| Strikeout |
Articles about Strikeout |
Information AboutStrikeout |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT STRIKEOUT | |
| baseball statistics | |
| baseball rules | |
| baseball terminology | |
|
outfielder Adam Dunn strikes out swinging to Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz (not pictured). Smoltz recorded 10 strikeouts in this start, three against Dunn.]] In Baseball , a strikeout or '''strike out''' (denoted by '''SO''' or '''K''') occurs when the Batter receives three Strikes during his time At Bat . Strikeouts are associated with dominance on the part of the Pitcher and/or incompetence on the part of the batter, although for power hitters it is recognized that the style of swing that generates Home Run s also leaves the batter somewhat susceptible to striking out. RULES A pitcher receives credit for (and a batter is charged with) a strikeout on any third strike, but a batter is Out only if either of the following is true: # the third strike is pitched and caught in flight by the catcher (including Foul Tip s); # on any third strike, if a Baserunner is on First and there are fewer than two outs; # the third strike is bunted foul and is not caught by a fielder If the third strike is not caught and there are two outs, or fewer than two outs and no baserunner on first, the batter becomes a runner. Thus, it is possible for a batter to strike out, but still reach base safely if the Catcher fails or is unable to catch the third strike cleanly and cannot tag out the batter or force him out at first base (in Japan this is called ''furinige''（）, i.e. swing and escape). As a result, pitchers have occasionally been able to record four strikeouts in one half- Inning . In scoring, a swinging strikeout is recorded as a K, or a K-S. A strikeout looking (where the batter does not swing at a pitch that the umpire then calls strike three) is sometimes scored with a backwards K. The use of "K" for a strikeout was invented by Henry Chadwick , a newspaper journalist who is widely credited as the originator of the Box Score and the Baseball Scorecard . Both the box score and scorecard persist largely unchanged to this day, as the game itself is largely unchanged except for the number of balls and strikes allowed to the pitcher and batter. The letter "S" was used to coin "sacrifice" so Mr. Chadwick decided to use "K", with "K" being the last letter in "struck." Mr. Chadwick also invented many other baseball scoring abbreviations, such as using numbers to designate player positions (progressing from the battery, pitcher and catcher [2 , through the infield, with the shortstop counted after the basemen, at number 6, to the right fielder [9]).1 That Mr. Chadwick first established the convention of using the "K" abbreviation is well-founded, with reliable and authentic primary materials surviving (see citation above). Those unaware of Mr. Chadwick's contributions have speculated that "K" was derived from the 19th century pitcher Matt Kilroy 's last name. If not for the evidence supporting Mr. Chadwick's earlier use of "K", this speculation would be reasonable: Kilroy did much to raise the prominence of the strikeout, setting an all-time record of 513 strikeouts in 1886, only two years after overhand pitching was permitted. Kilroy's record, however, is forever confined to its era: the pitcher's mound during his record-setting season was only 50 feet from the batter; it was moved to its current distance of 60'6" in 1893. The modern record (1901-) is 383 strikeouts, held by Nolan Ryan, one better than Sandy Koufax's 382. Although some people use "K" to record pitchers' strikeouts, "SO" is the official abbreviation used by Major League Baseballhttp://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/baseball_basics/abbreviations.jsp. In addition, "K" is still commonly used by fans and enthusiasts for purposes other than official record-keeping. In one baseball ritual, fans at the ballpark who are seated in view of the batter (and the television cameras) attach a succession of small "K" signs to the nearest railing, one added for every strikeout notched by the home team's pitcher. As is traditional for those who keep a record of the game on paper, the "K" is placed backwards in cases where the batter strikes out looking. Virtually every televised display of a major league game in which a pitcher registers a high number of strikeouts (7 or 8) will include a shot of a fan's strikeout display, and if the pitcher continues to strike out batters, the display often will be shown following every strikeout. In the event that a known "strikeout pitcher" is on the mound, the strikeout display will be televised on from the beginning. HISTORY The strikeout is as old as baseball itself. Alexander Cartwright 's Knickerbocker Rules , drawn up in 1845 and considered the foundation of the modern game, define the strikeout as follows: ''Three balls being struck at and missed and the last one caught, is a hand-out; if not caught is considered fair, and the striker bound to run.'' (Rule #11) This is essentially the same rule in use today, with the addition of the called strike (1858) and the provision that the batter is automatically out if there are less than two out and a runner on first. In 1880 , the rules were changed to specify that a third strike had to be caught on the fly. In 1887 , the number of strikes for an out was changed to four, but promptly changed back to three the next season. A foul Bunt was classified as a strike in 1894 , and a foul tip in 1895 . JARGON AND SLANG A swinging