Glossary of baseball

This is an alphabetical list of selected unofficial and specialized

terms, phrases, and other jargon used in baseball, and their
definitions, including illustrative examples for many entries.

See Glossary of English-language idioms derived from baseball for

common idioms that originated in baseball.
See baseball statistics for more formal definitions of some of the
statistical concepts in this glossary.
0–9

x–y (number)

("0-0", "0-1" "1–0", "0–2", "1–1", "2–0", "1–2", "2–1", "3–0", "2–2", "3–1", "3–2") The possible instances
of the "count", the number of balls and strikes currently tallied against a batter. Traditionally, the first
number in the count corresponds to balls, and the second, strikes; however, Japanese and Korean
baseball leagues use the opposite order (strikes followed by balls). The latter practice, however, has
given way to the more traditional ball/strike counts in both broadcast and stadium references, as events
such as the Asia Series now feature countries (Taiwan, Australia, Europe) where the ball count is
announced before strike count.

Scorekeepers assign a number from 1 to 9 to each position on the field in order to record the
outcome of each play in a more or less uniform shorthand notation. The number 1 corresponds
to the pitcher.
Also, a fielder may shout "One!" to a teammate to indicate that he should throw the ball to first
base.
Finally, in the context of pitching, the number 1 is a common sign (and nickname) for the
fastball.

1-2-3 innings

An inning in which a pitcher faces only three batters and none of those batters successfully
reaches base. Also named "Three up, three down".

1-2-3 double play

A double play in which the pitcher (1) throws the ball home to the catcher (2) to retire a runner
advancing from third. The catcher then throws back to the first baseman (3) to retire the batter-
runner. This play most often occurs with the bases loaded, in which situation a force play exists
at both home plate and first base, but it is possible for this double play to be executed with a tag
of a runner at home.
The scorekeeper uses such shorthand to record the result of every play. In this case, he makes a
notation that the runner at third base was retired "1-2", but then makes a notation showing that
 the batter-runner was retired "1-2-3", to account for every player who handled the ball on the
play.

1-6-3 double play

A double play in which the pitcher (1) throws the ball to the shortstop (6), who in turn throws to
the first baseman (3). Typically, the shortstop and first baseman each retire a baserunner (often
on a force play) after receiving the ball.
The scorekeeper uses such shorthand to record the result of every play. In this case, he makes a
notation that the runner at first base was retired "1-6", but then makes a notation showing that
the batter-runner was retired "1-6-3", to account for every player who handled the ball on the
play.

The catcher, in scorekeeping shorthand. Also, a shout of "Two!" indicates that the ball should be
thrown to second base.
The number 2 is also a common catcher's sign for a curveball or other breaking pitch.

2–2–2 (2 balls, 2 strikes, 2 outs)

When a batter faces a 2–2 count with 2 outs during any inning, many superstitious players will
rub the side of the bill of their hats with 2 fingers until the pitcher releases the pitch, which is
more commonly seen in college and high school baseball. Many variations include removing the
cap and extending toward the batter as the pitch approaches the plate, or during a 3–2 count
with 1 out (3–2–1), and even a 1–1 count with 1 out (1–1–1).

2-bagger

A double.

The first baseman, in scorekeeping shorthand. Also, a shout of "Three!" indicates that the ball
should be thrown to third base.
The number three is also a common sign for a slider, changeup, or other pitch (generally, the
pitcher's third best pitch).

3-2-3 double play

A relatively rare double play in which the first baseman fields a batted ball and throws to the
catcher to retire a runner advancing from third. The catcher then throws back to the first
baseman to retire the batter-runner. This play most often occurs when the bases are loaded.
The scorekeeper makes a notation that the runner at third base was retired "3-2", and the
batter-runner was retired "3-2-3".
One notable example of this play occurred in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, when catcher
Brian Harper and first baseman Kent Hrbek of the Minnesota Twins retired the Atlanta Braves'
Lonnie Smith at home plate and Sid Bream at first. This play prevented the Braves from scoring
any runs in that inning and maintained a scoreless tie.

3-6-1 double play

 A fairly common double play in which the first baseman fields a batted ball and throws it to the
shortstop at second base to retire a runner advancing from first. The shortstop then throws back
to the pitcher covering first (because the first baseman is out of position due to fielding the ball)
to retire the batter-runner.
The scorekeeper makes a notation that the runner at first base was retired "3-6", and the batter-
runner was retired "3-6-1".

3-4-3 double play

Played and scored exactly the same as the 3-6-3 below, but the second baseman receives the
catch at second base. Considerably more rare since the second baseman is most often moving
towards the ball on a ground ball to first base, while the shortstop is moving towards second
base in anticipation of the 3-6-3 or 4-6-3.

3-6-3 double play

A fairly common double play in which the first baseman fields a batted ball and throws it to the
shortstop at second base to retire a runner advancing from first. The shortstop then throws back
to the first baseman to retire the batter-runner.
The scorekeeper makes a notation that the runner at first base was retired "3–6", and the batter-
runner was retired "3-6-3".

3-bagger

A triple.

The second baseman, in scorekeeping shorthand. Also, a shout of "Four!" indicates that the ball
should be thrown to home plate.
The number four is a less common pitch sign or, when used in conjunction with waggled fingers,
can indicate a change-up or palmball.

4-6-3 double play

A very common double play in which the second baseman fields a batted ball and throws to the
shortstop, who retires a runner advancing to second base (usually a force play). The shortstop
then throws to the first baseman, who completes the play by retiring the batter-runner (again,
usually a force play). The scorekeeper makes a notation that the runner at first base was retired
"4-6", and the batter-runner was retired "4-6-3".

4-bagger

A home run, so-called because of the four bags (bases) that the hitter touches after hitting a
home run, although the fourth "bag" is actually a plate. Also spelled four-bagger.

45-foot line

The line between home plate and first base that begins 45 feet down the first base line and
extends past first base. The rules state that if the batter-runner is in the path of a throw that
originates near home plate and is outside the area created by the base line and the 45-foot line,
 he shall be called out if the umpire believes he interfered with the play. If he remains within the
line, he cannot be called out for interference. This rule is designed to allow catchers and pitchers
the ability to field bunts and throw the batter-runner out without having to worry about the
batter-runner intentionally or unintentionally interfering with the throw.
This line is also used to decide whether a pick off move is legal or a balk. If the pitcher steps with
his lead foot towards the base he intends to throw to it is considered legal; the 45-foot line
determines whether that step is towards the base or towards homeplate. This only comes into
play when the pick off move is to the base the pitcher naturally faces (3rd for a right-handed
pitcher 1st for a left-handed pitcher), because otherwise the pitcher must turn around to make
the throw negating the necessity to determine where the step was directed.

4 wide ones

A base-on-balls. Four pitches that are wide of the strike zone. Roe summarized his strategy of
pitching to Musial as "I throw him four wide ones and try to pick him off at first."[1]

The third baseman, in scorekeeping shorthand.

5 hole

Refers to a ball passing between a player's legs--particularly the catcher's. From the hockey term
identifying how a puck was advanced past the goalie on a scoring play ("through the 5-hole").
Can also refer to batting fifth in the lineup.

5.5 hole

The space between the third baseman (referred to as 5 in scorekeeping shorthand) and shortstop
(referred to as 6 in scorekeeping shorthand) on the field. San Diego Padres icon Tony Gwynn
popularized the term and made hitting balls through the 5.5 hole routine.

5-4-3 double play

A relatively common double play in which the third baseman fields a batted ball and throws to
the second baseman, who retires a runner advancing to second base (usually a force play) and
throws to the first baseman, who completes the play by retiring the batter-runner (usually a force
play). The scorekeeper makes a notation that the runner on first was retired "5-4" and the
batter-runner "5-4-3". This is often referred to as the "'around the horn" double play.

5-tool player

The ideal position player (non-pitcher); an athlete who excels at: 1. hitting for average; 2. hitting
for power; 3. baserunning skills and speed; 4. throwing ability; and 5. fielding abilities.[2] In Major
League Baseball, players considered five-tool players have included Hall of Famers Willie Mays,[3]
Andre Dawson,[4] Duke Snider,[2][5] Vladimir Guerrero[6] and Ken Griffey, Jr.[2][7] Baseball Digest
has argued that the five-tool-player label is overvalued. However, the five tools continue to be
the things professional scouts consider when evaluating young players' potential. [8]

6
 The shortstop, in scorekeeping shorthand.

6-4-3 double play

A very common double play in which the shortstop fields a batted ball and throws to the second
baseman, who retires a runner advancing to second base (usually a force play) and then throws
to the first baseman, who completes the play by retiring the batter-runner (usually a force play).
The scorekeeper makes a notation that the runner on first base was retired "6-4" and the batter-
runner "6-4-3". 6-4-3 and 4-6-3 are the two most common double plays, with 6-4-3
predominating because right-handed batters, who are more prevalent than left-handed batters,
tend to pull the ball toward left field.
This is the double play performed by "Tinker to Evers to Chance", the fabled Chicago Cubs'
infielders of the early 20th century.

The leftfielder, in scorekeeping shorthand.

7-2, 8-2, or 9-2 double play

A fairly uncommon double play. After a fly ball is caught by an outfielder, a runner attempting to
tag up and score from third base is tagged out by the catcher receiving the throw at home plate.

The centerfielder, in scorekeeping shorthand.

8-hole hitter

In the National League, the batter in the 8th position has the task of batting in front of the
pitcher. This batter perhaps carries an added burden as the pitcher is typically not a strong hitter,
and so opposing teams may try to "pitch around" the 8-hole hitter in order to face the pitcher
batting 9th. To counter this, some managers have the pitcher hitting 8th (Tony LaRussa is a
notable proponent of this strategy).

The rightfielder, in scorekeeping shorthand.

9-0

The official score of a forfeited game.

12-to-6

A curve ball, the motion of which evokes the hands of clock. The ball starts high (at "12-o'clock")
and drops sharply as it reaches the strike zone ("6-o'clock"). Also known as "12-to-6 Downers" or
a "12-to-6 Drop". Pitchers whose curveballs exhibit this motion include Barry Zito, Nolan Ryan,
Adam Wainwright, Clayton Kershaw, A. J. Burnett, and Iván Nova. Former MLB pitcher Darryl Kile
had one of the best 12-6 curves in recent times.
30-30 club

Players who hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season.

40-40 club

Players who hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season.

55-footer

A pejorative term for a pitch that bounces before it reaches the plate. The name derives from the
fact that the pitch falls short of the 60' 6" between the pitching rubber and the plate.

90 feet

When a runner advances one base, he "moves up 90 feet"—the distance between successive
bases on a professional baseball diamond. "Baseball is still what it always has been and always
will be, basically a 90-feet-at-a-time game".[9]

A-Ball or Single-A

"Single-A" is the second-lowest grouping of modern affiliated minor league baseball, with sub-
categories of "High-A", "Low-A", and "Short-Season A". The California League, Florida State
League, Midwest League, South Atlantic League, New York-Penn League and the Carolina League
are categorized as "Single-A".

AA

 "Double-A" (AA) is the second-highest level of minor league baseball (below AAA), and includes
the Eastern League, the Southern League, and the Texas League.
 "AA" is also the abbreviation for the American Association, which has been the name of
numerous professional baseball leagues: a short-lived major league of the 19th century, a minor
league for much of the 20th century, and an independent minor league unaffiliated with Major
League Baseball.

AAA

"Triple-A" is the highest level of minor league baseball. This level includes the Pacific Coast
League, the International League, and the Mexican League.

AAAA player

"Four-A player" (alternatively, "Quadruple-A player") is a term for a minor-league player who is
consistently successful in the high minor leagues, but cannot translate that into success at the
major-league level. Poor management can be responsible.[10]

aboard
 When a runner is on base. When there are runners safely on base, there are "runners aboard".

Ace

The best starting pitcher on the team, who is usually first on a pitching rotation.

advance a runner

To move a runner ahead safely to another base, often the conscious strategy of a team that
plays small ball. Even if a batter makes an out, he may be regarded as having a less negative
outcome to his plate appearance if he advances a runner into scoring position or from second to
third, thereby increasing the chances of that runner scoring a run later in that inning compared
to those chances had that runner not advanced while that out is made. In certain situations,
batters deliberately bunt for an out and thereby sacrifice themselves in order to advance a runner
to second or third base.

ahead in the count

A term that signifies whether the batter or pitcher possesses the advantage in an at-bat. If a
pitcher has thrown more strikes than balls to a batter in an at-bat, the pitcher is ahead in the
count; conversely, if the pitcher has thrown more balls than strikes, the batter is ahead.
If the pitcher is ahead in the count, the batter is in increasing danger of striking out. If the batter
is ahead, the pitcher is in increasing danger of walking him.

aim the ball

Sometimes when a pitcher tries a bit too carefully to control the location of a pitch, he is said to
"aim the ball" instead of throwing it. This is a different meaning of "aim" from the situation in
which a pitcher aims a pitch at a batter in an effort to hit him.

airmail

Slang for a fielder's errant throw that sails high over the player to whom he intended to throw
the ball. For example, if the third baseman were to throw the ball over the first baseman's head
and into the stands, he is said to have "airmailed" the throw. "But Chandler airmailed her throw
to third into the dugout...".

Alabaster Blast

Coined by Pittsburgh Pirates announcer Bob Prince. A Baltimore Chop base hit that would go
higher than normal due to the extraordinarily hard infield at Forbes Field

alley

Also "gap" or "power alley", the space between the leftfielder and the centerfielder, or the
rightfielder and centerfielder. If a batter hits the ball "up the alley" with enough force, he has a
stronger chance of advancing beyond first base and being credited with an extra-base hit.
Typically, this is an appropriate term for describing a line drive or ground ball; fly balls that hit
the wall are not normally described this way.

American League (AL)

 The junior of the two existing Major Leagues.

American League Championship Series (ALCS)

The season's final best-of-seven playoff series which determines the American League team that
will advance to the World Series. The ALCS–like its analog, the NLCS–came into being in 1969.
The ALCS winner takes the American League pennant and the title of American League Champion
for that season. The winners of the American League Division Series have met in the ALCS since
1995.

American League Division Series (ALDS)

The first round of the league playoffs. The winners of the three divisions and the winner of the
Wild Card Game are paired off in two best-of-five series, the winners of which advance to the
ALCS.

