I know that American life blood includes baseball, it seems to run throught the very fabric of society there and it has seen some great movies with it included (not least one of the finest films ever made - Field of Dreams) but I've tried to watch it and, well, I just don't understand it. At one time I used to think it was a masculine version of rounders but it is obviously far more than that. Last time I tried to watch it the pitcher was throwing the ball at the batsman and the latter just appeared to be pleasing himself if he hits it or not. The bloke behind the batsman catches the ball, throws it back to the pitcher and it all starts again. This happened on a number of occasions. Sometimes the batsman hits the ball but nothing happens and sometimes he hits the ball and then he, and all the guys on the bases start to run round the diamond. I don't even know for sure how it is scored. It has fascinated me for years but it is as incomprehensible to me as quantum mechanics, in fact I think I know more about quabtum mecanics.
Any brief explanation would be welcome (if that is even possible).