What Does 6 4 3 2 Mean In Baseball?
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This baseball term is used to describe the order of the batting lineup. The “6-4-3” means that the sixth batter will hit fourth and the fourth batter will hit third.
The Meaning of 6 4 3 2
The numbers 6 4 3 2 are the base-running route signs. They tell the base-runner how to run the bases. The first number, 6, means to go from home plate to first base. The second number, 4, means to go from first to second base. The third number, 3, means to go from second to third base. The last number, 2, means to score a run by going from third to home plate.
The Infield Fly Rule
The Infield Fly Rule is one of the most misunderstood and complicated rules in baseball. It isRule 6.04 in the official Major League Baseball rulebook, but it is informally known as “the infield fly rule” because it is only invoked when there is a runner on first base and fewer than two outs, and the batter hits a fly ball to the infield.
Here is the official wording of the rule: “”The infield fly rule shall apply when there are runners on first base and second base with less than two outs, or runners on first base, second base and third base with less than two outs, and a fair ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) is hit by the batter when there are fewer than two strikes to him. The pitcher, catcher and any baseman each has the responsibility to field such a ball immediately, before it touches the ground.”
In other words, if there are runners on first and second base with fewer than two outs, and the batter hits a pop up to any of the infielders, they are required to catch it. If they don’t catch it, the batter is still out (if it’s caught), but so are all the runners – they cannot advance.
The reason for this rule is to prevent the defense from purposely not catching a fly ball in order to turn a double play. Without this rule in place, teams would intentionally allow fly balls to drop in order to get two quick outs (and possibly prevent runs from scoring). The rule essentially forces the defense to make a play on any potential pop up – even if that means sacrificing an out.
The inverse of this rule is sometimes called “the cheap infield hit.” This happens when there are runners on first and second base with fewer than two outs, and the batter hits a ground ball that goes through the infield for a hit. Because of positioning and/or bad hops, it’s often impossible for any fielder to make a play on such a ball. However, if this same scenario occurs with fewer than two strikes on the batter (i.e., he can still bunt), then it’s possible for the defense to intentionally not catch pop up in order to turn a double play – which nullifies any chance of a cheap infield hit.
The Double Play
The “6-4-3” double play, is the most common Around the Horn double play. It is so named because the second baseman (the “4”), fields the ground ball (the “6”), and then throws to the shortstop (the “3”), who then throws to the first baseman (the “2”).
This particular double play is very common because most hitters are right-handed, so they tend to hit ground balls to the right side of the infield. The second baseman is in position to field these ground balls, and he can then make a quick throw to the shortstop, who can then turn and make a quick throw to the first baseman.
The 6-4-3 double play can also be turned by a third baseman, if the ball is hit hard enough that the second baseman cannot get to it in time. In this case, it would be called a “5-4-3” double play, since the third baseman (the “5”) would field the ball and make the throw to the shortstop (the “4”), who would then make a quick throw to first base (the “3”).
The Significance of 6 4 3 2
The numbers 6 4 3 2 are significant in baseball because they are the number of outs in an inning. There are three outs in an inning, so when a team has two outs, the next batter is the last one in that inning. The number 6 4 3 2 means that the team has two outs and the next batter is the last one in the inning.
The Infield Fly Rule
In baseball, the infield fly rule is a rule that applies when there are runners on first and second base with only one out. In this situation, if the batter hits a fly ball in the infield that is caught by an infielder, the batter is automatically out and the runner on first base is allowed to advance to second base.
The rule was put in place to prevent fielders from purposely allowing a fly ball to drop in order to get an easy double play. This was a common strategy used in the early days of baseball, but it often led to unfair outcomes. For example, if a fielder let a ball drop in order to get two outs, the runner on first base would often be stranded on base.
The infield fly rule has been part of baseball for over 100 years and is one of the most important rules in the game. It helps to keep the game fair and prevents fielders from abusing their power.
The Double Play
In baseball statistics, 6 4 3 2 (often denoted “6-4-3 double play” or “6-4-3 DP”) is the code used to record a ground ball double play. The numbers refer to the number of defensive players involved in the play: from the catcher to the first baseman, from first base to second base, from second base to shortstop, and from shortstop to third base.
The 6 4 3 2 double play is the most common type of double play. It is often called “the around-the-horn double play”, because the ball is thrown around the infield horn. It can also be called a “ground ball double play” or a “routine double play”.
In order for a 6 4 3 2 double play to be recorded, all three of the following conditions must be met:
1) There must be less than two outs;
2) There must be runners on first and second base;
3) The batter must hit a ground ball to an infielder.
If any of these conditions are not met, then the play is not recorded as a 6 4 3 2 double play. For example, if there are already two outs when the ground ball is hit, then it is simply recorded as an “out”. Or if there are runners on first and third base, then it is recorded as a “force out” at second base (4-6).
The 6 4 3 2 double play has been declining in recent years as baseball strategies have shifted away from stressing defense and towards harnessing the power of hitters. In 2019, there were only 724 6-4-3 DPs recorded in Major League Baseball, down from 824 in 2015.