Annie Oakley

A free ticket to attendance at a ballgame or to first base (a "free pass" or "base on balls").

appeal play

A play in which the defense has an opportunity to gain a favorable ruling from an umpire by
addressing a mistake by the offense or seeking the input of another umpire. Appeals require the
defense to make a verbal appeal to an appropriate umpire, or if the situation being appealed is
obvious a player may indicate an appeal with a gesture. The onus is on the defense to make an
appeal; umpires will not announce potential appeal situations such as runners failing to touch a
base, batting out of order, or unchecked swings until an appeal is made.

Arizona Fall League (AFL)

A short-season minor league in which high-level prospects from all thirty Major League Baseball
clubs are organized into six teams on which players have the opportunity to refine and showcase
their skills for evaluation by coaches, scouts, and executives. Such teams are referred to as
"scout teams" and "taxi squads".

arm

A metonym for a pitcher ("A's trade two young arms to Kansas City...", [11] "...Anthopoulos is just
stockpiling arms in an attempt to lure a trade..."[12]).

around the horn

The infielders' practice of throwing the ball to each other after recording an out, provided that
there are no runners on base. The purpose is as much traditional as anything else, but also
serves to keep the infielders' throwing arms active. Typically, if an out is made at first base, the
first baseman will throw to the shortstop, who throws to the second baseman, who throws to the
third baseman, who returns the ball to the pitcher. Patterns vary from team to team, but the
third baseman is usually the last infielder to receive a throw, regardless of the pattern.
Throwing the ball around the horn is also done after a strikeout with no baserunners. The
catcher will throw the ball to the third baseman, who then throws it to the second baseman, who
 throws it to the shortstop, who then throws it to the first baseman. Some catchers, such as Iván
Rodríguez, prefer to throw the ball to the first baseman, who then begins the process in reverse.
Some catchers determine to whom they will throw based on the handedness of the batter (to
first for a right-handed batter because the line to the first baseman is not blocked and vice versa)
or whether the team is in an overshift, when the third baseman would be playing close to where
the shortstop normally plays and would require a harder throw to be reached.
An additional application of this term is when a 5-4-3 or 6-4-3 double play has occurred, which
mimics the pattern of throwing the ball around the horn.

arsonist

An ineffective relief pitcher. Usually a pitcher who comes into the game with no one on base but
proceeds to give up several runs. Opposite of fireman.

ash

An old-fashioned word referring to the baseball bat, which is typically made of wood from an ash
tree. "...the shrewd little manager substitutes a fast runner for a slow one, and sends in a pinch
hitter when the man he takes out is just as good with the ash as the man he sends in". [13]

aspirin

Slang for a fastball that is especially hard to hit due to its velocity and/or movement, in reference
to the difficulty of making contact with something as small as an aspirin tablet. May additionally
reference batters seeing a pitched ball as relatively smaller than normal, a potential psychological
effect on batters who are in a slump.[14][15]

assist

The official scorer awards an assist to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball (after
it has been hit by the batter) prior to a putout, even if the contact was unintentional. For
example, if a ball strikes a player's leg and bounces off him to another fielder, who tags the
baserunner, the first player is credited with an assist.
A fielder can receive only one assist per out recorded. A fielder also receives an assist if a putout
would have occurred, had not another fielder committed an error.

asterisk

A slang term for a baseball record that is disputed in popular opinion (i.e., unofficially) because of
a perception that the record holder had an unfair advantage in attaining the record. It implies
that the record requires a footnote explaining the purportedly unfair advantage, with the asterisk
being a symbol commonly used in typography to call out footnotes. In recent times it has been
prominently used in the following circumstances:

 The record holder is widely believed to have used performance-enhancing drugs,

whether or not such use is proven or admitted. Barry Bonds was regularly greeted with
banners and signs that bore an asterisk during the 2007 season when he broke Hank
Aaron's career home run record. The ball Bonds hit for the record-breaking home run
was subsequently branded with an asterisk before it was sent to the Baseball Hall of
Fame.
  A holder of a single-season record accomplished the feat in a longer season, and thus
had additional opportunities to break the record. A well-known example of this was when
Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's single-season home run record on the last day of a 162-
game regular season in 1961, while Ruth set the previous record in a 154-game season
in 1927; the asterisk usage is exemplified in the title of the film 61*, which was about
Maris' quest to break Ruth's record. Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick declared that
Maris' record should be listed separately from Ruth's (contrary to popular belief no
asterisk was mentioned or used in this case), a decision not formally reversed until 1991.

at 'em ball

or "atom ball;" slang for a ball batted directly at a defender.

at bat

A completed plate appearance by a batter which results in a base hit or a non-sacrifice out. At-
bats (or "times at bat") are used for the calculation of a player's batting average and slugging
percentage. Note that a plate appearance is not recorded as an "at-bat" if the batter reaches first
base as a result of a base on balls, or hit by pitch, nor if he executes a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice
fly.
Occasionally a batter may be at the plate when the third out of the inning is made against a
base-runner; in this case the batter will lead off the next inning with a clean strike count and his
interrupted plate appearance is not counted as an at-bat.

at the letters

A pitch that crosses the plate at the height of the letters of the team's name on the shirt of the
batter's uniform is said to be "at the letters", "letter-high" or "chest-high".

ate him up

Slang expression of the action of a batted ball that is difficult for a fielder to handle.

ate the ball

See: eat the ball

attack the strike zone

Slang for pitching aggressively by throwing strikes, rather than trying to trick hitters into swinging
at pitches out of the strike zone or trying to "nibble at the corners" of the plate. Equivalent
phrases are "pound the strike zone" and "challenge the hitters".

automatic double

A batted ball in fair territory which bounces out of play (e.g. into the seats) entitles the batter
and all runners on base to advance two bases but no further. This term is used by some
commentators in lieu of ground rule double, which refers to ground rules in effect at each
ballpark.

automatic strike
 A strike is deemed "automatic" when the pitcher grooves a strike–typically on a 3-0 count–with
such confidence that the batter takes the pitch without swinging at it.

away

 A pitch outside the strike zone, on the opposite side of the plate as the batter, is referred to as
being "away", in contrast to a pitch thrown between the plate and the batter that known as
"inside".
 Slang for "outs". For example, a two out inning may be said to be "two away"; A strike out may
be referred to as "putting away" the batter.
 Games played at an opponent's home field are "away games". The visiting team is sometimes
called the "away" team.

backdoor breaking ball

A breaking pitch, usually a slider, curveball, or cut fastball that, due to its lateral motion, passes
through a small part of the strike zone on the outside edge of the plate after seeming as if it
would miss the plate entirely. It may not cross the front of the plate but only the back and thus
have come in through the "back door". A slider is the most common version, because a slider has
more lateral motion than other breaking pitches.

backstop

 The fence behind homeplate, designed to protect spectators from wild pitches or foul
balls.
 Catcher, sometimes "backstopper".

back-to-back

Consecutive. When two consecutive batters hit home runs, they are said to hit back-to-back
homers. Or a pitcher may issue back-to-back walks, and so forth.

bad-ball hitter

A batter who excels at hitting pitches that are outside the strike zone. Notable bad ball hitters
include Yogi Berra and Vladimir Guerrero.

bad hop

A ball that bounces in front of an infielder in an unexpected way, often as a result of

imperfections in the field or the spin on the ball.

bag

A base. Also, a two-bagger is a double or two-base hit; a three-bagger is a triple or three-

base hit; a four-bagger is a home run.

bail
  A batter who sees a pitch coming toward his head may "bail out" (hit the deck).
 When two fielders are converging on a fly ball, one of them may "bail out" to avoid
running into the other.
 A relief pitcher may come into the game with men on base and bail the previous pitcher
out of a jam.

While the first two examples are analogues to bailing out of a plane via parachute, the last one is
akin to bailing out a boat that's on the verge of being swamped, or perhaps bailing somebody
who is in trouble out of jail.

balk

A ruling made by an umpire against a pitching motion that violates rules intended to prevent the
pitcher from unfairly deceiving a baserunner. When a balk is called, each runner can freely
advance one base. In professional baseball, a balk does not instantly result in a dead ball. If a
pitch is thrown and all runners advance one base due to a hit, play continues and the balk is
ignored. This rarely occurs because when the balk is called the pitcher normally stops his delivery
and the umpire declares the ball dead and awards the bases. In non-professional baseball (high
school and college), a balk instantly results in a dead ball and the runners are awarded their
bases. The rules specify which pitching movements are illegal. Commonly called balks are failure
for the pitcher to come to a set position (or coming set multiple times) or failure to step in the
direction of the base he is throwing toward. The spirit of a balk is that certain movements mean
that the pitcher has begun the pitch, so the runner cannot then be picked off. Some balks result
from errant or unsuccessful motions, such as when the ball slips out of the pitcher's hand. Far
more rare is a catcher's balk, when the catcher moves from behind the area of the plate before
the pitcher starts his delivery, which only applies during an intentional walk.

ball in play

In sabermetrics, "ball in play" and "batting average on balls in play" (BABIP) have specific
technical definitions that are used to determine pitchers' ability independently of the fielding
defense of a team. In this definition, a home run is not a ball in play. See Defense Independent
Pitching Statistics. Also see in play.

Baltimore Chop

A ball hit forcefully into the ground near home plate, producing a bounce high above the head of
a fielder.[16] This gives the batter time to reach first base safely before the ball can be fielded. An
important element of Baltimore Orioles coach John McGraw's "inside baseball" strategy, the
technique was popularized during Major League Baseball's dead-ball era, during which baseball
teams could not rely on the home run.[17]
To give the maximum bounce to a Baltimore chop, Orioles groundskeeper Tom Murphy packed
the dirt tightly around home plate, mixed it with hard clay and left the infield unwatered. [18]
Speedy Orioles players like John McGraw, Joe Kelley, Steve Brodie, and Willie Keeler— said once
to have legged out a double off a Baltimore chop[citation needed] - most often practiced and perfected
it.
In modern baseball, the Baltimore chop is much less common, usually resulting when a batter
accidentally swings over the ball. The result is sometimes more pronounced on those diamonds
with artificial turf. The technique still sees use in softball.[19]

bandbox
 A ballpark with small dimensions that encourages offense, especially home runs. A crackerbox.
(see: Baker Bowl and Citizens Bank Ballpark)

bang

 Cancelling a game because of bad weather: "I thought we were gonna get banged but
we got in 5 innings."
 To hit the ball hard, especially to hit a homer. "Utley banged the game-tying home run."
 Players who are banged up are injured, though may continue to play. Example:
"Banged up Braves ready for playoff rematch with Astros."
 A bang-up game is an exciting or close game. Example from a sports headline: "A Real
Bang-Up Finish."
 A bang bang play is one in which the runner is barely thrown out, a very close call,
typically at first base. Perhaps reflecting the "bang" of the ball in the first-baseman's
glove followed immediately by the "bang" of the baserunner's foot hitting the bag.
 bang it inside is when a pitcher throws on the inside of the plate, and the batter can't
get his arms extended enough to hit the ball, which goes "bang" into the catcher's mitt.
"It was an unbelievable feeling and a feeling I'll never forget", Giavotella said. "Scherzer
was trying to come in on me all day. He was banging me inside and I couldn't get my
hands extended. I guess he missed over the plate that time and I got my hands inside
and barreled it up and it flew out of the park"'[20]

banjo hitter

A batter who lacks power. A banjo hitter usually hits bloop singles, often just past the infield dirt,
and would have a low slugging percentage. The name is said to come from the twanging sound
of the bat at contact, like that of a banjo. See also Punch and Judy hitter.

barehand it

Refers to when a fielder catches a ball with the hand not covered by his glove.

barrel up

In modern baseball, refers to hitting a pitch hard with the sweet spot of the baseball bat.
See sweet spot.

base hit

A hit that enable the batter to reach base safely without benefit of an error or fielder’s choice.

base knock

A single.

Baseball Annie

Female "groupie" known to "be easy" for baseball players. Susan Sarandon played such a role as
the character Annie Savoy in the 1988 American film "Bull Durham".
 Infamous Ruth Ann Steinhagen was the first "Baseball Annie". She became obsessed with Cubs
and then Phillies first baseman Eddie Waitkus. She shot him through the chest, nearly killing him
in 1949. This story inspired the 1952 novel The Natural.

bases loaded

Runners on first, second, and third base. Also known as "bases full", "bases packed", "bases
jammed", "bases juiced", "bases chucked", "bases polluted", or "bases drunk". This
presents a great scoring opportunity for the batting team, but it also presents an easy double
play opportunity for the defense. Causing the bases to become loaded is called loading the
bases. A batter is often intentionally walked when there are runners on 2nd and 3rd base to
make it easier for the defense to record more than one out.
A bases-loaded situation is the only time there is a force at home plate.
Since there is no additional room to place the batter, should he be awarded first base from a
base on balls or hit by pitch, one run will score due to the third-base player being forced home.
Chronologically, only big leaguers Abner Dalrymple, Nap Lajoie, Mel Ott, Bill Nicholson, Barry
Bonds and Josh Hamilton hold the distinction of being intentionally walked with the bases loaded.
When a home run is hit with the bases loaded, it is called a grand slam. It scores four runs for
the batting team, which is the greatest number of runs that can be scored on a single play.

basement

Last place, bottom of the standings. Also cellar.

baserunner

A baserunner (shortened as "runner") is a player on the offensive team (i.e., the team at bat)
who has safely reached base.

basket catch

Catching a fly ball with the glove near belt level. The signature catch of Willie Mays. It was also
used in the movie Major League where Willie Mays Hayes makes a basket catch and as he
approaches the dugout his manager, Lou Brown, says, " Nice catch, Hayes. Don't ever fuckin' do
it again!"

