baseball- first base

[perturber]

What are the 7 ways to get on first base in baseball? Or is it 8?

[astorian]

1) Base hit
2) Walk (base on balls)
3) Reach base on an error
4) Fielder's choice
5) Get hit by a pitch
6) Run to first after catcher drops third strike
7) Get awarded first base for fielder's interference

Those are the ones I can think of- if I've missed any, some genius will gleefully point them out!

[Phlint]

8) Hit a home run, stop and stand on first base while waving to fans for a moment, then continue on your merry way around the diamond.

[kaylasdad99]

9) Sitting in the movie theatre, raise both arms high in the air, as though you're enjoying a good yawn and stretch, and bring your arm down around your date's shoulders.

Oh, wait. It said baseball, didn't it?

Okay, how's this?

At the baseball stadium, raise both arms hign in the air, as though you're ...

[dougie_monty]

From the original Straight Dope book, Page 299:
Rule 7.05 (h): If the pitcher, throwing to a base to catch a runner, or pitching to the batter, throws the ball "into a stand or bench, or over or through a field fence or backstop."
Rule 7.05 (i) If a pitch, on ball four or strike three, passes the catcher and gets stuck in "the umpire's mask or paraphernalia."

[divemaster]

Pinch runner

[Uncommon Sense]

Does a balk just advance the runners already on base? or does the batter get awarded first base too?

[astorian]

Originally posted by whuckfistle
Does a balk just advance the runners already on base? or does the batter get awarded first base too?

The batter doesn't go to first base on a balk. All baserunners advance one base, but the batter doesn't go anywhere.

[Jackknifed Juggernaut]

I think that the baserunner gets awarded 1st base if the pitcher blows on his hand while standing on the rubber (without permission from the umpire). Am I right? If so, why do pitchers throw 4 pitches when they're intentionally walking somebody? Shouldn't they just blow on their hands?

[Polycarp]

Jackknifed Juggernaut, it is the option of the pitcher to choose to throw balls or strikes. And it is the option of the batter to choose whether or not to swing.

Even in the circumstance where the pitcher is throwing the ball 30 inches wide of the plate for an intentional walk, he must still deliver the ball four times, because the batter has the right to attempt to swing at that ball and hit it.

I believe there have been a couple of cases where sluggers being intentionally walked stepped towards the pitch-out ball, swung and connected, and got home runs out of it. Some SABERmetrician Doper may have specifics on this; I have only the memory of its supposedly having happened.

[mazzer]

Polycarp, your response doesn't really address Jackknifed's question. And yes, batters (not just sluggers) do sometimes step out and whack an intentional ball. It's not that uncommon, although it's usually for a base hit, not a home run. (Think about trying to hit a home run off the end of your bat with arms stretched out and on your tip-toes.) It happened at least twice in the 2002 season.

As for the OP, the saying is "What are the seven ways a batter can reach base without getting a hit?" They are:

1. Walk
2. Hit
3. Fielder's choice
4. Error
5. Catcher drops ball on third strike
6. Catcher's interference
7. Pinch runner

[mazzer]

#2 should be "Hit by pitch," of course.

[A Monkey With a Gun]

chriszarate the question says without getting a hit, so your # 2 should be "hit by pitch".

I think astorian had it right

[A Monkey With a Gun]

Guess I should of previewed.

Sorry, chris

[ZenBeam]

What about stealing first from second? Not that you'd want to, but it'd be legal, wouldn't it?

[BobT]

It is illegal to deliberately run the bases backward.

From Rule 7.08(i)

(i) After he has acquired legal possession of a base, he runs the bases in reverse order for the purpose of confusing the defense or making a travesty of the game. The umpire shall immediately call "Time" and declare the runner out;

[dtilque]

Originally posted by dougie_monty
From the original Straight Dope book, Page 299:
Rule 7.05 (h): If the pitcher, throwing to a base to catch a runner, or pitching to the batter, throws the ball "into a stand or bench, or over or through a field fence or backstop."
Rule 7.05 (i) If a pitch, on ball four or strike three, passes the catcher and gets stuck in "the umpire's mask or paraphernalia."
A couple years ago, that original column was updated: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000818.html

It turns out those are not different ways to get to first base. Instead, they are restrictions on the movement of the batter-runner (a player between the time his at-bat is done until he is put out or the play ends).

[mazzer]

... or making a travesty of the game. The umpire shall immediately call "Time" and declare the runner out;That should be a general rule.

[Hail Ants]

What the heck does "Fielder's choice" mean? And I thought a balk just counted as a ball?

[divemaster]

A fielder's choice means that in the opinion of the official scorer, the batter would have been out if the fielder would have attempted a play on the batter. In this case, the fielder had an easier play to get an advancing runner thus getting the out that way.

A "fielder's choice" ruling ensures that a batter doesn't get credited with a base hit undeservedly.

[hajario]

Originally posted by chriszarate
1. Walk
2. Hit [by pitch]
3. Fielder's choice
4. Error
5. Catcher drops ball on third strike
6. Catcher's interference
7. Pinch runner

Couldn't #5 be two different ways?

5a: Passed ball on third strike
5b: Wild pitch on third strike

Haj

[divemaster]

Also, a balk just advances the baserunners. There is no effect on the batter or the batter's count. If a pitch was delivered to the plate and the umpire has called a balk, it is not counted as an official pitch.

