How many innings must be played in baseball to constitute an officail game?
534728
Five innings must be played to constitute an official game -- four and-a-half if the home team is leading at the time.
197819
The offical rules are here\n\nhttp://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/foreword.jsp
401741
Here are some basics:\nBaseball is a game between two teams of nine players each, under direction of a manager, played on an enclosed field, under jurisdiction of one or more umpires.\n* 9 innings, each inning has a top & bottom with 3 outs each, the visiting team is first at bat.\n* 4 bases the one where the catcher stands is called home. Counter-clockwise from home there are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.\n* each pitch can count as a ball, strike, foul ball, hit, homerun. \n   -3 strikes=1 out\n   -4 balls = player at bat walks to first base, \n   -1 foul ball = 1 strike if strike count is less than 3. Otherwise it doesn't count. There are "foul lines" marked on the ground, if the ball lands outside of the territory marked by these lines the hit is considered a foul ball. If a foul ball is catched before it hits the ground it is an out.\n   -a hit ball is an out if it's catched before it touches the ground. If the ball hit the ground it can get a player out if it reaches the base before the player.\n   -Homerun, the ball leaves the park in the area marked between the foul lines. All the players in the bases (including the player at bat) get to score a run and they HAVE to walk through all the bases (from the base each currently stands on to home)\n* You can steal base -> run from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd while the ball is being pitched to home.\n* Players on the field and on the bases can be switched around as many times as desired. \n* Usually you get starter pitchers and closer pitches.\n* In baseball 1 run difference is enough to win the game. If it is the 9th inning, and the home team is winning once the visiting team has its 3 outs the game is over. If the game is tied and it is the last inning, the home team turn and there is a run scored the game ends regardless of outs.\n\n***** Once you get a basic understanding of the game you have to start watching some games to get a better grasp of it. Most tv stations broadcast the city's home team games. There will be some things you don't get, ask your BF about them. Specially in pitching there are many different ways to pitch a ball and you can get to identify them once you watch tons of games. \n\n***** ALSO - find out the team your BF is going to be playing with, read about them, which players they have, who's their best player, their stats, their standings, etc.. Checkout the MLB website for team sites. http://mlb.mlb.com\nFind out if there are any teams out there with famous rivalries (NY Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox). For most of the teams the official website will give you tons of usefull information and stats.\n\n* The MLB site also has an explanation on all the stats that are kept for the different positions. For the pitchers the ERA is the most important: Earned Run Average (ERA): Multiply the total number of earned runs by nine, and divide the results by the total innings pitched. (also explained in detail on the MLB website)\n\n* The MLB has a very easy graphical explanation on Baseball basics (select from the left hand side menu) http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/baseball_basics/on_the_field.jsp\n\nEnjoy the game!!!
1001449
Ten to twelve dozen balls are delivered to the umpires by the home team prior to each game.\n\nBefore the game, the sheen is rubbed off the balls with a special mud MLB purchases. These balls are to be used for the game.\n\nIt's not unusual for 100+ of these balls to be used in the game.\n\nHere is a quote from the link shown in "source"\n"on a velvety cool Friday evening at PNC Park, the Pirates and Brewers used 104 balls, which is about 15 fewer than in a typical home game, according to Pirates equipment manager Roger Wilson." \n\n\nhttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05142/508... \n\n*Yahoo Ask has incorrect information regarding this topic\nThink about it! Just counting foul balls in the stands the ball count could easily get to 7-10? per inning some innings + the umpire supplies a new ball to each pitcher to start each half inning.
765418
Confusing, but from the rule book:\n\nPlay shall be resumed promptly following each intermission upon the expiration of fifteen minutes and thirty seconds (15:30) (or seventeen (17) minutes for nationally televised games) or a length of time designated by the League from the completion of play in the preceding period. Timing of the intermission commences immediately upon conclusion of the period. (See Rule 40(b) -- Game Timekeeper.) Preliminary warnings shall be given by the Game Timekeeper to the Officials and to both Teams five (5) minutes and two (2) minutes prior to the resumption of play in each period and the final warning shall be given one (1) minute prior to the resumption of play to enable the Teams to start play promptly.
315445
it has nothing to do with which pitch was hit out, and only the home team can hit a walk off home run.\n\nA walk off home run is a home run hit by the home team in the bottom of the 9th inning (or in extra innings) that wins the game. \n\nIt's called a walk off home run because the teams walk off the field after the play, because the game ends at that point.