bat

 A baseball bat is a smooth contoured round wooden or metal rod used to hit the ball
thrown by the pitcher. A bat's diameter is larger at one end (the barrel-end) than at
the other (the handle). The bottom end of the handle is the knob. A batter generally
tries to strike the ball in the sweet spot near the middle of the barrel-end of the bat,
sometimes referred to as the fat part of the bat or the meat end of the bat.
 The player who uses it to strike the ball — a batter, hitter, or batsman — can be said to
bat the ball.
 A player known as a good hitter might be said to have a good bat. Headline: "Shortstop
mixes golden glove with solid bat".[21] A player who is adept at both hitting and fielding
might be said to have a good bat and good glove. The headline "Wesleyan shortstop
Winn has bat and glove"[22] does not mean that the player simply owns a bat and a glove
but instead that he is very skilled at both hitting and fielding.
 A team with many good hitters might be said to have a lot of "bats" (referring to the
players not the instrument). "It's an awesome thing when we all get going like that",
 Murphy said. "We've got so many bats in our lineup that we're hard to beat if we keep
hitting".[23]

bat around

According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, a team has "batted around" when each of the nine
batters in the team's lineup has made a plate appearance, and the first batter is coming up again
during a single inning.[24] Dictionary.com, however, defines "bat around" as "to have every player
in the lineup take a turn at bat during a single inning."[25] It is not an official statistic. Opinions
differ as to whether nine batters must get an at-bat, or if the opening batter must bat again for
"batting around" to have occurred.[26]

bat drop

A physical property of a bat, expressed as a (usually) negative number equal to the bat's weight
in ounces minus its length in inches. For example, a bat that is 34 inches (86 cm) long and
weighs 31 ounces (880 g) has a bat drop of –3. In general, bats with a larger bat drop (i.e.,
lighter) are easier to swing, and bats with a smaller bat drop (i.e., heavier) can produce faster
ball velocity, though these results depend on the batter's ability.

bat the ball

To hit the ball with the bat -- whether into fair territory or foul.

batter

The player who is at bat and tries to hit the ball with the bat. Also referred to as the "hitter" or
"batsman".

batter's eye

A solid-colored, usually dark area beyond the center field wall that is the visual backdrop for the
batter looking out at the pitcher. It allows the batter to see the pitched ball against a dark and
uncluttered background, as much for the batter's safety as anything. The use of a batter's
background has been standard in baseball (as well as cricket where they are called "sight
screens") since at least the late 1800s.
One example of a batter's background is the black area in center field of the first Yankee
Stadium. At one time there were seats located in that section, but because of distractions the
seats were removed and the area painted black.

batter's box

A rectangle on either side of home plate in which the batter must be standing for fair play to
resume. A foot and a hand out of the box are not sufficient to stop play (although pitchers will
usually respect a batter's wish to step out of the box). The umpire must grant the batter a
timeout before play is stopped.

battery

 The pitcher and catcher considered as a single unit, who may also be called
batterymen[27] or batterymates of one another. The use of this word was first coined
 by Henry Chadwick in the 1860s in reference to the firepower of a team's pitching staff
and inspired by the artillery batteries then in use in the American Civil War.[28] Later, the
term evolved to indicate the combined effectiveness of pitcher and catcher. [28][29]

battery mates

A pitcher and catcher from the same team. See "battery".

batting average

Batting average (BA) is the average number of hits per at-bat (BA=H/AB). A perfect batting
average would be 1.000 (read: "one thousand"). A batting average of .300 ("three hundred") is
considered to be excellent, which means that the best hitters fail to get a hit in 70% of their at-
bats. Even the level of .400, which is outstanding and rare (last achieved at the major league
level in 1941), suggests "failure" 60% of the time. Bases on balls are not counted in calculating
batting average. This is part of the reason OBP is now regarded by "figger filberts" as a truer
measure of a hitter's worth at the plate. In 1887, there was an experiment with including bases-
on-balls as hits (and as at-bats) in computing the batting average. It was effectively an early
attempt at an OBP, but it was regarded as a "marketing gimmick" and was dropped after the one
year. It eventually put Cap Anson in limbo regarding his career hits status; dropping the bases on
balls from his 1887 stats, as some encyclopedias do, put his career number of hits below the
benchmark 3,000 total.

batting practice

The period, often before a game, when players warm up or practice their hitting technique.
Sometimes refers to a period within a game when one team's hitters have so totally dominated a
given pitcher that the game resembles a batting practice session. Referred to colloquially as well
as abbreviated as BP.

battle

When a hitter works the count, by being patient, perhaps by deliberately fouling off pitches that
he can't get good wood on, he's said to be "battling".

bazooka

A strong throwing arm. A gun, a cannon, a rifle.

BB

 A line drive hit so hard that a fielder has trouble catching up to it. The reference is to
being shot from a BB gun.
 "BB" is scorer's shorthand for a walk, otherwise known as a "base on balls". Walks are
recorded under the "BB" column of a box score.

BBCOR
An initialism for Batted-Ball Coefficient of Restitution, a standard that all non-wooden bats (both metal
and composite) must meet in order to be approved for use in most amateur baseball leagues, such as
U.S. college baseball.[30]

beanball

A pitch intentionally thrown to hit the batter if he does not move out of the way, especially when
directed at the head (or the "bean" in old-fashioned slang). The word bean can also be used as
a verb, as in the following headline: "Piazza says Clemens Purposely Beaned Him."[31]

beat out

When a runner gets to first base before the throw, he beats the throw or beats it out. Akin to
leg out. "Greene's throw to first base pulls Gonzalez off the bag and Norris Hopper is fast enough
to beat it out before Gonzalez can get his foot back on the bag."[32]

beat the rap

Occurs when a batter hits the ball on the ground with a runner on first and fewer than two outs.
If the play has the potential of being a double play, the batter can beat the rap if he reaches first
base before the throw from the fielder that recorded the putout at second base. The result of the
play becomes a fielder's choice.

behind in the count

Opposite of ahead in the count. For the batter: when the count contains more strikes than balls.
For the pitcher: vice versa.
If the pitcher is behind in the count, he is in increasing danger of walking the batter. If the batter
is behind, he is in increasing danger of striking out. "While he only allowed three hits, he walked
five and pitched from behind in the count."[33]

belt

 To hit a ball hard to the outfield or out of the park, fair or foul. "Jones belts that one
deep to left . . . but just foul."

 The actual belt worn by a player as part of the uniform, usually mentioned in reference
to the location of a pitch or a ball in play. "Benard takes a fastball, outside corner at the
belt, called a strike", or "Grounded sharply into the hole at short--ranging to his right,
Aurilia fields the belt-high hop and fires on to first; two away."

bench

 "The bench" is where the players sit in the dugout when they are not at bat, in the on-
deck circle, or in the field.
 "The bench" may also refer to the players who are not in the line-up but are still eligible
to enter the game. "LaRussa's bench is depleted because of all the pinch hitting and
pinch running duties it's been called on to perform tonight."

bench jockey
 A player, coach or manager with the talent of annoying and distracting opposition players and
umpires from his team's dugout with verbal repartee. Especially useful against those with rabbit
ears. The verbal jousting is frequently called "riding" - hence the "rider" from the dugout
becomes a "bench jockey". The art of riding opposition players enough to unnerve them (but not
enough to enrage them and provoke a fight) is believed to be fast-fading in the 21st century
game. Major League Baseball players on the disabled list, while permitted on the bench, are not
permitted to engage in bench jockeying.[34]

bender

A curveball.

big as a grapefruit

When a hitter sees the pitch so well that it appears to be larger than its actual size, he may
describe the ball as being "as big as a grapefruit". "After hitting a 565-foot home run, Mickey
Mantle once said, 'I just saw the ball as big as a grapefruit'. During a slump, Joe 'Ducky' Medwick
of the St. Louis Cardinals said he was 'swinging at aspirins'."[35]

big fly

A home run.

big inning

The opposite mentality of small ball, if a team is thinking "big inning" they are focusing on
scoring runs strictly through base hits and home runs, as opposed to bunts or other sacrifices.
More generically, a "big inning" is an inning in which the offense scores a large number of runs,
usually four or more.

Big Leagues

A nickname for Major League Baseball

big swing

A swing of the bat that produces a home run. "Pinch runner Hernán Pérez came in for Martinez
and Perez walked Dirks, setting the stage for Avila's big swing".[36]

bigs

The big leagues, major leagues, "the Show". If you're in the bigs you're a big leaguer, a major
leaguer.

bingle

A single. A base hit that ends up with the hitter on first base. "Brown tried to stretch the bingle
into a double, and was out, Monte Irvin to Frank Austin."[37] (A rare usage nowadays.)

blast
 A home run, normally one that is well hit.

bleacher seats

Bleacher seats (in short, bleachers) are uncovered seats that are typically tiered benches or
other inexpensive seats located in the outfield or in any area past the main grandstand. The term
comes from the assumption that the benches are sun-bleached. "Bleachers" is short for the term
originally used, "bleaching boards". Fans in the bleacher seats are sometimes called bleacher
bums or bleacher creatures.

bleeder

A weakly hit ground ball that goes for a base hit. A scratch hit. "Dunn walked to bring up Morra,
who jumped on the first pitch he saw and hit a bleeder that didn't leave the infield, driving in
Gradwohl."[38]

blistered

A ball that is hit so hard that it seems to generate its own heat may be said to have been
blistered. "Chapman then blistered a ball toward left-center, and Knoblauch raced back, moving
smoothly, and made the catch with his arm outstretched."[39]

block the plate

A catcher who puts a foot, leg, or whole body between home plate and a runner attempting to
score, is said to "block the plate". Blocking the plate is a dangerous tactic, and may be
considered obstruction (Official Rules of Baseball, Rule 2.00 (Obstruction)).

bloop curve

An Eephus pitch (q.v.); a trick pitch thrown like a slow-pitch softball pitch, with a high arcing
trajectory and very little velocity (ca. 40-55 mph or less). Specifically, such a pitch thrown
ostensibly as a curveball.

blooper

 A blooper or bloop is a weakly hit fly ball that drops in for a single between an infielder
and an outfielder. Also known as a bloop single, a dying quail, or a duck snort.
 A fielding error. Headline: "Red Sox roll White Sox after Contreras blooper".[40]
 An odd or funny play, such as when a pitcher throws the ball to the catcher after the
batter has stepped out of the batter's box and timeout has been called -- perhaps hitting
the catcher in the head with the pitch.[41]

blow

 To blow a game is to lose it after having the lead. "We had the game in hand and we
blew it."
 To blow a pitch by a hitter is to throw a fastball that that batter is unable to catch up
to.
 To blow a save is to lose a lead or the game after coming into the game in a "save
situation". This has a technical meaning in baseball statistics.
  A hit, typically a home run: "Ortiz's Blow Seals Win."

blow open the game

To gain a commanding lead in a game, perhaps after the game has been very competitive or the
score has remained tied or close. "Pirates Score Late To Blow Open Close Game Against Stony
Brook."[42]

blown save

A blown save (BS) is charged to a relief pitcher who enters a game in a save situation but allows
the tying run to score. If the pitcher further allows the winning run to score, he is charged with
both a loss and a blown save. If, after blowing the save, the pitcher's team regains the lead, the
pitcher may also be credited with the win. The blown save is not an officially recognized statistic
by Major League Baseball, but is recognised by the Rolaids Relief Man Award, which charges two
points against a reliever's record for a blown save opportunity. It is often used on broadcasts to
characterize the "record" of closers analogous to win-loss records of starters. "Jones has made
31 out of 34 saves" or "Jones has 31 saves and 3 blown saves."

blowser

Rhymes with "closer". A closer who seems to get more blown saves than saves.

blue

An umpire, referring to the typical dark blue color of the umpire's uniform. Sometimes used
derisively in professional baseball, such as when complaining about a call, e.g.: "Oh, come on,
Blue!"

bomb

A home run.

bonehead play

A bonehead play or "boner" is a mental mistake that changes the course of a game dramatically.
A play where there is an obvious loss of focus and a bad choice was made when the alternative
was clear.

bonus baby

A young player who received a signing bonus.

bonus baseball

Extra innings. Most famously used by San Diego Padres (and former Boston Red Sox) announcer
Don Orsillo. Also called "bonus cantos" by Yankees announcer Michael Kay.

booted
 Made an error, kicked it – typically referring to a misplay on a ground ball. "Miguel Cabrera hit a
ground ball to Alex S. Gonzalez, who booted the ball. Had Gonzalez fielded the ball properly, the
Cubs could have ended the half-inning with a double play."[43]

bottom of the inning

The second half or "last half" of an inning, during which the home team bats, derived from its
position in the line score.

bottom dropped out of it

Sometimes said of a sinker or drop ball, implying that a pitch suddenly moved downward as if it
fell through a trap door. "Ideally, a pitcher would like to throw the pitch with the same arm speed
at the same release point only to have the bottom drop out at the last instant leaving the batter
wondering what happened."[44]

box

 The vicinity of the pitcher's mound. Baseball announcers will sometimes refer to a batted
ball going back through the pitcher's mound area as having gone through the box, or a
pitcher being removed from the game will be said to have been knocked out of the
box. In the early days of the game, there was no mound; the pitcher was required to
release the ball while inside a box drawn on the ground. Even though the mound has
replaced the box, this terminology still exists.
 Also, the batter's box, the area within which the batter stands when hitting. The batter
must be in the box for the pitcher to pitch.

box score

The statistical summary of a game. The line score is an abbreviated version of the box score,
duplicated from the field scoreboard. Invention of the box score is credited to Henry Chadwick.

BP

 batting practice.
 Devotees of baseball research also sometimes refer to Baseball Prospectus as BP.

BR

Bats right; used in describing a player's statistics, for example: John Doe (TR, BR, 6', 172 lbs.)

brand new ball game

When a team scores run(s) that bring the score up to a tie, it is said to be "a brand new ball
game." The phrase was popularized by Hall of Fame Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully.

breaking ball

Any pitch that markedly deviates from a "straight" or expected path due to a spin used by the
pitcher to achieve the desired effect. Some examples are the curveball, the slider and the
screwball.
break one off

To throw a curveball.

break open the game

When a team gains a multiple-run lead, perhaps in a single rally that expands their lead, the
game may be said to be "broken open". "The Padres broke the game open with five runs in the
fifth, thanks to three errors by the Cubs, who have dropped 12 of 14."[45]

bring

To pitch; often used for a fastball: bring the gas, bring the heat, bring it.

broken-bat

An adjective referring to a play that originates with a batter breaking his bat upon making
contact with the ball.

