User:JohnVoDC37/Baseball and "Red, White and Blue Hardball"

Red, White and Blue Hardball -- is a pick-up baseball game that’s fast-paced, action-filled and a way to play baseball (or softball) with less than 9 vs 9—it can be played 4-on-4-on-4!
Here’s an idea for a less structured game format: 3 teams of 4 (or 5 or 6…) players each. Teams are picked for either the Red, White, or Blue teams. One team hits, while the other 2 teams play together in the field. The format requires only a minimum of 12 players.

Players are encouraged to play different positions – including pitcher - and every player is assured 4 to 5 at-bats per game.

The game moves faster - Game goes 90 minutes (max) or 4 innings (goal – all players get 4 to 5 At-bats, minimum).

The greatest advantages of this format are that ALL the players have to work together, communicate and cooperate with all the other players during the game. This is a recreational game that can also be used during team practices a great trainer for skills and game situations.

Play Ball: Each inning consists of 3 parts, the “top,” “middle” and “bottom” third of the inning. To start the inning, the Red Team bats, while White and Blue teams take the field:

When the Red team’s at-bat ends (once thru the order w/ the last out a force at home),:
• The White Team comes to bat,
• The Blue Team players take their preferred positions including Pitcher, and
• The Red Team fills in. …and so on…

The last out by each Team is made by either by a
• strikeout,
• fly-out, or
• force-out at Home for a safely hit ball. This will probably require a relay between players from 2 different Teams and the pitcher covering home plate. Each Team at-bat ends once through their entire lineup of players (with 4 per team: bat twice through the order).

Hitters Rules:
• All at-bats start at “1-ball/1-strike counts”
Optional -- After 2 strikes, if the batter fouls off 4 pitches, the hitter is awarded a “Base on Balls”
• Bunting: must be determined/agree to by all 3 teams before the game.
• The Last Batter must announce before coming to the plate. If the last batter coaxes a “Base on Balls,” the batter remains at-bat and all runners move up one base until the last batter either strikes out, a flies-out, hits safely and necessitates a force-out at Home.

Pitchers Rules:
• Pitchers must pitch from Stretch or “Power” position
•Optional: Players who are “Pitchers” should pitch from the mound // players who are non-pitchers may pitch from the mat in front of the mound. • Anyone who pitches can pitch only 2 innings maximum
• No pitcher in one inning can pitch
o 3 consecutive Base-on-Balls,
o 5 Base-on-Balls total, or
o 2 Hit-Batters

•Optional: Wild pitches -- For versions without a catcher, using the target pop-up net – • Missing the net completely – all runners will advance 1 base • All balls in the dirt are a wild pitch – all runners will advance 1 base (note on close calls: like in racquetballs, if a ball pops up it has hit the ground first then the screen = wild pitch // if the ball rolls along the ground back toward the pitcher it has hit the screen first and is not a wild pitch)

Base running rules: • For versions without a catcher, using the target pop-up net – • Wild pitches (missing the net completely) will advance 1 base

• No Collisions – the runner is automatically out • No fake tags by defensive players – the defender is thrown out

I've adapted these basic rules below from memories of youth pick up games; we also played this a time or 2 as an adult on the fields of Washington DC, first in/@ 1989; I finally put down my ideas on a word file @ 2003. I've searched wikipedia and google for any other reference to playing baseball in a 3-team format, but did not find any similar pages or references. So your thoughts, ideas, insight and comments are greatly appreciated.

Remember: Have Fun!

--JohnVoDC37 (talk) 14:03, 6 September 2009 (UTC)