in*ning
What is the definition of inning in baseball?
1. An inning is a segment of a baseball game in which both teams have played offense and defense.
The top of an inning is when the away team plays offense, and the bottom of the inning is when the home team plays offense. According to the rules of baseball, the away team always bats (plays offense) first.
Why is it called an inning?
The word inning is derived from the Old English word “innung,” which means to “get in or put in.” Essentially, it means that both teams have had a chance to put in time at offense by having their turn to be at bat.
How many innings are in a baseball game?
A regulation Major League Baseball game contains nine innings. However, if the game is tied after the bottom of the ninth inning, extra innings are played until a winner is determined.
Why are there nine innings in a baseball game?
Baseball games have nine innings because each side has nine players. It’s simply for the sake of consistency.
What counts as an inning in baseball?
An inning is the unit of play in baseball during which both teams have a chance to score. A full inning consists of two halves, with each team taking a turn at bat and in the field.
In the top half of the inning, the visiting team is at bat, and during the bottom of the inning, the home team is at bat.
How many outs are in an inning?
An inning in baseball has a total of six outs. Each team, when it’s their turn to play offense, gets three outs to score as many runs as possible.
How many runs can a team score in one inning?
There is no limit to the number of runs a team can score in one inning. However, the maximum number of runs is typically limited by the number of outs. So, while there is no set limit, a team rarely scores more than a handful of runs per inning.
David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports
How does a baseball inning end?
A baseball inning ends after both teams have had a turn at bat and recorded three outs. After the third out against the home team at the bottom of the inning, the inning is over. Then, the teams switch roles, with the defensive team taking the field and the offensive team coming up to bat for the next inning.
What is the difference between an inning and a game?
An inning is a period of time during which both baseball teams have a turn to bat and play defense. Meanwhile, a baseball game is a collection of innings. An official game is typically nine innings long but can be longer or shorter due to tiebreaking extra innings, weather or other factors.
What is the order of the batting lineup in an inning?
The batting lineup in an inning determines which order the players will bat in. The batting order remains the same throughout the game unless there is a substitution. The lineup resumes where it left off in the previous inning when it is each team’s turn at bat.
Can a team bat out of order in an inning?
Batting out of turn is against baseball rules. However, if a player bats out of turn and the opposing team does not notice it, the out will still count. But if the opposing team notices the mistake and appeals to the umpire, the player who should have batted is called out, and any runs scored by the team are nullified.
Can a player play defense for only part of an inning?
Yes, a player can play defense for only part of an inning. Teams may make defensive substitutions during an inning to bring in a new pitcher or to replace an injured player. A player substituted out of the game cannot play later in the same game.
What is the difference between the top and bottom of an inning?
The first half of an inning is called the top half. This is when the visiting team bats.
The second half of the inning is called the bottom half. This is when the home team bats.
Can a team score in the top and bottom of the same inning?
No, a team can only score runs during the half of the inning that they are at bat.
How long is an inning in baseball?
Because baseball is an untimed sport, an inning lasts as long as it takes for both teams to get three outs each. However, the average inning lasts around 20 minutes.
How many innings need to be played to be an official regulation MLB game?
In the case of bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, Major League Baseball games must complete at least five innings to be considered official. If the game is called before that point, it may be rescheduled or picked up from where it left off at a later time.
Is baseball 7 or 9 innings?
A professional regulation baseball game consists of at least nine innings. Meanwhile, the standard number of innings in a softball game is seven.
The number of innings in a baseball game may be less if a game is terminated early due to weather.
Is baseball 9 or 10 innings?
Baseball regulation games consist of nine innings unless the game is tied. In that case, extra innings continue until a winner is determined. Extra-inning games can go on indefinitely until one team scores more runs at the end of an inning.
Does the pitch clock affect how long innings are in baseball?
Yes, using a pitch clock can affect the length of innings in baseball. The pitch clock is a timer that limits the time pitchers can take between pitches. This can lead to quicker innings with fewer delays and keep the game moving at a faster pace.
What happens if a game is tied after nine innings?
If a baseball game is tied after nine innings, extra innings are played until a winner is determined. Extra innings can go on indefinitely until one team outscores the other.
What is an extra inning?
An extra inning is a period of play in baseball that occurs after the regulation nine innings if the game is tied. Each team gets an equal opportunity to bat and play defense in each extra inning. The first team to score more runs than the opposing team at the end of an inning is declared the winner.
What is the MLB extra innings tiebreaker rule?
Implemented in the 2020 season and made official in 2023, the Major League Baseball extra innings ghost runner rule places a runner on second base at the start of each half-inning after the ninth inning in regular season games.
This is done in an effort to increase the chances of a quicker resolution to tied games. The ghost runner is the player who made the last out in the previous half-inning, and the game proceeds as normal, with both teams getting a chance to score in each extra inning.