Bronx Bombers

A nickname given to the New York Yankees due to their ability to playing in a hitter-friendly
ballpark.

bronx cheer

A sarcastic cheer from the crowd.

browsing

A batter who strikes out looking, especially if the batter did not move his bat at all. This term is
mainly used by sports commentators.

brushback

A pitch intentionally thrown close to a batter to intimidate him, i.e., to "brush him back" from the
plate. Also a purpose pitch or chin music. Archaic usage: "a blowdown".[46]

buck and change

A player batting between .100 and .199 is said to be batting "a buck and change" or, more
specifically, the equivalent average in dollars (bucks) and cents (change). Example: A batter
batting .190 is said to be batting "a buck ninety". Major leaguers with a batting average this low
will very likely be demoted down to AAA for seasoning or even released outright. See also
Mendoza line.

Bug on the Rug

Phrase coined by Pittsburgh Pirates announcer Bob Prince in the 1970s. A basehit that skittered
through the gap, particularly on artificial turf.
Bugs Bunny change-up

A change-up pitch that appears to arrive at homeplate so slowly that a batter can make three
swings and misses on a single pitch. Whiff-whiff-whiff, three strikes and the batter is out. The
reference is to Bugs Bunny, the animated cartoon character, who is depicted employing such a
pitch in the cartoon Baseball Bugs. As Hoffman's changeup evolved into an all-world weapon, his
pitching teammates were in awe of it, much like many hitters were. They liked it so much, they
gave it a nickname. They called it the Bugs Bunny Pitch. 'You could swing at it three times and it
still wouldn't be in the mitt', Ashby said, bringing up the image of the famous cartoon. 'I swear,
he could tell them it's coming and they still couldn't hit it.' [47]

bullpen

 The area used by pitchers and catchers to warm up before taking the mound when play
has already begun. This area is usually off to the side along either the left or right base
line, or behind an outfield fence. It is almost never in fair territory, presumably due to
the risk of interference with live action. A rare exception was at New York's Polo Grounds
where the bullpens were in the deep left and right center field quarter-circles of the
outfield wall.
 A team's relief pitching corps (so named because the relievers are in the bullpen during
games).

There are varying theories of the origin of the term, discussed in more detail in the main article.

bullpen by committee

 A strategy by which a club does not assign relief pitchers to specific roles such as
"closer", "set-up", or "long relief", and instead may use any reliever at any given time. At
the major league level, this strategy is commonly used when the club's closer is
unavailable.

bullpen session

bullpenning

An infrequently used strategy that involves using a string of relief pitchers (some of whom, in this
strategy, may be pitchers more often used as starters) in stints of no more than two innings
instead of relying on one pitcher to work most of the innings.[48]

bump

The pitchers mound. "Who's on the bump today?"

bunt

To deliberately bat the ball weakly to a particular spot on the infield by holding the bat nearly
still, with one hand behind the sweet spot (q.v. under bat) and letting the ball hit it. Typically, a
bunt is used to advance other runners and is then referred to as a sacrifice or a sacrifice hit
or a sacrifice bunt. When done correctly, fielders have no play except, at best, to throw the
batter-runner out at first base.
 Speedy runners also bunt for base hits when infielders are playing back. In such a situation, left-
handed hitters may use a drag bunt, in which they start stepping towards first base while
completing the bunt swing. Even the great slugger Mickey Mantle would drag bunt once in a
while, taking advantage of his 3.1 second speed from home to first base. Currently, Ryan
Zimmerman of the Nationals is notable in that he is a right-handed hitter who uses drag bunts
successfully.

bush league

A slang term for play that is of minor league or unprofessional quality. The "bushes" or the
"sticks" are small towns where minor league teams may operate. A "busher" refers to someone
from the "bush leagues": see subtitle of Ring Lardner's first book, "You Know Me Al: A Busher's
Letters".

businessman's special

A day game on a weekday.

bust him in

To throw a fastball in on the hitter's hands. Also: tie him up, in the kitchen.

butcher

A very poor fielder.

butcher boy

A strategy where the hitter first shows he intends to bunt, pulls back the bat when the pitcher
begins the delivery, and takes a quick swing at the pitch. Generally used by weaker hitters such
as pitchers. Greg Maddux was known for employing this tactic effectively in the early part of his
career with the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves.

buzz the tower

To throw a high fastball up-and-in to a hitter, typically with intent to back the hitter off the plate
or make a statement. Also see brushback and purpose pitch.

Cactus League

The group of teams that conduct their pre-season spring training exhibition games in Arizona
where the cactus grows in abundance. See also Grapefruit League.

caddy

A caddy's sole function is to come in as a substitute in the late innings of a lopsided game to act
as a defensive replacement for an aging power hitter or to pinch run.
called up

A Major League team may call up or promote a player from the minor leagues during the season
to take a spot on its roster, often to replace a player who has been sent down to the minor
leagues or else placed on the disabled list. Players who have been in the major leagues
previously (and were sent down) may be said to be recalled rather than called up. After August
31, several minor leaguers may be called up to take a spot on the expanded roster.

cannon

 A strong arm. Also, a gun.

 To throw strongly. Announcer following a play in which the shortstop fields a ground ball
and throws hard to first: "Guillen cannons and gets him."

can of corn

A high, easy-to-catch, fly ball hit to the outfield. The phrase is said to have originated in the
nineteenth-century and relates to an old-time grocer's method of getting canned goods down
from a high shelf. Using a stick with a hook on the end, a grocer could tip a can so that it would
fall for an easy catch into his apron. One theory for use of corn as the canned good in the phrase
is that a can of corn was considered the easiest "catch" as corn was the best selling vegetable in
the store and so was heavily stocked on the lowest shelves. Another theory is that the corn refers
to the practice in the very early days of baseball of calling the outfield the "corn field", especially
in early amateur baseball where the outfield may have been a farm field. Frequently used by Red
Barber, a variation, 'A #8 CAN OF GOLDEN BANTAM' was favored by Bob Prince, Pittsburgh
Pirates' announcer. The phrase was also used by Yankee announcer Phil Rizzuto and Red Sox
and then White Sox broadcaster Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson. Also, a phrase used to refer to
something that is not challenging. Informally, can of corn may be used as a phrase to describe
mild excitement, personal acknowledgement or recognition of significance.

Captain Hook

A manager who often takes a pitcher out of the game at the first sign of trouble. Sparky
Anderson was perhaps the best example of a "Captain Hook" at the major league level. See
hook.

carve up

When a pitcher quickly dispatches a batter with three or four pitches that the batter only whiffs
at, the pitcher may be said to have "carved up the batter" – like a chef carving up a turkey.
Headline: "How Buehrle carved up Tampa Bay with just one 90-m.p.h. pitch".[49]

cash in

To knock in a runner who is already on base. "Lauren Rorebeck then cashed both runners in with
a home run over the left field fence to tie the game at 7–7 with two innings to play".[50]

catbird seat

A desirable or auspicious situation. Popularized by Red Barber, longtime broadcaster for the
Brooklyn Dodgers. James Thurber wrote in his short story of the same title: "[S]itting in the
 catbird seat" means sitting pretty, like a batter with three balls and no strikes on him. The catbird
is said to seek out the highest point in a tree to sing his song, so someone in the catbird seat is
high up.

catch up to a fastball

As if a batter were running a footrace with a fastball, he's said to "catch up" to a fastball if his
reaction time and bat speed are quick enough to hit a fastball by a power pitcher. "Our scouting
reports indicate he can still hit and still catch up to a fastball. As long as he can catch up to a
fastball, he's going to get the money."[51]

catcher's interference

It is catcher's interference when the catcher physically hinders the batter's opportunity to swing
at a pitch. In professional baseball, play continues and after continuous playing action ceases,
the umpire calls time. The penalty is that the batter is awarded first base; any runner attempting
to steal is awarded that base and all other runners advance only if forced. The manager of the
offensive team has the option of keeping the result of the play. He will not be given the option by
the umpires and must explicitly declare it before the play continues after awarding bases. The
catcher is charged with an error. This is one of many types of interference call.

caught looking

From Open-site.org: A term used when the third strike is called on a batter without the batter
attempting to swing at the pitch.

caught napping

A baserunner who is tagged out because he wasn't paying attention to what the defensive
players were doing is "caught napping". Often this involves a pickoff play in which the infielder
sneaks up behind the runner and takes a throw from the pitcher or, less often, the catcher.

cellar

Last place, bottom of the standings. A team that spends too much time in last place, especially
over a stretch of years, tends to acquire the unflattering title of cellar dweller. SYNONYM:
basement.

cement mixer

A baseball pitched with the intent to break out of the strike zone that fails to break and ends up
hanging in the strike zone; an unintentional slow fastball with side spin resembling a fixed-axis
spinning cement mixer, which does not translate.

the chair

Specifically regarding a batter: A seat on the bench, as opposed to reaching base or remaining in
the batter's box. As in, "throw him the chair". The expression is an encouragement to the pitcher
to strike out the batter, sending him back to the dugout, thus "throwing him the chair" — forcing
him to sit down.
challenge the hitter

When a pitcher is aggressive and throws strikes, perhaps his best fastball, he may be said to
"challenge the hitter". Akin to pounding the strike zone or attacking the strike zone. "Jared has
outstanding stuff", Mee said. "The one thing I would like to see him do is throw more strikes and
challenge the hitters. He has a lot of ability and when he is ahead in the count he's a very
difficult guy to hit off of".[52]

change the eye level

A pitcher "changes the eye level" of a hitter by thowing pitches at different heights in the strike
zone. This is intended to keep the hitter off-balance or uncomfortable, so that he can't easily line
up the next pitch. "Changing the eye-level of a hitter is important because as you advance, it'll
become more difficult for you to get a hitter to move his feet in the batters box – even by
pitching inside – so the next option is to move the hitter's eyes".[53]

changeup

A changeup or a change is a pitch meant to look like a fastball - but with less velocity - short for
change of pace. A variety of this pitch is the circle change, where a circle is formed using the
thumb and index finger on the last third of a ball. This causes the ball to break inside and down
to right-handed batter from a right-handed pitcher, frequently resulting in ground balls. Also, a
straight change - made famous by Pedro Martínez - can be utilized. The grip requires all
fingers to be used in holding the ball, resulting in more friction, thus slowing the ball down
tremendously.

charge

 When an infielder runs towards a ground ball that is moving towards him in order to field
it, rather than waiting for it to come to him.
 Runs are said to be "charged" to the pitcher who initially allowed the scoring runner to
get on base.

charging the mound

 Charging the mound refers to a batter assaulting the pitcher after being hit by a pitch or
in some cases after narrowly avoiding being hit. The first incident of a professional
charging the mound has not been identified but the practice certainly dates back to the
game's early days. Charging the mound is often the precipitating cause of a bench-
clearing brawl and will most likely result in the batter's ejection.

chase

 To chase (or chase after) is to swing at a pitch well outside of the strike zone.
 A pitcher who is removed from the game by the manager because he gave up too many
runs is said to have been "chased from the game" or "chased from the mound" by the
opposing batters. "Pettitte was chased from the game in the seventh inning following an
RBI single by Willy Taveras and a two-RBI triple by Kazuo Matsui."[54]
 A player or coach who is ejected from the game by an umpire can be said to be chased.
"Martin was tossed by umpire Lee Weyer in the fourth game of the 1976 Series, seven
years after Weaver was chased by Shag Crawford in the fourth game in 1969."[55]
chatter

To verbally challenge or taunt to distract the opposing batter. Fans and players alike participate
in chatter. "Heybattabattabatta" is an example of common baseball chatter.

cheap run

A run that comes about from luck or with little effort by the offensive team. Headline: "A Cheap
Run for the Rays". Story: "Carl Crawford got lucky with that blooper down the line; wasn't a bad
pitch from Jamie Moyer.[56]

check the runner

When the pitcher or an infielder who fields a ball, looks in the direction of a runner on base and
thereby causes him to not take as large of a lead as he would otherwise have taken.

checked swing

A batter checks a swing by stopping it before the bat crosses the front of home plate. If he fails
to stop it in time, the umpire will call a strike because he swung at the pitch. Often the umpire's
view of the swing is obstructed. If the umpire calls the pitch a ball, a defensive player such as the
catcher or pitcher can ask the home plate umpire to ask another umpire whether the batter
swung at the pitch. In such a case, the home plate umpire always accepts the judgment of the
other umpire. "Basically, the Tigers tied the Sox in knots the entire game — or else they wouldn’t
have had as many checked swings as they did. Or as many strikes that they tried to sell to the
umpires as balls".[57]

cheddar

See cheese.

cheese

A fastball, particularly one that is easy to hit. A fastball high in the strike zone is also called high
cheese, and one low in the zone can be called cheese at the knees. 'Easy Cheese' refers to the
seemingly effortless motion of a pitcher as he throws a fastball that is thrown at very high
velocity.

chin music

A high and tight, up and in pitch meant to knock a batter back from home plate to avoid being
hit on the chin. Also known as a brush-back or purpose pitch.

