Base on Balls

A base on balls ( BB for short ), also often referred to as Walk is an event in baseball. A base on balls occurs when the referee asked in a four ball at, ie as if the pitcher four times misses the strike zone without the batsman swings. A base on balls is therefore also referred to as a walk because the batsman then has the right to go to first base, ie to move to first base, without the possibility to identify him. A base on balls is noted in the baseball statistics at the expense of the pitcher and favor of the striking man.

If at the time of the base on balls a runner on first base, this may advance to the second base. Runners on second and third base but move only when all bases are occupied behind them. A base on balls is entered in the statistics did not ask as an official at, thus the batsman no hit is credited. 1878 Walks in Major League Baseball counted as hits. This had the consequence that incredible batting averages ( batting average ) have been achieved by over 50%. The experiment was terminated in the following season. A roughly comparable official statistics, which calculates the number of times a player reaches a base, regardless of the result of reaching, but exists today under the name of On- Base Percentage.

A pitcher can also cause an intentional base on balls, or an Intentional Walk. Here, the pitcher intends to significantly throw the ball next to the strike zone. This is usually applied in order to get another batsman as an opponent, in which the team sees a better chance to identify him or a double play ( two players out of the game at the same time take away).

A hit by pitch is not seen as a walk, although the consequences for the game situation are almost identical.

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