Baseball is "America's pastime" and is the only sport where the defense is in control of the ball. The team on offense designates a batting order at the start of the game and then sends one player at a time to the batter's box. The pitcher completes a series of pitches while the batter attempts to hit the baseball and reach first base safely.
Batting Order
Before the game, at the plate meeting between the coaches and umpires, each coach hands the umpire a lineup card. The lineup card indicates the batting order for the rest of the game. Each player will remain in the same position in the batting order unless a substitution is made, and then the replacement player will assume the same position in the lineup. If a team bats out of order, the opposing team can challenge to the umpire and the player shall be declared out.
Batter's Box
Before the game begins, the grounds crew uses chalk to draw a rectangular batter's box measuring 4 by 6 feet. While at bat, the batter must assume position in the batter's box with both feet inside the chalk lines. Once the batter is in the box, he may not step out of the box before calling "time." If the batter leaves the box early, the umpire shall call a strike. When a batter contacts the pitch while outside the box, he shall be declared out.
Strike Out
Strike outs occur after the third strike is recorded on the batter, and the defense is awarded an out. The most common strike outs take place when the pitcher throws a third strike and the batter doesn't swing, or when the batter swings and misses a pitch for the third strike. Other strike outs include when a third strike gets past the catcher but first base is occupied with less than two outs, or when the batter bunts the pitch into foul territory on the third strike.
Equipment
According to MLB Rule 1.10, the bat shall not be more than 2 3/4 inches in diameter and no more than 42 inches in length. Pine tar may be used on the bat handle to improve grip, but may not extend more than 18 inches from the end of the handle. Each batter must wear an approved batting helmet with double ear-flaps while at bat and running the bases.
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