Stupid questions about baseball

[yakalskovich]

What does a baseball player at bat do with the actual bat when he's hit the ball and starts running? nazgulwears said 'drop it', but I can't quite imagine it. Where would he leave it? How does he recover it? Is it his own bat, or does everybody bat with the same bat?

There's a virtual baseball game in Milliways that'll start pre-threading this weekend; so far I have read up on the rules etc., but that one part still makes me wonder.

Also, can somebody recommend me a YouTube link to, let's say, ten minutes of a baseball game that's really typical and has some interesting if standard things happening in it? There is lots of baseball on YouTube, but I can't really tell what would be educational to watch.

Thanks in advance!

ETA: Which of these four icons should I use as baseball icons for Teja, in the game, and for context? I just made them myself from Corbis stock; but if there's a more iconic icon, or somebody running with a bat (see thread with i_open_doors within), I'd use that just as readily.-

Comments

[i-open-doors.livejournal.com]

There are generally quite a few bats to choose from. The bats have to be officially checked, so having personal bats is likely out. They can have a favorite out of the team supply, but it's too easy to alter your bat and cheat.

Usually it's tossed to the side as they run, along the first base line. If they throw behind they can be penalized for hitting the catcher, which could be used if you have a runner on third trying for home plate. And a bat in the way of play isn't fair either. So they have to toss it to the side where a bat boy can run and retrieve it.

And I don't even watch baseball! I did play a little in school, though.

[yakalskovich]

I think it's a cultural thing you can't avoid, like soccer-type football over here. And thanks very much for the info! I'll make sure that Teja doesn't hit anybody with his bat, then, when he throws it aside and starts running.

I decided for Teja, not Donova, for the sake of crackiness; also, Donovan would know about baseball, and my personal cluelessness would reflect on him. Teja, though, is excused because he died in AD 552...

[i-open-doors.livejournal.com]

I think that's the perfect excuse! Let Teja carry the bat with him and try to beat the base-men away when they try to tag him or the base for an out!!!

Or when told not to, let him chuck the bat behind him and knock some people out!


Hee heee heeeeee!

[yakalskovich]

Teja making his run with the bat, brandishing it but never hitting anybody, would of course be a hoot. He wouldn't drop his weapons, either, but run with them, after all. Wouldn't make him slower, either.

The following discussion might be fun as well:

Opposing team people: We didn't dare to tag him! He would have hit us! He's a barbarian warlord!

Teja: *scoffs* I have been told not to hit my opponents with the bat; I can abide by the rules. It is their own fault for not trusting me; do not blame me!

[i-open-doors.livejournal.com]

And oooo, the second one. Looks more...innocently menacing!

[yakalskovich]

We are going to do it -- it will be fun!