Chinese home run

An older term for a home run, often a high fly ball, that barely clears the fence at that part of the
outfield closest to the plate. It was frequently used in reference to such hits at the Polo Grounds,
former home of the New York Giants, which had notoriously short foul lines. Its use has declined
since that stadium was demolished, and even further as it has been perceived as ethnically
offensive.[58]
 A secondary sense is that of a long fly ball, usually one that travels backward from home plate.
This usage appears to be restricted to sandlot ball games in New England, where it may have
evolved from a supposed "Chaney's home run", a backward foul by a player of that name that
eventually won a game for the hitting team when the ball, the last one available, could not be
found. The umpire then ruled that the other team had failed to provide an adequate number of
balls and thus had forfeited the game.[58]

chinker

A blooper; a dying quail; a bleeder.

chopper

A chopper refers to a batted ball that immediately strikes the hardened area of dirt directly in
front of home plate. This causes the ball to jump high into the infield air. Batters who are fast
runners can convert such choppers into base hits. Also a batted ball that bounces several times
before either being fielded by an infielder or reaching the outfield. Former Braves broadcaster
Skip Caray often whimsically called bouncers to third base when Atlanta was on defense as "a
chopper to Chipper" in reference to long-time Braves third baseman Chipper Jones.

choke up

A batter "chokes up" by sliding his hands up from the knob end of the bat to give him more
control over his bat. It reduces the power and increases the control. Prior to driving in the Series-
winning hit with a bloop single in the 2001 World Series, Luis Gonzalez choked up on the bat.
Thus he came through, and did not "choke" in the clutch.

chuck

Throw. A pitcher is sometimes referred to as a chucker or someone who can really chuck the ball.
In San Francisco, sometimes the fans are referred to as battery chuckers, referring to an
incident a few years ago where many fans threw batteries onto the field.

circle

The on-deck circle, officially known as the next batter's box.

circus catch

An outstanding catch, usually when a fielder has to leave his feet or go through contortions to
make, resembling a circus acrobat in the process.

clean hit

When a batter hits a ball through the infield without it being touched by a fielder, he may be said
to have a "clean hit". Similarly, if a batter hits a ball over an outfielder's head, he may have a
"clean hit". "Tris truly loved to hit and would always get a thrill when getting a 'clean' hit that
travelled over an outfielder's head."[59]

clean inning
 When a team pitches and plays defense without mental or physical errors or allowing the other
team to score runs or advance runners easily. "I want to see clean innings", Cooper said. "This is
a time when we should be seeing them -- crisp, clean innings. Yet we're hitting guys that are
trying to bunt, walking guys on four pitches. . . . This is not young kids doing this stuff. This is
ridiculous. I don't care who it is. It shouldn't be happening. We've got to clean it up. I'd like to
see some clean innings sooner or later. We should be throwing strike one, strike two, make some
pitches. We're all over the place. We're not even close to the strike zone."[60]

cleanup hitter

The fourth batter in the lineup, usually a power hitter. The strategy is to get some runners on
base for the cleanup hitter to drive home. In theory, if the first three batters of the game were to
load the bases, the No. 4 hitter would ideally "clean up" the bases with a grand slam.

clear the bases

A batter who drives home all the runners on base without scoring himself is said to "clear the
bases". "Dikito's base-clearing triple sent the pro-Falcon crowd into a frenzy."[61]

climbing the ladder

A tactic where a pitcher delivers a succession of pitches out of the strike zone, each higher than
the last, in an attempt to get the batter to swing at a pitch "in his eyes".
When a fielder makes an unusually high jump to catch a high line drive, as though he climbed an
invisible ladder to make the catch

clinic

A dominant performance by one person or team. "David Price really put on a clinic out there,
striking out the side."

closer

A relief pitcher who is consistently used to "close" or finish a game by getting the final outs.
Closers are often among the most overpowering pitchers, and sometimes even the most erratic.
Alternatively, they might specialize in a pitch that is difficult to hit, such as the splitter or the cut
fastball.

close the book

One can "close the book" on a pitcher who has been replaced when his statistics for the game
become final. If a relief pitcher enters the game with one or more inherited runners, and those
runners eventually score, they still affect the statistics of the pitcher who allowed them on base
(e.g., earned run average). Once all runners charged to a particular pitcher score or get put out,
or the third out is made in the inning, then his statistics can no longer change (except his status
as pitcher of record) and his "book" is "closed".

clothesline

See "throw a clothesline".

clubhouse

A team's locker room, which may also include eating, entertainment, and workout facilities,
especially at the highest professional level. The term "clubhouse" is also frequently used in the
sports of golf and thoroughbred horse racing.

clutch

Good performance under pressure when good performance really matters. May refer to such a
situation (being in the clutch) or to a player (a good clutch hitter, or one who "can hit in the
clutch"); or to specific hits ("that was a clutch hit"). Most baseball fans believe that clutch hitting
exists, but there is significant disagreement among statheads whether clutch hitting is a specific
skill a player can possess or instead just something that good hitters in general do. An old
synonym for clutch is pinch, as in Christy Mathewson's book, Pitching in a Pinch.

cock-shot

A belt-high, very hittable fastball, usually down the middle of the plate. As used by Bob McClure,
former Red Sox Pitching Coach: "When you throw a cock-shot fastball just above the belt, right
down the middle, you’re hoping they don’t swing. A lot of times, that gets hit out of the
ballpark."[62]

collar

Symbol of going hitless in a game, suggested by its resemblance to a zero, along with the
implication of "choking"; to wear the collar: "If Wright doesn't get a hit here, he'll be wearing
an 0 for 5 collar on the day." Also, to take the collar: "Cameron Maybin took the collar in his
major league debut, striking out twice."[63]

comebacker

A ball batted directly back to the pitcher.

command

The advanced skill of a pitcher's ability to throw a pitch where he intends to. Contrast with
control, which is just the ability to throw strikes, command is the ability to hit particular spots in
or out of the strike zone. Also see location.

complete game

A complete game (denoted by CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game himself, without
the benefit of a relief pitcher. A complete game can be either a win or a loss. A complete game
can be awarded to a pitcher even if he pitches less than (or more than) nine-innings, as long as
he pitches the entire game.

complete game shut out

A complete game shut out (CGSO) is a type of a complete game that is awarded when the
opponent of the starting pitcher who threw the complete game does not score.
contact hitter

Main article: Contact hitter

A hitter who does not strike out often. Thus, he's usually able to make contact with the ball and
put it in play. This doesn't mean he's necessarily a pitty-patty slap hitter. He may hit for power,
but typically with more doubles/triples instead of home runs. Pete Rose, Tony Gwynn, and Wade
Boggs are all excellent examples of contact hitters.

contact pitcher

See pitch to contact.

contact play

When a runner at third base is instructed by a coach to attempt to score as soon as he hears the
bat make contact with a pitch, not waiting to learn what kind of contact has been made (fair ball
or foul ball, fly ball or ground ball). In such a case, the runner is told to "run on contact". This
play would typically occur when the game is close or the bases are loaded. More generally,
"Baserunners 'run on contact' when there are two outs, since there is nothing to lose if the ball is
caught or the batter is thrown out".[64]

control artist

A pitcher who gives up very few bases on balls or has excellent command of his pitches. Also
known as a control pitcher.

cookie

A pitch that's easy to hit. "Conversely, in the case where the first pitch is a strike and the second
pitch a ball, the second pitch may be the result of a pitcher missing his spot. The pitcher
responds by throwing a cookie on the subsequent pitch in an attempt to regain his control". [65]

Cooperstown

A metonym for the Hall of Fame, located in Cooperstown, New York. A player or manager "on his
way to Cooperstown" is one thought destined for induction into the Hall of Fame.

corked bat

A bat in which cork (or possibly rubber or some other elastic material) has been inserted into the
core of the wooden barrel. Although modifying a bat in this way may help to increase bat speed
or control by making the bat lighter, contrary to popular belief it does not impart more energy to
the batted ball.[66] A batter could achieve a similar effect by choking up on the bat or using a
shorter bat. A player who is caught altering his bat illegally is subject to suspension or other
penalties. The last such case in Major League Baseball involved the slugger Sammy Sosa.[67]

corners

 When runners are "at the corners", they are at first base and third base on the baseball
diamond, with no runner on second base.
  The "corners of the plate" are the inside and outside edges of home plate. Some pitchers
live on the corners or just nibble on them. Others are skilled at "painting the corners".

corner outfielder

The left fielder and right fielder are corner outfielders.

cornerman

A corner infielder, or an infielder that plays third or first base.

count

The number of balls and strikes a batsman has in his current at bat. Usually announced as a pair
of numbers, for instance "3–0" (pronounced "three and oh"), with the first number being the
number of balls and the second being the number of strikes. A 3–2 count – one with the
maximum number of balls and strikes in a given at bat – is referred to as a full count. A count
of 1–1 or 2–2 is called even, although the pitcher is considered to have the advantage on a 2–2
pitch because he can still throw another ball without consequence, whereas another strike means
the batter is out. A batter is said to be ahead in the count (and a pitcher behind in the count)
if the count is 1–0, 2–0, 2–1, 3–0, or 3–1. A batter is said to be behind in the count (and a
pitcher ahead in the count) if the count is 0–1, 0–2, or 1–2.

cousin

A pitcher who is easy for a particular batter to hit.

covering a base

 Part of the infielders' job is to cover bases. That is, they stand next to a base in
anticipation of receiving the ball thrown from another fielder, so that they may make a
play on an opposing baserunner who is approaching that base. On a force play or an
appeal play, the fielder covering the base stands with one foot on that base when he
catches the ball.
 When a fielder goes to make a play at a base that is not his position (usually because the
fielder for that base is unavailable to catch the ball at that base because he is busy
fielding the batted ball). A common example is when the first baseman fields a batted
ground ball, but is too far from the base to put the runner out. The pitcher runs over to
"cover" first base to take the throw from the first baseman (play would be scored as "3-
1", meaning first baseman to pitcher).

crack of the bat

The sound of the bat hitting the ball. The term is used in baseball to mean "immediately, without
hesitation". For example, a baserunner may start running "on the crack of the bat", as opposed
to waiting to see where the ball goes.
Outfielders often use the sound of bat-meeting-ball as a clue to how far a ball has been hit. As
physicist Robert Adair has written, "When a baseball is hit straight at an outfielder he cannot
quickly judge the angle of ascent and the distance the ball will travel. If he waits until the
trajectory is well defined, he has waited too long and will not be able to reach otherwise
catchable balls. If he starts quickly, but misjudges the ball such that his first step is wrong (in for
 a long fly or back for a short fly), the turn-around time sharply reduces his range and he will
again miss catchable balls. To help his judgment, the experienced outfielder listens to the sound
of the wooden bat hitting the ball. If he hears a 'crack' he runs out, if he hears a 'clunk' he runs
in."[68]
Similarly, with metal bats, the outfielders have to learn to distinguish a "ping" from a "plunk".

crackerbox

A small baseball field considered to be friendly to power hitters and unfriendly to pitchers. A
bandbox. (see: Baker Bowl)

crackerjack

A player or team with power and exceptional skill.

crafty

Another term for a control pitcher. Greg Maddux was a crafty pitcher.

crank

To hit a ball for extra bases, typically a home run. "Jeter cranked a homer to left to make it 6–
5."[69] Also, a turn of the century (19th century) euphemism for baseball spectators, referring to
the cranking of the turnstiles as they pass into the ballpark.

crash

A method of defending against a bunt in which the first and third basemen charge towards the
batter to field the ball, the second baseman covers first base, and the shortstop covers second or
third, depending on where the lead runner is going. May also refer more generally to the action
of any infielder charging towards the batter on a bunt.

crooked number

A number other than a zero or a one, referring to the appearance of the actual number. A team
which is able to score two or more runs in an inning is said to "hang a crooked number" on the
scoreboard or on the pitcher.

creature

A home run that is clearly going out as soon as it is hit. It is referred to in this manner because it
is disturbing to the pitcher like some type of creature.

crossed up

 When a catcher calls for the pitcher to throw one type of pitch (e.g., a fastball) but the
pitcher throws another (e.g., a curveball), the catcher has been crossed up. This may
lead to a passed ball, allowing a runner on base to advance. "Barrett's passed ball
allowed the last of three runs to score in the fifth as the Reds increased their lead to 7–2.
Williams' pitch crossed him up. 'I was looking for a sinker and it cut away from me',
 Barrett said. 'I had a play at the plate, but my shin guard stuck in the grass. It was a
frustrating day.'"[70]
 When a batter has been set up to expect a certain type of pitch but instead receives a
different one, he may be crossed up, perhaps leading to a weakly hit ball or a swing and
a miss.

crowd the hitter

When a pitcher throws the ball toward the inside part of the plate, he may be trying to "crowd
the hitter" by making it difficult for him to extend his arms and get a full swing at the pitch.

crowd the plate

When a batter sets his stance extremely close to the plate, sometimes covering up part of the
strike zone. This angers pitchers and, if done repeatedly, can lead to a brush-back pitch or even
a beanball being thrown at the batter to clear the plate. "I am fully aware that when you crowd
the plate, you're going to get a high heater."[71]

crush the ball

A batter who hits a ball extremely hard and far might be said to crush the ball, as if he had
destroyed the baseball or at least changed its shape. Related expressions are crunched the ball
or mashed the ball. Indeed, a slugger is sometimes described as a masher. Illustration:
"Though the 25-year-old has impressed with two homers in five games, he's more of a pure
hitter than a masher".
Other types of baseball destruction include knocking the stuffing out of the ball and
knocking the horsehide [cover] off the ball.

cue the ball

When a ball is hit off the end of the bat, the batter may be said to have "cued the ball" (as if he
hit it with a pool cue). "Kendrick took third on a broken-bat ground-out and scored on a cued
grounder to first base by Ryan Shealy. . . ."[72]

cup of coffee

A short time spent by a minor league player at the major league level. The idea is that the player
was only there long enough to have a cup of coffee. It can also be used to describe a very brief
stay (less than a season) with a major league club.

curveball

A pitch that curves or breaks from a straight or expected flight path toward home plate. Also
called simply "a curve".

cutEdit

 A swing of the bat.

 To be removed from the roster or from the team.

cut fastball
 A cut fastball or cutter is a fastball that has lateral movement. A "cut fastball" is similar to a slider
that is more notable for its speed than its lateral movement.

cut down on his swing

When a batter reduces the amplitude of his swing, either by choking up on the bat or just by
starting his swing less far behind his head, he "cuts down on his swing", thereby helping him to
get his bat around faster. Also "shorten his swing". "Guerrero swung so hard during an 0-for-5
night Tuesday he looked as if he might come right out of his spikes. So, Hatcher suggested
Wednesday that Guerrero widen his stance slightly, a move that forces hitters to cut down on
their swing a bit."[73]

cut the ball off

When a ball is hit in the gap between outfielders, a fielder often has to make a choice whether to
run toward the fence to catch or retrieve the ball or to run toward the ball and try to field it
before it gets by him and reaches the fence. In the latter case, he's said to "cut the ball off"
because he's trying to shorten the path of the ball. "When Granderson drifted towards left-center
field on Carlos Peña's fifth-inning line drive, he wasn't heading that direction to make a catch. He
was preparing to field it on the bounce. 'I was actually getting into position to cut the ball off',
Granderson said after the Tigers' 11-7 loss to the Rays Monday afternoon. 'I didn't think I was
going to have a chance to catch it.' "[74]

cut-off

A defensive tactic where a fielder that moves into a position between the outfielder that has
fielded the batted ball and the base where a play can be made. This fielder is said to "cut off" the
throw or to be the "cut-off man". This tactic increases accuracy over long distances and shortens
the time required to get a ball to a specific place. It also gives the cut-off man the choice of
putting out a trailing runner trying to advance on the throw if he thinks it impossible to make the
play at home. Missing the cut-off (man) is considered a mistake by an outfielder (though not
scored as an error) because it may allow a runner to advance or to score.

cut-off man

A fielder that "cuts off" a long throw to an important target. Often the shortstop, second
baseman, or first baseman will be the "cut-off man" for a long throw from the outfield to third
base or home plate. "Hit the cut-off man" is a common admonition from a coach.

cycle

See hit for the cycle.

