What does batting around mean?

[gunnarthor]

http://deadspin.com/baseballs-version-of-the-dress-what-does-batting-arou-1699097944#

 

So apparently there is some confusion to what it means for a team to "bat around."  I think it means 10 or more batters in an inning but others say just 9.  Those others are wrong.  Anyhow, Deadspin had a nice article on it and (if I did it right) there's a poll here.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Interesting.  I would say 10 too, but after reading the article, I can see a case for 9.  Either way, you don't want to be on the pitching/defensive side of the inning!

 

I suppose if the final out is made on the bases, you could get both -- the 10th man came to the plate but didn't record a plate appearance.

[Hrbowski]

Ten, but I never trust Deadspin.

[jimmer]

Well, Bert and Richard said a bat around inning is 9 batters batting in an inning.  So now we know for sure it's 10.

[USAFChief]

I guess I don't understand any position on this but "9".

 

But I'm uncomfortable being of the same mind as DickBert.

 

Fortunately it should never come up again on a Twins broadcast while we're in the field...

[Seth Stohs]

Agreed. It is and always has been all nine hitters batting. Not really sure what initiated this a couple nights ago. Just means that everyone came around to bat. 

[Platoon]

Well, Bert and Richard said a bat around inning is 9 batters batting in an inning.  So now we know for sure it's 10.

. Jimmer has let his distaste for Dick/Bert cloud his normally reliable judgement! It's actually 9. 10 would be batting the "second time around"! A word of caution, if you see this during a Twins offensive inning, dial 911. You are obviously suffering from a delusional breakdown, and should seek immediate medical attention!

[jimmer]

'Though MLB lacks an official batting-around definition, it does have an official historian, John Thorn. “The derivation of many of our baseball terms is cloaked in fog,” said Thorn.

 

But Thorn believes he has the answer. He said in a recent interview that the phrase batting around “almost certainly” comes from a game that was a precursor to baseball called town ball, which was played in North America in the 18th and 19th centuries.

 

In this cricket-like game, an entire side batted before an inning was over. In at least one variation, Thorn said, there was an added stipulation: If the last player in the order hit a home run, the entire lineup would bat again—or “bat around.”

Based on that history, the answer should be 10. “It’s what makes sense,” Thorn said.

 

And if the above doesn't do it for ya, look below.

 

'But Vin Scully, the legendary broadcaster who has been calling Dodgers games since 1950, disagrees. A team spokesman said that Scully belongs to Team 10, because “the term ‘around’ implies that you’re back to the top.”'

 

Hmm, DickBert says 9, and VIN SCULLY says 10. I will side with the legendary Vin Scully. :-)

[Brock Beauchamp]

I always assumed it meant ten batters. At least one batter needs to hit twice.

[Willihammer]

I changed my vote from 9 to 10. I realized I never heard the term on the 9th batter, you only hear it after the 1st batter steps to the plate for the 2nd time. "With Santana's clutch single, Hunter will step to the plate for the 2nd time this inning and the Twins will bat around" or something like that. You never hear "with Santana being the 9th batter this inning, the Twins will bat around." Am I wrong?

[BobAzar]

I think its 10, because thats when your scorecard gets all messed up by having one batter up twice in an inning. Its a stupid reason, but in my mind it makes sense. 

[Shane Wahl]

Around means you are back at the top. I have *literally* never heard any announcer say "they have now batted around in the inning" when the ninth guy came to the plate. Nine guys batting would be *through* and ten is *around*.

 

I like confidently . . . . not settling things.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I think there are two contexts, validating both 9 and 10.

 

While the inning is in progress, the notable event is the leadoff guy coming up to bat a second time (10th PA) -- that's when you would note that they've batted around.

 

In the context of reviewing a just-completed inning, the notable event is that everybody batted at least once (9th PA finished), so you could also note it then.

 

I don't think you could say it when the 9th guy comes to plate if there is any chance the final out could be made on the bases and the 9th plate appearance would not be completed.  You can't retroactively remove "batted around" status.  (If completion of the 9th PA is guaranteed due to the number of outs/runners, perhaps you could say "They WILL bat around this inning" but I'd probably withhold the comment until the 9th plate appearance concludes.  At that moment, the possibility of the leadoff hitter coming to bat again is by far the more notable event.)

[Willihammer]

I think there are two contexts, validating both 9 and 10.

 

While the inning is in progress, the notable event is the leadoff guy coming up to bat a second time (10th PA) -- that's when you would note that they've batted around.

