How Does Baseball Work?

[AWhoopsieDaisy]

I'm gonna try to make this super clear, I understand baseball as a game. I know it's rules, I know what teams suck and who the major record holders are. Like you could sit me down to watch a game and I'd know what the hell is going on. I play sports but I don't watch them if that makes any sense.

It's when you get into phrases like "make it to the playoffs" that I start to wonder what a baseball bracket looks like. Do teams get knocked out of that seasons tournament when they lose a game? Like getting eliminated? Does every team face eachother and someone behind the scenes run numbers and determine who makes it to the playoffs? What's the difference between major and minor leagues?

Are kiss cams a real thing? If so what point in the game do they happen? Where are the players during this time?

Do broadcasters interview players? Are there sports re-runs?

I've got a story idea I'm just hitting a brick wall with those particular questions.

 

[Emotional]

I am a baseball guru, send me a message and I will answer your questions

 

[TheRedChamber]

I'm gonna try to make this super clear, I understand baseball as a game. I know it's rules, I know what teams suck and who the major record holders are. Like you could sit me down to watch a game and I'd know what the hell is going on. I play sports but I don't watch them if that makes any sense.

It's when you get into phrases like "make it to the playoffs" that I start to wonder what a baseball bracket looks like. Do teams get knocked out of that seasons tournament when they lose a game? Like getting eliminated? Does every team face eachother and someone behind the scenes run numbers and determine who makes it to the playoffs? What's the difference between major and minor leagues?

Doesn't see where this is going...

Are kiss cams a real thing? If so what point in the game do they happen? Where are the players during this time?

Sees where this is going...

Sorry, British, I can't really help with this. Hopefully poster above can help.

 

[AWhoopsieDaisy]

Sees where this is going...

Yeah the partner of a player shows up to a game and mistakenly gets chosen for the kiss cam whilst sitting next to two complete strangers. I'm trying to figure out the logistics of the player getting to the stands in time to kiss the very shy partner. Among other things.

 

[TheRedChamber]

Yeah the partner of a player shows up to a game and mistakenly gets chosen for the kiss cam whilst sitting next to two complete strangers. I'm trying to figure out the logistics of the player getting to the stands in time to kiss the very shy partner. Among other things.

That's going to be tricky, I would have thought. Most sporting events will be set up to make it very hard for the audience to get on the pitch and I'd assume that works in reverse as well. Maybe have it at a charity or exhibition event where the set-up is less formal (though that won't help if it needs to be the play-offs)

 

[Duleigh]

Are kiss cams a real thing? If so what point in the game do they happen? Where are the players during this time?

Yes, Kiss cams are a real thing. I've noticed them mostly at indoor games like basketball and hockey. They are supposedly spontaneous, a camera picks kissing couples from the audience when it happens.

The kiss cam happens when there's nothing happen during the game. To me major league baseball is incredibly slow, but it would probably happen between innings or when pitchers change out. (I'm a fan of minor league ball, it's a much more competitive and faster atmosphere.)

During a baseball game the players can be anywhere when the kiss cam happens, on the bench, in the field, warming up in the bullpen, signing autographs at the fence, hiding from the fans. You're wide open to pick where there's at.

 

[PennameWombat]

Yeah the partner of a player shows up to a game and mistakenly gets chosen for the kiss cam whilst sitting next to two complete strangers. I'm trying to figure out the logistics of the player getting to the stands in time to kiss the very shy partner. Among other things.

I’ll leave off most of your original questions, assuming you’re making contact with MrEmotional, as offered above. You can PM me, I could answer your various questions but up to you.

As to this one. In most Major League (and most Minor League) Baseball stadiums the lowest tier of seats along the first and third base lines are only three or four feet high. In addition, seats are directly behind each team’s dugout. You can easily see this, take a look at any of the website seating guides (e.g., Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, etc.) So… it would certainly be reasonable for a partner of a player to sit just behind the dugout of the team her boyfriend plays on (in Yankee Stadium, the Yankees (home team) sit along first base, the visitors along third base.)

A kiss cam would be active during the breaks between top and bottom of an inning or between innings. They wouldn’t have it active while play is going on.

But. Most Major League teams have in recent years extended the protective netting along the base lines. It used to be that there was a fence/netting behind home plate and it only extended to the dugouts. But too many concerns around foul balls, etc., caused most teams to extend it well behind the dugouts. This is NOT meant to prevent fans from getting onto the playing field, but to prevent fouls balls, broken bats and bad throws from leaving the field and hitting fans. But it would also be a definite deterrent to your player being able to get into the stands…

Other issues. If your player’s team has gone into their fielding positions, then he’ll be a significant distance from where his partner is. He’s not getting there, not to mention he wouldn’t leave his fielding position (unless he feels like getting a royal chewing out.)

