Baseball is an all-time bat-and-balls sport, played between two competing teams, usually of nine players each, who take turns fielding and batting. The game usually continues until a player on your team, designated the pitching team, throws a ball that a player on your team, also designated the catcher, attempts to hit with his bat. If he successfully hits the ball, the player now becomes an active part of the game and you are no longer “playing” baseball. You score runs when you get on base, and your opponents earn runs when they field the ball and run it into a home plate.
In most professional baseball games, there are two teams who play each other. One team plays the game in a “home” stadium, while the other team plays in “away” stadiums. Most baseball games are played for three innings, at most, which means that a total of forty-two (42) minutes is available for play. During the middle of the innings, a winner is declared if the team with the most runs wins. The game is normally completed after three innings but, in some cases, the game is played to extra innings, making the total duration of the game reach forty-eight minutes. In the American League, a winner is declared immediately at the end of the third “inning”.
Batting: In baseball, each player is allowed to have two “positions” during a game. When a position change is made, it must be announced out loud and then returned to their normal position. Then, that player can again begin to play at that spot. The last position a player may occupy is their primary position ( outfield, second base, or first base), but they may “pitch” from any spot on the diamond (some leagues allow them to “play” from the grass). After all offensive positions are switched, the teams switch gears and the game is completed.
Pitcher: A pitcher is in charge of the fate of a baseball game. Unlike baseball’s other positions, a pitcher does not have to actively participate in the play. They do not “throw” the ball, they do not hit the ball, and they do not field the ball. Instead, a pitcher must wait until he receives an “out” from either a hitter or a qualified hitter, then he must leave the game.
Positions: In addition to the five primary positions listed above, there are numerous minor league positions and hybrid positions throughout baseball. First basemen generally don’t play in the field, but instead act as the team’s designated hitter. Second basemen usually catch and throw the ball, while relievers are usually either fielders or bench warmers. hitters do not wear pants to relieve themselves of excess fat; instead they wear rubber core shoes.
Batting: Baseball plays without bat in it, just the ball. Batters try to hit the ball with their bats, hoping that it will “break” and go “out” like a baseball “strike.” The bat is what hits the ball. Baseball is not a “softball” game; it is a “hitting” game.