Baseball is a game of excitement with big hits, big rallies and great pitching performances. However, baseball is also a game of rules. If you are a player or a manager and you don't understand all the rules of baseball, it's going to affect your ability to be an effective participant in the game.
Basics of the Game
In a game of baseball two teams with nine players in the field compete for nine innings. The team with the most runs at the end of those nine innings wins the game. A run is scored when runners touch first, second and third base before going home. Teams get three outs in an inning before taking the field. Outs are recorded when batters hit fly balls, line drives or pop ups that are caught, hit ground balls to the infield and get thrown out at first base or when batters strike out. In American League Baseball (ALB) games, a designated hitter may bat for the pitcher. The designated hitter does not play the field and the pitcher does not bat.
Fair and Foul Ball
A ball that goes past first or third base and lands in fair territory is a fair ball. A ball that starts off in foul territory and rolls into fair territory before it reaches first or third base is also fair. If a ball goes past first or third base in fair territory and then goes foul, is fair as well. However, if a ball flies past first or third base in fair territory and then lands in foul territory, it is a foul ball.
Interference and Obstruction
If a base runner collides with a fielder who is attempting to make a play, the umpire can call the runner out for interference. If the fielder was going to have a chance at making a double play, the umpire can award two outs. If a fielder who does not have a play on the ball gets in the way of a runner on the base paths, the umpire can call obstruction and award the base runner one or two bases, based on his judgment.
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