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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Would Henderson Alvarez have gotten credit for a "perfect" game if the score were still tied 0-0 after nine?
Henderson Alvarez of the Miami Marlins pitched a "perfect game" over the tops of nine innings. Going into the bottom of the ninth, the score was tied 0-0, but Miami scored a 1-0 walk-off with a wild ...
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How does a multiple player trade work?
Team 1 begins by going to Team 2 and offers X for Y.
Team 2 counters by saying, I don't think X is as valuable as Y, so I want X and Z for Y. That would be a "two for one."
Team 1 says, I don't ...
Nij♦
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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 ...
CommunityBot
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Can a (baseball) ace's record be improved by his "pitching out of sequence."
Most teams will use their best starter for Opening Day, the second best on the second day, etc. through the rotation.
Except when other factors intervene; for instance, the White Sox ace Chris Sale ...
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Particularly unconventional fielding positioning in baseball/softball
I have never seen fielders in positions that would hardly be recognisable as the "standard" positions, and probably for good reason. (I mean a positioning where a casual observer might have difficulty ...
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Does a run count if it's made after an unforced out? [duplicate]
scenerio: runners on second and third, two outs. Ball hit to shortstop who immediately tags out the runner going from second to third. This happens before runner gets to first and before runner from ...
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Cricket bowling versus baseball pitching speed?
How do cricket bowlers deliver the ball at generally same speed as baseball pitchers inspite of a run up? How much do the following factors play in: different balls (is the baseball more aerodynamic ...
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MLB Opening Easter Sunday
In 2015, MLB Opening Day was on Easter Sunday. How many times has this happened in the history of the Major Leagues (counting either the American League and the National League, when they were more ...
CommunityBot
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Most home runs in first n games of the season
Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers has now hit 5 home runs in the first 3 games of the 2015 season.
Is this a major league record for most home runs in the first 3 games of a season?
In ...
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Batting the pitcher 8th
I've seen some managers bat their pitchers 8th. Tony LaRussa was one of the more noticeable ones. Is this move statistically sound? Why or why not?
Ignore cases like Dontrelle Willis early in his ...
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Squeeze play: Is it harder to prevent score than it appears?
In a spring training game last week there was a runner on third when the ball was bunted to a spot just off the baseline midway
between home plate and first.
The pitcher retrieved it quickly and ...
Joe♦
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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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Can MLB players negotiate their contracts downwards?
Consider the case where a player is signed to a contract and the amount he is due far exceeds his value. He no longer has a starting job on his team and would like to be traded, but other teams won't ...
CommunityBot
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Pitchers as MVP
Many argued, especially after Clayton Kershaw's amazing run this year that got him the NL MVP award, that pitchers should not be eligible for the MVP award as they don't even play most of the games. ...
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Are baseball game-winning hits off the bench becoming more common?
It seems that every day a player comes off the bench with runners in scoring position for a game-winning hit. Are these walkoffs in baseball becoming more statistically common? They are usually ...
Joe♦
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Placing a base runner on the wrong base after a mound visit
Situation:
There is a runner on first base and the defense decides to have a
mound visit or change their pitcher.
The offensive players group up to talk about strategy and the coach tells the player ...
Joe♦
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Is a base runner out if he back pedals to first base to avoid a tag in a double play situation? [duplicate]
There came a situation in one game where there was a runner occupying first base (R1) and third base (R3), with one out. The batter then hits a ground ball to the left of the second baseman. He fields ...
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In baseball, what is the "inside corner"?
When I listen to baseball games, announcers will mention that pitches are on the inside corner. Presumably, the inside corner of the strike zone.
What I don't understand is that the strike zone, to ...
CommunityBot
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Why is it called a "payoff pitch"?
A pitch on a full count (3-2) is also known as a "payoff pitch". I assume it's because the at-bat usually ends there (pays off), but it seems to preclude a foul ball.
In fact, i just heard "the ...
CommunityBot
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Has any baseball team used a "platoon" for fifth starters?
A pitcher can be either left- or right handed, but the better ones pitch reasonably well to both left and right handed batters. When you get to the fifth starter on the roster, however, many teams are ...
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Is it possible for baseball teams to use draft picks in trades?
The Toronto Blue Jays took away catcher Russell Martin in free agency from the Pittsburgh Pirates after the Pirates made Martin a "qualifying offer" As a result, the Blue Jays lose a first-round ...
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Is the 25 game suspension for Chris Davis too much?
Chris Davis just got a 25 game suspension for violation of the MLB's drug program for use of Adderall. He had a medical exemption in the past, but for whatever reason did not have one this year.
I ...
CommunityBot
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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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Why do players and some parent coaches tell the pitcher "you are only just a pitcher,you're not really a baseball player"?
I was very surprised by a comment from an assistant coach in charge of the pitchers. First night for my son in a new club, first night of trials for division 1. The group of pitchers were told "...
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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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Historic statistics
I've noticed baseball announcers, during an at-bat, using information on lifetime at-bats for the specific batter-pitcher combination. Have these statistics been extended into the past, to answer ...
