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By Christina Winnegar
With the historic 2024 World Series matchup between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning on Friday, here’s a guide to understanding the game through the eyes of a baseball fan.
What is the World Series?
According to MLB, the World Series in baseball is a postseason play-off series between the champions of the two major professional baseball leagues of North America. These two leagues are the American League also known as the AL and the National League also known as the NL, which together make Major League Baseball, also known as MLB.
How does it work?
According to MLB, The total of 30 teams in the MLB are split evenly into the American League and National League. Teams in each of the two divisions play each other throughout the regular season and the top six teams from each league, 12 teams total, make it to the playoffs.
The teams are then paired up to go against each other in the postseason and the two league winners versus each other in the World Series, taking home the title of the champion.
The World Series Basics to Know:
According to MLB, the World Series is a best of seven series, which means the first time to get to four wins first to secure the title. If all seven games are needed, they’re held over nine days. The league finalist with the best regular season record, is awarded home advantage and hosts four out of seven of the games.
Unlike other leagues, the MLB postseason is played under identical rules as any regular-season game played and they’re played until there is a clear winner.
Things to expect prior to Game 1:
Prior to the game, there’s an opening ceremony that is held. The ceremony includes performances by musical guests as well as every player being announced one-by-one. The inaugural first pitch of the game is given by either a celebrity, former player or public figure that was awarded the honor.
Now that you know the basics of the World Series itself, let's learn about the basics of the game the Series stems from.
Intro to Baseball:
According to MLB, baseball is a game played between two teams consisting of nine players each. The game is divided into nine innings which are divided into two halves.
In the top half of the inning, the players of one and two come to bat and attempt to score runs, while the other team players in the field attempt to stop the batting team from scoring. In the bottom half, the teams swap places. The team with the most runs at the end of the nine innings played is awarded as the winner of the game.
For the team that is attempting to stump the opposing team offensively, the “defense”, has each of their nine players assigned a particular fielding position. These positions consist of pitcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, catcher, left fielder, center fielder and right fielder.
How the field is set up:
According to MLB, the game is played on a diamond-shaped playing field, the four corners of said diamond being found at home plate, first base, second base and third base. Located at the middle of the infield which is the inner diamond, is the pitcher’s mound. This is where the pitcher stands to pitch the ball to the batter at home plate. The area beyond the infield, bordered by the first, second and third baselines is called the outfield.
The outfield is called out by the perspective of the batter. There’s left field, center field, and right field. As well as having players on each of the plates, there is also a player to cover each portion of the outfield.
Basics of batting:
According to MLB, during each of the nine innings, the pitcher of the defensive team throws the ball toward a player of the offensive team currently in the batting position at home plate. The batter attempts to hit the ball with the bat to a location of reach of the defensive players in the field. The goal of this is to have an attempt to run around the bases, or if the bases are loaded, allow multiple players to cross over home plate for a run. If the player can round the bases and make the return to home plate, he scores a run.
However, if the ball is caught or can be thrown to first base before he arrives at the base then the batter is out. A batter is also called out if he strikes out. Meaning the batter fails to hit the baseball three times after three good pitches. The offensive team's time to bat is over when they get three outs. A batter can also be “walked” to first base if a pitcher throws four pitches outside the strike zone that the batter does not swing at.
How does a player get “out”?:
According to the MLB there are several ways for a player to be put out of the action during their team’s time to have a chance offensively. When a player is out, they leave the field and the other team takes their turn at bat. Three outs are required to retire the side in an inning.
Strikeout: The batter fails to hit the ball into fair territory after three strikes. A strike occurs when the batter swings and misses or doesn’t swing at a pitch that’s called fair by the umpire.
Flyout: The batter hits the ball and it’s caught before it lands.
Tagout: The batter is touched by the ball while not on a base or is held by an opponent while not on a base.
Force out: An opponent with the ball reaches the base the runner is forced to advance to before the runner does.
Groundout: When a batter hits a ball on the ground to a fielder, who records an out by throwing to or stepping on first base before the batter.
