 Batting
Each plate
appearance consists of a series of pitches, in which the
pitcher throws the ball towards home plate while a
batter is standing in the batter's box. With each pitch,
the batter must decide whether or not to swing the bat
at the ball in an attempt to hit it. The pitches arrive
fast, so the decision must be made in less then a
second. This decision is largely based on whether or not
the ball is in the strike zone, a region defined by the
area directly above home plate and between the batter's
knees and underarms. In addition to swinging at the
ball, a batter who wishes to put the ball in play may
hold his bat over home plate and attempt to tap a pitch
very lightly; this is called a bunt.
On any pitch, if the batter swings at the ball and
misses, he is charged with a strike. If the batter does
not swing, the home plate umpire judges whether or not
the ball passed through the strike zone. If the ball
passes through the zone, it is ruled a strike;
otherwise, it is declared to be a ball. The number of
balls and strikes thrown to the current batter is known
as the count.
If the batter swings and
makes contact with the ball, but does not put it in play
in fair territory—a foul ball—he is charged with a
strike, except when there are already two strikes. Thus,
a foul ball with two strikes leaves the count unchanged,
though a ball that is bunted foul with two strikes
always counts as a third strike.
On the third strike the
batter is declared out, a strikeout; on the fourth ball
the batter is entitled to advance to first base without
risk of being put out. This is called a base on balls or
walk. If the batter puts the ball in play in fair
territory, he becomes a baserunner, and must get to
first base safely. A batter always drops his bat when
running to first base—the bat otherwise would slow him
down and also be a danger to fielders. |
