Unit 4 Baseball palyers, positions and rules

Pitcher

stands in the center of the diamond and throws the ball for the batters to try to hit. The pitcher is the key person on the team, and can pitch from a windup or a set.
A pitcher must have one foot on the rubber when pitching Failure to do this is called a balk, and all base runners are allowed to advance to the next base

Wind Up Pitch

stand on or directly in front of and touching the rubber with your toes pointing toward home plate. Then, take one step toward the plate and throw the ball toward the catcher.

set Pitch

stand on or directly in front of and touching the rubber, with your toes pointing toward the side and your arms apart at your sides. This is called the stretch, and here you may make any natural preliminary motion you wish. Then, you must bring your arms together in front of your body, with a slight stop. After such a pause, you may then step toward home and pitch

Fast Ball

• Most common pitch. AKA heater, smoke, big dog.

• Effective Most of the time

• Grip the ball with your index finger and middle finger across the widest part of the baseball. Hold the ball in your finger tips and release it with your thumb down and two fingers pointed toward the batter. The ball should roll off your two fingers with a backspin, causing it to move upward as it flies toward the batter.

Curve Ball

• a pitch that drop sharply with a sharp rotation as they reach the plate making batter swing above them

• Hold the ball deeper in your hand. Release it with your palm up, and a twist of your wrist, with your thumb toward the batter. This creates a sidespin, which causes the ball to break away from the batter.

Change-Up

thrown to look like a fast ball but arriving much slower to the play. Used to interrupt batter’s timing

Slider

cross between curve and fast ball. A good slider breaks faster and later than a curve does

Knuckle ball

A wild ball that can break into any direction suddenly in the air.

• This is a very difficult pitch to deliver. Press the ball against knuckles of two or three of your fingers with your thumb, and deliver it with the motion of a fast ball

Screwball

A screwball breaks in the opposite direction of a curveball (Towards the batter), hard on pitcher’s arm

Rules For Pitcher

• 1 The pitcher may not intentionally pitch at the batter.

• 2 The pitcher may not deface the ball in any way.

• 3 A pitcher who decides to throw to a base must step off the rubber and step directly toward the base to which the ball will be thrown.

• 4 The penalty for an illegal pitch is that the umpire will call a “ball” for the batter.

• 5 A manager or coach may visit the pitcher on the mound only once during an inning.

• 6 Pitchers and substitute pitchers must complete pitching to at least one batter (or until the side is retired) before they can be replaced, unless they are injured.

• 7 The pitcher is allowed eight warm-up pitches before each inning. Relief pitchers get the same courtesy during a game.

Catcher

The catcher crouches behind home plate and receives the ball from the pitcher. Positioned behind home plate, the catcher can see the whole field, and therefore, is in the best position to direct and lead the other players in a play.

Catcher 2

The catcher typically calls the pitches by means of hand signals, and needs to be aware of both the pitcher’s abilities and strengths and the batter’s weaknesses. the catcher wears protective equipment including a mask, chest protector, knee pads, and an extra-thick glove

Catcher Rules

• 1
  The batter is awarded a base(s) when the catcher interferes with the batter.

• 3
  Third Strike Rule: Under this rule, three strikes do not always make an out. If (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two outs, and in either case the catcher drops the third strike, the batter is not out, but may run. The catcher may try to pick up the ball and throw to first for the out. If there is a runner on first base or it is not the third out of the inning, then the rule does not go into effect. The reason for this is to ensure that the catcher won’t drop the third strike pitch on purpose to set up a double play.

Batter

How to Choose bat

comfortable in hands and able to swing the bat while keeping it leveled.

Grips For batter

• full length: bottom hhand on knob
  most power but least control

• modified: bottom hand inch up from knob

  balance of control and power

• chocked up: bottom hand a hand’s width from knob

  good control at expense of power

Swing for batters

ALWAYS KEEP EYE ON BALL.

Pivot your hips, sholders and arms

Designated Hitter

In the National League, every player who plays a position on the field must bat, including the pitcher. In the American League, a batter may be picked to hit and run the bases for the current pitcher or for any other pitchers who later enter the game. This batter is called the designated hitter and must be listed on the lineup card before the game.

Batter Rules

1 - be in order

2 - strikes: crosses plate in strike zone (kneecap to waist and sholder) foul strike (only count for first and second) touches batter in strike zone
3 - cannot leave batter box

4 - ball calls (i was too lazy to write this go read slides)
5 - batter cannot use illegal bat (other reasons for call out in slides)

(6 next card)

7 - awarded base when a hit is made, batter is hit by pitch, four balls.
8 - player on first base and batter gets hit, the player on first can go to next base

In field fly rule (batter)

an infield fly is a fair fly ball that can be easily caught by an infielder. The batter is called out for hitting an infield fly when there are fewer than two outs and there are runners on first and second, or first, second, and third.t

pinch hitter

batter who replaces another batter

Pitch runner

player who replaces a base runner

Infielders

first base, second base, short stop, third base

OutFielder

left field, center field, right field

OUT calls

Right fist is clenched, arm is raised. This signal should be made without hesitation.

SAFE call

Both arms are extended in front of the body, palms down. The position should be held long enough to be seen by players, managers, and other umpires.

TIME call

Arms are extended above the head, palms out. This position is held until the ump is satisfied that the signal has been seen and observed.

STRIKE call

The right arm and hand are moved outward from the body and at least waist high.

BALL call

just called vocally