How to Follow a Baseball Game

It's no accident that baseball is often called the "thinking man's game." It is the only game in which the defense controls the ball, and there is no time clock. In addition to pitching, hitting and fielding, fans can also watch the game-within-a-game that occurs in between pitches or innings. The key to following a baseball game is the ability to anticipate what can happen on a given play.

Instructions

    • 1

      Read the sports section of the day's newspaper for information pertaining to the teams playing in the game you plan to see that day. You can learn about the pitchers and their tendencies, as well as any keys to the game based on the current situations of the two teams.

      Maybe the home team's pitcher in tonight's game has extraordinary success against right-handed batters, or he forces a lot of ground balls. Perhaps a hitter on the visiting team is on a home run streak, You will feel part of the excitement when he comes to bat.

    • 2

      Learn the basics ahead of time. Visit the Major League Baseball website to watch a memorable game that has been archieved so you can follow along. Or visit a website such as bellaonline.com to learn about the fundamentals of the game, such as how a player makes an out or what responsibilities fall to each position in the field.

    • 3

      Listen to the game on the radio. The play-by-play announcer usually works with a color analyst to give a full description of the game as it happens. One announcer explains what is happening, while another may have insight as to why it happened.

    • 4

      Follow a different position player every inning. There are nine players on the field, and as many innings in a game. Start with the pitcher, then next inning watch the catcher, then the first baseman, etc. Observe what the player does on each pitch, or where he moves when the ball is put into play.

    • 5

      Focus on the ball. That's where the action starts and stops. Neither the offense nor the defense can do anything without the ball. When the ball is batted, watch whether it falls to the ground or is caught in the air. Watch how the ball move among the fielders during the course of a play. And watch the movement of the ball when the pitcher throws to the catcher.

    • 6

      Observe a runner on base to see how he tries to reach the next base. There are many ways for a runner to advance, but each attempt brings with it the risk of being tagged or forced out. Watch for instances when the player is tagged and remember the situation. Do the same for a force play, in which the fielder merely has to tag the base and not the runner.