Eli5: why are baseball players allowed to run past first base and not be considered “off base”?
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The reason why you’re allowed to overrun first base is because you’re already at a disadvantage trying to get from the plate to first – other runners can take a lead off (leave their base before the pitch is thrown,) but the batter can’t leave home plate until he hits the ball. If he had to slow down in order to not overrun first base, it would be much harder to hit singles… which means less offence, fewer runs scored, less exciting.
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