o. The commonest of these swerving
deliveries, and the first one invented, is the out-curve, the ball coming
straight towards the batsman until almost within reach of his bat, when it
suddenly swerves away from him towards the right, if he be right-handed.
The other important curves are the incurve, shooting sharply to the left,
and the drop, with their many variations, nearly every pitcher using some
favourite curve. Change of pace, disguised as well as possible, is also an
important part of pitching strategy, as well as variation of the delivery
and the play upon the known weaknesses or idiosyncrasies of the batsman.
Good control over the ball is a necessity, as four "balls" called by the
umpire,--that is, balls not over the base, or over the base and not between
the shoulder and knee of the batsman,--entitle the batsman to become a
base-runner and take his first base. If the pitcher disregards the
restrictions placed upon him by the rules (_e.g._ he may not, while in
position, make a motion to deliver the ball to the batsman without actually
[v.03 p.0460] delivering it, or to first-base, while that base is occupied
by a runner, without completing the throw), he is said to have made a balk,
which permits a base runner to advance a base. In fielding batted balls the
pitcher takes all that come directly to him, especially slow ones which the
other fielders cannot reach in time. One of his duties is to "back up" the
first-baseman in order to stop balls thrown wide, and to cover first-base
in place of the baseman whenever that player has to leave his base to field
a ground ball. On occasion he also backs up other positions.

The _catcher_ usually stands about 1 yd. behind the home plate, and he must
never be more than 10 ft. behind the home plate when the pitcher delivers
the ball to the batsman. He generally catches the ball from the pitcher
before it strikes the ground, and, when a man of the opposing side has
succeeded in getting to a base, must be on the alert to head this opponent
off should he endeavour to _steal_ the next base, _i.e._ run to it while
the pitcher is delivering the ball to the batsman. For this reason the
catcher must be a quick, strong and accurate thrower. As the catcher alone
faces the whole field, he is able to warn the pitcher when to throw to a
base in order to catch a runner _napping_ off the base, and by secretly
signalling to the pitcher (usually by means of signs with his fingers) he
directs