Strike-Out-Not-Out

Sometimes, you can see batters swing and miss after two strikes, but runs to first base. As everybody knows, swinging and missing after two strikes is strike out because swinging counts as strike. However, there are special occasions when batters are allowed to go to first base to get safe. When batter swings and misses and catcher also misses and doesn't catch the ball, batter can attempt to run to first base while catcher runs to get baseball and throw it to first base. If batter touches the first base before any fielder catch the ball, the batter is safe. The batter is out if the ball reaches the first base first.
If batter is safe in first base, batter becomes a runner, but out count number doesn't go up. However, if the batter gets out, one out count is added.
After two outs, batter can run after getting strike out not out, regardless of having runner on 1st base or not. However, if the out count is zero or 1 and there is runner on 1st base, strike out not out doesn't work.
http://mlbkorea.com/sub_hotclip.aspx?id=3311

OPS

OPS stands for on-base plus slugging and is calculated by on-base + slugging average. Having over 1.000 OPS means really good at batting. Like SLG and OBP, it doesn't have a big meaning, but serve as data to compare how good the batter is.
Just like SLG and OBP, batters usually have high numbers in the beginning of season, but usually goes down at the end of season compared to the beginning. It is because all the fielders, also the batters, get tired because stamina goes down when playing in the sun.

SLG

SLG is slugging percentage and is used to measure if a hitter is whether focusing on contact or power. The equation for SLG is (1 x number of a base hit) + (2 x number of two base hit) + (3 x number of three base hit) + (4 x number of home-run) all added divided by total number of at bat. For example, in total of 20 bats, you hit three of single base hits, two of two base hits, 1 of three base hit, and 1 home-run, the equation would be (3 + 6 + 3 + 4) / 20. Therefore, SLG would be .800.
The highest possible SLG is 4.000. However, it is almost impossible to have because, in order to have 4.000 SLG, you have to hit home-runs every time at bat.

OBP

OBP is abbreviation for 'on base percentage.' The equation for OBP is (number of hits + number of base on balls + number of hit by pitch ball) divided by (number of at bat + number of base on balls + number of hit by pitch ball + number of sacrifice fly). OBP always have to be higher than hit average.
OBP is used to evaluate how well a batter can distinguish strikes and balls. Normally, if OBP is higher than 0.400, then the hitter has very OBP. In other words, better hitter has high OBP.

Ball speed world record

A day ago, 19 April, 2011, new world record for the fastest ball was officially saved. The hero is Aroldis Chapman. He is from Cuba and threw fastball with speed of 106 miles/hour.

You can watch on this video. It is the second pitch and will make you shocked.

Designated Hitter

Designated hitter is hitter that only participates in hitting, but doesn't play on defense. In batting order, 8 out of 9 are fielders. Last one to fill in can be either pitcher or designated hitter. It depends on countries' baseball rules. In National League of Major League, pitcher bats. However, in American League of MLB, designated hitter joins the batting order instead of pitcher. Usually pitchers are 8th batter because 8th position is for hitter who is worst on making hits. However, designated hitters are mostly 4th hitter, which is for the hitter with the most power.

Triple Play

Triple play is when 3 outs are made in once. It rarely happens because making 3 outs take a lot of time compared to double play, so there is more possibility that the last runner might be safe before the ball reaches any base to make third out.

This might help you to understand better.

Stealing Base

Did you see runner on bases suddenly starting to run to next bases? It is because they were trying to steal bases. Runner can start to run to steal base as pitcher starts wind-up. (Wide-up is action that pitchers do before throwing pitch.) If the runner touches the base before the fielders tag him, he is safe on stolen base. The special type of stealing base is home-steal. It is exactly same as other stealing bases, but what makes it unique is that the stolen base would be the home base. It rarely happens because catchers usually have ball and it has lots of probability of getting out. Since the distance between home plane and second base is the longest, stealing second base has the most chance of succeeding stealing. Usually, only fast runners try to steal, but sometimes runners with normal speed also steal bases for operation. For example, to increase chance of surviving, two runners steal bases at same time. It is called double-steal. Stealing base is inevitable in the match. However, you need be aware of that you should stop stealing bases when leading the score by great number, such as 10 points or more than opponent's runs, because it is manner that you should follow.

