 Running
the bases
The goal of each
batter is to become a baserunner himself (usually by a
safe hit or a base on balls), or to help move other
baserunners along. Once a batter gets a hit, a base on
balls, or otherwise reaches base, he is said to be "on"
that base until he attempts to advance to the next base,
until he is put out, or until the half-inning ends.
Runners on second or third base are considered to be in
scoring position since ordinary hits, even singles, will
often score them.A
runner who is touching a base which he is entitled to
occupy is "safe"—he may not be tagged out. Runners may
attempt to advance from base to base on any fair ball
that touches the ground. When a ball is hit in the air,
a fly ball, and caught by the defending team, runners
must return and touch the base they occupied at the time
of the pitch—called tagging up—after the ball is caught.
Once they do this, they may attempt to advance at their
own risk.
Baserunners may attempt
to advance, or steal a base, while the pitcher is
throwing a pitch. The pitcher, in lieu of delivering the
pitch, may try to prevent this by throwing the ball to
one of the infielders in order to tag the runner; if
successful, it is called a pick-off. If the runner
attempts to steal the next base but is tagged out before
reaching it safely, he is caught stealing.
The standard dimensions
of a baseball field, with 90 feet (27.4 m) between
bases, generate many close baserunning plays. In tag
plays, a good slide can affect the outcome of the play;
even routine ground ball outs are recorded by a margin
of less than a second. In general, baserunning is a
tactical part of the game requiring good judgment by
runners (and their coaches) to assess the risk in
attempting to advance. |
