Full count
Encyclopedia
In baseball
and softball
, a full count is the common name for a count
where the batter has three balls and two strikes
. The term may derive from older scoreboard
s, which had three spaces for balls and two for strikes, since this is the maximum number of each that can be achieved before some type of play must occur. Many scoreboards still use light bulbs for this purpose, and thus a 3-2 count means all the bulbs are fully lit up.
Another strike against the batter will result in a strikeout
, while another ball will result in a walk
. However, a batter may maintain the two strikes indefinitely by hitting foul ball
s, so a full count does not always mean that only five pitches have been thrown.
A pitch
which is thrown with a full count is often referred to as a "payoff pitch", since it is likely to be a good pitch for the batter to swing at. With three balls already, the pitcher cannot afford to miss the strike zone
, which would result in ball four and a walk for the batter.
Baserunners often will take off with a full count even if they are not very fast runners, especially with two outs. The runner or runners will always be running with the pitch if there are two outs and the situation involves one or more runner which can be forced, since they cannot be caught stealing or doubled off because the batter either will strike out to end the inning, walk to force the runners to advance, or put the ball in play and an out would be the third in an inning.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, a full count is the common name for a count
Count (baseball)
In baseball, the count refers to the number of balls and strikes a batter has in his current plate appearance. It is usually announced as a pair of numbers, for example, 3-1 , with the first number being the number of balls and the second being the number of strikes.An individual pitch may also be...
where the batter has three balls and two strikes
Strike zone
In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual right pentagonal prism over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing.-Definition:...
. The term may derive from older scoreboard
Scoreboard
A scoreboard is a large board for publicly displaying the score in a game or match. Most levels of sport from high school and above use at least one scoreboard for keeping score, measuring time, and displaying statistics. Scoreboards in the past used a mechanical clock and numeral cards to...
s, which had three spaces for balls and two for strikes, since this is the maximum number of each that can be achieved before some type of play must occur. Many scoreboards still use light bulbs for this purpose, and thus a 3-2 count means all the bulbs are fully lit up.
Another strike against the batter will result in a strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
, while another ball will result in a walk
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
. However, a batter may maintain the two strikes indefinitely by hitting foul ball
Foul ball
In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that:* Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base, or* Bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or...
s, so a full count does not always mean that only five pitches have been thrown.
A pitch
Pitch (baseball)
In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. The term comes from the Knickerbocker Rules. Originally, the ball had to be literally "pitched" underhand, as with pitching horseshoes. Overhand throwing was not allowed until 1884.The biomechanics of...
which is thrown with a full count is often referred to as a "payoff pitch", since it is likely to be a good pitch for the batter to swing at. With three balls already, the pitcher cannot afford to miss the strike zone
Strike zone
In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual right pentagonal prism over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing.-Definition:...
, which would result in ball four and a walk for the batter.
Baserunners often will take off with a full count even if they are not very fast runners, especially with two outs. The runner or runners will always be running with the pitch if there are two outs and the situation involves one or more runner which can be forced, since they cannot be caught stealing or doubled off because the batter either will strike out to end the inning, walk to force the runners to advance, or put the ball in play and an out would be the third in an inning.