My suggestions.
- Have the girlfriend sitting in the box seats just behind her boyfriend’s team’s dugout.
- Have his team just entering the dugout during the inning change, so he’s close.
- Have the PA announcer or a specific musical cue that informs the fans it’s “Kiss Cam Time!” That way everyone looks at the big screen.
- She appears… normally the players wouldn’t pay much attention, they’d be storing their gloves and the players to be at bat would be getting their bats, coaches might have discussions… but there are always substitute players sitting in the dugout twiddling their thumbs, one of them might be watching the cam and sees the girlfriend and informs his teammate.
- In the old days, he could easily hop on top of the dugout and get to her seat. But, given the netting, that’d block him. One note. In Yankee Stadium they can lift the bottom of the netting along the dugout. So… if the Kiss Cam officials KNEW the girlfriend was there and intentionally picked her, they could’ve arranged the netting to be raised. Another option, use a Minor League team’s stadium that doesn’t have the full netting. But, many of these won’t have kiss cams…

Otherwise, nothing about this would strike me as anywhere near realistic. Your request was they chose her ‘mistakenly’ but with the netting, it’s not happening in a Major League stadium without some contrivance.

 

[DanDraper]

Do teams get knocked out of that seasons tournament when they lose a game? Like getting eliminated? Does every team face eachother and someone behind the scenes run numbers and determine who makes it to the playoffs? What's the difference between major and minor leagues?

Are kiss cams a real thing? If so what point in the game do they happen? Where are the players during this time?

Do broadcasters interview players? Are there sports re-runs?

Major League Baseball (MLB) is divided into two leagues: American League and National League. Although the leagues occasionally play against each other, the teams in each league mostly play within their own leagues.
Also, each league is divided three divisions and the top team in each division goes to the playoffs. There's a fourth team that can get into the playoffs, it's called the Wild Card team; this goes down two two teams in each League who plays a best of 3 series to take that fourth Wild Card spot.
After the Wild Card team is set, the four teams play a divisional series where two teams play each other in a best of 5 series.
The winners then go to the Championship series where the final tams play a best of 7 series to become the American League and National League Champions.
Then those two champions play each other in the World Series, again best of 7 gams, two become the World Series Champions.

Major leagues are the professional teams you will see on TV, they consist of the best players in the game.
Minor leagues teams are affiliated with the major league teams. This is where players develop their skills and play each other in hopes of getting a spot in the Major Leagues. This is also where some Major League players get sent back down to if they don't play well enough, and also where injured players who need to practice their skills before getting back into the Majors.

Kiss Cams are real, make sure you're sitting next to the right person.
This takes place between the breaks between Innings where the teams get ready to take their positions.

Broadcasters do interview players at certain points during the game.

They are mainly live events, but those events can later be replayed on TV at another time.



....

 

[gunhilltrain]

This may be useful to you. This site tries to list every sports facility that ever existed in the United States and has photos and details of those places. It emphasizes baseball venues, but it has separate sections for football stadiums (stadia?), hockey arenas, and so forth. The photos and such reveal what someone in the seats would be seeing - the architecture among other things, which can vary a lot.

https://ballparks.com/

Your story might be benefit if you were to set it a real ball park somewhere; it would give a sense of place to your story. I don't know where you live or if you have ever seen or been in any of these places. I'm guessing that you must have been in at least one of the cities where these are so you have some idea of what is outside the stadium too.

One of the photos on the site is of Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox and one of the oldest surviving ball parks (1912). One of the distinctive features of the interior is the “Green Monster” wall at the back of the left field; outside there is the Citgo sign in Kenmore Square at the far left.

https://ballparks.com/baseball/american/fenway03.jpg

 

[MillieDynamite]

I love baseball! How many ways are there for a batter to reach first base?

The answer is seven: hit, walk, error, fielders' choice, hit by pitch, a dropped third strike, and defensive interference.

 

[Amy_66]

On a slight tangent, "The Finer Points of Hockey" -- Slap Shot (Movie) 1977 -- 2:27

 

[MillieDynamite]

Best explanation of a baseball team in history

 

[lovecraft68]

Going by the decline of interest in the sport, it doesn't anymore.

Baseball looks simple, but if you really know the game its annoyingly complex.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Going by the decline of interest in the sport, it doesn't anymore.

Baseball looks simple, but if you really know the game its annoyingly complex.

Hey, baseball is important in my family! It isn't that complex, either. Baseball is a very simple concept. On offense, the goal is to take a trip from home, around all the stops (bases), and arrive at home once again. On defense and equally simple plan, keep the offense from going to home plate. Yes, in actual execution, there is some complexity, like having 7 different means of moving to first base, but it is still a wonderful game.

