Baseball is a game of big hits, big plays and memorable moments. It is also a game of rules. Those rules determine the number of players that can be on each team, the number of players on the field, when a runner interferes with a fielder and the proper way for a pitcher to deliver the baseball.
Number of Players
In major league baseball, a team may have 25 players on its roster from opening day until Aug. 31. From Sept. 1 until the end of the regular season, teams may play 40 players on the roster. All teams that are involved in baseball's postseason must return to a 25-man roster at the start of the playoffs. All major league baseball teams play with nine players on the field at the positions of pitcher, catcher, 1st base, 2nd base, 3rd base, shortstop, left field, center field and right field. American League teams use a designated hitter to bat for the pitchers. The designated hitter cannot be used to bat for any other player.
Interference and Obstruction
Baseball players have the right to field the baseball and run the bases without being impeded. However, collisions occur with some regularity and rules determine right of way and whether the fielder or the runner has to get out of the way on an impending collision. A fielder that is about to catch a pop fly, ground ball or line drive has the right to field the ball. If he is in the middle of the base line, the runner still has to get out of the way. If the base runner makes contact with the fielder and prevents him from making a play, the umpire calls the runner out and can also call a double play if the impact prevented the fielder from making an attempt at that play. If a fielder who is not involved in a play makes contact with a base runner, the fielder is guilty of obstruction. In this case, the umpire can award the base runner a base (or more if he sees fit).
Pitching
A pitcher must deliver every pitch by starting from a slab of rubber on the pitcher's mound. A pitcher may deliver the ball from a full windup or the stretch position. Most pitchers use a full windup with nobody on base or the bases loaded and pitch from the stretch position when runners are on base. Pitching from the stretch position allows the pitcher to throw to a base to keep a runner close. Pitching from a windup means the pitcher must come home and cannot do anything to stop the runner from taking a big lead and stealing. If a pitcher attempts to throw to first base from the windup, a balk is called and the runner gets awarded second base.
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