990982
Baseball, also know as "hardball" is where the game is played with a smaller ball, and the pitcher throws the ball overhand.  The second difference, and ofter forgotten, is that the base runners can leave the base to steal at any time they choose.  Also, "leading off", or standing off the base is allowed.\n\nSoftball uses a ball with a larger diameter, and the pitcher throws the ball underhand.  \n\nThere are 2 types of pitching styles allowed in softball.  First, "Fastpitch" softball allows the pitcher to wind their arm over up and over their head and pitch the ball in straight line.  Speed is the focus on pitching.  The strike zone is the same in baseball, which is throwing the ball over the plate, above the batters knees, and below their elbows.  As for base running, the runner must stand on the bag until the pitcher releases the ball towards home plate.\n\nThe second is "Slowpitch", where the pitcher throws the ball underhand,  up in the air towards the batter, and must reach an arc between 9 to 12 feet.  Different then "fast pitch", a strike is called when the ball "falls" and hits the plate, and a 1 foot extension on the back of the plate.  \n\nFor base-running in "slowpitch", a runner can not leave their base until  the ball crosses the plate.\n\nLastly, in Professional Baseball, you have 9 innings.  In Softball, you only have 7 innings.\n\nI also think in baseball you can do a lot more spitting :)
336475
Hello,\n\nSoftball Rules Simplified   \n\nTHE GAME\n\nThere are 9 players on a softball team. \nThe playing field is divided into the infield and outfield \nThe lines between the bases are 60’ apart and when joined they form a “diamond”, inside the baseline is known as the infield \nOutside the baseline but inside the playing field is called the outfield. \nAny ball going outside the 1st or 3rd base line is a foul ball ( runners can not advance and the batter gets another try unless the ball was caught in the air, which translates to an out) \nAn official game is 7 innings (a inning is when both teams have had their turn to bat) \n\n\nPITCHING\n\nThe pitcher must have both feet on the pitcher’s rubber and can only take one step forward while pitching. \nThe ball must be thrown underhand. \nBoth hands must be on the ball at the start of the pitch. \n\n\nBATTING\n\nBatters must follow the same order throughout the whole game \nThe batter is out if and when: \na) three strikes have been called\n\nb) a fly ball is caught\n\nc) the batter does not stand in the batter’s box\n\n\nBASE RUNNING\n\nRunners must touch each base in order \nRunners may overrun 1st base only, all other bases the runner may be tagged and called out if they are off the base. \nRunners can not lead off a base, they must be on base until the ball as left the pitcher’s hand \nAfter a fly ball has been caught the base runner must tag the occupied base before advancing to the next base \nOne base runner can not pass another base runner that is ahead of them. \nStealing a base is not permitted \nA runner is out if: \na. they are tagged with the ball before reaching a base\n\nb. the ball gets to 1st base before the runner\n\nc. they run more than 3 feet out of the base line to avoid being tagged\n\n\nTERMS:\n\nBall- a legally pitched ball that does not enter the strike zone (four balls equals a walk) \nGrounder- A ball that is hit on the ground \nForce out- when the runner has to advance to the next base to make room for the following base runner. \nFly ball- ball hit up in the air to the infield \nOn deck- the next batter \nPop up- ball hit up in the air to the infield \nStrike- term used when a ball is swung at and missed or is called when the ball enters the strike zone and is not swung at all. \nStrike zone- the ball passes the batter over the plate between their chest and knees  \n\nSreekar.
996605
Technically, if they call the game over then it must remain over. You can reverse a call but not once the game has ended. Imagine going back to the Hurricanes and OSU championship and reversing the interference call, thats not legal now. In the words of Yogi Berra, "It aint over, til its over"....So when its over its over. Its like digging up a dead person. You cant bring them back to life. Those umps suck !
626694
There really are no standardized rules for the pitching machine. They are local adaptations of established rules.\n\nMost would have the ball become dead, batter is awarded first base, and all runners advance one base(although some advance the runners only if forced).
552220
The rule's purpose is to ensure that at least one defensive player fields the ball cleanly in order for that team to record an out. Because each team is alloted only 27 outs per regulation game, it is not enough that the offensive player is unsuccessful in order for an out to be made; a defensive player must make the play.
1075445
Six.  1) Hit, pick off.  2) Hit, pick off. 3) single. 4) single (1st & 2nd) 5) single (bases loaded).  6) batted ball strikes runner, runner is called out.  The play is at the discresion of the official scorer as to whether to call it a hit or an out.
669216
That scenario would count.  According to the rules (4.10):\n\n(c) If a game is called, it is a regulation game:\n\n(1) If five innings have been completed;\n\n(2) If the home team has scored more runs in four or four and a fraction half innings than the visiting team has scored in five completed half innings;\n\n(3) If the home team scores one or more runs in its half of the fifth inning to tie the score.
1107229
The Major League Baseball season has been 162 games long for each team since 1961 (American League) and 1962 (National League). For the four-plus decades prior, the standard season length was 154 games. This page is about the evolution of the season schedule since Major League Baseball began.
390595
I think it's when the pitcher comes in with a 3-run lead or less, or perhaps when the lead is 4 and there are runners on base. Let me check.....\n\n============================================================\nEDIT: OK, here is some info:\n\nRule 10.20 credits a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions: \n(1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and \n(2) He is not the winning pitcher; and \n(3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions: \n(a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or \n(b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces); or \n(c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.\n============================================================\n\nI guess if the reliever pitches the last 3 innings and came in up by 4 (and didn't blow the lead), then he can earn a save.
259934
walk\nhit by pitch\nstrikeout wild pitch\nerror\nfielder's choice\ncatcher's interference
1185376
WIN:\n(1) Pitcher must pitch at least 5 innings.\n(2) Pitcher must pitch all of next half inning to qualify if team takes lead after 5 innings. (i.e. if home team takes lead in bottom of 6th, the pitcher must get all 3 outs in top 7th in order to win)\n***if not, the pitcher who gets the final out gets the win.***\n\nLOSS:\n(1) When leaving the game, pitcher's team is losing or was responsible for the winning run (as in he left with a man on base)\n\nSAVE:\n(1) The last pitcher to pitch for the winning team, but cannot be the winning pitcher.\n(2) Either enters the game with a lead of no more than three and pitches a full inning or gets the final out with the tying run on base or at the plate or he pitches for the three last innings.\n\nHOLD:\n(1) Relief pitcher enters the game in a save situation, and leaves with the game still in a save situation.