As far as blowing into the hand goes, on cool/cold days, the umpiring crew will often make it known it is okay for a pitcher to do this without penalty. Absent this assurance, if a pitcher goes to his mouth with his hand (whether he blows on it, licks it, or whispers sweet nothings to it), the umpire can call a "ball" for the batter. Not "balk." "Ball." At least, that's the only result of this situation I've seen.

[Hail Ants]

the batter would have been out if the fielder would have attempted a play on the batter

Um, I'm not a huge sports fan but I do occasionally watch baseball and I still don't get this...

[BobT]

Fielder's choice simplified

Batter Jones comes up to bat with runner Smith on first base.

Batter Jones hits a ground ball to the second baseman Johnson.

Johnson opts to tag out runner Smith at second instead of throwing out batter Jones at first base.

Batter Jones is safe on a fielders choice.

There are many variations on this.

[Hail Ants]

Soooo.... That wouldn't count as a base hit for Batter Jones?

[hajario]

Originally posted by Hail Ants
Soooo.... That wouldn't count as a base hit for Batter Jones?

No. It would be a Fielder's Choice. The fielder could have thrown Jones out but decided to tag out Smith instead. After Jones' at bat, the situation is the same (man on first) but there is an additional out. It's up to the Official Scorer to decide if Jones should have gotten a hit or fielder's choice.

Haj

[BobT]

The Fielder's Choice ... in Official Rules speak.

Rule 2.00 (Definitions)


FIELDER'S CHOICE is the act of a fielder who handles a fair grounder and, instead of throwing to first base to put out the batter runner, throws to another base in an attempt to put out a preceding runner. The term is also used by scorers (a) to account for the advance of the batter runner who takes one or more extra bases when the fielder who handles his safe hit attempts to put out a preceding runner; (b) to account for the advance of a runner (other than by stolen base or error) while a fielder is attempting to put out another runner; and (c) to account for the advance of a runner made solely because of the defensive team's indifference (undefended steal).

[cleops]

Regarding the slugger reaching an intentionally thrown "ball"--I thought the hitter had to remain in the batter's box.

[RickJay]

Originally posted by Hail Ants
Soooo.... That wouldn't count as a base hit for Batter Jones?
No. In fact, Jones is credited in his statistics as having made an out as a batter, just as if he had been the one thrown out.

Note that this generally only applies if a runner is made out before he can reach the next base. If Jones hits a ground ball, and Smith at first is forced out at second, that's a fielder's choice.

However, if Jones were to smack a ball into the outfield and Smith advanced to second, and then Smith tried to take third base as well and was thrown out there, Jones would be credited with a base hit. A fielder's choice literally means the fielder had an immediate choice between the batter and another baserunner.

[Telemark]

When a batter hits an infield popup, there's something that prevents the fielder from dropping the ball, thus forcing a runner to run, tagging him out and throwing to first for a put out. Thus getting two outs where there should have been only one. Is this an application of Fielder's Choice?

[hajario]

Originally posted by Telemark
When a batter hits an infield popup, there's something that prevents the fielder from dropping the ball, thus forcing a runner to run, tagging him out and throwing to first for a put out. Thus getting two outs where there should have been only one. Is this an application of Fielder's Choice?

No. That is the Infield Fly Rule.

Haj

[mazzer]

Originally posted by cleops
Regarding the slugger reaching an intentionally thrown "ball"--I thought the hitter had to remain in the batter's box. He does. Those rare situations when a batter hits an intentional ball occur when a pitcher, either through carelessness or error, does not throw far enough off the plate to make it unreachable. The batter has to lean way out to make contact, but his feet remain in the batter's box.

[Telemark]

Originally posted by hajario


No. That is the Infield Fly Rule.

Haj

Hrmm, but why choose such a confusing name.

;)

[Polycarp]

Here's Jackknifed Juggernaut's post, broken apart.

I think that the baserunner gets awarded 1st base if the pitcher blows on his hand while standing on the rubber (without permission from the umpire). Am I right?

Divemaster addressed this part, to which I didn't know the answer. My post was in response to:

If so, why do pitchers throw 4 pitches when they're intentionally walking somebody? Shouldn't they just blow on their hands?

As for the last question in that, I suspect that there is probably some rule about intentionally doing a violation of the rules in order to set up a situation you want to have happen. (As in, you cannot intentionally blow on your hands to "walk" Joe Sluggard, power hitting catcher, who last stole a base in Little League, attempting to set up a double play -- you must do a pitchout and hope he doesn't try and succeed in hitting it out of the park. My hunch is that instead of merely imposing the penalty for blowing on one's hands in such a situation, not only would Joe be awarded first but the pitcher would be ejected for intentionally and grossly violating the rules to set up a situation advantageous to his team.)

[mazzer]

Originally posted by Jackknifed Juggernaut
If so, why do pitchers throw 4 pitches when they're intentionally walking somebody? Shouldn't they just blow on their hands?
Originally posted by Polycarp
As for the last question in that, I suspect that there is probably some rule about intentionally doing a violation of the rules in order to set up a situation you want to have happen.
Actually, it's the same question. Think of it as: "Why do pitchers throw 4 pitches to walk somebody when they could just blow on their hands instead?"

There's no rule as you describe, but what would probably happen is that the umpire would get extremely pissed at the pitcher for being smart-ass/cute, and the strike zone would get noticeable smaller for the rest of the night. Players know that only bad thing happen when you show up the umpire or violate the spirit of the game.