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

[marchenland.livejournal.com]

Yes, they drop it, or more likely, fling it behind them.

I suspect each player has his own bat, and as I recall, there is a "bat boy" (or "bat girl") whose job t is to gather the bat and return it to the dugout.

[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.

[ceitfianna]

I think the second icon is a very Teja and baseball vibe and you might offer them up in the back room too since new icons for special things are always fun.

[open-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

As stated above the bat is sort of dropped (gently) behind the first baseline. There it's collected by a bat boy and returned to the correct dugout so it's ready for the players next at bat. Given of course, that it wasn't damaged and doesn't need to be replaced. Players generally have more than one bat with them just in case of a break or crack.

As for your question about bats...Bats are made from a variety of different woods, and every player has their preferences. Some are a bit harder, some are softer, some break more easily...they all conform to a general standard but there are subtle variations. And yes, some big-league players, like Derek Jeter for example, have personalized bats. Derek's has his signature toward the end of all of his bats.

[immortalthief.livejournal.com]

Just to put my two cents in about the icon. I like the one in the black shirt for Teja.

[bigfluffball.livejournal.com]

In primary school Rounders games, we had insufficient bats for every person to have one, so it was obligatory to drop it on penalty of being out.

Unfortunately this once resulted in me being forcefully whacked in the stomach with a flying bat as I came up to take my batting position, causing me to burst into tears and have it rubbed better by the teacher.