An Olympic sport since only 1992, baseball will be dropped from the Games for London in 2012 so Beijing is its swansong . . . for now. Unlike in Major League Baseball, the 'mercy rule' applies, meaning if a team are ahead by 10 or more runs after seven or eight innings, they are declared winners. A designated hitter (a specialist who doesn't need to field, usually replacing the pitcher) is used in all games. The Games format consists of a single round robin featuring all eight teams. The top four go to the single elimination semi-finals, with the winners progressing to the final. The losing semi-finalists play for the bronze.
How it works
Field
Nine Players
Pitcher, catcher, first, second and third basemen, shortstop, centre fielder, left fielder, right fielder
Nine innings per game
