Top Rules of the Game Baseball Moms Need to Know

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Not every mom is a life-long baseball fan and thus doesn’t know all of the baseball rules. Becoming a fan may change as your son begins playing the game though. Most moms understand the basics of baseball, but some of the lesser-known rules will come with time. To help with that, we’re covering the basics and the lesser-known rules for any baseball mom to understand. Keep in mind, the rules may change based on the league and age of your player.

Basics of Baseball

In this article, we’ll cover the basics before delving into some of the nuances of the game. The game starts with having 2 teams of 9 players. A standard game will have 9 innings, though little league and select baseball will likely have fewer innings as the boys are still learning the game.

Each inning will be divided into halves: top and bottom. The defensive team (home team) will take the field in the top half of the inning while the offensive team (away team) bats. This gives the home team the advantage of allowing them to bat last in each inning.

Basic Baseball Rules:

• Objective: Score more runs than the opposing team.
• Innings: Each team will get a chance to bat (offense) and a turn to play the field (defense) in each inning.
• Positions: When playing the field there are 9 positions that need to be filled and every player will bat.
  • 1) Pitcher (P)
  • 2) Catcher (C)
  • 3) 1st Base (1B)
  • 4) 2nd Base (2B)
  • 5) 3rd Base (3B)
  • 6) Shortstop (SS)
  • 7) Left Field (LF)
  • 8) Center Field (CF)
  • 9) Right Field (RF)

Playing the Game:

• Starting the Game: The Pitcher will throw the ball (pitch) to the batter at home plate from the pitcher’s mound. Depending on the age of the players and the league rules, the distance between the pitcher’s mound and home plate will differ.
• Batting: The batter will try to hit the ball and will attempt to get to first base before the ball gets to 1B. Runners advance counterclockwise around the field. The runner can continue to round to the other bases, but if the ball makes it to the base before the batter, the batter is out. After the team at bat has 3 outs, the teams will trade places. The defensive team will move to bat and the offensive team will move to the field. This will start the next half of the inning.
• Strike Zone: This is an area around home plate that a pitch can be thrown. The strike zone is the width of home plate and the area between the bottom of the batter’s knees to their arm pits. If the batter doesn’t swing or doesn’t get a hit, it will be considered a strike. Keep in mind, younger teams may have a larger strike zone as kids are learning to pitch and hit.
• Fielding: The team in the field will try to get the batter or those already on base, “out” by getting caught at the base or being tagged out.
• Scoring: A run is scored when a runner crosses home plate.

Balls, Strikes & Outs:

• Balls: If the pitcher throws outside of the strike zone, a ball will be called. If the batter has 4 balls, they will automatically advance to 1B. For any runners already on base, they too will advance to the next base.
• Strikes: When the batter swings at the ball and misses, a strike is called. If the batter has 3 strikes, they will be called out.
• Outs: Each team gets 3 outs for their turn at bat. Batters and runners on base can be called out by striking out when batting. They can also be called out if they have a hit get caught or by being tagged out when running the bases.

Baseball Plays:

• Double Play: This play results in 2 outs in a single play.
• Triple Play: A play which results in 3 outs in a single play, is referred to as a triple play.
• Home Run: If a ball is hit outside of fair territory without touching the ground, it is a home run. When a home run is hit, all players on base as well as the batter will advance around all of the bases.
• Grand Slam: If a home run is hit and there are runners on 1B, 2B and 3B (bases are loaded), it’s a grand slam.
• Sacrifice Bunt: A bunt meant to advance the runner, while sacrificing the chance to reach 1B is a sacrificed bunt.
• Hit and Run: This occurs when a baserunner starts to run with the pitch and the batter attempts to make contact with the ball. This is typically a strategic play.

