A little bit about baseball field in Canada

Baseball is one of Canada’s most popular and loved sporting activities. The Toronto Blue Jays are proof of this, as they are the only Canadian team that participates in the MLB. The Rogers Centre is the home arena for the baseball team’s games. Canadian baseball fans can watch from the stands the stunning Toronto Blue Jays play on a massive baseball field. So if you ask: What baseball field near me, the answer is obvious, it’s the Rogers Centre! If you have recently discovered the sport, you will be impressed and delighted, because following a baseball game is truly fascinating. Since the entire gameplay takes place on the baseball field, this article will tell you in detail what it is, why it is called a diamond, its bases and other important areas for players. 

What Baseball Field looks like

Baseball is a team game where the main attributes are the ball and the bat. But a baseball field also plays an important part as the whole game is played on it. If we talk about a baseball diamond diagram, the playing field is a site, the rays of which diverge at right angles. The pitch is divided into two zones: the infield and the outfield. The infield is the inner pitch. The outfield is the outer field. At the corners of the outfield are the so-called “bases”, which form a square with the home plate and around which the game is built. From the home base the other bases are numbered, counterclockwise. Next to home base, on either side, are also the batter’s boxes. From home, along the sides of the infield all the way to the bleachers, two lines diverge that bound the outside playing field. These lines are called “foul lines”. If the ball goes over them during play, play is stopped. Also, almost in the center of the inside base is a pitcher’s slide in the form of a circle, from where the ball is introduced into play. The pitcher’s slide is also called the pitching circle. If you look at the baseball field layout, you will notice that it looks a lot like a diamond. That is why, for its resemblance to this gem, the pitch is also called a baseball diamond. Now let’s talk about it one by one.

Baseball field dimensions

Baseball field size for pro games is a total area of one hectare. Baseball diamond dimensions for juniors and novice baseball players is one third smaller. 

Home base is a pentagonal plate with the upper corner facing the catcher’s side and the rectangular base facing the pitcher’s slide. This pentagon is made of hard rubber, which has the following dimensions. The lowest side of the pentagon is the longest and measures 43 centimeters. The two sides of the pentagonal plate are 22 centimeters. The remaining two sides, which are angled, measure 30 centimeters. 

The first, second and third bases are small square-shaped rubber bases that measure 37.5 centimeters long and 7.5 to 12.5 centimeters thick. The distance between the bases is 27 meters and 45 centimeters. 

The pitcher’s slide is located in the middle of the square and is elevated 45 centimeters above the general field level. A bleached hard rubber plate is fixed to the top of the slide, which the pitcher must touch with his foot when throwing to the batter’s home plate.

The foul lines are white lines of ground limestone. They run from home to first and third base and are the boundaries of the playing field. The foul lines may be between 50 and 100 meters long, depending on the age category of the teams in the competition. 

Most baseball fields have a fence that marks the outer edge of the field. Most often, the fence is set between 90 and 130 meters from home plate. These dimensions can also be attributed to the full baseball field length. 

Opposite the first and third bases, 5m away, are areas for the coaches, who direct the advancement of offensive players on the bases. At 12m away from home, near the benches of both teams, there are circular areas for the next batter to warm up.

Overall, it can be said that baseball field layouts are very competently designed, allowing baseball fans a good view of the game in any stadium stand arrangement. 

Baseball field background

Let’s talk about baseball field cover, in other words baseball field backgrounds. 

The inside baseball field has a grass surface. Along the perimeter of the inside base square there are 1 meter wide paths, on which hitters run from one base to another. They have a sand surface. The pitcher’s slide and the catcher’s area also have a sand surface. 

The outfield has a grass surface. It is not separated from the square by any special markings, and defending players may move around unhindered, catching the ball and carrying it to the base.

Baseball bases in detail

The base is one of the four points on the inside of the baseball field. Each base is equally spaced on a corner of a square and forms an inside pitch. There are a total of 4 bases in baseball, where one of them is the home base and is called home base. The runner must take turns rounding three bases, and return to home plate, which brings the team 1 point.As long as the runner is on a no-hitter, the opponent cannot siege him. Let’s go over the details. 

