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 many earned runs in this scenario?
The pitcher walks 3 batters to start the inning. Infield in, the next batter hits it to right field and the fielder makes and error and all 3 runners on score. Man on second, no outs the next batter ...
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Teams losing games despite scoring runs
How many times has an MLB team lost a game after scoring 10 or more runs?
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Baseball - Reaching by Fielder's Choice
Nobody out. A Runner is on First Base. The next Batter hits the ball on the ground, and the Fielder gets the lead Runner out at Second Base, the Batter taking First Base. The same bases situation as ...
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2
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Question about Baseball and Runners Left On Base (LOB)
Runners at first and second. Two out. The next batter is out at first.
Runners advanced during the play.
Which bases were the LOB Runners considered to be left on? 1st and 2nd, or 2nd and 3rd?
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Can a base runner steal during an appeal play?
Can a player steal a base during an appeal play of another runner missing a bag?
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34
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Teams winning games despite issuing numerous walks
How many times has an MLB team won a game after issuing 12 or more walks?
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82
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Do I need to tag runner while standing on the base?
I am new to baseball, really love it but for me as European the rules are bit unclear. I am confused by this video of Javy Báez. From what I understand as Javy is running back to home plate another ...
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1
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69
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Three-batter minimum and rain delays
There seems to be a longstanding belief that, if a pitcher has warmed up and/or begun to pitch, but then there is a long rain delay, that he should be replaced after the delay instead of continuing to ...
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118
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Batted ball hits bat again in the box
The batter squares to bunt and makes contact with the pitch. The ball bounces in front of home plate. The ball then bounces up and hits the bat again. Both feet of the batter are still in the box. ...
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2
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70
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Cut-Blocking the Catcher
A runner on second base rounds third after the batter singles to center. About 20 feet from home, out of the corner of his eye he notices a perfect throw to the opposing catcher. The runner puts on ...
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Does a manager ever warm up two pitchers with the same handedness?
When a manager comes out to the mound to signal to the bullpen, he will simply motion with his left or right hand, indicating the throwing hand of the pitcher he wants.
Have there ever been two of the ...
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Why did the Diamondbacks cut Madison Bumgarner?
In case you didn't know, Madison Bumgarner was a starting pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks. I heard that the team had cut ties with him after designating him for assignment. I did some research ...
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Pitcher with limited arsenal gets figured out too quickly, how can they become less predictable and effective?
Suppose as a pitcher I have a three-pitch arsenal (e.g. fastball, curveball, slider) and I play the position of relieving pitcher. I've noticed that my pitching style becomes repetitive due to my ...
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152
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How Can a Fielder Make a Force Out in Baseball?
In baseball, when a runner is forced to advance to first base and a fielder catches the ball, the fielder can make a force out by touching the base with their feet when getting the ball. They can also ...
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465
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When did each MLB team officially beat all the other teams in the regular season?
I would assume, after 25+ years of inter-league play with 30 teams, pretty much every team has beaten every single other MLB team. To take a sample pairing, Cubs vs. Blue Jays, we have 16 games, which ...
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Pickoff fake a throw disengaged
If a pitcher fake a throw to a base is he considered disengaged? So technically then could he fake a throw to first base?
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Winning pitcher when tied
I have read the rules and threads but I am still unclear about this situation
The home team starting pitcher leaves the game after 6 innings leading 3-2. The relief pitcher comes in at the 7th. The ...
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1
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Can a runner run back to their original base during a stealing base?
Can a baserunner run back to their starting base in a stealing base situation?
R1 steals legally 2B and 3B but then he wants to come back ti 1B, is legal ?
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Can a runner run back to their original base on a forced play?
I have a question about baseball rules:
forced play, R1 goes in 2B, BR in 1B > R1 misses 3B can he retreat to
3B and after to 2B? And BR can retreat, after is on 3B, to 1B?
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Can a runner run back to their original base after missing the latest base?
I have a question about baseball rules:
R1 go to 3B base, R2 missed 3B, so R1 retreat to 3B and R3 touches 3B, in this case R2 can retreat to 2B and R1 can back to 2B or even 1B?
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2
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768
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Can a runner run back to their original base?
I have a question about baseball rules:
R1 starts on 1B and goes to 3B legally, now, until the play has finished, I mean pitcher on the mound, can R1 go back to his starting 1B first base ?
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2
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387
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How does a ball that gets embedded in the outfield wall be handled?
If the ball gets embedded in the outfield wall, what is the ruling?
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146
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What happens if the leading baserunner misses a base?
What is the correct ruling in the following situation?
Runners on first (R1) and second (R2)
Batter gets a hit and is out before reaching first (fewer than three outs)
R1 and R2 advance; R1 touches ...
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0
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51
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Does the Mets stadium apple rise for inside-the-park home runs?
Any time a Mets player hits a home run at Citi Field (or previously at Shea Stadium) the home run apple in center field rises. Does this happen for inside-the-park home runs as well?
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How to record an injured players automatic out
The player was injured while not at bat. Unfortunately there were not enough players to have a pinch hitter when the injured player was scheduled to bat the next inning. The team was required to ...
