2007-05-23 01:25:27 · 24 answers · asked by Colleen O 1 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Theoretically, you can foul them off until you've seen every pitcher in their bullpen and force a forfeit, except, as mentioned above, for a bunt attempt.
"Why?", I don't know. I'll get back to you on this one.
Okay...I'm back. The Almanac is not very clear. Originally, the count was 8 strikes for an out and 9 balls for a walk. The rules on foul balls begin to change in the mid 1880. In 1903, the American League changed the rule to the one we recognize today.
Clearly, the "Why" of this question is all part of the need to speed the game along.
I found one reference to the longest at bat. It's hearsay, reported to be 29 pitches, with 22 fouled off.
2007-05-23 02:19:09 · answer #1 · answered by TD Euwaite? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is sort of a compromise. In the early days, fouls were not strikes, so batters could stand there all day fouling off pitch after pitch. In 1901 the NL changed the rule to say that foul balls with less than two strikes on the batter would be strikes. The AL followed suit in 1903. This reduced the batter's ability to keep swinging until they finally got a pitch they could hit.
2007-05-23 12:33:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can keep fouling off pitches. But they count as strikes in the pitcher's pitch count. That's why fouling of pitches is an excellent way to overtax the pitcher.
TD Euwaite, that math is wrong. For 29 pitches, 23 would have to be fouled off. 3 balls + 2 strikes + 23 fouls = 28, with one for the walk, strike-out, or the ball in play. Your total was 22 foul offs.
2007-05-23 12:44:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
In answer to the first part of your question, it's because the official major league baseball rules designed it that way. And yes, you can keep fouling pitches off without being out, unless you attempt to bunt the ball with two strikes and it goes foul. Then you are called out on a strikeout.
2007-05-23 10:47:27 · answer #4 · answered by dwmatty19 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can keep fouling off pitches. But hardly ever happens because most hitters are up there to hit the ball. With two strikes already on them they would not want to be called out on strikes,so they will try to foul off any close pitch,so they will not be called out on strikes. So yes they can keep fouling off pitches if they had to.
2007-05-23 09:39:25 · answer #5 · answered by ntbaseball07 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is only one situation where a foul ball could be called for a third strike, that is if the ball goes foul after a bunt attempt.
2007-05-23 08:30:21 · answer #6 · answered by DAVID C 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is correct, theoretically a hitter could keep fouling pitches off with two strikes and the at-bat could last forever. The exception is if a bunt is attempted with two strikes and the bunt goes foul --- that is considered the third strike.
2007-05-23 08:38:52 · answer #7 · answered by frenchy62 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can foul off pitches all day if you want unless you are trying to bunt with two strikes. If it goes foul then you are out.
2007-05-23 10:05:42 · answer #8 · answered by Crowdpleaser 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can only strike out on a swing and miss or a called third strike by the umpire. No limit on the number of foul balls.
2007-05-23 08:29:03 · answer #9 · answered by Frizzer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The basic rule is that a fielder has to either make a catch or a tag in order for there to be an out. An uncaught foul ball, therefore, cannot be an out because the ball becomes dead upon landing.
2007-05-23 11:13:29 · answer #10 · answered by JerH1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