DEdit
daisy cutterEdit
 Old-fashioned term for a hard-hit ground ball, close enough to the grass to theoretically
be able to lop the tops off any daisies that might be growing on the field.

danceEdit

The erratic movement of a well-thrown knuckleball. "Hopefully his knuckler doesn't

dance, and hangs a little, or we're in trouble."

dark oneEdit

A pitch that is difficult to see, much less hit. "Throw him the dark one", is an
encouragement to the pitcher, typically given with two strikes, to throw a strike past the
batter.

dead armEdit

When a normally effective or dominant pitcher seems unable to throw as hard as he

usually does, he may be said to have a "dead arm". "If you have watched the radar gun
when Carlos Zambrano has pitched this month, you know something's not right. The
problem, the Cubs right-hander said Saturday, is that he's going through a 'dead arm'
phase."[75]

dead ballEdit

Main article: Dead ball (baseball)

The ball becomes "dead" (i.e., the game's action is stopped) after a foul ball and in cases
of fan or player interference, umpire interference with a catcher, and several other
specific situations. When the ball is dead, no runners may advance beyond bases they are
entitled to, and no runners may be put out. The ball becomes "live" again when the
umpire signals that play is to resume.

dead-ball eraEdit

Main article: Dead-ball era

The period between 1903 and 1918, just prior to the Live Ball Era, when the composition
of the baseball along with other rules tended to limit the offense, and the primary batting
strategy was the inside game. Hitting a home run over the fence was a notable
achievement.

dead pull hitterEdit

A pull hitter is a batter who generally hits the ball to the same side as which he bats. That
is, for a right-handed batter, who bats from the left side of the plate, will hit the ball to
left field. Hitters are often referred to as dead pull if they rarely do anything other than
pull the ball. A contemporary example of a dead pull hitter is Jason Giambi.
dead redEdit

If a batter is "sitting/looking dead red" on a pitch, this means he was looking for a pitch
(typically a fastball), and received it, usually hitting a home run or base hit.

dealEdit

 Delivery of a pitch, commonly used by play-by-play announcers as the pitcher

releases the ball, e.g., "Smith deals to Jones".
 Pitching effectively, e.g., "Smith is really dealing tonight".

decided in the last at batEdit

A team's games "decided in the last at bat" are those with a winning team scoring the go-
ahead or winning run in its last offensive inning. In this case, "at bat" is the team's time at
the plate, constituting three outs (not to be confused with an individual at bat).

deep in the countEdit

When a pitcher gets to a 3 balls-0 strike, 3 balls-1 strike, or 3 balls-2 strike count with a
batter, a situation that tends to favor the batter. "In his fourth start after missing two
months following elbow surgery, Robertson (2-2) went deep in the count against many
hitters but allowed just five hits and two earned runs in five innings."[76]

defensive efficiency ratingEdit

A sabermetric concept: "the rate at which balls put into play are converted into outs by a
team's defense".[77] A analogous concept is used in the analysis of other team sports,
including basketball and football. It is figured this way in baseball: 1-(((H+ROE)-
HR)/(PA-(SO+HBP+HR))) where H=Hits allowed, ROE=opposing team's reached base
on error, HR=home runs allowed, PA=opposing team's number of plate appearances,
SO=team's pitching strikeouts, and HBP=pitcher's hit-by-pitch.

defensive indifferenceEdit

Main article: Defensive indifference

When the defense allows a baserunner to advance one or more bases. The runner then
does not get credit for a stolen base because the base was "given" not "stolen". The
defense may allow this in the ninth inning with a large lead, where the focus is on
inducing the final batters to make outs.

deliverEdit

 To deliver is to pitch. Announcer: "Koufax delivers. . . . Strike three!!!"

  Delivery is the basic arm angles of pitchers, e.g., overhand delivery, sidearm
delivery. This is in contrast to cricket, in which the term "delivery" is akin to type
of pitch in baseball.

designated hitterEdit

Main article: Designated hitter

In the American League, the designated hitter (DH) is a player who permanently hits in
the place of a defensive player (usually the pitcher) and whose only role in the game is to
hit. The National League does not usually use designated hitters. However, in interleague
play, when American League and National League teams face off against one another,
the DH rule is used by both teams when the game is played in an American League
ballpark, and by neither team when the game is played in a National League ballpark.

deuceEdit

 A curveball, because the catcher's sign is usually made by extending the first two
fingers.
 A double play.

From playing cards, where the "2" card is conventionally called the "deuce".

deuces wildEdit

When a large quantity of the number "2" appears on the scoreboard at the same time: 2
baserunners, 2 outs, 2 balls and 2 strikes on the batter. Derived from the poker phrase
"deuces are wild". Often used by Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully.

DFAEdit

An abbreviation of designated for assignment.

DHEdit

Designated hitter

dial long distanceEdit

To hit a home run. Headline: "Sox Sluggers Dial Long Distance — Ramirez, Ortiz Each
Crank Two-Run Homers."[78] The phrase is sometimes stated as "Dial 9 for long
distance."

dialed upEdit

Referring to a fast ball. [Eg.] "The pitcher dialed up that pitch."

diamondEdit

Main article: Baseball field

The layout of the four bases in the infield. It's actually a square 90 feet (27 m) on each
side, but from the stands it resembles a parallelogram or "diamond".

dieEdit

A fly ball is said to die if it travels a shorter distance from home plate than initially
expected due to wind or other aerodynamic factors. Not to be confused with dead ball.

dig it outEdit

 To field a ball on or near the ground. Usually a first baseman taking a low throw
from another infielder. To "dig it out of the dirt".
 To run hard through first base on a close ground ball play in an attempt to beat the
throw.

dingerEdit

A home run.

dongEdit

A home run.

dirt-napEdit

To trip or fall in the outfield or on the base paths. A blown save may also be referred to
as a dirt-nap.

disabled listEdit

Main article: Disabled list

Major league teams may remove injured players from their active roster temporarily by
placing them on the "disabled list". Another player can then be called up as a replacement
during this time.

dishEdit

 The Hitter (Batter) stands off the dish [Home Plate].

 Home plate. "The catcher settles in behind the dish."
 A pitch, particularly a good one. "Here comes the dish" (the pitch), or "He's really
dishing it tonight" (pitching well).
diving over the plateEdit

When a batter tends to lean in toward the plate so that he can more easily hit a ball that's
on the outside of the strike zone, he's said to be "diving over the plate" or "diving for the
pitch". To protect the strike zone, a pitcher may respond to this by pitching the ball
inside, perhaps with a "purpose pitch". "Now Glavine has an equalizer with his cutter. He
can bore it into the hands of righthanders to keep them from diving over the plate with
impunity at his sinker and changeup."[79]

DLEdit

The disabled list. Sometimes used as a verb, as in "Wood was DL'ed yesterday."

doctoring the ballEdit

Applying a foreign substance to the ball or otherwise altering it in order to put an

unnatural spin on a pitch. Examples: By applying Vaseline or saliva (a spitball), or
scuffing with sandpaper, emery board (an emery ball), or by rubbing vigorously to create
a shiny area of the ball (a shineball). All of these became illegal beginning in the 1920
season, helping to end the dead-ball era. (Official Rules of Baseball, Rule 8.02(a).) In
practice, there are ambiguities about what kinds of things a pitcher can legally do.[80]
A number of famous cases of doctoring the bat have also occurred in the Major Leagues.
See corked bat.

dotEdit

A slang term for the pitcher hitting the batter with a pitched ball (knockdown pitch),
either intentionally or accidentally. If a player "shows up" a pitcher (taking a long time to
circle the bases or having an excessive celebration after a home run), if an important
player on a team is struck by a pitch, or a player violates of one of baseballs "unwritten
rules" (stealing bases or bunting in a game that isn't close, bunting late in a game when a
pitcher is throwing a no-hitter, etc.), the offending player can expect to get "dotted" the
next time he is at bat as a form of intimidation or correction of the perceived offense.
Another of the "unwritten rules" is the "dotting" done by the pitcher should be below
chest level on the batter to minimize risk of injury as a higher pitch risks injuries to the
hands or even the head. Pitching higher is known as "head hunting" or "buzzing the
tower", and puts the pitcher at risk of actual violence by the other team.

doubleEdit

Main article: Double (baseball)

A hit where the batter makes it safely to second base before the ball can be returned to the
infield. Also a two-base hit.

double clutchEdit
 When a fielder – usually an infielder or a catcher – draws his arm back twice before
throwing he's said to "double clutch". This hesitation often leads to a delayed or late
throw, allowing runners to advance a base. A term borrowed from a method of shifting
gears on an automotive vehicle.

double parkedEdit

A pitcher who is getting a lot of quick outs. Implies that he has parked his car illegally
and is trying to get back to it and avoid a ticket, and this is why he is keen to get outs
quickly.

double playEdit

Main article: Double play

 A play by the defense where two offensive players are put out as a result of
continuous action resulting in two outs. A typical example is the 6-4-3 double
play.
 The double play combination (or DP combo) on a team consists of the shortstop
and the second baseman, because these players are the key players in a 6-4-3 or 4-
6-3 double play. They are also sometimes called sackmates because they play
either side of second base (also known as second sack).

'Roll a bump' is a colloquial east coast slang for turning a 1-6-3 double play or a 1-4-3 double
play.

double play depthEdit

Main article: Baseball positioning

A defensive tactic that positions the middle infielders to be better prepared for a double
play at the expense of positioning for a hit to the third-base side.

double stealEdit

Two runners attempt to simultaneously steal a base. Typically this is seen when runners
who are on first and second make an attempt to steal second and third. Another common
example is when a runner on first steals second, enticing the catcher to throw down to
second so that the runner on third can then steal home.

double switchEdit

Main article: Double switch (baseball)

The double switch is a type of player substitution that allows a manager to make a
pitching substitution and defensive (fielding) substitution while at the same time
improving the team's offensive (batting) lineup. This is most effectively used when a
pitcher needs to be replaced while his team is on defense, and his turn to bat is coming up
 in his team's next offensive try. Rather than replace the pitcher with another pitcher, a
position player (one who recently batted in his team's last offensive try) is replaced with a
new pitcher, and the outgoing pitcher is replaced by a player able to play the position of
the outgoing position player. The two subs then trade to their natural defensive roles but
keep the batting order positions of those they replaced so that when the team next comes
up to bat, it is the newly subbed position player who hits during the turn of the vacated
pitcher, and the new pitcher does not have to hit until the outgoing position player's turn
comes again. The double switch is primarily used by the National League and Japan's
Central League, which do not use the designated hitter rule.

double upEdit

 When a runner becomes the second out in a double play, he may be said to have
been doubled up (or doubled off). This could be a batter who has hit into a double
play or a runner who is caught off base when a fielder catches a ball and throws
behind the runner to a fielder who touches the base to complete a double play
(hence "doubling up" the runner).
 A team that wins a doubleheader may be described as doubling up the opponent:
"Royals double up Blue Jays".[81]

doubleheaderEdit

Main article: Doubleheader (baseball)

When two games are played by the same two teams on the same day. When the games
are played late in the day, they are referred to as a "twilight-night" or "twinight"
doubleheader. When one game is played in the afternoon and one in the evening
(typically with separate admission fees), it is referred to as a "day-night" doubleheader. A
doubleheader can also be referred to as a Twinbill. In minor league and college baseball,
doubleheader games are often scheduled for 7 innings rather than the standard 9 innings
for a regulation game.
According to the Dickson dictionary, the term is thought to derive from a railroading
term for using two joined engines (a "double header") to pull an exceptionally long train.

doubles hitterEdit

A gap hitter.

"down"Edit

Put out. "One down" means one out has been made in the inning (two more to go in the
inning). "One up (and) one down" means the first batter in the inning was out. "Two
down" means two outs have been made in the inning (one more to go). "Two up (and)
two down": the first two batters of the inning were retired (made outs). "Three up, three
down": side retired in order.

down the lineEdit

 On the field near the foul lines, often refers to the location of batted balls.

down the middleEdit

Over the middle portion of home plate, often refers to the location of pitches. Also
referred to as down the pipe, down the pike, down Main Street, down Broadway, and,
in Atlanta, down Peachtree. Very different from up the middle.

down the stretchEdit

When a team is approaching the end of the season in pursuit of the pennant or
championship, it is heading down the stretch. Perhaps this derives from horse racing or
automobile racing in which competitors come out of the final turn of the track and are
heading down the home stretch toward the finish line. "Detroit provided more than
enough offense for Fister, who was terrific down the stretch after the Tigers acquired
him in a trade with Seattle shortly before the July 31 deadline".[82]

DP comboEdit

A slang term for a shortstop and second baseman combination, as primary executors of
double plays. They are also occasionally referred to as sackmates. Generally speaking,
only the best sets of middle infielders get called DP combos.

drag buntEdit

A bunt in which a left-handed hitter lays down a bunt out of the reach of the pitcher and
toward the right side of the infield, in hopes that he will safely reach first base. Often
such a bunt has an element of surprise to take advantage of the batter's speed and the fact
that the first baseman and second baseman are playing their positions back. The batter
may even take a stride toward first base as he bunts the ball, thereby appearing to drag the
ball with him as he runs toward first base.

drawEdit

A batter who gets called balls is sometimes said to have "drawn a ball" or "drawn a
walk". "After a brief pause to put specially marked baseballs in play, Bonds drew ball
one and ball two – with boos raining down on VandenHurk - before a called first strike.
Then, the 96 mph fastball was gone – a drive estimated at 420 feet."[83]

drawn inEdit

 When the outfield plays closer to the infield to prevent fly balls from dropping
between them and the infielders, they are said to be "drawn in". This typically
happens when the game is close in the final inning, and with less than two outs,
and the defensive team wants to prevent the offense from getting base hits that
 might score the winning run (while conceding that a long fly ball might score a
run even if the ball is caught in the outfield).
 The infield may also be drawn in if there is a runner on third base with less than
two outs, so that the infielders may field a ground ball and attempt to throw out
the runner at the plate.
 A single infielder, typically the third baseman or the first baseman may also play
"in" when it's anticipated that a batter may attempt to make a sacrifice bunt.

dribblerEdit

A poorly hit grounder that gains little distance and consists of several hops; sometimes
used synonymously with tapper[84]

drilledEdit

Hit by a pitch, plunked.

driveEdit

 A line drive (noun).