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1
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66
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Rule on runner safe at home interfering with thrown ball lodged under him
Little league game (15U):
Fewer than 2 outs.
A ball is batted into infield.
A runner from 3B goes home and slides head/hands first just as a fielder throws the ball to the catcher.
The throw is low ...
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2
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216
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Would the hidden ball trick from the movie Little Big League be legal in the MLB today?
The classic baseball movie, Little Big League, has a hidden ball trick.
Would a play like this be considered legal in the MLB? Or is this a balk or another rule ...
Zach♦
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Runner missed bag on first and is tagged on second
The ball is hit to right center field, the runner misses first base while rounding it and goes on to be safe at second.
We tell the umpire about the missed base, and instruct our player to tag them on ...
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1
answer
72
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Lowest career WAR for a 2-time+ all-star?
Of all MLB players who have made the all-star team at least twice, who has the lowest career WAR?
Is there a way to answer this question with baseball-reference or mlb savant? Or do you have to write ...
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2
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59
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When Does An Unappealed Illegal Run Become Legal?
Visitors are down by one run in the top of the ninth with one out and runners on second and third bases. The batter hits a scorching line-drive down the right-field line. The runner on third comes ...
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1
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163
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Can an outfielder leave the ballpark?
I was watching a baseball game and saw the outfielder partially climb the wall in the outfield to try and rob a homerun. This made me wonder: can an outfielder climb over the outfield fence and stand ...
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Why does a catcher throw to the third baseman after strikeout?
I saw a baseball catcher throw to the third baseman after each strikeout.
Is there any particular reason for this?
Is it just a custom?
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answer
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Why do baseball players wear belts?
Baseball players wear pants with a belt.
But I really don't think it is the most appropriate or comfortable attire for playing baseball.
Is there any particular reason for this?
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If a player is optioned out 3 times and brought back 3 times how many options did he use up?
A player was optioned to the minors 3 times and brought back 3 times. How many options did he burn?
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What happens if a runner tries to score a double then goes back to his first scored base?
What happens in the following case:
A batter hits the ball and it touches the ground.
They run and touch first base.
Thinking the ball is far enough, they begin advancing to second base.
However they ...
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How should this be ruled?
Little league baseball. No outs runners on 2nd and 3rd. Batter hits fly ball to outfield that is caught, runner from 3rd doesn’t tag up and crosses home plate. Runner from 3rd heads into the dugout. ...
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1
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What is a 'stud defender' in baseball?
I found an expression 'stud defender' in this article about the shift in MLB
The team must designate two infielders for each side of second base and they cannot switch (for example, a team can't have ...
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How are bad-acting umpires dealt with in baseball? And what happens to the games they umpired for?
I was surprised to learn that, according to Rule 8.02a, umpires basically have free rein to make calls.
My question is: If an umpire consistently makes verifiably wrong calls, or is overly aggressive (...
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Elo-like metrics that replace ERA/BA/OBP that account for the strengths of the pitcher/batter?
In Chess, the standard metric is Elo, which weighs losses against "bad" players more heavily than losses against "good" players. Same for the opposite scenario (winning against bad ...
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411
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How are broken bats dealt with in baseball (MLB in particular)
If the batter Bob hits a pitch, and his bat breaks on the hit, how is that dealt with?
In particular, I'm concerned with 4 scenarios:
the broken piece of the bat just flies off, apparently affecting ...
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1
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52
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Rules about/against runners interracting with the ball in baseball?
Say Bob is up to bat, Peter is pitching, and Ryan is a runner on 1st base (part of Bob's team).
Scenario #1:
If Bob the batter hits the ball into Ryan the runner, what happens? Is Ryan out, or do ...
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540
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What is the functional hierarchy of a baseball team?
Background: I don’t know very much about or watch any sports. But I’m interested in systems analysis and was trying to apply it to a baseball team.
From my understanding, the functional hierarchy is:...
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Is there any data on how successful runners are at stealing third base with right-handed vs. left-handed batters?
According to an article, between 1998 and 2002, base runners successfully stole second base 69% of the time, and they successfully stole third base 72% of the time.
It might seem that it should be ...
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Is this a Little League balk?
My friend is a Little League coach. His team was in the field. There was a runner on third.
The pitcher intentionally did not step on the rubber. He then faked a pitch to home and threw the runner ...
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1
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How should a play where the batter-runner misses first base on a double be scored?
The batter hits a fly ball double to center, but the runner does not touch first. The defense appeals and the batter is out 8-4-1-3.
How is the play scored? As a single with an out advancing, or just ...
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129
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Why do baseball fields have 'dirt' warning track?
I understand that baseball fields have warning tracks for the safety of the outfielders running to the fence.
Then I wonder why they are made of dirt rather than grass?
Grass in a different color ...
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4
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Is it possible for a batter to be at bat twice in a row?
Is there any situation that makes it possible for a single player to have two consecutive at bats for their team? I was imagining this could happen by the batter getting on base, and then being ...
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1
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333
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2 outs with bases loaded, runner misses second
This happened the other day in a game I was watching.
There were 2 outs with the bases loaded. The batter hit ball over the left fielder's head. He reached the 3rd base, and 3 runs scored. The ...