Other Basic Baseball Rules:

• Stealing Bases: Depending on the league rules, runners can attempt to steal bases. To steal, the baserunner will need to start running once the pitcher has thrown the ball and get to the next base prior to being thrown out.
• Foul Balls: A ball hit in foul territory will be called a strike. However, a batter cannot strike out on a foul ball. Any foul balls after the first 2, will not be counted as a strike. After 2 strikes from foul balls, the batter will continue at bat until they either get on base or have struck out.
• Getting Hit by a Ball When at Bat: If the batter is hit by a ball when at bat, the batter can advance immediately to 1B.
• Walk-off Hit: This is a game-ending hit which results in the home team winning the game in their final at bat.
• Extra Innings: Extra innings may occur when there is a tie at the end of the game.

Pitching Terms:

• No-Hitter: When a pitcher completes a game without allowing any hits, it’s a no-hitter. This is a big accomplishment for a pitcher.
• Perfect Game: If the pitcher faces a minimum of 27 batters and none of them are able to reach 1B, it’s a perfect game. This is another huge accomplishment for the pitcher. In this instance, it’s also a huge accomplishment for the team not allowing any hitters to reach the base.
• Balk: A balk is an illegal pitching motion when the pitcher is on the mound and hasn’t yet delivered a pitch. It involves deceptive movements intended to deceive runners. For example, pretending to throw to a base without actually doing so or making a motion to pitch, but not delivering the ball.

Nuances of the Game

There are several nuances that a lot of baseball moms may not be familiar with. With the list below, an explanation is detailed for each of those nuances.

Play Baseball Rules:

• Infield Fly: This rule is designed to prevent infielders from intentionally dropping a pop fly to create a double play. This can occur if there are fewer than 2 outs and runners are on 1B and 2B or the based are loaded. If the fly ball can be easily caught, the umpire can declare it an infield fly. When this happens, the batter is automatically out, regardless of whether the ball is caught. Runners can advance, but if caught, they must tag up (return to their original base) before attempting to advance.
• Infield Fly with 2 Outs: If there are 2 outs and the infield fly rule is called, the batter isn’t automatically out. The runners can be tagged out though and if they don’t advance, the batter will be out as well.
• Dropped Third Strike: This occurs when the catcher doesn’t catch the third strike. When this occurs, the batter can attempt to reach 1B before being thrown out.
• Ground Rule Double: If a fair ball bounces over the outfield fence or gets stuck under the fence in the outfield, it’s ruled a ground rule double.
• 6+4+3=2: If your son has played baseball for any length of time, there’s a good chance you’ve seen or heard reference of this. This occurs when the SS (Position 6) fields the ball, throws to 2B (Position 4), who in turn gets a double play by throwing to 1B (Position 3). The result of this play is 2 outs, thus 6+4+3=2.

Other Baseball Rules

• Designated Hitter (DH): In some leagues, a designated hitter is allowed to bat for the pitcher. This can be used strategically to get more runs.
• Pitch Count: Most little league and select baseball teams have a pitch count that is a number of pitches set by their league & based on their age group. This is done to ensure pitchers aren’t throwing too many pitches and risking injury.
• Substitutions: Teams can substitute players throughout the game.
• Courtesy Runner: In youth baseball, if the pitcher or catcher gets on base when their turn at bat, a courtesy runner can replace them to allow them to get ready for the next inning.
• Pinch Runner: If a player is injured during their turn at bat, the team can use a substitute runner who is deemed to have reached the base the injured player would have reached.
• Interference by Fans: A spectator who interferes with a live ball, may result with the umpire penalizing or awarding bases, based on their judgment.
• Rain-Shortened Games: A game that’s called due to rain before becoming official, will be replayed from the beginning. This is typically after 5 innings but may have different rules based on the team’s age group and the league rules. If it’s official, but tied, it can be resumed later.

Summary

With time, baseball moms will begin to see and understand all of the rules, plays & nuances of baseball. It’s important to note, the team’s league may have their own set of rules and regulations. Those rules and regulations may supersede some of the rules in this post.

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