strikeout is often called a ''whiff'' and a batter who is struck out by a Fastball is often said to have been ''blown away''. A batter who strikes out on a swung third strike is said to have been ''fanned''. When a batter takes a called third strike it is called a ''punchout'', describing the plate umpire's punching motion on a called third strike, which resembles the motion most umpires use to call a baserunner out, but is usually more vigorous, perhaps reflecting an unspoken belief that looking at a third strike is somewhat more blameworthy than making any other out. On a called third strike, it is said that the batter was ''caught looking'' or that he looked at a strike. Typically, a called third strike can be somewhat more embarrassing for a batter, as it shows that he was either fooled by the pitcher, or even worse, had a moment of hesitation. A pitcher is said to "strike out the side" when he retires all three batters in a half inning by striking them out. A batter that takes the third strike looking, especially on a breaking pitch, such as a slider or a curveball, that appears to be out of the strike zone but drops in before the batter can get the bat off his shoulders, can be said to have been "frozen." In slang, when a batter strikes out three times in a game, he is said to have completed a "sombrero." This is in reference to other sports, where three goals scored is known as a "hat trick." If he strikes out four times, it is a " Golden Sombrero " or a "silver sombrero". He receives the "Olympic Rings" or a "Texas Star" for striking out five times and the "horn" for striking out six times in a game - a rare occurrence, which in the history of major league play has only been accomplished in Extra Innings games. Some pitchers who specialize in strikeouts have acquired nicknames including the letter "K". Brewers closer Francisco Cordero is known as "Koko", Dwight Gooden was known as "Doctor K". Francisco Rodriguez is known as "K-Rod". Roger Clemens has taken the "K" name to an extreme, naming his four sons Koby , Kory, Kacy, and Kody. (Koby was drafted as a third baseman by the Houston Astros organization at the age of 18). FOUR STRIKEOUTS IN AN INNING If a third strike is not caught by the catcher (and is not tipped), it is a strikeout, and the at-bat is over. However, with first base open or with two outs, the batter is not out until tagged out or forced out. On a Wild Pitch or Passed Ball the batter can often advance to first base safely. If a runner is at first base and there are less than two outs, the batter is automatically out, as with the Infield Fly Rule . If there are two outs, another runner may be forced out as with any other ball in play. If the runner reaches first base safely, there is no out, but the pitcher is still credited with a strikeout. It is thus possible for a pitcher to throw four (or more) strikeouts in an inning. The first major leaguer to be credited with the feat was Jon Andre of the and Forkball , both pitches that end up in the dirt at the plate when effective and often are difficult to handle for catchers. With any runners advancing to leave first base open if there are less than two outs, the process can repeat, leading to a fifth strikeout (or more) in the inning. A fifth strikeout has not happened in the major leagues, but has occurred three times in the minor leagues, most recently by Mike Schultz to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on July 16, 2004. {Link without Title} . STRIKEOUT RECORDS Season and career strikeout totals for pitchers are followed closely by fans. The top 5 Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders (active players in bold):2
# Nolan Ryan - 5714 # Roger Clemens - 4666 # Randy Johnson - 4616 # Steve Carlton - 4136 # Bert Blyleven - 3701 The top 5 Major League Baseball single-season strikeout leaders (since 1900): # Nolan Ryan , 1973 - 383 # Sandy Koufax , 1965 - 382 # Randy Johnson , 2001 - 372 # Nolan Ryan , 1974 - 367 # Randy Johnson , 1999 - 364 The top 5 Major League Baseball career strikeout-per-nine innings leaders (since 1900): # Randy Johnson - 10.85 # Kerry Wood - 10.36 # Pedro Martínez - 10.23 # Nolan Ryan - 9.55 # Sandy Koufax - 9.28 The top 5 Major League Baseball single season strikeout-per-nine innings leaders (since 1900): # Randy Johnson , 2001 - 13.41 # Pedro Martínez , 1999 - 13.21 # Kerry Wood , 1998 - 12.58 # Randy Johnson , 2000 - 12.56 # Randy Johnson , 1995 - 12.35 Active pitchers in top 50 (as of August 8th, 2007): :2. Roger Clemens - 4647 :3. Randy Johnson - 4614 :12. Greg Maddux - 3245 :14. Curt Schilling - 3086 :15. Pedro Martínez - 3002 :19. John Smoltz - 2904 :25. Mike Mussina - 2636 :30. Tom Glavine - 2541 The top 5 Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders (batters): # Reggie Jackson - 2597 # Sammy Sosa - 2194 # Andrés Galarraga - 2003 # José Canseco - 1942 # Willie Stargell - 1936 Active batters in the top 50 (as of January 4, 2007): :2. Sammy Sosa - 2194 :6. Jim Thome - 1909 :20. Craig Biggio - 1641 :22. Reggie Sanders - 1599 :37. Jim Edmonds - 1512 :41. Ken Griffey, Jr. - 1494 :43. Barry Bonds - 1485 :44. Carlos Delgado - 1483 :46. Manny Ramírez - 1451 Single season strikeout records (batters): # Adam Dunn - 195 ( 2004 ) # Adam Dunn - 194 ( 2006 ) # Bobby Bonds - 189 ( 1970 ) # José Hernández - 188 ( 2002 ) # Bobby Bonds - 187 ( 1969 ) # Preston Wilson - 187 ( 2000 ) # Rob Deer - 186 ( 1987 ) # José Hernández - 185 ( 2001 ) # Pete Incaviglia - 185 ( 1986 ) # Jim Thome - 185 ( 2001 ) REFERENCES SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS |
|
|