First base

Counting bases starts counterclockwise from home base. First base is the first base the batter has to touch in order to score. Players at first base are often chosen based on the quality of the hitter. The first base player is responsible for catching a ball thrown at first base by another fielder to record outs. First bases can also register assists by executing double plays.

Second base

The second of four bases, after first on the baseball diamond, is the next base the batter-runner must touch in order to win a run. Since second base is furthest from home plate, there is a high chance of a stolen base. It is often said that the runner is in the winning position at second base, as there is the highest probability of hitting home and winning a run. Players at second base should catch the ball and throw it to first base to secure an out. Shortstops play the same position as second base players, the only difference being that they are farther away from first base and therefore must throw the ball with more force.

Third base

The third of the four bases the batter-runner must touch to win. Players at third base are usually right-handed. They are responsible for catching the ball and throwing it to first base, as well as catching the ball thrown into the air. A runner on third base is especially valuable to the batter’s team, as he can get to his plate and score a run, provided the third and final out is not recorded before he can do so. 

Base line

This is a straight line between two adjacent bases. Base lines are not drawn on the field, although foul lines are used to mark the baseline between home plate and first base, and between third base and home plate.

Other areas of the baseball field

In addition to the baseball field itself, there are also areas for substitute players, a warm-up area and an area for coaches. 

Only one player is at bat. All others who are not involved in a given game are on the bench or in the dugout at this point in the game. The reserve pitchers are in another room, which is usually located behind the outfield. In this room there are two pitcher’s slides and two home runs where the pitchers are located. Here the pitchers warm up to enter the game by replacing the pitcher on the field.  

Baseball field positions

Baseball field positions are determined by the game itself. There are only six infielders. At the same time, each base has its own defender:

• First baseman;
• Second baseman;
• Third baseman.

They are assisted by another player who usually runs the square in defense. He is called the shortstop. The shortstop is placed between the bases depending on the situation on the field, usually between first and second base. He accepts a batter’s hit between 2nd and 3rd base, defends 2nd base, and insures 2nd and 3rd bases.

Of course, no baseball team can be imagined without a pitcher who is on the pitcher’s mound. He starts the game by pitching. The pitcher’s job is to make life easier for his teammates. Namely, to pitch the ball in such a way that the batter is either unable to hit it at all or the batter is unsuccessful.

The catcher catches the balls that the pitcher pitches. The catcher’s position is always behind the home line. It is his responsibility to catch a ball pitched by the pitcher, provided, of course, that the batter has not hit the ball away. In addition, he defends home, ensuring 1st and 3rd base.

In addition, there are three players in the outfield:

• Left Fielder;
• Centre Fielder;
• Right Fielder.

The main job of an outfielder is to receive balls. Outfielders can receive balls from the outfield – pop outs. For line drives, they have to run, or even catch balls in the fall. There are also situations where outfielders have to stop the ball after it touches the ground. In such a case, when catching the ball, the outfielder’s job is to square the ball immediately so that the squad players make an out to the attacking team. 

Also, umpires play a very important role. There are four of them, just like the bases. The main umpire is the umpire who is stationed at home. The other three umpires are located near each base. Their task is to determine whether or not to capture the base. In addition, it is up to the umpires to determine whether the ball has gone out of bounds or whether the ball is still in play. 

Briefly about the gameplay of baseball

Each game lasts 9 innings. If the score is tied at the end of 9 innings, overtime or extra innings starts. Each team has 9 players during the game. The team that is in the infield is called the defending team. The team that is on the bat is called the offensive team. The main mission of the 9 men in the field is to make 3 outs. After a team gets three outs, the teams switch sides. There is usually a pause between innings in which pitchers warm up and batters prepare to bat.

The main rule of baseball is to score more runs than the opposing team. A point is scored when a player on the offensive team runs all the bases one at a time. In more detail: starting at home, each player on the attacking team tries to earn the right to run counterclockwise to the next base. Once there, he has to touch base, keep running to the next base and finally return to “home”, earning a point in the process.

Each team also has a manager and several coaches who are not involved in the game, but make decisions as the game progresses. 

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