Spontaneity is probably one of the most significant parts of a baseball game. Once the pitcher is on the mound and batter on the plate, anything can happen. It can be a memorable home run or can be an out. The sport has multiple ways to send the batter back to the dugout, and strikeouts are probably the most popular. However, a 2018 report reveals a startling fact about the strikeout as a way to get an out, placing them in a position that many probably don’t expect.

Strikeouts are one of the most glamorous stats a pitcher looks forward to in his career. Striking out batters can instantly change the path of a game. However, MLB.com revealed some facts while arranging the baseball-out techniques according to their entertainment values.

Top 10 Most Amusing MLB Out Strategies

MLB has more than 20 methods to get an out on a batter. But they’re not all equally easy or entertaining, often creating chaos on the diamond. The long list includes outs that don’t even seem common to fans, who are used to watching the usual ways the defense works against the offense.

Below is the checklist that shows the most entertaining outs in MLB in ascending order:

• Batted out of order
• Passed the lead runner
• Briefly attempted to run to second, only to be tagged out before getting back to first
• Caught in a pickle
• Runner’s interference
• Thrown out trying to take an extra base
• Thrown out trying to tag up
• Caught stealing
• Batter’s interference

But these are just 9 – what about the top one?

The MLB Rule Book and the audience find strikeouts fun, but the most fun way that tops the list is “Running the bases in reverse order in an attempt to confuse the defense or to make a travesty of the game.“

This may sound a bit unfamiliar, but this strategy indeed exists in the MLB Rulebook. There was a specific reason taken from an incident from an unforgettable game to include this. Herman Schaefer and Clyde Milan pioneered the MLB authorities to realize the need for this ordinance. Their initiative to back run on the bases to confuse the opponent in 1911 finally found its way into the official rulebook, and, years later, it has birthed some hilarious incidents throughout the decades.

If the above-listed methods don’t seem familiar, let’s take a little deep insight into how they work.

A Little Insight of the Top 9 Retiring Strategies in MLB

Batted out of order is not as alien as it seems. Fans might have experienced it multiple times since 2000. The appeal begins with the defense asking for time. The manager approaches the plate umpire and claims there is a batting-order infraction. The motto is to establish that a batter batted out of turn. Coming to the next one, Passed the lead runner, the name says it all. It is rare and hilarious.

Briefly attempted to run to second, only to be tagged out before getting back to first, the names almost explain it all. Hitters are allowed to overrun the bag at first base, given that they won’t attempt to advance to the second. Even the slightest disobeying of this rule can make an amusing out. Caught in a pickle comes in number 5 on the list. It’s similar to the rundown. Though it’s rare, fans have still witnessed ballplayers caught in a tough spot.

Coming to the Runner’s interference, this involves several incidents that lead to the out. From hard slides to intentional distractions to giving your fellow man a quick hug while rounding first – all finally lead to the batter returning to the dugout. After this comes Thrown out trying to take an extra base. While the name mostly describes the process, this out takes place while the runner flies around the bases as soon as the bat hits the ball. This out is not regularly seen and almost the same with the Thrown out trying to tag up. In both cases, once the ball gets hit, it’s the competition, whether the batter or the outfielder, who comes out at top.

Caught stealing comes at number eight. Switching bases is already a bold move, and this out takes place in the brief moment between realizing that the runner has taken off and the catcher releasing his throw. Finally, Batters interference occurs when the player makes any movement that hinders the action at home after the pitch reaches the catcher.

If these are the top 10, what about the most common method to get a batter out?

Where Do Strikeouts Rank?

Though strikeouts are mostly considered the most amusing, swinging strikeout comes at number 15. They are the most common type of outs pitchers can have in a game. But since they’re common to witness, they rank lower on the entertainment value list. However, a strikeout variation leaves the swinging strikeout behind by ranking at 12.

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Strikeout looking seems one of the most satisfying to witness. Though these are pretty uncommon to find in regular games, these are relatively more entertaining than the usual ones fans generally see. A major league batter, standing in the box ready to hit, can only watch as the pitcher retires him with one strike after another!

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