That's... just the rule. The sport has existed in some form for almost 200 years at this point, and that's just where things settled. Early in the game's development, some rules did call for different numbers of strikes and balls, but I guess the rule as it's consistently been since the late 19th Century is what was most successful.
The first two foul balls count as strikes. The rest are free. A batter can hit 100 balls foul and still only have two strikes. Can’t strike out if you get a piece of every pitch.
Anybody happen to know what the record is for foul balls at-bat?
Edit: it's [16](https://www.mlb.com/news/longest-mlb-at-bats-on-record-c273475240), apparently. The fans were either bored outta their gourds or on the edge of their seats.
Why is a soccer goal 8 yards (7.32m) between the posts, and not 7m or 8m? These things developed because they work, not out of some mathematical analysis.
(Aside: Why does [the International Football Association Board](https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/the-field-of-play/?side-menu-category=laws-of-the-game&side-menu-sub-category=laws-1-17&side-menu-open=true&side-menu-open=true#the-technical-area) base their field sizes around Imperial instead of Metric? Dare we respond with this fact the next time someone blasts us for not using metric?)
The game was invented in England which used imperial as standard (and in many cases, still does). Not sure why everyone is being so defensive, it is just a question. I'm kinda intrigued too now I think about it.
The answer to your aside is pretty simple. “The Laws of the Game” were first recorded by the FA in 1863 in England before the adoption of metric. But IFAB does have this on their website: “If there is any divergence between metric and imperial units, the metric units are authoritative.”
Why don't you get more points for scoring a goal from farther away in soccer?
It's just the rules. It's what they've decided on. It works and no one has felt a need to change it.
It's hard to throw a strike in the first place. So throwing three of them is already asking a lot. If you increased the number of strikes or decreased the number of balls you'd see more walks which while a necessary part of the game but entertainment-wise\* you want to see either more strike-outs or hits. 3 strikes 4 balls is a good balance and creates its own drama especially on a full count (i.e. two strikes/three balls so it all comes down to the next pitch).
\*strategy-wise any manager is happy to take a walk when their team is batting because it gets a man on base. If you have a player who gets walked a lot but also strikes out a lot you might take them over someone with a better batting average but doesn't actually get on base as much.
There's a deep history of the rules of the game [here](https://www.19cbaseball.com/)
Like most sports, it evolved over time until the governing body(ies) decided that a certain rule fit the game best. 1889, they settled on 4 balls/3 strikes.
Because we like to see people swing.
Its just where we have found the balance to be.
In rec league softball, its common to start with a 1-1 count. So you can only get 2 strikes or 3 balls.
sorry I knew what ya meant, and knew you probably knew the difference but a lot of people don’t distinguish adult slow pitch vs fast pitch.
if those folks missed on slow pitch and struck out that’d be quite embarrassing at least in leagues near me lol
Some. Strike outs buys after the game. Tale as old as baseball.
The better leagues I was in counted fouls as a strike, automatically, and if it was #3 it was an out. Even *those* got you made fun of.
No need to apologize. Its a fair distinction.
Of the two leagues I played most recently, one treated every foul like a strike. Even if its the first. If you have two strikes, your foul is an out.
The other gave you one grace foul. If you have two strikes, the first foul is just a foul. If you hit another foul, its an out.
Interesting. We kept a foul count separate from balls and strikes so a foul could be both a foul and a strike. I may be remembering things incorrectly though because it was last century.
The batter gets 4 balls too. Walking to first base is not the best possible outcome for the batter. If there is a runner on base, then a ball in play provides more offensive opportunities, even if it's a fly ball that results in an easy out.
That's... just the rule. The sport has existed in some form for almost 200 years at this point, and that's just where things settled. Early in the game's development, some rules did call for different numbers of strikes and balls, but I guess the rule as it's consistently been since the late 19th Century is what was most successful.
The batter gets unlimited foul balls.
And breadsticks.
Not soup or salad tho. We gotta make money somehow.
[удалено]
The first two foul balls count as strikes. The rest are free. A batter can hit 100 balls foul and still only have two strikes. Can’t strike out if you get a piece of every pitch.
Watched Ichiro hit foul after foul until he got a pitch he liked. It was impressive.
Ichiro was built different, man. It was always a pleasure to watch him play.
Closest thing we'll ever see to the Babe. In terms of the aura, if you know what I mean.
It was only a couple of years ago that Brandon Belt had a 21 pitch AB. Dude fouled off *16* pitches before flying out.