 To hit a line drive (verb). "Magglio drove the ball to center."
 To make hits that produce RBIs. "Tejada drove him home from second."
"Ramirez drove in three."

dropEdit

 To lose a game. "Tigers drop fourth in a row in loss to Blue Jays".[85]

 To beat another team is also to drop them. Headline: "Dodgers one win from
clinching playoff berth after dropping Nationals".[86]
 Bat drop.

drop ballEdit

 A sinkerball. Also known as a dropper or el droppo.

 Some extreme 12-to-6 curveballs are also referred to as "drop balls", since they
start high and dive as they reach the plate.

drop off the tableEdit

A pitched ball, usually a curveball, that breaks extremely sharply.

dropped third strikeEdit

Main article: Dropped third strike

 A dropped third strike occurs when the catcher fails to cleanly catch a pitch which is a
third strike (either because the batter swings and misses it or because the umpire calls it).
The pitch is considered not cleanly caught if the ball touches the dirt before being caught,
or if the ball is dropped after being caught. On a dropped third strike, the strike is called
(and a pitcher gets credited with a strike-out), but the umpire indicates verbally that the
ball was not caught, and does not call the batter out. If first base is not occupied at the
time (or, with two outs, even with first base occupied), the batter can then attempt to
reach first base prior to being tagged or thrown out. Given this rule, it is possible for a
pitcher to record more than three strike-outs in an inning.

duck snortEdit

A softly hit ball that goes over the infielders and lands in the outfield for a hit. Originally
called a "duck fart",[citation needed] the term was popularized by White Sox announcer Hawk
Harrelson to make it more family friendly.

ducks on the pondEdit

Runners on second or third base, but especially when the bases are loaded. "His batting
average is .350 when there are ducks on the pond."

dueEdit

A batter is said to be "due" when he's been in a hitting slump, but he usually hits for a fair
or better average. Example: "Paul Konerko is 0-for-3 today, he's due for a hit." This is a
baseball version of the Gambler's fallacy.

dugoutEdit

Main article: Dugout (baseball)

The dugout is where a team's bench is located. With the exception of relief pitchers in the
bullpen, active players who are not on the field watch the play from the dugout. A dugout
is the area being slightly depressed below field level, as is common in professional
baseball. There is typically a boundary, often painted yellow, defining the edges of the
dugout, to help the umpire make certain calls, such as whether an overthrown ball is
considered to be "in the bench" or not. The rule book still uses the term bench, as there is
no requirement that it be "dug out" or necessarily below field level. The original benches
typically were at field level, with or without a little roof for shade. As ballpark design
progressed, box seats were built closer to the field, lowering the height of the grandstand
railing, and compelling the dugout approach to bench construction.

dumpEdit

A player who bunts the ball may be said to dump a bunt. "Polanco dumped a bunt down
the third base line." See also lay down. A right handed hitter dumps a bunt to third and
 pushes the bunt to first. A left handed hitter drags the ball to first and pushes the bunt to
third

duster, dust-off pitchEdit

A pitch, often a brush-back, thrown so far inside that the batter drops to the ground ("hits
the dust") to avoid it. Somewhat contradictorily, on the same play the pitcher may be said
to have "dusted off" the batter.

dying quailEdit

A batted ball that drops in front of the outfielders for a hit, often unexpectedly (like a shot
bird). Also known as a blooper, a lil' looper, a chinker, a bleeder, or a gork.

Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
 H
 I
 J
 K
 L
 M
 N
 O
 P
 Q
 R
 S
 T
 U
 V
 W
 X
 Y
 Z
 See also
  References
 External links

EEdit
ERAEdit

See earned run average.

early inningsEdit

The first three innings of a regulation nine-inning game.

earned runEdit

Main article: Earned run

Any run for which the pitcher is held accountable (i.e., the run did not score as a result of
a fielding error or a passed ball). Primarily used to calculate the earned run average. In
determining earned runs, an error charged to a pitcher is treated exactly like an error
charged to any other fielder. Some pitchers, notably Ed Lynch, referred to earned runs as
"earnies".

earned run averageEdit

Main article: Earned run average

The average number of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched.
Abbreviated as ERA.

earnieEdit

An earned run. "The unlucky loser was Carson Wheeler, who gave up six earnies in one
plus innings of work."[87]

easy outEdit

A reminder to the defensive team when there are two outs that only one out is needed to
end the inning and therefore they should get the easiest out possible. "Let's go D, two
away, get the easy out"

eat the ballEdit

The action of fielding a batted ball (usually cleanly or almost so) but holding on to it
rather than attempting to make a throw to a base to retire a runner. This is usually done
 because the fielder believes there is little chance of retiring the runner and that it would
be preferable to allow the runner to reach one base unchallenged rather than risk
committing an error that might allow the runner to advance additional bases. The phrase
is usually used only to describe the action of an infielder, catcher, or pitcher. "That slow
roller didn't get past a diving Scutaro, but he decided to eat the ball rather than risk a
throw to nip the quick-running Gardner." Also commonly used in the past-tense. "The
charging third baseman Cabrera ate the ball after that great bunt from Juan Pierre."

EephusEdit

Main article: Eephus

A very slow pitch with a high arcing trajectory. Invented by 1930s Pittsburgh Pirates
hurler Rip Sewell, it is a part of Phillies pitcher Jose Contreras' repertoire; thrown very
rarely to fool a hitter's timing. It is best used sparingly, because it can be very easy to hit
without the element of surprise. Ted Williams said that the game-winning home run that
he hit off of Sewell in the 1946 All-Star Game was his greatest thrill in baseball.

ejectedEdit

Main article: Ejection (sports)

A player or coach who is disqualified from the game by an umpire for unsportsmanlike
conduct. Synonyms include: tossed, thrown out, banished, chased, given the thumb, given
the (ol') heave-ho, kicked out, booted, run, sent to the clubhouse.

elephant ear(s)Edit

When the lining of a player's pockets are sticking out of the pockets.

emergency hackEdit

A late and often awkward defensive swing at a pitch that usually appears to be a ball but
breaks late into the strike zone.

emergency starterEdit

When a pitcher who is normally a reliever or in the minor leagues is called on to start the
game on short notice because the originally scheduled starter is injured or ill. Illustration:
"With Chan Ho Park sidelined indefinitely by what was diagnosed as anemia, Mike
Thompson is expected to get the call yet again as the emergency starter, arriving via
Portland, where he has spent the past 10 days with the Triple-A Beavers".[88]

emery ballEdit

A baseball that has been scuffed by an emery board. A method for a pitcher to doctor the
ball; illegal since 1920. Also known as a scuff ball.
eraseEdit

A runner who is already safely on a base is "erased" by being thrown out.

errorEdit

Main article: Error (baseball)

 An error is an act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a
manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when
that advance could have been prevented by ordinary effort by the fielder. An error is also
charged when a fielder fails to catch a foul fly ball that could have been caught with
ordinary effort. The term error can also refer to the play in which an error was committed.
Because the pitcher and catcher handle the ball so much, some misplays by them are
called "wild pitch" and "passed ball", and are not counted as errors.
 SYNONYMS: bobble, blooper, muff, miscue, flub, kick or boot ("Lopez kicked the
grounder"; "Johnson booted it").

even countEdit

1-1 or 2-2. See count.

everyday playerEdit

 A position player, as opposed to a pitcher who may play only every few days. Sometimes
a talented prospect who is a good pitcher but an outstanding hitter will be encouraged to
focus on playing another position and thereby become an everyday player to take
advantage of his hitting.
 A position player who's a regular in the starting line-up in virtually every game, as
opposed to either:
o a platoon player who plays only against pitchers of the opposite hand.
o a substitute who begins most games on the bench or only occasionally starts
games to spell the regular starting player at his position. Sometimes these players
are referred to as bench players or role players. They may also take on pinch
hitting or pinch running assignments.

Evil EmpireEdit

A common nickname for the New York Yankees due to its wealth and winning by far the
most championships. This nickname is used especially by fans of the Boston Red Sox
and by fans of other teams to a lesser extent. Even some Yankees fans have been known
to call themselves and their team the "Evil Empire" as a badge of honor.

excuse me swingEdit
 When a batter inadvertently makes contact during a check swing. Contrast with swinging
bunt.

expand the strike zoneEdit

When a pitcher gets ahead in the count, he "expands the strike zone" because the hitter
will be more likely to swing at a pitch that's at the edge or out of the strike zone or in
some other location where he can't hit it. "Ideally, a pitcher is going to try and get ahead
in the count and when this happens the pitcher has effectively "expanded the strike zone"
since the batter is now on the defensive and will be more prone to chase pitches outside
the strike zone".[89]

expanded rosterEdit

A major league term for the larger roster of players that can be used under specific
circumstances, such as when major league rosters can expand from 25 to up to 40 players
on September 1.

extend the armsEdit

When a batter is able to hit a pitch that's at a comfortable distance from his body, he's
said to have "extended his arms". This may allow him to have a full swing and hit the ball
hard. "J. D. Martinez has hit two homers in three career at-bats off Allen, who was trying
to protect a 2-1 lead against the middle of Detroit's vaunted lineup. 'I was just
overthrowing it', Allen said. 'I just didn't make pitches when I had to. One pitch -- J. D.
Martinez got extended on a fastball and hit it very hard'".[90]

extra basesEdit

Main article: Extra base hit

Any bases gained by a batter beyond first base on a hit. So doubles count for one "extra
base", triples for two, and home runs for three. These kinds of hits are referred to as
"extra base hits" and improve a batter's slugging percentage.

extra inningsEdit

Main article: Extra innings

Additional innings needed to determine a winner if a game is tied after the regulation
number of innings (nine at the college/professional level, seven at high school level, six
in Little League). Also known as bonus baseball or free baseball because paying
spectators are witnessing more action than normal. It is sometimes, but not commonly,
referred to as "overtime" as a play on other team sports.

extra framesEdit

See extra innings. Also see frame.

extra outEdit

When a team makes a mistake on a defensive play that ordinarily should lead to an easy
out, the team is said to give its opponent an "extra out". "'There were a couple of innings
where we gave them extra outs,' Wedge said. 'They may not be errors, but we're not
making plays.'"[91]

Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
 H
 I
 J
 K
 L
 M
 N
 O
 P
 Q
 R
 S
 T
 U
 V
 W
 X
 Y
 Z
 See also
 References
 External links

FEdit
Fall ClassicEdit

The World Series — the championship series of Major League Baseball, in which the
champion of the American League faces off against the champion of the National
League. Typically, this series takes place in October, so playing in October is the goal of
any major league team. Reggie Jackson's moniker "Mr. October" indicates that he played
with great distinction in the World Series for the Yankees. Another Yankee, Derek Jeter,
picked up the nickname "Mr. November" after he hit a walk-off home run in Game 4 of
the 2001 World Series just after midnight local time on November 1. By comparison,
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner's dubbing another of his players (Dave Winfield)
"Mr. May" expressed his disappointment with that player's performance in the Fall
Classic.
The one time the Fall Classic was actually played in the summer was 1918, when the
season was curtailed due to World War I and the Series was played in early September.
The first time the Fall Classic extended in to November was in 2001. Jeter's walk-off
homer was the first plate appearance in the month of November in MLB history; the 2001
season had been delayed for several days following 9/11, eventually pushing the start of
the World Series into the last week of October – and the end of the Series in to
November. The 2009, 2010, and 2015–17 World Series would subsequently have games
in November. (The 2018 World Series is scheduled to end in October.)

fall off the tableEdit

A pitch is said to "fall off the table" when it starts in the strike zone or appears hittable to
the batter and ends low or in the dirt. This term is mainly used for change ups and split-
fingered fastballs, and occasionally for an overhand curveball.

fanEdit

To "fan" a batter is to strike him out, especially a swinging strike three.

fan interferenceEdit

Main article: Interference (baseball)

When a fan or any person not associated with one of the teams alters play in progress (in
the judgment of an umpire), it is fan interference. The ball becomes dead, and the umpire
will award any bases or charge any outs that, in his judgment, would have occurred
without the interference. This is one of several types of interference calls in baseball.
If a fan touches a ball that is out of the field of play, such as a pop fly into the stands, it is
not considered to be fan interference even if a defensive player might have fielded the
ball successfully. So the infamous case in Game 6 of the NLCS in which a Chicago Cubs
fan, Steve Bartman, attempted to catch a ball in foul territory thereby possibly preventing
Cubs leftfielder Moisés Alou from making a circus catch, was not a case of fan
interference.

farm teamEdit
Main article: Farm team
A farm team is a team or club whose role it is to provide experience and training for
young players, with an expectation that successful players will move to the big leagues at
some point. Each Major League Baseball team's organization has a farm system of
affiliated farm teams at different minor league baseball levels.

fencebusterEdit

A slugger.

fastballEdit

Main article: Fastball

A pitch that is thrown more for high velocity than for movement; it's the most common
type of pitch. Also known as smoke, a bullet, a heater (you can feel the heat generated by
the ball), or a hummer (the ball can't be seen, only heard).

fastball countEdit

A count in which the pitcher would be ordinarily expected to throw a fast ball, such as 3-
1, 3-2, or 2-1, as fast ball are usually easiest to locate in the strike zone. Occasionally a
pitcher will pull the string by throwing an off-speed pitch.

fastball happyEdit

When a pitcher relies too much on his fastball, perhaps because his other pitches are not
working well for him during that game, he's said to be "fastball happy". This can get a
pitcher into trouble if the batters can anticipate that the next pitch will be a fastball.
"Andy is at his best when he trusts his breaking stuff and doesn't try to overpower guys.
When he gets fastball happy he gets knocked around".[92]

fat pitchEdit

A pitch that is located exactly where the hitter is expecting it. The ball may look bigger
than it actually is, and the batter may hit it a long way.

feedEdit

To throw the ball carefully to another fielder in a way that allows him to make an out. A
first-baseman who has just fielded a ground ball will "feed the ball" to the pitcher who is
running over from the mound to make the force out at first base. An infielder who has
fielded a ground-ball will feed the ball to the player covering second base so that the
latter can step on the base and quickly throw to first base to complete a double play.

fieldEdit
  A baseball field or baseball diamond upon which the game of baseball is played.
 A ballfield, ballpark, or stadium (e.g., Dodger Stadium, Wrigley Field, Hubert H.
Humphrey Metrodome).
 To field the ball is to capture or make a play on a ground ball or to catch a fly
ball.
 To take the field means that the defensive players are going to their positions,
while the other team is on the offense or at bat. "The Reds have taken the field,
and Jose Reyes is leading off for the Mets."

fielderEdit

 Any defensive player (as opposed to a batter).

