.
Could such a ...
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4
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What happens to the runner if he misses a base after hitting a homerun?
Scenario: No one on base. 2 outs. Batter hits a homerun. However, while rounding the bases, completely misses stepping on second base. Now, I understand that being a home run, it's a dead ball, and ...
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1
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Does a run score if the batter is tagged for the 3rd out before he reaches first?
There is a runner on third with two out. Batter hits a slow roller to first base. First baseman charges and picks up the ball. Runner from third crosses home. First baseman tags the runner running ...
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4
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Why are there no left handed catchers in baseball?
Why is it seemingly forbidden for a lefty to play catcher?
Lefties would have an advantage fielding bunts and throwing to first, as they would already be oriented towards first when getting the ball. ...
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2
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Why did baseball players start wearing gloves but cricket players not?
From this article The Last American Baseball-Glove Maker Refuses to Die
In the early days of baseball, it was considered unmanly to use a glove. Broken bones were common. The first mass-produced ...
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Does MLB Rule 7.13(2) (on blocking the plate) apply to players other than the catcher?
There was an unusual play in tonight's NLDS game between San Francisco and Washington. With runners at second and third, and one out, the Nationals pitcher P threw a wild pitch (on an intentional ...
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Why can't modern starting pitchers consistently pitch on 2-3 days rest?
I've been browsing through some historical pitching stats at Baseball-Reference.com.
It seems that in the 1910s and 1920s, starting pitchers frequently pitched on 3 days rest, sometimes pitched on ...
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3
answers
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Why the limit on manager mound visits?
I recall that Don Mattingly was forced to remove his pitcher due to two mound meetings in an inning. I've read articles that indicate that a limit was placed on manager-led mound meetings to speed up ...
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3
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Can a switch hitter change positions during an at bat?
Just thought about this while playing wiffleball earlier. During a baseball/softball/wiffleball game, can a switch-hitting batter just switch positions in-between pitches during an at-bat or when he ...
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How is WAR defined as a baseball statistic?
WAR (wins above replacement) is a statistic that is often used to describe the value of a baseball player's performance in a given year.
How is this statistic determined?
What are the differences ...
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1
answer
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Are there any rules in baseball which prohibit teams from "borrowing" players via trade?
Every season near the trade deadline, we see teams that are out of it trading expensive players and/or free agents-to-be, typically for younger players or prospects. For example, Matt Garza, set to ...
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Are there any notable cricketing baseballers or baseball-playing cricketers?
Are there any attempts (in history or today) of top-level baseball players (cricketers) having a shot at "higher-level" cricket (baseball) (and perhaps succeeding in some sort of way)? I do not mean ...
user1564
10
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1
answer
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Switch-Pitcher versus Switch-Batter
A Switch-Pitcher is pitching (Can pitch with the left or right arm).
A Switch-Batter is at the plate (Can bat from the left or right side).
In the MLB, who is forced to choose what side they are ...
- 527
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Use of the designated hitter (DH) in the MLB
With the Houston Astros moving to the American League starting in 2013, each league (National and American) will have an even amount of teams (15). As a result, the debate regarding designated ...
user527
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3
answers
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What does the stat WHIP in baseball mean?
Can someone please explain to me what the statistic "WHIP" means in the game of baseball?
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2
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What is a balk?
I am a casual baseball fan, and by that I mean exclusively watching through Jomboy breakdown videos.
In a recent video Manager WANTS a balk to be called, a breakdown, he starts off with saying:
We've ...
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2
answers
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MLB no-hitter resulting in loss
According to Major League Baseball an official no-hitter consists of a pitcher having pitched at least 9 innings while allowing 0 hits.
In MLB history has a team lost while having a pitcher throw an ...
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1
answer
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Is this a legal way to tag-up and run faster?
Scenario:
With 1 out and a runner on third-base, the batter hits a sacrificial fly ball to right field, enabling the runner to head for home.
Traditionally, the runner sits on third until the fly is ...
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What is BABIP in Baseball, and what does it tell us?
How does one get a high/low BABIP? Is this statistic for hitters and/or pitchers? What does a high/low BABIP mean?
Definition: BABIP = (Hits - Homeruns) / (At Bats - Strikeouts - Homeruns + ...
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New York Yankees logo
There seems to be 2 logos for New York Yankees. The rightmost one seems to be the official one. How about the leftmost one?
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Why was Kansas City denied home field advantage in the 1985 ALCS?
In 1985 home field advantage in the league championship series was done on a rotating basis. In the American League it was East even years, West odd years. Why where the Royals denied home field ...
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3
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Can a baseball player stop at a base after a home run?
Suppose a player needs a triple to complete the cycle. In the ninth inning, the player hits a solo home run. Suppose that the game is a blowout, has no postseason implications, and so on such that the ...
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2
answers
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Preventing a player from playing a specific position via suspension
In Major League Baseball, any player can play any position. This seems to be the main reason a Pitcher is suspended with the same standard suspension as a position player. This despite a pitcher's ...
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Has there ever been an MLB game where the only hit was an inside-the-park home run?
Has there ever been a one-hitter MLB game in which the hit is an inside-the-park home run?
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Has there ever been a zero-pitch save?
It occasionally happens that a pitcher will earn a save by throwing one pitch. For example, he is brought in with two outs in the ninth and a two-run lead, and his first pitch is popped up.
In ...
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3
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Why do pitchers sometimes pitch "out of the stretch?"
My understanding is that this is done in critical situations, as when there are opposing men on base, usually more than one.
Is this true and if so, why is that? Is it to increase the chances of ...
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runner in scoring position batting average
Is "runner in scoring position" batting average a meaningful statistic?
I am simply a casual fan, but here is my logic. Either one of these universes is reality:
1) when there are runners in ...
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Are there times when you can "recycle" a player in baseball?
In baseball, unlike basketball or football, once a player is removed from the game, he can't be put back into the same game. That is (probably) to prevent a repetition of matchups.
Example: Late in ...
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