Diamonds Aren't Forever Trivia Quiz

Answer: Designated Hitter

When a designated hitter (DH) is used, that player is designated (or chosen) to take at-bats for the pitcher. In this case, the pitcher focuses on defense (trying to stop the other team from scoring runs) and the DH focuses on offense (scoring runs).

In Major League Baseball, a DH is used in American League (AL) games but not National League (NL) games. In an inter league game (involving one team from each league), it is known in advance which league's rules will be used. The first baseman, shortstop, and left fielder all play both offense and defense.

Answer: Three

The umpire at home plate (where the batter stands to try to hit the ball) usually determines if a ball thrown is a strike or not though sometimes the first or third base umpire will be asked if it is thought one of them could see it better. Here are the types of pitches that are considered strikes.

* A thrown ball in the strike zone when the batter does not swing. (The strike zone is an area the width of home plate and from the batter's knees to the midpoint of the batter's uniform top.)

* A thrown ball at which the batter swings and misses.

* A thrown ball which is hit foul (A hit ball that lands outside of the area marked by the first base and third base lines. A hit ball that bounces or rolls into foul territory before passing first or third base is also called foul. If the ball bounces/rolls into foul territory after passing first or third base, it is considered fair and the batter can attempt to reach base.) Foul balls normally only count for strikes one or two.

Answer: Four

A ball is a thrown ball that is thrown outside of the strike zone at which the batter does not swing. Sometimes the home plate umpire will ask the first base or third base umpire if a batter's swing was a "checked swing" (it was started but stopped in time).

Another way that a batter can reach first base without getting a hit is if a ball thrown by the pitcher hits the batter's body. This is called "hit by pitch" (HBP).

Answer: Double play

A double play is when two outs are made on the same play. Both the runner moving towards third base and the batter headed to first base were put out. What prevents this from being a force out was that first base was empty before the play began. The runner on second could have chosen not to run. Because that runner had a choice, the third baseman had to tag the runner with the ball. If there had been a runner on first base, the runner on second would have had to run.

A fielder could then have thrown the ball to the third baseman who would have merely needed to be holding the ball while touching third base to "force" the runner out.

Answer: The batter goes to second base

This is known as a ground rule double (equal to a two-base hit). The batter advances to second base. Any runner already on base advances two bases. A runner on first base goes to third base. A runner on second or third base scores.

Answer: Error

In this case, it is assumed that the shortstop should have been able to throw the ball to the first baseman before the batter reached first. This would be considered an error mistake by the shortstop.

A balk would be committed and a wild pitch would be thrown by a pitcher. A passed ball would be associated by a catcher.

Answer: Bunt

If a bunt is well done, the ball with roll to a stop roughly halfway between home plate and first or third base in fair territory. Whichever fielder grabs the ball will take a few seconds to so, allowing a fast batter to reach first base safely. If not done so well, the bunt will hit the ball into the air, allowing a fielder a chance to catch the ball for an out.

Answer: Four

This only occurs if there are runners on first, second, and third base and the batter hits a home run, allowing all four players to score. A home run most commonly occurs when a batter hits a ball over the outfield wall in fair territory. A much less common home run occurs when a fast batter can run to first base, second base, third base, and home plate on a ball that stays inside the playing area.

Answer: The away team bats first

When the away team is batting, that is called the top of the inning. When the home team bats, that is called the bottom of the inning. A baseball game normally lasts for nine innings. If the home team is winning after the top of the ninth inning, the home team wins and does not need to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Answer: Spitball

A spitball is when the pitcher applies spit (saliva) or some other foreign substance to one side of the ball, causing it to move in unpredictable ways. Although used by some pitchers in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Major League Baseball outlawed the pitch beginning in 1920. The last older pitcher who was allowed to use the pitch retired in 1934.

The fastball, curveball, and knuckleball are all allowed pitchers. A good pitcher will be able to throw several types of pitches.