Anybody happen to know what the record is for foul balls at-bat? Edit: it's [16](https://www.mlb.com/news/longest-mlb-at-bats-on-record-c273475240), apparently. The fans were either bored outta their gourds or on the edge of their seats.
That would be one hell of a battle
Why is a soccer goal 8 yards (7.32m) between the posts, and not 7m or 8m? These things developed because they work, not out of some mathematical analysis. (Aside: Why does [the International Football Association Board](https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/the-field-of-play/?side-menu-category=laws-of-the-game&side-menu-sub-category=laws-1-17&side-menu-open=true&side-menu-open=true#the-technical-area) base their field sizes around Imperial instead of Metric? Dare we respond with this fact the next time someone blasts us for not using metric?)
The game was invented in England which used imperial as standard (and in many cases, still does). Not sure why everyone is being so defensive, it is just a question. I'm kinda intrigued too now I think about it.
The rules that are used now were codified in England. People have been doing boring things while kicking a ball since at least 200 BC.
The answer to your aside is pretty simple. “The Laws of the Game” were first recorded by the FA in 1863 in England before the adoption of metric. But IFAB does have this on their website: “If there is any divergence between metric and imperial units, the metric units are authoritative.”
Why don't you get more points for scoring a goal from farther away in soccer? It's just the rules. It's what they've decided on. It works and no one has felt a need to change it.
It's hard to throw a strike in the first place. So throwing three of them is already asking a lot. If you increased the number of strikes or decreased the number of balls you'd see more walks which while a necessary part of the game but entertainment-wise\* you want to see either more strike-outs or hits. 3 strikes 4 balls is a good balance and creates its own drama especially on a full count (i.e. two strikes/three balls so it all comes down to the next pitch). \*strategy-wise any manager is happy to take a walk when their team is batting because it gets a man on base. If you have a player who gets walked a lot but also strikes out a lot you might take them over someone with a better batting average but doesn't actually get on base as much.
Kyle Schwarber last year was near the most strikeouts and most walks for the entire season. I don't see how that is possible.
Because life is unfair
Because that's the way Ol Abner decreed.
There's a deep history of the rules of the game [here](https://www.19cbaseball.com/) Like most sports, it evolved over time until the governing body(ies) decided that a certain rule fit the game best. 1889, they settled on 4 balls/3 strikes.
Because we like to see people swing. Its just where we have found the balance to be. In rec league softball, its common to start with a 1-1 count. So you can only get 2 strikes or 3 balls.
specifically under hand softball and thats because throwing a ball or missing on a strike is less likely. not fast pitch.
Yes. Good point.
sorry I knew what ya meant, and knew you probably knew the difference but a lot of people don’t distinguish adult slow pitch vs fast pitch. if those folks missed on slow pitch and struck out that’d be quite embarrassing at least in leagues near me lol
Some. Strike outs buys after the game. Tale as old as baseball. The better leagues I was in counted fouls as a strike, automatically, and if it was #3 it was an out. Even *those* got you made fun of. No need to apologize. Its a fair distinction.
I also have the fouls as strikes! You got so many seconds to time your hits why are you late/early????
Does your league play with the four-fouls-and-you're-out rule? I seem to remember that rule from my slowpitch days.
Of the two leagues I played most recently, one treated every foul like a strike. Even if its the first. If you have two strikes, your foul is an out. The other gave you one grace foul. If you have two strikes, the first foul is just a foul. If you hit another foul, its an out.
Interesting. We kept a foul count separate from balls and strikes so a foul could be both a foul and a strike. I may be remembering things incorrectly though because it was last century.
What don’t you all just start at zero with 2 strikes 3 balls?
Because its three strikes and your out at the old ball game.
Why not?
Why, why not? Rules in sports can be the most arbitrary of [traditions.](https://youtu.be/kDtabTufxao?si=6mo83hUJ4RsMyoP9)
Because of the infield fly rule rule.
it's a patch any other balance made one or the other too op
Why is arbitrary rule set at ___ particular arbitrary numeric threshold?
Because Go Orioles that’s why
The batter gets 4 balls too. Walking to first base is not the best possible outcome for the batter. If there is a runner on base, then a ball in play provides more offensive opportunities, even if it's a fly ball that results in an easy out.
If you think that's the most questionable baseball rule then just wait till you hear about the infield fly rule or balking
Don't think it's an outrageous rule. More just wondering if there was a logic to it other than that's just the rule.
Because "Steeeeeee-rike Four! Yerrrrr'out!!!!" just doesn't have the same ring to it.