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Baseball · Level 1: Beginner · Sub-level 1.5

Watching a Game

10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown

Following the count and a half-inning on TV, reading a box score and line score, the manager and coaches, substitutions, the rhythm of a game, ballpark traditions, being a fan and reading the standings.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1Following the count on TVTake a test

  1. The on-screen count is balls, then strikes.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. The little diamond on the score bug shows which bases are occupied.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. With the third out the half-inning ends and the graphic clears.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. US broadcasts give pitch speed in miles per hour.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. A batter ahead in the count gets better pitches; behind, he has to protect the plate.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Managers watch a starter's pitch count to judge when he is tiring.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. Falling behind means the count has more strikes than balls.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. The foul with fewer than two strikes adds a strike.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. Live pitch, the radar reading, then often a replay.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. The centre field camera, slightly off to one side, looks in over the pitcher's shoulder.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 2A half-inning on TVTake a test

  1. The home team bats in the bottom half of every inning.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. The change of sides gives a natural pause in play.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. Replays show a play again from other angles, often in slow motion.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. The pitcher retired the side in order: three up, three down.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. One describes the action; the colour commentator explains and tells stories.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Runners left on base at the third out are stranded.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. A coach, the manager or the catcher goes out to talk to the pitcher.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. The visitors bat until three outs, then the break.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. From a tight close-up out to the high aerial shot.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. Blimps carry cameras that give broadcasts their high shots of the park.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 3Reading a box scoreTake a test

  1. Hits come first, then at-bats: 2-for-4.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. He batted three times and got no hits.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. BB stands for bases on balls: walks.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. IP is innings pitched.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. The winning pitcher is marked W, the loser L.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. A reliever who protects a close lead to the end gets a save.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. R is runs scored; runs driven in go in the RBI column.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. More hits in the same four at-bats make a better day.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. 1.2 means one inning and two outs; 6.1 means six innings and one out.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. A box score sums up every batter's and pitcher's game.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 4The line scoreTake a test

  1. The line score ends with each team's runs, hits and errors.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. Each box shows a team's runs in that inning.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. If the home team leads after the top of the ninth, it does not bat, and the box gets an x.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. The visitors bat first, so their line goes on top.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. R is runs: five.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. A zero in an inning box means no runs that inning.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. The number in an inning box is runs scored in that inning.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Inning by inning first, then the totals: runs, hits, errors.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. The R column decides: 0, 2 and 7 runs.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. The home team did not need to bat, so its ninth is marked x.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 5The manager and coaches in a gameTake a test

  1. Each base coach has a chalked box outside the base line.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. The coach reminds him of the outs, the pitcher's move and when to run.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. A mound visit is to calm, advise or take out the pitcher.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. Tapping the right or left arm often calls for a right- or left-handed reliever.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. The pitching coach helps pitchers with mechanics and plans, and makes many mound visits.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Managers argue calls, and in many leagues can ask for a video review.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. The bench coach sits beside the manager and advises him during the game.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Visit, signal, take the ball, and the starter leaves.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. The manager decides; the bench coach is his deputy; the pitching coach looks after the pitchers.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. A windmilling arm sends the runner on to the plate; raised hands stop him.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 6Substitutions from the standsTake a test

  1. A pinch hitter bats in place of a weaker hitter, often late in a close game.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. Teams protecting a lead often bring in a stronger glove.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. A double switch changes two players and their batting spots at the same time.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. The manager pulls a starter who is tired or struggling.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. When a game is out of reach, a mop-up man saves the best arms.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Often a left-handed and a right-handed hitter share a spot, each facing the opposite-handed pitcher.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. The closer is usually saved for the ninth inning of a close game.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Batting changes come when a spot comes up; the closer comes last.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. The starter goes deep, middle relief bridges, the set-up man pitches the eighth, the closer the ninth.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. A pinch hitter bats in another player's place.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 7The rhythm of a gameTake a test

  1. Games average roughly 2 hours 35 to 40 minutes since 2023.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. A game lasts nine innings however long they take.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. Both pitchers dominate and runs are scarce.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. In a slugfest the batters dominate.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. Getaway-day games often start early so the visitors can catch a flight.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Doubleheaders often make up games lost to rain.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. Each new reliever means a walk in and warm-up pitches.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Fans come in for batting practice, then the pre-game ceremonies, then the game.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. Few runs mean a quick game; lots of runs and extra innings take longest.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. The tarp keeps rain off the infield dirt during a rain delay.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 8The seventh-inning stretch and traditionsTake a test

  1. Fans arriving early get a bobblehead doll of a player.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. The 1908 song is the stretch's anthem at nearly every park.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. A celebrity, local hero or special fan throws the first pitch before the real one.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. Players and fans flip their caps late in a game to bring on a comeback.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. Sections stand and sit in turn, sending a ripple round the stadium.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Players and fans stand for the anthem before the first pitch.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. Throwing back an opponent's home run ball is a famous Wrigley Field custom.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Anthem, first pitch, the stretch late on, then the last out.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. The stretch comes in the middle of the seventh; the closer usually in the ninth.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. Fans stand, stretch and sing in the middle of the seventh.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 9Being a fanTake a test

  1. Pennants are felt flags; winning the league is also called winning the pennant.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. Fans often get balls, cards and caps signed.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. Small spring parks in Florida and Arizona bring fans close to the players.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. Hot dogs have been ballpark food for well over a century.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. Foul balls can come very fast; keeping an eye on the play is the best protection.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Season ticket holders have seats for the whole home schedule.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. The Yankees play at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Tickets, seats, the anthem, then the game starts.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. Getting there early, near the dugout, is the best chance.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. Many fans bring a glove in the hope of catching a ball.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 10Reading the standingsTake a test

  1. Every team's record of wins and losses.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. Games behind shows how far a team trails the first-place team.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. It needs to win while the leader loses, three games' worth.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. Wins divided by games played.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. Each league has an East, a Central and a West division.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. The best teams that did not win their division also get playoff places.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. Each win, or each loss by the nearest rival, cuts the magic number by one.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. More wins in the same number of games puts a team higher.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. Wild card, division series, league championship series, then the World Series.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. Winning the division sends a team to the postseason.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Sources

General baseball references, WBSC and league material, coaching manuals; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category.

  • General baseball reference100