We're just about ready for another MLB season. I AM STOKED!! To start things off, here's a baseball trivia question:

What's the maximum number of pitches a batter can see in one at bat before he either makes an out, gets on base, or hits a foul ball?

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Jim Ulam
Bethany Bible Fellowship (Non-denominational)
Westminster, CA

"From now on, ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put" - Winston Churchill

6 -- including the pitch that causes one of the above actions.

That would be 3 balls and 2 strikes, followed by a pitch in which he will either walk, get hit by the pitch, get a hit, strike out, foul off, or make an out.

Unless I'm forgetting something, of course!

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Tim Phillips
Pastor, Midlane Park Presbyterian Church (ARP)
Louisville, KY
Husband of Scottish Lass
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"Wherever the gospel is preached, it is as if God Himself came into the midst of us." ~ John Calvin

The pitcher could also make three improper deliveries to the plate and be called for a balk each time, presuming the batter was up with 3 men on base. For each balk, the runners would be sent forward a base, and 3 runs would score in total. Once the bases are cleared, though, there would be no opportunity for additional balks.

So my guess is nine pitches total with 6 allocated according to Tim's guess. (though I wouldn't have chosen to count his last one, the one during which the batter actually makes an out, gets on base or hits a foul ball)

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Todd K. Pedlar
member, First Congregational Church, (CCCC) Cresco, IA
http://inprincipiodeus.solideogloria.com
http://puritanwisdom.blogspot.com

"As God did not at first choose you because you were high, He will not now forsake you because you are low."
John Flavel in Keeping the Heart



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OK...good guess...but not correct. You need to really think outside the box on this one.

For those who are wondering, it's not a trick question. Think holistically.

-----Added 3/30/2009 at 10:06:59 EST-----

Interesting...Nope.

Go ahead and count the pitch that the batter makes an out, gets on base, or hits a foul ball.

It's a sneaky answer; I was stumped on it once before (quite recently, actually) until someone showed me the error of my ways: if I follow his logic, 11. But I would never have come up with it on my own.

-----Added 3/30/2009 at 10:16:51 EST-----

Now, the puzzle for everyone else (if this is, indeed, the answer Jim is looking for) is to explain how this could happen.

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Paul Korte
OPC
Flint, MI

They who perceive in themselves discoveries of the divine goodness, so full and absolutely perfect, and who make them the subject of earnest meditation, will never embrace new doctrines, by which the very grace they feel so powerfully in themselves is thrown into the shade. --John Calvin

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1 because he only sees 1 pitch at a time that results in one of those things happening.

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Wayne Whitmer
Member, Rio Rancho OPC
Albuquerque, NM

If he just keeps fouling out, it could go on forever... Note I am sports clueless...


Theognome

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Bill Cunningham
Covenant Reformed Church, URC
Kansas City
There are three kinds of people- those who can count, and those who can't.

Excellent my friend. Right you are. 11 is the correct answer.
Now, how does this happen indeed?

Well, I'm lost. I don't see how you can manufacture two more pitches... and if you could, why you couldn't then easily explain how it could happen, since it seems to me in order to give a number you've got to explain how.

Against the rules, though... since the question specifically included foul ball as one of the possible ways the streak of pitches could end.

Toldja I was clueless.

Theognome

Todd,

If I tell you it's the result of a combination of 5 pitches and 6 pitches, does that help?

Not off hand, no... but I probably should sleep on it.

Gurnall first, though.

Batter is up with a 3-2 count and 2 outs. Runner on base gets caught stealing or picked off to end the inning. Same batter comes up the next inning and runs the count to 3-2 again. Next pitch is either a Hit Batter, Walk, or Strikeout. Total number of pitches is 11.

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N.
PCA, Tennessee
[B]Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Psalm 127:3-5[/B]

[I]Woman was taken out of man; not out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled underfoot; but out of his side to be equal to him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved.- [/I][B]Matthew Henry[/B]

The pitcher gets 6 warm up pitches, which the batter sees from the on-deck circle. He then sees a maximum of 5 pitches in the batters box (running the count to 3 balls, 2 strikes) before he either walks, gets a hit, strikes out, or fouls the ball off.

Am I correct? (6 warm up pitches don't really seem like enough)

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Brad
Deacon
Redeemer Church
Jackson, MS

This would seem to be it... although technically it's not correct because the first at-bat would not be scored as an official at-bat. So the number really would be only six.

Warmup pitches can't be counted though - these were to be actual pitches seen during the at-bat (and anyway the major league limit is 8 between innings, not 5 - or 6)

Oh, what happens with the count when one pitcher comes in and replaces another (while facing the same batter)? That may account for the accumulation of the pitch count. So if a batter goes 3-2, then pitcher gets hurt throwing the last pitch, a new one comes in, I'm not sure what the count would be with the new pitcher.

I am pretty sure the pitch count stays the same.

Exactly. Beautiful my friend!!

Now. Here's a new one. How did the NY Mets arrive at their team colors?

The blue in the mets uniform represents the brooklyn dodgers and the orange represents the new york giants.

I believe you are correct! Isn't blue and orange also the colors of the New York City flag?

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Aaron
Coram Deo Fellowship (CBA)
Portland, OR

We must pray that God would give us sorrow over dishonoring Him so.

"Bible study is never complete until it results in worship." -Lee Fields

I think this is a flawed question (even though you apparently have received an answer and an explanation). Why?

Because a batter cannot make an out. He can get out, but to make an out you have to be playing defense not offense. The question is flawed!

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Rev. Andrew J. Barnes
Husband of Dena
Father of Oliver
Master of Bruce
Pastor of Tchula Presbyterian Church

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