Popout: When a batter hits a pop-up, a fly ball that goes high but not far, that is caught by an opposing defender before it touches the ground or fence.
Interfering with a fielder: When an offensive player or team member hinders a defensive player from making a play. This can include physically blocking the fielder, verbally distracting them or visually distracting them.
Now that you understand the basics of how the game works, here are the most common player statistics. Unlike the majority of other sports, baseball exists out of time, meaning there is no clock to control gameplay or how a player performs. Statistics are used to help determine a player’s or team’s performance instead.
Offensive Statistics:
As reported by MLB, here are some of the most commonly used offensive statistics.
Batting Average (AVG): The number of base hits per bat.
Games Played (G): The number of games the player has played in.
At Bats (AB): The official number of times the player has taken the plate as a batter, not counting walks or sacrifices.
Runs (R): The number of times a batter has crossed home plate.
Hits (H): The number of times a batter has safely reached a base, not including walks or sacrifices.
Doubles (2B): The number of hits that resulted in the batter hitting second base.
Triples (3B): The number of hits that resulted in the batter hitting third base.
Home Runs (HR): The number of hits that resulted in a home run.
Runs Batted In (RBI): The number of times a batter has made it possible for his teammates to score. Does not include hits resulting in a double play or runs scored because of an error.
Stolen Bases (SB): The number of times a base runner has successfully advanced to the next base without the help of the hitter.
Base on Balls (BB): The number of times a batter has been awarded first base as a result of four balls being pitched outside the strike zone. Also known as walks.
Strikeouts (SO): The number of times a batter has swung and missed on three pitches.
Defensive Statistics:
As reported by MLB, here are some of the most commonly used defensive statistics.
Assist (A): Awarded to a fielder who touches the ball before a putout is recorded by another fielder.
Caught Stealing Percentage (CS%): The frequency with which a catcher throws out opposing base runners who are trying to steal (catcher caught stealings divided by total stolen-base attempts – both successful and unsuccessful – against that catcher).
Double Play (DP): When two offensive players are ruled out within the same play.
Error (E): A fielder is given an error if, in the judgment of the official scorer, he fails to convert an out on a play that an average fielder should have made.
Fielding Percentage (FPCT): The total number of putouts and assists by a defender, divided by the total number of chances (putouts, assists, and errors).
Innings Played (INN): Innings played as a defensive statistic, determined by counting the number of outs during which a player is in the field and dividing by three.
Out (O): Recorded when a player at bat or base runner is retired by a team in the field.
Outfield Assist (OFA): Recorded when an outfielder throws the ball into the infield and an out is recorded as a result.
Passed Ball (PB): A catcher is given a passed ball if he cannot hold onto a pitch that – in the official scorer’s judgment – he should have, and as a result, at least one runner moves up on the bases.
Putout (PO): A fielder is credited with a putout when he is the fielder who physically records the act of completing an out.
Total Chances (TC): A defender’s total chances represent the number of opportunities he has to record an out (formula is: assists plus putouts plus errors).
Triple Play (TP): When the defending team records three outs on a single defensive play.
Pitching Statistics:
As reported by MLB, here are some of the most commonly used pitching statistics.
Games Pitched (GP): The cumulative total number of games in which a player has pitched.
Innings Pitched (IP): The cumulative total number of innings pitched by a player.
Wins (W): The number of games won. To be noted, a starting pitcher will be credited with a win if he pitches at least 5 complete innings, his team is in the lead when he leaves the game, and if his team continues to maintain the lead for the rest of the game.
Losses (L): The number of games lost.
Win/Loss Percentage (PCT): The total number of wins divided by the sum of wins and losses.
Saves (SV or S): The number of times a relief pitcher finishes a game where the potential tying or winning run is on base, at bat, or on deck.
Hits Allowed (H): The number of hits given up while pitching.
Base on Balls (BB): The number of times a pitcher has thrown four balls, allowing the batter to be awarded first base.