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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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Who qualifies for a "save" in this example?
The starter left after five innings with a one run lead. (Actually, he was "pulled" after letting the first two batters on base in the sixth.) A reliever comes on, "strands" the two inherited runners ...
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Why do Baseball players cover their bats?
In Baseball, why do the batters waiting to go and bat have some kind of cover on their bat? It's not a full cover, it just seems to be something that goes around the thick part of the bat. It looks ...
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Is there any advantage to playing two home games versus one away game in a "tiebreaker?"
The baseball season is coming to a close, and with several clusters of closely matched teams, "tiebreaker" rules are coming into consideration, especially for three teams with identical records ...
Joe♦
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Why are there so many pitcher types in baseball?
I understand when the various types of pitchers come on: starter, middle reliever, setup, closer.
But if the starter was good enough for 6 innings, why not similarly have one pitcher pitch all the ...
Joe♦
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Can a runner be on base in baseball when it is his turn to bat?
I don't know if this is actually possible based on 3 outs in an inning, but is it possible to be on base when it is your turn to bat? If so what happens to your at-bat.
Scenario would be lead-off ...
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Are more runs scored in the seventh inning due to the "changeover"?
I have been told that more runs are scored in the seventh inning of baseball games than any other inning.
The reason would be the "changeover." If the starter is still pitching the seventh inning, it'...
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How do (National League) managers decide when to "pinch hit" for their pitchers?
You're in the top of the seventh inning with a 1-1 tied score. Your starter has thrown about 80 pitches, meaning that he's good for at least one, maybe two, more innings. Your bullpen is tired, but is ...
CommunityBot
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Before the season began, what odds did Vegas give the Orioles of winning the AL East in 2014?
Looking at various websites' pre-season predictions for the major league baseball teams, many at places like ESPN and MLB.com had the Red Sox and Rangers doing very well and the Orioles typically out ...
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What are the dynamics of trading one veteran for several prospects?
This question can be answered for any sport, but the one I understand best is baseball.
The Phillies' GM Reuben Amaro made a statement that prospects were overvalued in the marketplace, which is to ...
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Why might a batter wear a leg brace?
Watching an MLB Gameday live lookin today (7/6, NYM@CIN), I noticed Brayan Pena of the Reds batting with a leg brace. He singled, and removed the brace at first brace?
Why might someone do this?
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How far apart are the bases in non-major league games?
I was recently at a single-A baseball game, and I'm not a great judge of distance, but I wasn't sure that the bases were a whole 90 feet apart.
How far apart are the bases in the minor leagues, and ...
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Baseball runner called out but still runs like he was safe drawing a throw allowing another runner to advance
Here is the situation. Runners at first and second nobody out. Grounder to second throws out the runner going to second. Called out clearly by the umpire. The relay to first for the double play is ...
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Does tying up a glove help break it in?
My brother decided that in order to help break in his baseball glove, he would put a ball inside and tie the glove closed. Does this actually do anything?
(Note: An experiment with this isn't really ...
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Who would hear a protest in an Inter-league game?
In a game between the Chicago White Sox and the San Francisco Giants on 8/13/2014, the White Sox manager was ejected for arguing the application of the newly-clarified rule that a catcher may not ...
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How does arbitration work in baseball?
First, my understanding is that they use professional labor arbitrators, not people with a strong specific knowledge of baseball. So "old" metrics, hits, runs, RBIs and ERAs count for more than on ...
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Is a balk scored differently from a "base on balls?
Let's say you have men on first and third. The batter draws a "base on (four balls), and goes to first. The man on first is "pushed" to second, but the man on third stays where he is, because there is ...
Joe♦
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What's the purpose of making a "below slot" high round draft pick?
This question applies to Major League Baseball, where teams have an "allowance" on which they can spend for players in various slots.
In the first round, the Pittsburgh Pirates surprised many people, ...
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How would you score a hidden ball trick?
If the defense runs a hidden ball trick on a base runner and gets him out, how would it be officially scored? How about a scenario:
The defense meets on the mound where the second baseman is given ...
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Would a catcher have an advantage batting against a former teammate pitcher?
When a pitcher and a catcher play together on the same team, the catcher ends up being able to spot pitches much better than he would against a pitcher he was familiar with. (This can be seen in the ...
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Spectators involved in play
In baseball, if a fielder reaches into the stands to attempt a catch, a spectator has an equal right to try to catch the ball.
Is there any difference if the fielder is reaching over the fence into ...
CommunityBot
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Can you play baseball more or less defensively?
In football (and I'm sure many other sports) if you're a goal down, you can push up with more attackers, and put more pressure on the opponent to try and get a goal back. If you're leading by a goal ...
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Why are baseball parks allowed to be be so different?
A football field has exactly 100 yards between to "end zones" of a specified size, and a specific width. Likewise, the dimensions of a soccer field, hockey rink, tennis or basketball courts are highly ...
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How does a three team trade work?
Now that we are approaching the MLB trade deadline, I would like to ask some questions about unusual trades. The first is about three team trades.
Suppose a manager of team A goes to the manager of ...
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