Do you enjoy baseball?

Sometimes we make a social event out of watching the game by inviting friends to our place.

Maybe going over to someone else’s place to watch the game on TV, or even by going out to watch the game together.

This lesson shows some conversations that are about baseball and how we enjoy it.

To brush up on your vocabulary, have a look at the vocabulary section at the end.

Shall we get started then?

Hello Andrea.

Hey Bobby!

So, on Saturday there’s a baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Would you like to go?

That sounds like fun.

It's a night game. Is that all right?

Probably. What time does it start?

I think it starts at 6 pm.

Oh, that's all right. Then I’ll see you on Saturday!

Hey Luke. So which baseball team you like the most?

I like the New York Yankees. What about you?

I really like the Texas Rangers.

Yes, the Texas Rangers are good. But nothing compared to the Yankees.

Oh come on man. You’re just saying that because you’re a fan.

Yeah I am. And last month the Texas Rangers lost the game against the Yankees.

I know that but that doesn't make them any less than the Yankees.

Okay, okay. They're both equally good. Happy now?

Yes!

Hey Jack. Are you a baseball fan?

Yes, I am. Why?

Ummm. I always wanted to know just how many players are even on a baseball team.

Okay. There are 9 players from one team on the field at one time,

while the other team is the one hitting the ball and trying to score a run.

There are three outfielders and three basemen, one shortstop, one pitcher and one catcher.

Okay. So what do the three outfielders do?

If the batter from the other team hits the ball out past the bases,

they have to get the ball and throw it back and try and get the batter out.

Oh really? That's awesome. I had no idea..

Yeah. Each team at bat gets three outs.

If you get the third one, the other team gets their turn at bat.

Okay. Now I that I know a few things that I'm supposed to know, I can watch a baseball game

Yeah. Have fun!

Thanks, Jack!

You’re welcome.

Hey Bobby.

Hey Rita. What's up?

Nothing, I was just about to start watching the baseball game.

Oh really? Me, too. Yankees vs Rangers. It's gonna be some game.

I bet it will. So do you prefer watching the game on television or at a stadium?

Well, I guess everyone likes going to a stadium. But you can't really go all the time, right?

No, it’s too expensive, and I don't like going to crowded places. I prefer watching on television.

We should watch the game together next Friday!

Yeah sure. At my place.

Okay. See you.

See you then.

Hey Judy. You look puzzled!

Yes... I was just trying to figure something out.

What is it?

I was wondering... what is a home run in baseball?

A home run is when a batter hits the ball so far,

that none of the outfielders can get to it and throw it back to get the batter out,

before he has run to all three bases and gotten back to home plate where he started from.

Oh. Okay! But why do they call it a "home run"?

I guess it’s because he starts from home plate and runs around the field until he ends up back at home plate

so he’s running from home to home without stopping!

So a home run is a good thing!

Yes, a very good thing, especially if there are other batters already on the bases,

because they get to run home too, and each one who gets back home gets a point.

And the one with the most points wins!

That’s the way it works!

It’s the place where the games are played and where people can go and watch it live.

A game that’s either started after dark, or starts before dark but continues after dark and is played under electric lights.

A fan is someone who really enjoys the game, knows quite a bit about it, and watches as often as possible.

When a player gets back to home plate after touching all three other bases he has scored a run.

An outfielder is one of the three team members who are the farthest away from home plate,

that is, in the outfield, and try to either catch the ball or get it and throw it back and get the batter out.

A baseman is assigned to play one of the three bases and try to put a batter out.

The shortstop plays between second and third base and tries to keep the ball from going into the outfield.

The pitcher throws the ball to the batter, who tries to hit it.

The catcher stands behind the batter and catches the pitched ball if the hitter doesn’t hit it.

The player whose turn it is to try to hit the ball. He stands at home plate in front of the catcher.

The player or the team at bat is the one who gets to try to score a run, while the other team tries to keep them from scoring.

A batter or runner who is touched by the ball while it is in the hands of the opposing team is out.

He doesn’t get to make a score and has to leave the field.

An out may also be made when someone catches a hit ball before it touches the ground.

Where the batter stands to hit, and where each batter and runner have to get back to in order to score a run.

I hope you had a great time watching this lesson.

We’ll be back with a new one tomorrow. Make sure you come back for it!

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See you tomorrow!