Strikeouts (SO): The number of times a pitcher retires a batter after three strikes.
Earned Run Average (ERA): The number of Earned Runs, that are scored without an error, that the pitcher allows every nine innings. Computed by multiplying the total number of earned runs by nine and dividing by the number of innings pitched.
Glossary:
In baseball, many terms are used by broadcasters and fans to describe what is happening while the game is in play. According to MLB, here is a glossary of the terms you are likely to hear the most.
Balk: An illegal motion by the pitcher with one or more runners on base, entitling all runners to advance one base. A balk can be one of several movements related to the pitching motion but the intention is to catch the runners off balance.
Ball: A pitch that does not enter the strike zone and is not struck at by the batter.
Base: The four points of the diamond that must be touched by a runner to record a run.
Batter: The offensive player who is currently positioned in the batter’s box.
Batter’s Box: Either of the areas next to home plate where the batter stands during his time at bat.
Bottom: The second half of an inning.
Bunt: A legally batted ball, not swung at but intentionally met with the bat and tapped within the infield.
Catch: The act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it.
Catcher: The defensive player whose position is directly behind home plate.
Defense: The team is currently in the field.
Designated Hitter: A player who may be designated to bat instead of the pitcher.
Double: A play in which the batter makes it safely to second base without stopping.
Double Play: A defensive play in which two offensive players are put out as a result of one continuous action.
Dugout: The seating area for players/coaches who are not currently on the playing field.
Fair Ball: A legally batted ball that settles on or over fair territory.
Fielder’s Choice: The act of a fielder who handles a fair ground ball and, instead of throwing it to first base to put out the batter runner, throws to another base in an attempt to put out a preceding runner.
Fly Ball: A ball which goes high in the air when batted.
Force Play: A play in which a runner loses his right to occupy a base when the current batter becomes a runner.
Foul Ball: Any bad ball that first contacts a Fielder, while the ball is in val territory is considered foul. If not touched by a fielder and fair territory, any bad ball that first contacts the field in val territory beyond first or third base – with the foul lines and foul poles, counting as territory – is considered foul.
Foul Territory: The part of the playing field outside the first and third base lines extended to the outfield fence and perpendicular upwards.
Ground Ball: A batted ball that rolls along the ground.
Home Run: A play in which the batter makes it safely around all bases and back to home plate without stopping.
Infield: The diamond-shaped portion of the playing field bordered by the four bases.
Infielder: A fielder who occupies a position in the infield.
Line Drive: A ball that is batted directly to a fielder, without touching the ground.
Out: A declaration by the umpire that a player who is trying for a base is not entitled to said base.
Outfield: The portion of the playing field that extends beyond the infield and is bordered by the first and third baselines.
Outfielder: A fielder who occupies a position in the outfield.
Pitch: The ball is delivered by the pitcher to the batter.
Pitcher: The fielder designated to pitch the ball to the batter.
Run The score made by an offensive player who has rounded the bases and returned to home plate.
Runner: An offensive player who is advancing toward, touching, or returning to any base.
Safe: A declaration by the umpire that a runner who is trying for a base has not been tagged or forced out, and is therefore entitled to that base.
Single: A play in which the batter safely makes it to first base.
Strike: A legal pitch called by the umpire when:
It is struck by the batter and missed.
Is not struck at, when the ball passes through the strike zone.
Is fouled by the batter when he has less than two strikes.
Touches the batter as he swings at it.
After being batted, it travels from the bat to the catcher’s hands and it's caught by the catcher.
Strike Zone: An area directly over home plate, from the bottom of the batter’s kneecaps to the midpoint between the top of the batter’s shoulders and the top of the batter’s pants.
Tag: The action of a fielder touching a base with his body while holding the ball, touching a runner with the ball, or with his glove while holding the ball.
Top: First half of an inning.
Triple: A play in which the batter makes it to third base without stopping.
Umpire: The official who judges the legality of the plays in the game. Also referred to as the enforcer.
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