Explain The Mysteries of Baseball To Me

I started following the Cubs last summer and am now hooked. I have learned a lot about things that were previously dark mysteries to me, but there are still a few things I can't figure out from context:

1) What does "pitching out of the stretch" mean?
2) Why is a batter allowed to run to first if his third strike gets away from the catcher?
3) How come in the National league they are allowed to use pinch-hitters but not designated hitters?

And, for any Cubs fans listening on 720:

How come Pat always disappears for half of the 6th inning? Is he reading the paper on the can, or taking a smoking break, or what?

Thanks in advance,

The Plaid Adder

1) What does "pitching out of the stretch" mean? With men on base the pitcher needs to watch 1st and be able to throw there so he doesn't do his full wind up kick thing. They stand kick and throw. why its called the stretch i don't know

3) The national league voted not to follow the Americans in the use of the DH back when it happened. pain in the butt come World Series and many like me wish the DH would go away. It bings some good hitters out but its not the real game.

edit: added #3

1. When runners on are base the pitcher will not take the traditional big wind up to throw his pitch because that gives the runner time to steal the base. So, he shortens his delivery to the plate. Why it's called the stretch? Who knows?

2. I dunno. It's been a rule since day 1, though.

3. Because the American League wanted to be different and thought that more offense would bring fans. Get this, the National League plays baseball. The American League is baseball-like. Pitchers are baseball players, and hence should bat. Oh, and the AL uses pinch hitters, too, just not for the pitcher.

I'm hitting alert. Clearly you're an infiltrator.

:evilgrin:

I actually bought Will's Book "Men At Work". It's a terrific baseball book. I recommend it for anyone looking to learn more about the game.

...and a total asshole as a pundit. It's too bad he couldn't get himself a full-time job as a sportswriter and spare us all the pain.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

But I do like to watch the pitchers try to bat. Some are so inept that it's almost comical.

And every once in a while one will whack a double or homer, and it's pretty exciting just for the wonder of it all.

Plus, without a DH the manager really has to earn his keep. I love to watch the mental wheels turning in the late innings of a close game.

He should stay with what works for him. He should restrict himself to baseball history, and possibly being the stunt-double for Dennis the Menace's dad.

Woohoo! 700 Club!! :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce: :party:

I always thought it was because of the pitcher's 'starting position' being the leg opposite the pitching side advanced toward the batter, while the other's on the rubber, i.e., 'stretched'. While you stare down the runner, you know.

2) It would be considered a wild pitch, the ball would still be in play

3) The National League really just chose not to use the DH, a pinch hitter is more a strategic roster move than the DH, who, in the AL, is really just a permanent offensive replacement for the pitcher, since for some reason, pitchers cannot hit the damn ball.....

By the way, I can relate to Cubs fan, I'm a Red Sox fan myself, at least I have the Patriots:-)

Otherwise, the catcher could intentioally drop the ball and have an easy double play.

While the batter is automatically out in this situation, the runner is free to advance, at his own risk

...to play a childs game. That's the real secret.

n/t

The batter can advance to first, if he swung at strike three and the catcher couldn't hold onto it.

Why? I don't know, George Foster who used to play for the Reds and Mets, was once booed for swinging at a wild pitch strike three. (Back before steroids, he once hit 50 homers in a season.) The fans wanted to see him hit the ball. I thought it was a pretty heads up play myself.

The DH rule has long been asource of contention, it is done to increase the number of runs in a game supposedly to make it more interesting. However it takes a lot of the strategy out of the game making it more boring IMO.

You rarely see a double switch in the AL.

Hit the ball
Catch the ball
Run the base
Throw the ball
Steal the base
Strick out
Walk
Yawn

Hit the ball
Catch the ball
Run the base
Throw the ball
Steal the base
Strick out
Walk
Yawn
Adjust jock strap

Traditionally, when there are baserunners, it's the responsibility of the pitcher (and, to some extent, the catcher) to "hold" the baserunner, or prevent him from getting a big enough "lead" off the base to gain an advantage in advancing. When there are no baserunners, the pitcher can take a full "wind-up" with impunity. When there are baserunners, the pitcher goes into a "stretch", where he spreads his arms apart, then brings his hands together at his midriff. At this point, the picher may begin a throw to a base to keep the runner honest, or a pitch to the plate. Any motion begun towards the plate with any part of the body must be completed without interruption in a pitch to the plate, or the umpire can call a "balk", and all the runners move up one base.
BTW, Adder, if you managed to stay awake through this mind-numbing tutorial...AWESOME EDITORIAL THIS WEEK.:bounce::bounce: you hit a "GRAND SLAM" :bounce: I'm senting copies to all my brain-dead relatives. THANK YOU

My partner wants to know why they spread their arms apart first.

Thanks,

The Plaid Adder

Nowadays it's kind of an abbreviated version of a "stretch"--basically it's just coming to a set position before a pitch is thrown or a throw to first.

It keeps the defense from pulling the catcher and putting an extra defender on the field on two strike counts. I guess some manager early in baseball tried to pull a fast one, and this was the response.

thats interesting

I used to know that but I haven't watched for a few years.

If there are runners on first and second with less than two out.
Prevents the fielder from intentionally dropping the ball and getting an easy double play by frocing the runners at second and third.

"A routine fly ball that can be played by an infielder" what about it? I am really feeling dumb here, did you leave the end of the sentenc off or something?


"If there are runners on first and second with less than two out.
Prevents the fielder from intentionally dropping the ball and getting an easy double play by frocing the runners at second and third."

What prevents it? what is the rule?

Sorry for the omission.

Most baseball rules actually make sense.

In this case, with a pop fly to the infield, the runners must stay close to their base to prvent being doubled off when the ball is caught. With more than one runner forced to run on a fair ball that is not caught in the air, and less than two out, the possibility remains for the fielder to intentionally drop the ball, forcing both runners to advance, leaving plenty of time for a double play. The reason it requires runners on at least first and second is that its assumed the batter has time to reach first base, and it is the runners that are in jeopardy. Thus, the umpire signals the batter out, and the runners are free to remain where they stand.

The same logic is applied to a dropped third strike. If there is a runner on first with less than two out, the catcher would be able to intentionally drop a third strike, forcing the runner at first to advance, creating an opportunity for a double play. Therefore, the batter is only allowed to run to first base on a dropped third strike if there is no runner on first, or if there is, if there are two out.

He said none of your business. Maybe it is hard to get to the bathroom from the radio booth. Ron has diabetes, so maybe he needs more breaks.

Where does Pat go? I dunno. Probably pulling some tubes.