Baseball's Unwritten Rules

[fromtheline]

For the longest time ever, I actually thought this was programmed into the game. It turns out it isn't.

Every time I hit back-to-back home runs, I always go into the game log and check for it right away. The batter always took the first pitch after back-to-back home runs, whether it was a called strike or a ball.

But then, today, I saw that someone fouled off the first few pitches instead of taking the first pitch. Just thought I would point it out.

[slugga27]

What's your point?

[84Hammy]

Originally Posted by slugga27

What's your point?

I suppose the point is that after back-to-back home runs, the next batter will usually take the first pitch. Unless he plays for the Tigers, and then it's just hack away...Of course I don't think the game doesn't takes into account this type of generally accepted practice.

[buffalo_pete]

Huh. Never thought to look.

[hefalumps]

That's an unwritten rule I'd never heard of. At first I thought he was referring to the unwritten rule of a pitcher plunking the next batter after back-to-back home runs. Or is that only for back-to-back-to-BACK home runs.

[le receveur]

Originally Posted by hefalumps

That's an unwritten rule I'd never heard of. At first I thought he was referring to the unwritten rule of a pitcher plunking the next batter after back-to-back home runs. Or is that only for back-to-back-to-BACK home runs.

same here. actually i would love if OOTP was programmed for unwritten rules.
i was simming a game and my CF up 13-3 in the 8th inning, stole 2nd base... i really was hoping the pitcher would plunk my hitter, just for the fun of it...

[RchW]

Originally Posted by le receveur

same here. actually i would love if OOTP was programmed for unwritten rules.
i was simming a game and my CF up 13-3 in the 8th inning, stole 2nd base... i really was hoping the pitcher would plunk my hitter, just for the fun of it...

Not if it means batters taking the first pitch every time after B2B HR.

[le receveur]

Originally Posted by RchW

Not if it means batters taking the first pitch every time after B2B HR.

but there is no such rule...

would also love if my catcher stood in front of plate, because the hitter admired his HR... :-)

[CatKnight]

I'd never heard of that rule (taking the next pitch). Sounds a little pointless to me.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by le receveur

but there is no such rule...

would also love if my catcher stood in front of plate, because the hitter admired his HR... :-)

Unwritten rules by definition are no such rules....

[rpriske]

I would LOVE unwritten rule sto be part of the game. It doesn't mean they have to happen every time, but the tendency should mean something. (I have never even heard of the one talked about above).

The one that drives me crazy is runners stealing bases when up by a huge amount of runs. I just saw it happen in a game where the team was up 10-0 in the 9th. That just shouldn't happen.

I also think intentional hit-by-pitches should mean something.

[buffalo_pete]

I enforce this myself. You steal a base on me when you're up 6-0? Well, guess we'll just fill that base right back up then.

[Questdog]

I have never heard of any unwritten rule or tendency to take a pitch after back to back HR's, which means there is no such unwritten rule or tendency....

What would be the point?....Fella gives up back to back homers and throws me one down the middle, you bet I'm going to try to get me a piece of the pie.....

Now after back to back walks, THEN you had better be taking the first pitch and if you don't, you had better knock the cover off of it.....

Now some pitchers take umbrage at a fellow swinging at a 3-0 pitch (especially if the team at bat is winning), but those guys are all girlie men......

[Questdog]

Originally Posted by RchW

Unwritten rules by definition are no such rules....

It's called etiquette and we all live by a zillion of these unwritten rules everyday......it is not only baseball......however, I think etiquette in baseball should be limited to not trying to intentionally injure a player.....

[joefromchicago]

Originally Posted by hefalumps

That's an unwritten rule I'd never heard of. At first I thought he was referring to the unwritten rule of a pitcher plunking the next batter after back-to-back home runs. Or is that only for back-to-back-to-BACK home runs.

OOTP does recreate the common sequence of "home run - plunking of the following batter - bench-clearing brawl."

As for taking the first pitch after back-to-back homers, I think that may have more to do with the batter allowing the fans a little time to settle down than anything else. I've never heard of any kind of unwritten rule to that effect. Now, a runner who jogs across the mound after being called out on the bases, that is cause for some serious retaliation.

[Gil Thorp]

Originally Posted by rpriske

The one that drives me crazy is runners stealing bases when up by a huge amount of runs. I just saw it happen in a game where the team was up 10-0 in the 9th. That just shouldn't happen.

I also think intentional hit-by-pitches should mean something.

Drives me crazy too. I always hit the next batter when a team does it to me. When you hit a guy intentionally, in most cases, it's obvious and should start a fight or cause retaliation. Manager ejections used to be part of the game. Maybe warnings/ejections should be added?

[fromtheline]

Originally Posted by Questdog

I have never heard of any unwritten rule or tendency to take a pitch after back to back HR's, which means there is no such unwritten rule or tendency....

What would be the point?....Fella gives up back to back homers and throws me one down the middle, you bet I'm going to try to get me a piece of the pie.....

Now after back to back walks, THEN you had better be taking the first pitch and if you don't, you had better knock the cover off of it.....

Now some pitchers take umbrage at a fellow swinging at a 3-0 pitch (especially if the team at bat is winning), but those guys are all girlie men......

I read that it goes something along the lines of, the pitcher is just trying to do a job, and the hitter knows that. The hitter also knows he's just have two batters gone deep off of him. So, he takes a pitch to tell him I know you're just doing a job, but I have a job too, and I've got to do it eventually too, so I'll give you one pitch.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by Questdog

It's called etiquette and we all live by a zillion of these unwritten rules everyday......it is not only baseball......however, I think etiquette in baseball should be limited to not trying to intentionally injure a player.....

Is it bad etiquette to bunt for a hit late in a possible no-hitter?

I say no because no etiquette should stop me from competing. Competing to me is doing everything you can to hit or get on base no matter the score or the inning. It shocked me to to find that many people (Justin Verlander was one) consider competing "bush league".

Unwritten rules in sports are often self-serving statements that are used to protect accomplishments or protect star players or teams. Hockey is so full of them that no one can figure out which ones apply.

[Matt Arnold]

Originally Posted by RchW

Is it bad etiquette to bunt for a hit late in a possible no-hitter?

I say no because no etiquette should stop me from competing. Competing to me is doing everything you can to hit or get on base no matter the score or the inning. It shocked me to to find that many people (Justin Verlander was one) consider competing "bush league".

Unwritten rules in sports are often self-serving statements that are used to protect accomplishments or protect star players or teams. Hockey is so full of them that no one can figure out which ones apply.

Bunting for a base hit in a no-hitter late in a game that's 10-0 is a big no-no. But if the game is 0-0 or 1-0, then by all means I'm winning however I can. If it means leaning in to a pitch with a perfect game on the line, screw you.


That being said, stuff like stealing a base or bunting late in a blowout are things that I would consider as the unwritten rules that make sense. Sometimes you don't want to rub it in too much to the other side. Like in hockey when you put your 3rd line on the PP late in the 4-0 game.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by RchW

Is it bad etiquette to bunt for a hit late in a possible no-hitter?

I say no because no etiquette should stop me from competing. Competing to me is doing everything you can to hit or get on base no matter the score or the inning. It shocked me to to find that many people (Justin Verlander was one) consider competing "bush league".

Unwritten rules in sports are often self-serving statements that are used to protect accomplishments or protect star players or teams. Hockey is so full of them that no one can figure out which ones apply.

Some examples please