The Savannah Bananas are finally playing in ӣƵ.
Their fast-paced, fun-first version of baseball is happening this weekend at Busch Stadium as the Bananas square off against the Party Animals on Friday and Saturday night.
Fans have been anxiously awaiting these games, and they had to wait a little longer when the team's visit, scheduled for this past April, was rained out and rescheduled for July 18 and 19.
If you don't have a ticket, and they were extremely hard to get, then watching at home is your next best option. The team streams its games for free.
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Here's how to watch the Savannah Bananas' games vs. the Party Animals at Busch Stadium this weekend.
Savannah Bananas vs. Party Animals, free live stream
Game time:7 p.m. CST/ 8 p.m. EST Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July19
Location:Busch Stadium in ӣƵ
TV channel:No traditional television broadcast
Live stream:
Streaming app:The YouTube app on the or
The Bananas' YouTube address:
The rules of Banana Ball
To get you ready to watch, here are the rules of Banana Ball, the team's twist on baseball.
RULE 1: WIN THE INNING, GET THE POINT
Every inning is worth one point. The team that gets the most runs in an inning, gets a point for that inning, except for the last inning, where every run counts.
RULE 2: TWO HOUR TIME LIMIT
You get the idea. No new inning can be started after 2 hours. In the last inning of the game, every run counts.
RULE 3: NO STEPPING OUT
If the hitter steps out of the box, it’s a strike.
RULE 4: NO. BUNTING.
Bunting sucks. If a hitter bunts, they are ejected from the game.
RULE 5: BATTERS CAN STEAL FIRST
On any pitch of an at-bat, the hitter can try to steal first base. This can happen on a pass ball or wild pitch.
RULE 6: NO WALKS ALLOWED
If a pitcher throws ball four, it becomes a sprint. The hitter will take off running while every defensive player on the field must touch the ball before it becomes live. The hitter can advance to as many bases as they want. The ball does not have to touch the catcher or pitcher.
RULE 7: NO MOUND VISITS ALLOWED
Let’s keep the game moving. No mound visits from the coach, catcher, or any other player at any time. Hype your pitcher up from afar if needed.
RULE 8: IF A FAN CATCHES A FOUL BALL, IT'S AN OUT
Why not let the fans get in on some of the action? Whatever you do, just don’t catch a foul ball.
RULE 9: SHOWDOWN TIE BREAKER
If the game is tied at the end of the two-hour time limit, the game will go into a Showdown Tiebreaker. In each Showdown, the hitter must score. If they score, it’s worth one point. If they get out, it’s worth no points and it’s called a Showdown Shutdown.
ROUND 1: Pitcher, catcher, and one fielder vs one hitter
ROUND 2: Pitcher and catcher vs one hitter.
ROUND 3: Pitcher, catcher, and one fielder vs one hitter with bases loaded.
In this Final Showdown, every run counts as a point. If no team has won after three Showdowns, they will continue with the bases loaded and one fielder until one team has won.
If at any point a homerun is hit over the outfield wall, it’s a walkoff win and the game is over.
RULE 10: THE BANANA BALL CHALLENGE RULE
In Banana Ball, each team is allowed to challenge one ruling on the field. The coach of each team will have a challenge prop/item that they must throw/shoot on the field before the next pitch for the play to be challenged.
The play will be reviewed by the broadcast and the call will be replayed to the Umpire Field Chief to make the call. If a team wins the challenge and the call is overruled, the team will retain a challenge for later in the game. If the call is upheld or the challenge is inconclusive, they will lose their opportunity to challenge for the rest of the game.
THREE CATEGORIES OF CHALLENGES:
-Fair/foul ball calls
-Force/tag play calls
-Catch plays in the outfield or infield
THE FAN CHALLENGE RULE:
In addition to each team’s challenge, the fans will have one opportunity to challenge a ruling during the game.
Prior to the game, the fans will choose one fan to represent them. The fan representative will have the opportunity to challenge one play a night.
If the fan representative chooses to challenge, the fan will shoot off confetti and hold up the “Fan Challenge” sign to make it official.
RULE 11: THE GOLDEN BATTER RULE
One time a game, a team may send any hitter in the lineup to bat in any spot.
Goal of the rule: Your best hitter can hit when the game is on the line.
Examples:
Ex 1.) Due up in the lineup are hitters 6,7, & 8. 6 & 7 make the first two outs. The team then uses the Golden Batter Rule to hit their #3 hitter in the 8-hole. The #3 hitter reaches base. The 8-hole would stay in the game but he would not hit. The next hitter is the 9-hole. If the #3 hitter was on base and his spot in the lineup came to bat then the #8 hitter would become the pinch runner. Also if eligible the Designated Pinch Runner could run.
Ex 2.) The Golden Batter could technically hit back-to-back in one inning if the team chose to do so.