The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) college baseball established this same rule in 2021.
Are there any special rules for extra innings in the postseason or World Series?
In Major League Baseball, extra innings during the regular season and postseason follow most of the same rules with one main exception. The extra innings ghost runner rule does not apply in the postseason or World Series games.
What happens if a team cannot complete an inning due to inclement weather?
If a team cannot complete an inning due to inclement weather, baseball rules state that the game is considered official if the losing team has had at least five innings at bat or if the home team has taken the lead in the top of the fifth inning or later.
What is the maximum amount of pitches a pitcher can throw in one inning?
There is no maximum limit to the number of pitches a pitcher can throw in one inning. However, there are per-day pitch count limits in place in many leagues to protect pitchers from injury and ensure fair play.
What happens if a pitcher is replaced mid-inning?
If a pitcher is replaced mid-inning, the new pitcher inherits the count and any runners on base. The departing pitcher cannot re-enter the game.
What is a perfect inning in baseball?
A perfect inning in baseball is when a pitcher faces the minimum number of batters in a single inning, and none of the opposing batters reach base.
This means the pitcher strikes out all three batters, or they make three consecutive outs without any of the batters reaching base safely. A perfect inning is an uncommon feat and shows that the pitcher is performing at a high level.
What is a shutout inning?
A shutout inning is when the pitcher prevents the other team from scoring any runs in a single inning. Unlike in a perfect inning, batters from the opposing team may reach base in a shutout inning as long as none of them score any runs.
What is an immaculate inning?
An immaculate inning in baseball is when a pitcher strikes out all three batters in a half-inning using only nine pitches. Immaculate innings are incredibly rare and impressive. As of 2022, there have been 112 immaculate innings in MLB history.
Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports
How many innings are typically played in a doubleheader?
Doubleheaders consist of two games. In the MLB, doubleheader games typically last nine innings, which means a total of 18 innings. However, in some cases, teams may agree to play fewer innings, such as two seven-inning games, due to scheduling conflicts or to prevent wearing out the players.
In other leagues, such as college and Minor League Baseball, doubleheader games are seven innings each.
Are there any rule changes for doubleheader innings?
Baseball games may be shortened to seven innings in a doubleheader. Also, MLB teams can add an extra player to their active roster for doubleheaders, meaning a 27-man roster is allowed on these two-game days. The call-up player accrues one day of MLB service time before being returned to the Minor Leagues following the doubleheader.
Do inning rules vary by baseball league?
Yes, inning rules can vary by baseball league. For example, in Major League Baseball, each game has nine innings, while in some other leagues, such as Little League, games can have as few as six innings. Additionally, some leagues may have specific rules for extra innings or shortened games due to weather.
How many innings are in Little League baseball?
In Little League baseball, games usually have six innings, although there are variations based on the local league’s rules. For example, some leagues may have a time limit on games, resulting in fewer innings being played if the time runs out before the game is completed.
Can Little League games be shortened to fewer innings?
Yes, Little League games can be shortened to fewer innings, depending on the league and local rules. This is often done to accommodate the players’ age or scheduling constraints.
Are there any rule differences between high school and college baseball innings?
In high school and college baseball, each game consists of nine innings, just like in the professional game of baseball. However, there are some slight rule differences, such as in high school, games can be shortened to seven innings if both coaches agree or if there is a time limit.
Is there a difference between baseball and softball innings?
Softball games typically consist of seven innings, while baseball games can have anywhere from nine to unlimited innings in the case of tie games or extra innings. Additionally, softball innings are usually shorter than baseball innings.
What is the seventh-inning stretch?
The seventh-inning stretch is a beloved tradition in baseball where everyone in the stadium stands up to stretch and sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” It occurs between the top and bottom of the seventh inning.
The origins of the tradition are unclear, but one popular theory is that it was started by President William Howard Taft, who famously stood up and stretched during a game in 1910.
Many teams have even incorporated their own unique twist on the tradition, such as the Boston Red Sox playing “Sweet Caroline” during this middle-of-the-inning stretch.
What is the longest inning ever played?
The longest inning ever played in an MLB baseball game lasted one hour and eight minutes.
It took place on May 8, 2004, in a game between the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers. The inning saw a total of 29 batters and a total of 18 runs.
What are the most innings ever played in a baseball game?
Since the current rules for innings have been put in place, the longest Major League Baseball game was 26 innings on May 1, 1920. The game was between the Brooklyn Robins and the Boston Braves.
More recently, the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres played 22 innings on April 17, 2008.
Example of how innings is used in commentary
1. It’s the bottom of the second inning and the home team is up to bat. They’re looking to respond to the three runs scored in the top of the inning.
Sport the term is used
1. Baseball
2. Softball
Also see:
1. Extra innings
2. Immaculate inning
