So, for the different options you have when sending someone up to bat…
Drag bunt: a ‘bunt’ is when you strike the ball lightly in order to send it low along the ground, bouncing and rolling. This is so that the other team can’t catch it (if they do so then the batter is automatically out) a ‘drag bunt’ involves hitting the ball along the line typically towards 3rd base (or 1st if you want to get someone home real bad) so the ball is on the opposite site of the field to where you’re running to. The easiest way for the opponent to get a batter out is to get the ball to the 1st base asap, preventing you from finding safe haven there. Thus, if you bunt it along the ground to the opposite side of the field it’s the safest way to get to 1st. It’s low risk and low profit.
Hit and run: The opposite. You hit that damn ball as hard and high as you can and run as fast as you can. There is a high risk that an opponent will catch your ball as it comes down on them, but this gives you the most time to get yourself and anyone else who is on those bases back home. Most effective when you have all the bases ‘stacked’ with other previous batters.
Steal: If you have a player already on a base, they can sneak and/or sprint their way to the next base. As long as the pitcher doesn’t see them and throw the ball to a nearby player who can tag them with it, you’re good. Very risky.
Opportunity play: Honestly? This is the default option for Riki when you play him and is equivalent to letting the player on the base decide, Riki will hit the ball and see what happens, whatever ‘opportunity’ arises he’ll ‘play’ it.
Steal home: The same as steal, but for home. Incredibly dangerous because you’re literally moving to the focal point of the pitcher’s vision. Very easy to be tagged while doing this.
There are basically three outcomes from the pitcher throwing the ball at the batter, a ball, a strike, or a hit:
A ball is tallied whenever the pitcher throws outside outside of the ‘plate’ (that metal platform on the ground near the batter/catcher) and the batter doesn’t swing. If there are 4 balls for any one batter, they get a free walk to the 1st base.
A strike occurs whenever the batter swings and misses the ball, when they don’t swing and the ball goes over the plate, or if they hit a ball and it goes outside of the lines running to either 1st or 3rd base (a foul ball). If you get three strikes then you’re out and can’t continue to bat.
On a hit you run like hell, get to 1st base before the ball gets there and you’re safe. If you can get further then that’s even better, and if you go all the way from the plate back around somehow then that’s a ‘Home Run’.
If I’ve missed anything let me know!