Home-steal

Baseball Bats

There are two types of bat in baseball : one is aluminum bat and other is wooden bat. Because aluminum bat has repelling power, it is usually used among amateurs. It is prohibited to be used in professional leagues. In the league only wooden bats are allowed. And, among wooden bats, there are a lot of different kinds of it. Those kinds vary by wood type, weight, etc. However, there are still restrictions. For example, diameter cannot be longer than 2.75 inches and weight should be less than 1kg. Most of the times, professional players use bats that weigh between 900g and 1kg. Sometimes, when you use a lot or ball hits the narrow part of a bat, the bat might get broken.

Bullpen

What is bullpen? It is a small area that is similar to mound. (Mound is little hill where pitchers throw balls.) Bullpen's main purpose is to provide a safe place for relief pitchers to warm up. Pitchers have to warm up because it protects injuries and body to work out for pitching. The maximum number of pitchers that bullpen can hold is two. However, if there are empty spaces, hitters usually warm up at there, too. It is usually located next to dugout (place where coaches and players rest), but sometimes is also located in outfield.
(Dugout)

(Bullpen)

Types of hits

There are 4 types of hits in baseball. Those 4 types are a base hit, two base hit, three base hit, and home-run. All these determined by how many bases that the batter runs through. If the first bounce of hit is on far outfield, it usually becomes two base hit or more. And home-run is one of the famous terms used in baseball, even to people who isn't familiar with baseball. Home-run is when a batter runs through bases and be safe on home base. If a batter hits and the ball goes beyond the outfield and between foul lines, it is home-run. The batter doesn't have to run fast because there is no way that he is going to get out. However, there is other type of home-run, which is rare to see. It is 'inside the park home-run'. This occurs when a normal hit is made, but the batter runs and come back to home base safely. Mostly, the fastest batter in teams make few inside the park home-run.

Also, I'll throw a question to you. What if you made a base hit and ran to second base, but got out? (The answer is below the video)

This is a video of inside the park home-run.

The answer to the question is that the hit is still counted as a base hit, not two base hit, because he did make a hit. However, he still gets out.

Out Counts

There are many ways to increase out counts during baseball match. However, three common ways that batter can get out are strike out, fly ball out, and ground ball out. Strike out is simply getting another strike after two strikes. Ways to get strikes are swinging and missing ball or just letting the ball to pass through the strike zone. Making a foul ball will increase number of strikes unless the batter has two strikes. If a batter makes a foul ball after two strikes, nothing will change. Fly ball out occurs when a batter hits the ball and any of fielders catch the ball before it bounces on ground. Ground ball out is when the ball that a hitter hit bounces on the ground, but fielder throws the ball to 1st base and 1st baser catch it before the batter reaches the 1st base. When the ground ball is too fast, has good course, or has its first bounce in outfield, it usually becomes a hit.

This is the video of Stephens Strasburg making strike outs. He is one of the rookie players playing for Washington.

Uniforms

In most cases, shirts, pants, caps, and socks are parts uniforms. All members of same team wear identical uniforms. Only their back numbers and names on back of the shirts will differ. Also, players will wear spikes and gloves of their choice. They wear spikes because it prevents you from flipping over while playing since the ground could be slippery. It is just like wearing soccer shoes when playing soccer. I guess the most favorite uniform of all people would be New York Yankee.

Gloves

There are 4 main types of gloves. The 4 types are for catcher, pitcher, infielder, and out fielders. Catchers' gloves, which are sometimes called mitts, are especially thicker than other types because they have to catch pitchers' throws, which can have speed of 100 miles or 160km per hour. If you catch the ball with that speed with other types of gloves, you would feel like as if the ball was penetrating your hand.

Visit this site for more information : www.baseballgloves.com/choosing/index.html

Catcher's glove

Infielder's glove

Outfielder's glove

Pitcher's glove

Baseball Equipments

I will post about baseball equipments briefly. Basically, you would need a pair of spikes (baseball shoes), gloves, and uniform on your body. Usually spike shoes have 9 spikes on bottom and those are to prevent players from slipping over. You absolutely have to have your gloves on, so you wouldn't hurt yourself. If you catch a ball with glove, it hurts only a bit. However, if you don't wear it, it should really hurt. It is possible to kill somebody with just a small baseball. And, finally, uniform are for comfortable fit to body and to indicate which team you are in.