 

In the context of reviewing a just-completed inning, the notable event is that everybody batted at least once (9th PA finished), so you could also note it then.

 

I don't think you could say it when the 9th guy comes to plate if there is any chance the final out could be made on the bases and the 9th plate appearance would not be completed.  You can't retroactively remove "batted around" status.  (If completion of the 9th PA is guaranteed due to the number of outs/runners, perhaps you could say "They WILL bat around this inning" but I'd probably withhold the comment until the 9th plate appearance concludes.  At that moment, the possibility of the leadoff hitter coming to bat again is by far the more notable event.)

What about when the 9th batter is guaranteed to finish his PA. Bases empty, or one out, one on. Does anyone use the term then?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

What about when the 9th batter is guaranteed to finish his PA. Bases empty, or one out, one on. Does anyone use the term then?

I addressed that in my last paragraph.  I don't think so.  I think you could say "They WILL bat around" in anticipation of the completion of the 9th PA.  But I don't think most observers would bother, since the more notable event of the 10th PA is still a possibility (if not also guaranteed, depending on the runners/outs).

 

If you say "batted around" when the 9th guy steps to the plate, what do you say if/when the the 10th guys steps up for his second PA of the inning?  The latter is certainly a more interesting event, to me, anyway, and is more deserving of a well-known special term.

[tobi0040]

 

Around means you are back at the top. I have *literally* never heard any announcer say "they have now batted around in the inning" when the ninth guy came to the plate. Nine guys batting would be *through* and ten is *around*.

 

I like confidently . . . . not settling things.

 

I agree with your take. I have always thought the guy that led off the inning hitting for a second time = around.

[tobi0040]

Duck Duck Grey Duck

 

Or

 

Duck Duck Goose?

[Platoon]

I guarantee at the end of an inning wherein the 9th batter has appeared, any announcer will proclaim that "the team has batted around". Dick will say, "well Jim Bob grounds out to second to retire the side. But the Twins bat around and score 3 times, leaving the bases loaded for the 8th consecutive inning"! Bert responds, "my birthday is only 247 days away".

[HitInAPinch]

You've gone thru the lineup and there are less that 3 outs.  You have now reached the point of "Batting Around".

 

[formerly33]

Dozier batted twice this inning. We batted around. Right? But not before then. I guess that means 10. 9 is just batting through.

[ashbury]

Dozier batted twice this inning. We batted around. Right? But not before then. I guess that means 10. 9 is just batting through.

I hope we have to have this debate every inning tonight.

 

_{^{/ for our own guys hitting like that, not KC...}}

[pbrezeasap]

 

Around means you are back at the top. I have *literally* never heard any announcer say "they have now batted around in the inning" when the ninth guy came to the plate. Nine guys batting would be *through* and ten is *around*.

 

I like confidently . . . . not settling things.

 

But this is just when the 10th batter gets up to the plate. What if an out is made on the bases while the tenth batter is at the plate, would the announcers be required to retract their "batting around" statement? For this I vote 9 official plate appearances is batting around.

[TheLeviathan]

It happen in the difficult to quantify time between dude #9 doing something and dude #10 possibly batting.  So this poll does not allow me to vote my opinion.

[gil4]

Well, Bert and Richard said a bat around inning is 9 batters batting in an inning.  So now we know for sure it's 10.

Unfortunately, I already voted "9" and it's too late to change my vote.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

 

'Though MLB lacks an official batting-around definition, it does have an official historian, John Thorn. “The derivation of many of our baseball terms is cloaked in fog,” said Thorn.

 

But Thorn believes he has the answer. He said in a recent interview that the phrase batting around “almost certainly” comes from a game that was a precursor to baseball called town ball, which was played in North America in the 18th and 19th centuries.

 

In this cricket-like game, an entire side batted before an inning was over. In at least one variation, Thorn said, there was an added stipulation: If the last player in the order hit a home run, the entire lineup would bat again—or “bat around.”

Based on that history, the answer should be 10. “It’s what makes sense,” Thorn said.

 

And if the above doesn't do it for ya, look below.

 

'But Vin Scully, the legendary broadcaster who has been calling Dodgers games since 1950, disagrees. A team spokesman said that Scully belongs to Team 10, because “the term ‘around’ implies that you’re back to the top.”'

 

Hmm, DickBert says 9, and VIN SCULLY says 10. I will side with the legendary Vin Scully. :-)

"the entire lineup would bat again"

 

So... it should be 18. Not 9 or 10.

 

However, I will just agree with whatever Vin Scully says.