Basic Rules

So it seems like baseball players HAVE to be smarter than football players, right? When was the last time a baseball team was punished for having too many men on the field.

Anyway, just nine men on the field at a time for the team pitching. They are on the defense and position themselves according to what they think is going to happen. Sometimes the infielders come in closer if they expect a bunt, sometimes they stay back -- something to watch for.

So the team at bat is on the offense trying to score runs by advancing runners around the bases. Only the nine guys who are playing "the field" are allowed to bat. Substitutions are made when the team is at bat, with the exception of the pitcher. The "call to the bull pen" signifies the team in the field is going to change pitchers for one reason or the other. Either because his arm is shot, or they want a better match up between the pitcher and the batter (right hander vs left hander).