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Baserunning

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	Topics Baserunning Topic Home In baseballBaseball Baseball is a team sport popular in North America, parts of Latin America, the Caribbean, and East Asia.... , baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat. In general, baserunning is a tactical part of the game with the goal of eventually reaching home to score a run. In fact, the goal of battingBatting (baseball) In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team.... is generally to produce baserunners, or help move baserunners along. Runners on second or third base are considered to be in scoring positionScoring position Overview In the sport of baseball, a baserunner is said to be in scoring position when he is on second or third base.... since a normal hit, even a single, will often score them. Part of the goal of a runner and a batter is to get the runner into scoring position. Becoming a runner For any baserunning to occur, a batter must initially become a baserunner. Listed in decreasing order of frequency, this happens when: he hits a fair ballFair ball In baseball, a fair ball is a batted ball that has not yet become a foul ball, and that...... , he receives a base on ballsBase on balls In baseball statistics, a base on balls , also called a walk, is credited to a batter and against a pitcher when a ba... , he is hit by a pitchHit by pitch In baseball, being hit by a pitch refers to the batter being hit in some part of the body by a pitch from the pitcher.... , a third strike is not caught or is dropped by the catcherCatcher Catcher is a position played in baseball.... , providing first base is unoccupied or there are two outs, or the catcher or any fielder interferes with him The batter-runner The term batter-runner is used in official terminology to identify an offensive player from the time he puts a fair ball into play (thereby ceasing to be a batter) until the end of the play he initiated, whether the play results in the player being put out or becoming a runner by legally attaining first base or any subsequent base. The term is generally not applied if the batter hits a foul ball or to a player awarded first base, e.g., for a base on balls. Running the bases A runner who is touching a base which he is entitled to occupy 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 (i.e., a fly ball) and caught by the defending team, runners must return and touch the base they occupy—called tagging upTag up In baseball, to tag up is to retouch or remain on the runner's time-of-pitch base until the ball is first touched by a field... —after the ball is legally caught. Once they do this, they may attempt to advance at their own risk. On a ball that touches the ground in fair territory, if there is a forceForce play Overview In baseball, a force is a situation when a baserunner is compelled to vacate his time-of-pitch base--and thus try to advance... , runners are required to run. Baserunners may attempt to advance at any time while the ball is aliveLive ball (baseball) In baseball, when the ball is alive, the game can proceed.... , even before or while the pitcherPitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each pla... is throwing a pitchPitch (baseball) In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play.... . The catcher—or pitcher, in lieu of delivering the pitch—often tries to prevent this by throwing the ball to one of the infielders in order to tag the runner. This pick-off attempt is usually unsuccessful in tagging out the runner but is effective in keeping the runner closer to the base. If the runner is tagged out while diving back to the base, it is called a pickoffPickoff A pickoff is an act by a pitcher, throwing a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder would tag out a baserunner who is ei... . If the runner attempts to advance to the next base but is tagged out before reaching it safely, he is caught stealing. A successful attempt by the runner is called a stolen baseStolen base In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering t... . If a pitch gets away from the catcher, runners may also try to advance. This may be a wild pitchWild pitch In baseball, a wild pitch is charged to a pitcher when a pitch is too high, too low, or too wide of home plate for the catch... , if the pitcher is held responsible for the ball getting away, or a passed ballPassed ball In baseball, a catcher is charged with a passed ball when he fails to hold or control a legally pitched ball which should ha... if the catcher is deemed to be at fault. Sometimes the defending team will ignore a runner who is trying to steal a base; in this case a runner is not credited with a steal, and the base is attributed to defensive indifference. Strategy The standard dimensions of a baseball field, with 90 feet (27.4 m) between bases, generate many close baserunning plays. On one hand, an infielder who cleanly fields a ball hit on the ground, then throws it quickly and accurately, will usually get the ball to a base before the runner reaches it. However, any hesitation or mistake on the part of the fielder may allow the runner to reach the base safely. Teams that are familiar with their opposition may attempt to run when a certain player has the ball. For example, on a deep fly ball to center field with a man on second base, if the center fielder is known to have a weak arm, the runner on second base may attempt to tag up to get to third, even though that is a risky play. Baserunning and hitting are often combined to produce better results. Smart, quick base running is a key element in the squeeze playSqueeze play (baseball) In baseball, a squeeze play is a sacrifice bunt with a runner on third and fewer than two outs.... . The hit and runHit and run (baseball) A hit and run is a play in baseball where the baserunners are put in motion before the ball is hit and the batter is require... and similar plays involve baserunning. When the count is fullList of baseball jargon Overview This is an alphabetical list of selected unofficial and specialized terms, phrases, and other jargon used in baseball, and e... and there are two outs, runners with a force behind them will always run as if they were stealing, since they cannot be caught stealing: a strike is the third out, a walk entitles him to the next base, a foul is not in play, and the runner should be running on any ball hit into play. Also, good runners will often try get extra bases when a play is being made at a different base. For example, when there is someone at second and a player hits a shallow single, if there is a play at home plate, the runner who hit the single might try to get to second (though this would be scored as a single with the batter advancing to second on the throw, rather than a double). Sometimes runners can be helpful even after they are out. The most common way to do this is during a potential double playDouble play In baseball, a double play is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action.... . If a double play has begun, and the runner running to second knows he will be forced out, he will often try to aid the runner running to first base by performing a take-out slideSlide (baseball) In baseball, a slide is when a player, acting as a baserunner, drops their body to the ground once they are very close to a ... , to stop the player with the ball from throwing to first. Some versions of such a slide could be considered offensive interferenceInterference Interference is the superposition of two or more waves resulting in a new wave pattern.... in amateur competition, but this maneuver is traditionally tolerated in professional baseball. Some tag plays are so close that the slideSlide (baseball) In baseball, a slide is when a player, acting as a baserunner, drops their body to the ground once they are very close to a ... performed by the runner affects the outcome. The right type of slide with the right location might allow the runner to be safe, while a conventional slide might allow the defending player to lay down the tag in time. See Also