Ditch the scorecard. Bring your glove.
A traditional baseball scorecard does not include a spot to record an out caught by a fan in the stands, when a batter steals first base or when a batter reaches third base after ball four. And it doesn鈥檛 account for points, not runs, being the preferred method of scoring.
Welcome to Banana Ball and its brand of entertainment.
The Firefights and Texas Tailgaters, two of the squads in the four-team Banana Ball league, will play Friday and Saturday in front of sold-out crowds at Salem Memorial Ballpark. The teams in this league play a faster-paced version of baseball that is customized to create memorable fan experiences.
That means different rules, a time limit and unique tiebreakers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome. It鈥檚 an incredible experience,鈥 Salem Red Sox general manager Allen Lawrence said. 鈥淚 think the one thing I learned is it鈥檚 not a baseball game; it鈥檚 a show, it鈥檚 an event, it鈥檚 totally different than anything we鈥檝e ever done here before, and I鈥檓 incredibly excited about it.鈥
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What exactly are the rules and the types of quirks to expect while the game is being played?
- Time limit: A Banana Ball game has a two-hour time limit. No new inning can start when the time limit is reached.
- Walk-up music and celebrations: Players have walk-up music for at-bats just like traditional games. The difference is the batter (and his teammates) will have choreographed dances as he walks to the plate. Celebrating runs being scored is encouraged, and those celebrations also have synchronized routines depending on how the runs are scored.
- Win the inning, win the point: Scoring is based on points, not runs. A team can earn a point based on scoring the most runs in a single inning. In the last inning, every run counts as a point.
- Stay in the batter鈥檚 box: Fans who attend Salem Red Sox games are familiar with seeing the batter needing to get back in the box quickly and addressing the pitcher with eight seconds left on the pitch clock. In Banana Ball, pace is embraced with the batter staying in the box throughout the at-bat. If he steps out, it鈥檚 an automatic strike.
- Bunting and mound visits are banned: Any bunt results in an immediate ejection. Catchers, fielders and coaches are not allowed to visit the pitcher on the mound.
- Finally, first base can be stolen: A batter can technically steal four bases in an inning if he so desires. If there is a wild pitch or passed ball in any count, the batter can attempt to steal first base and then go after the next three.
- No free passes: What happens if a pitcher issues four balls to a batter? It鈥檚 called a 鈥渂all-four sprint鈥 as the batter runs to see how many bases he can take until all nine fielders touch the ball.
- Bring your glove: If a fan catches a foul ball on the fly, it鈥檚 an out.
- Challenges: Each team has the opportunity to challenge three types of calls on the field. Also, before the game, fans get to choose one person to represent them with a 鈥淔an Challenge.鈥 That fan gets to shoot off confetti when issuing the challenge.
- Golden batter: This golden ticket can be used once a game. A team can send any hitter in the lineup to bat at any spot with the purpose to have their best bat at the plate with the game on the line.
- Tiebreaker: What happens if the score is tied after the final inning? There are no extra innings. Banana Ball has what is called a 鈥淪howdown.鈥 A pitcher, catcher and one fielder will take on one hitter, and the hitter has to score. If the score is still tied, it鈥檚 pitcher and catcher versus hitter with no fielder, and the hitter has to score. Then, if it鈥檚 still tied, it鈥檚 pitcher, catcher and one fielder versus hitter with the bases loaded.
A 2 1/2-minute video detailing the rules is available online and is typically shown on the broadcast so fans attending or watching a Banana Ball game for the first time will know what鈥檚 going on.
鈥淭hey do a tremendous job,鈥 Lawrence said.
