Rules of the Game?

• Nine innings per game. An inning consists of both teams taking their turn at bat. The visiting team bats first. If, in the nineth inning, after the visiting team has batted, the home team leads in score, the game is over at that point. If the score is tied after nine innings, the game goes into extra innings, whereby each team gets a chance to bat until the tie is broken or a set number of innings are reached. In the case of rain, a game may be called as early as the fifth inning after the visiting team has batted and the home team has the lead, or after the fifth inning is completed (both teams have batted) if the home team does not lead.


• Each at bat, a team tries to score "runs" by moving a runner around the bases. The base to the right of home plate (looking at the field from behind it) is first base, then going around counter-clockwise are second base, third base, and back to home plate, where the batter started.


• The batter (offensive player) attempts to get on base by either hitting the ball into fair territory, the 90 degree lines from home to first and home to third, each extending all the way to the fenses, or drawing a walk (four pitches out of the strike zone). A ball hit outside of fair territory is called a "foul ball," and counts as a "strike" against the batter if there are less than two strikes against him so far. Players on base may not advance on a foul ball.


• A batter is "out" in a number of methods including, but not limited to, hitting the ball on no bounds to a fielder (defensive member), hitting the ball to a fielder and having the ball thrown to first base before the batter (now runner) reaches first, or the batter (or any runner) being touched by the ball (may be in a fielder's glove) while in between bases. Also, three strikes and the batter is out.


• A strike is called against a batter when he either lets the pitched (thrown) ball go by him and the ball is between knees and chest in height and over home plate in width. If he swings and misses the ball, it is also a strike. Foul balls, up to two strikes, also count as strikes as stated above.


• A ball hit over the outfield fense in fair territory is a home run, and the batter may round the bases and score upon reaching home plate.

That just covers the very basic offensive rules, and there are many other rules and exceptions to the rules.

Rules where Japan differs from Major League Baseball include:

• Games are called a tie after 12 innings. (The number of innings has fluctuated over years and leagues.)


• A ball hitting the ceiling of one of the Domes is considered in play depending on where it comes down. The only exception (so far) is hitting the speakers on the top of Tokyo Dome, which is considered a home run.


• In the Central League, hitting a batter on the head/helmet is grounds for automatic expulsion from the game, whether intentional or not.

Then there are stategy differences between NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball - please don't call it "J-Ball") and MLB. Read through the forums for some ideas on that. But I think you'll need to learn more terminology and more about the game in general before any of that makes any sense.

Well, hope this helps.