 

[lovecraft68]

Hey, baseball is important in my family! It isn't that complex, either. Baseball is a very simple concept. On offense, the goal is to take a trip from home, around all the stops (bases), and arrive at home once again. On defense and equally simple plan, keep the offense from going to home plate. Yes, in actual execution, there is some complexity, like having 7 different means of moving to first base, but it is still a wonderful game.

The game itself is amazing-the sheer perfection of deciding 90 feet was just the right distance between bases, but they've completely botched it over the years. The second it was decided a walk was as good as a hit, and all the new geek money ball stats invaded it, the games became boring AF. The 'quality start' now being six innings and followed by 10 relievers to close out the game blows. The steroids and other cheating scandals, especially buzzer gate, have really soured me on it.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I'm still a lover of the game. Baseball was my pops sport. He was a catcher and played as a shortstop as well. Obviously, not in the same game, LOL. Yes, there are some asterisks in the record books. Every sport has its cheaters and always will have. The walk keeps the pitcher honest and forces him to throw some strikes (other than intentional walks). I'll not boohoo the sport. We had the first legitimate breaking of the 60-homerun record this year, bye on run, but a batter who has ended many seasons near the mark.

My dad and I were upset that Huston made the world series. I have to admit they had the best pitching of any team this year. There are only a handful of pitchers that have pitched and won 3 full games in the world series. I sued to know their names. I bet my dad could tell me.

 

[Amy_66]

The key to enjoying any televised sporting event.

Invite several couples. Make some drinks... some finger food... place it on the coffee table and turn on the tele. After the first drink the gals disrobe and get together on the carpet between the TV and the coffee table. This interferes with the guys watching the game and piques their interest. Soon everyone is naked on the floor, sofa, and overstuffed chair. Keep the sliding glass door locked if you have a balcony.

 

[SimonDoom]

Baseball is a game of failure. It's what makes it poignant and dramatic and great. It's totally different from football. When you step up to the plate to hit, you are all by yourself. Nobody can help you. The very best hitters get hits only 30% of the time.

 

[PennameWombat]

My dad and I were upset that Huston made the world series. I have to admit they had the best pitching of any team this year. There are only a handful of pitchers that have pitched and won 3 full games in the world series. I sued to know their names. I bet my dad could tell me.

I know Mickey Lolich did it for Detroit in 1968 - and his three victories against St. Louis were all complete games. And that was the last year with a 30+ game regular season winning pitcher, teammate Denny McLain. I know Randy 'Bird Killer' Johnson won three back near the turn of the century for Arizona, but I'm reasonably sure his weren't all complete games.

And... oh yeah. Although the records indicate 2 wins and 1 save, with one complete game shutout and seven scoreless innings in relief, and not three wins, Madison Bumgarner's performance in 2014 was... ridiculous. Beyond ridiculous. I watched game 7 sitting in the Crown & Anchor in Las Vegas while I was at a conference and had decided I had to get the hell off the Strip and... just stared. Those of us sitting along the bar simply quit talking to each other. But I'm not sure I could describe it to people who don't deeply appreciate the sport.

 

[AWhoopsieDaisy]

Best explanation of a baseball team in history

Oh yeah! I absolutely love this sketch

 

[AWhoopsieDaisy]

This animation makes it infinitely funnier

 

[MillieDynamite]

Baseball is a game of failure. It's what makes it poignant and dramatic and great. It's totally different from football. When you step up to the plate to hit, you are all by yourself. Nobody can help you. The very best hitters get hits only 30% of the time.

For short times, 3 to 4 games, some batters maintain over .500 on hitting. One batter, don't remember who or when had a ridiculous .900 batting average for a 5-game stretch.

 

[AWhoopsieDaisy]

For short times, 3 to 4 games, some batters maintain over .500 on hitting. One batter, don't remember who or when had a ridiculous .900 batting average for a 5-game stretch.

Ike Stampley is the guy with the .900

 

[MillieDynamite]

According to my father, they created the Who's on First Skit because of some odd names in baseball, Johnny Dickshot, Cal McLish, Ed Head, Chief Bender, and, of course, Yogi Bara.

 

[Trionyx]

I love baseball! How many ways are there for a batter to reach first base?

The answer is seven: hit, walk, error, fielders' choice, hit by pitch, a dropped third strike, and defensive interference.

Nope. There are many, many more ways than seven ways to reach first base. You can quickly turn your partner’s head for a brief smack, you can slowly lower your lips to theirs while staring them in the eyes, you can….
This is LE, after all.