Visit this site to take a look at diverse items : http://www.baseballwarehouse.com/

WBC (World Baseball Classic)

Since I am done with posting about popular nations' in baseball, I will write shortly about tournaments. For past years, baseball was considered as one of the sport in Olympics, but it seems like baseball is not going to be part of Olympics sports anymore. Therefore, the only worldwide baseball tournament is WBC. WBC is like soccer World Cup in baseball.  Most of the countries those have strong baseball national teams compete for championship. It happens every 3 years and is hosted by MLB. Last tournament, 2009 WBC, championship was taken by Japanese.

Visit the official website of WBC : http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/index.jsp

Cuban baseball

Cuban baseball league was the first official baseball league in the world. And it has 4 teams, which are Almendares, Cienfuegos, Habana, and Marianao. Even though Cuba has its own national league, most Cuban baseball players dream to go to Major League. And many Cuban baseball players go to the United States, even though they usually start in Minor League.It is because if you become a star player in Major League teams, you get enormous amount of money. This money cannot even be compared to money earned from Cuban league.
Since Cuba has lots of Major League star players, they are one of the best teams. They call themselves as the best team in the world. Also, Cuba is in the 1st place of IBAF (International Baseball Federation) world ranking. (Jan., 2011) Compared to the United States, there are really no big difference.

the United States baseball

MLB, major league baseball, is a baseball league in the U.S. MLB is divided into two leagues, National League and American League. Also, both leagues have 3 divisions, AL or NL west, central, and east. AL has 14 teams and NL has 16 teams. The most popular 2 clubs are New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Both teams are in AL East. Also, New York Yankees is rival with New York Mets, a team in NL East. They play against each other while inter-league period. Other rivals with same hometowns are Los Angeles Dodgers and Angles and Chicago White Sox and Cubs. For World Series, both NL and AL play division series, championship series and each winners of championship series from both leagues fight for World Series trophy.
The national team could be called the best team in the world because they are in top position, not only in  ranking, but also their ability, too.

Taiwan baseball

Compared to Korean and Japanese baseball, which prefers making many hits more than making home-run, Taiwan baseball is more like Major League. In other words, Taiwan baseball is based on power, not accuracy. Until few years ago, Taiwan baseball was very weak when played against Korea or Japan. However, Taiwan is getting better and better, so Korea and Japan is being careful when playing with Taiwan, but still there is difference in baseball level.
Professional league consists of only 4 teams, Lanew Bears, Sinon Bulls, Brother Elephants, and Uni Lions. Also, the league was established in 1989, so has only short history. Despite of short history, Taiwan is better than any other Asian countries, such as India and Pakistan, except for Korea and Japan.

Japanese Baseball

The name of the Japanese baseball organization is NPB, which stands for Nippon Professional Baseball. (Nippon means Japan in Japanese.) Unlike Korean baseball league, Japan has 2 leagues. One is Central League and another one is Pacific League. Central League contains Hanshin Tigers, Yomiuri Giants, Chunichi Dragons, Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Yokohama Bay Stars, and Yakult Swallows. Pacific League contains Softbank Hawks, Seibu Lions, Rakuten Golden Eagles, Nipponham Fighters, Chiba Lotte Marines, and Orix Buffaloes. Compared to Central League, Pacific League has really low interest. Also, 8 out of 12 clubs have their hometown near Tokyo and Osaka, which are two main cities in Japan. For Japan Series, first, 3rd place team and 2nd place team on each league fights. Then, the winner competes with the top team. Winner of these matches from both leagues play a match to win Japan Series.
There are few differences when compared with Korea. First, Japan baseball clubs can have 4 foreign players, whereas Korea only allows 2 per club. Also, Japan has many players running in Major League in the U.S. However, Korea has only one player for now. On the other hand, regardless of number of player in Major League, both Korean and Japanese national team have similar skill.