why are there four balls and only three strikes in baseball?

Answer 1

I'd say it's to make the game more interesting and encourage batters to swing the bat. A strikeout in a key situation can be exciting, but a walk, even with the bases loaded is boring. By making a batter look at 4 balls rather than 3, it encourages the player to swing which results in action on the field.

Allowing 4 balls also protects the pitcher by allowing him to try to make good pitches. If a pitcher only gets 3 balls, he does not have the luxury of throwing pitches on the corners and throwing pitches out of the strike zone in hopes that the batter chases the pitch.

Answer 2

Three Strikes Baseball

Answer 3

A ball lands outside the strikezone and a strike lands inside the strikezone. If the players swings and misses, it's a strike. A foul is a strike unless there are two strikes already. If a pitcher throws four balls before the batter strikes out or puts the ball into play, the batter walks to first. If first is already occupied, the runner on first moves to second. If the batter is struck with the ball at the plate, he also walks.

Answer 4

when baseball first started because there were no field lights they only allowed three strikes and four balls to shorten the game up.

Answer 5

Never really thought about it -- go far enough back into the olde dayes and there were different numbers needed for the walk or the K -- but the current 4 and 3 seems to be working pretty well.

Answer 6

its more difficult to pitch a ball then a strike, so therefore you need less strikes than balls to make it more fair for the pitcher. and the batter can foul of as many strikes as necessary which makes it fair for the batter.

Answer 7

Its harder to pitch a strike

Answer 8

thems the rules.... but it used to be 9 balls way back in the day

Answer 9

thats just the way the game goes