 Often, defensive players are distinguished as either pitchers or position players.
Position players are further divided into infielders and outfielders.

field managerEdit

Main article: Manager (baseball)

The head coach of a team is called the manager (more formally, the field manager). He
controls team strategy on the field. He sets the line-up and starting pitcher before each
game as well as making substitutions throughout the game. In modern baseball the field
manager is normally subordinate to the team's general manager (or GM), who among
other things is responsible for personnel decisions, including hiring and firing the field
manager. However, the term manager used without qualification almost always refers to
the field manager.

fielder's choiceEdit

Main article: Fielder's choice

A fielder's choice (FC) is the act of a fielder, upon fielding a batted ball, choosing to try
to put out a baserunner and allow the batter-runner to advance to first base. Despite
reaching first base safely after hitting the ball, the batter is not credited with a hit but
would be charged with an at-bat.

figger filbertEdit

An old-fashioned and more colorful way of saying "numbers nut", for a fan with a near-
obsessive interest in the statistics or "figures" of the game. The first true "figger filbert"
was probably Ernest Lanigan, who was the first historian of the Baseball Hall of Fame
and prior to that was one of the first, if not the first, to publish an encyclopedia of
baseball stats, in the 1920s. In the modern era, Bill James could be said to be the iconic
"figger filbert". He is also a founding father of the field of baseball research called
sabermetrics.

fight off a pitchEdit

 When a batter has two strikes on him and gets a pitch that he cannot hit cleanly, he may
be said to "fight off the pitch" by fouling it off. "Langerhans fought off one 3-2 pitch,
then drove the next one to the gap in left-center to bring home the tying and winning
runs."[93]

find a holeEdit

To get a base hit by hitting the ball between infielders. "The 13th groundball that Zachry
allowed found a hole".[94]

find his batEdit

When a batter has been in a slump perhaps for no evident reason, but then starts getting
hits, he may be said to "find his bat". "With the Tigers having found their bats for a night,
they reset the series and put themselves in position to all but lock up the AL Central."[95]

find his swingEdit

When a batter has experienced a slump, he may take extra practice or instruction to "find
his swing". Perhaps he has a hitch in his swing, or his batting stance has changed. Having
"lost his swing", now he must "find it". This phrase is also used in golf.

find the seatsEdit

As if a ball leaving the bat is in search of a place to land, a ball that "finds the seats" is
one that leaves the field of play and reaches the stands. It may either be a home run or a
foul ball (out of the reach of the fielders).

fireballerEdit

A pitcher who throws extremely high-velocity fastballs, in excess of 95 miles per hour. A
flamethrower.

firemanEdit

A team's top relief pitcher who is often brought in to end an offensive rally and put out
the fire. The term has been attributed to New York Daily News cartoonist Bruce Stark,
who in the 1970s first depicted relievers for the New York Mets and Yankees as firemen
coming in to save their teams from danger.[96]

fireplugEdit

A player, often one of small stature, who is known for his energy, extroversion, and team
spirit -- sometimes perhaps more than for his playing ability. "Morgan defied this mold
by outworking everybody and employing his moderate athletic gifts to become one of the
 best all-around players of his era. He hit for power, he hit for average, he stole bases and
manufactured runs and he was one of the toughest, smartest defensive second basemen
the game has ever seen. He was a relentless fireplug, respected by opposing players and
hated by opposing fans."[97]

first-ball hitterEdit

A hitter who likes to hit the first pitch in an at bat, especially if the hitter often gets a hit
on the first pitch.

fistedEdit

When a batter swings at a pitch that is inside and the ball hits the bat close to his fists
(hands). "Following the top half of the first, the Bulls offense struck early when junior
leftfielder Junior Carlin fisted a pitch back up the middle on a 1-0 count".[98]

five and diveEdit

A derogatory term referring to a starting pitcher who is unable to go beyond 5 innings

before wearing out. In the current era in which managers are increasingly aware of the
risk of injury to pitchers who have high pitch counts, and in which relief pitching has
become a critical part of the game, starters achieve fewer and fewer complete games.
Headline: "Vasquez Disputes Five-and-Dive Label".[99]

five o'clock hitterEdit

A hitter who hits really well during batting practice, but not so well during games. These
were formerly known as "ten o'clock hitters" or "two-o'clock hitters" back when there
were no night games.

five-tool playerEdit

Main article: Five-tool player

A position player who has great skill in all of the tools or basic skills: hitting for average,
hitting for power, base running and speed, throwing, and fielding. See tools for how
baseball scouts rate these skills.

FL or F.L.Edit

Abbreviation for Federal League, a major league that existed from 1914 to 1915. This
would be the last "third Major League" to come into existence.

flag downEdit
 To catch or knock down a line drive, as if flagging down a speeding train. "Cody Ross,
who singled and moved to second on a ground-out, was stranded when Ramírez's
scorched liner . . . was flagged down by a diving Jones."[100]

flamethrowerEdit

A fireballer.

flareEdit

A fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield. "Pudge hit a flare just out of the shortstop's
reach."

flashing the leatherEdit

Making an outstanding or difficult defensive play. A player who regularly makes difficult
defensive plays may be described as a "leather flasher". See leather.

flipEdit

 The act of a fielder softly tossing the ball to a teammate covering a base when the
two are so close that making a regular overhand throw would waste time and/or
unnecessarily risk an inaccurate throw.
 A game played in the bullpen by relief pitchers. There are multiple rules and
strategies that can be used.

floaterEdit

A knuckleball. A pitch that may appear to the batter to float or bob up and down on its
way to the plate.

fluke hitEdit

A base hit that results from a weakly batted ball or one that takes an odd bounce.

flutterballEdit

A knuckleball, a floater.

fly ballEdit

A ball hit high in the air. See also pop fly, infield fly, and ground ball.

fly ball pitcherEdit

 A pitcher who tends to induce more fly balls than ground balls from the hitters. Those
pitchers are disadvantageous that they allow more home runs than any other pitcher.

fly outEdit

 An out that results from an outfielder catching a fly ball.

 Used as a verb, a batter whose fly ball is caught in the outfield is said to "fly out".
""Rodriguez flew out to center fielder Suzuki."

force playEdit

Main article: Force play

When a runner must advance to another base because the batter becomes a runner and, as
such, must advance to first base. In this situation, the runner is out if a fielder with the
ball touches the base the runner is being forced to; this is considered a "force out". A play
when a fly ball is caught and a fielder touches a base prior to the runner tagging up is not
a force play, but an appeal play.

forkballEdit

A type of split-finger fastball or splitter in which the fingers are spread out as far as
possible. The ball drops sharply and typically out of the strike zone, maybe even into the
dirt.

foul ballEdit

A batted ball that has gone out of play.

foul linesEdit

Two straight lines drawn on the ground from home plate to the outfield fence to indicate
the boundary between fair territory and foul territory. These are called the left-field foul
line and the right-field foul line. The foul poles on the outfield walls are vertical
extensions of the foul lines.
Despite their names, both the foul lines and the foul poles are in fair territory. Any fly
ball that strikes the foul line (including the foul pole) beyond first or third base is a fair
ball (and in the case of the foul pole, a home run).
Note that while the foul lines in baseball are in fair territory, just like the side- and end-
lines of a tennis court, in basketball or American football the sidelines are considered out
of bounds. In other words, hitting the ball "on the line" is good for the offensive player in
baseball and tennis, but stepping on the line is bad for the offensive player in basketball
and American football. The situation is slightly different in association football (soccer):
the sideline and the goal line are inbounds, and the ball is out of play when it has wholly
crossed the side line (touch line) or the goal line, whether on the ground or in the air.

foul offEdit
 Purposely batting a pitch foul with two strikes in order to keep the at-bat going, in part to
tire the pitcher and in part to get another, different pitch that might be easier to hit. Luke
Appling was said to be the king of "fouling them off". Such a hitter might also be said to
be battling or working the pitcher.

foul poleEdit

A pole located on each foul line on the outfield fence or wall. The left-field foul pole and
right-field foul pole are used by umpires to determine whether a batted ball is a home
run or a foul ball. The foul pole is a vertical extension of the foul line. The term "foul
pole" is actually a misnomer, because the "foul pole" (like the foul line) is in fair territory
and a fly ball that hits the foul pole is considered to be a fair ball (and a home run).

foul tipEdit

A batted ball that is hit sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher's mitt and legally
caught by the catcher. It is not a foul tip, as most announcers and journalists mistakenly
use the term, if the ball is not caught by the catcher. In this case, it is simply a foul ball. It
is also not considered a foul tip if it rebounds off something, like the ground, catcher's
mask, the batter, etc. after being struck by the bat but before touching the catcher's mitt.
A foul tip is considered in play, not a foul ball, and also counts as a strike, including the
third strike (and is also considered a strikeout for the pitcher). It is signalled by the
umpire putting his right hand flat in the air and brushing his left hand against it (imitating
the ball glancing off the bat) and then using his standard strike call. If the out is not the
third out then the ball is alive and in play (unlike on a foul) and runners are in jeopardy if
they are trying to advance.

four-baggerEdit

A home run. Never mind that the 4th "bag" is actually a plate.

four-fingered saluteEdit

An intentional base on balls, from the manager's signal to direct the pitcher to issue one,
or to direct the umpire to award the batter first base.

four-seam fastballEdit

A standard fastball, which does not necessarily break though a good one will have
movement as well as velocity and location that makes it difficult to hit. The batter sees
the four parallel seams spin toward him. A four-seamer. See two-seamer.

frameEdit

 As a noun, a frame is a half of an inning (either the top or the bottom).

Announcer: "Two hits, and two runs scored so far in this frame." A bowling term,
 and suggested by the resemblance of an inning-by-inning scoreboard to a bowling
scoresheet.
 As a verb, framing [a pitch] refers to the positioning and/or movement of the
catcher's mitt and body when he catches a pitch and the effect this has on the
umpire calling a pitch a strike. The boundaries of the strike zone are clearly
defined in the rules; however, with many major-league pitches traveling well in
excess of 90 mph (140 km/h), or with "moving" pitches such as the curveball and
the knuckleball, it is often difficult for an umpire to judge whether a ball went
through the strike zone based solely on watching the ball, particularly at the
boundaries of the strike zone. Consequently, umpires sometimes unofficially use
the catcher's position and/or movement to help judge whether a pitch is a strike.
Framing is a catcher's attempt to use this to his team's advantage. For example, on
a pitch near the boundary of the strike zone, a catcher might move his mitt a short,
subtle distance toward the strike zone within a split second after catching the ball,
with the hope that the umpire will call a strike even if it did not go through the
strike zone. Conversely, a pitch near the top of the strike zone might be called a
ball if the catcher has to rise from his crouched position to catch it, even if it did
go through the defined strike zone. Sabermetricians have developed metrics for
how well catchers perform in framing pitches.[101]

free baseballEdit

Slang for extra innings. The fans get to see extra innings "for free".

free passEdit

A base on balls. "Free" because the batter doesn't have to hit the ball to get on base. Also
referred to as a "free ticket" and an Annie Oakley.

freeze the hitterEdit

To throw a strike that is so unexpected or in such a location that the batter doesn't swing
at it. "As Cashman spoke, Pettitte fired a strike on the corner, which froze the hitter."[102]
"But the right-hander reached in her bag of tricks and threw a tantalizing changeup that
froze the hitter for the final out".[103]

frozen ropeEdit

A hard-hit line drive. Also a strong throw from the outfield.

full countEdit

Main article: Full count

A count of 3 balls and 2 strikes; another strike will result in a strikeout, while another ball
will result in a walk. At that point, only a foul ball will extend the at-bat.
full houseEdit

 Three of a kind (3 balls), and two of a kind (2 strikes): a full count. From the term
used in poker. Sometimes called full boat. Instead of holding up fingers
indicating the count, the umpire may hold up closed fists, implying "full".
 Capacity crowd; all seats filled in the stadium. From the theatrical term.

fungoEdit

Main article: Fungo

A fly ball hit for fielders to practice catching. It is not part of the game, but is
accomplished by a batter tossing the ball a short distance up in the air and then batting it
himself.

fungo batEdit

A lightweight bat with a long, skinny barrel used to hit fungoes. It is not a legal or safe
bat to use in a game or even in practice with a live pitcher, because it is too light.

Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
 H
 I
 J
 K
 L
 M
 N
 O
 P
 Q
 R
 S
 T
 U
 V
  W
 X
 Y
 Z
 See also
 References
 External links

GEdit
gamerEdit

A player who plays particularly hard (especially with a willingness to sacrifice his body
for the play) and is prone to making the right play at the right time, often in big games.
Also used to refer to an excellent piece of equipment, such as a glove or mitt.

gapEdit

The space between outfielders. Also alley. A ball hit in the gap is sometimes called a
flapper or a gapper. "He's swinging the bat right now better than he has all year, and I'm
hoping now some of them turns into gappers", Leyland said.[104]

gap hitterEdit

Hits with power up the alleys and tends to get a lot of doubles. A doubles hitter.

gasEdit

A fastball. "Give him [the batter] the gas"; as in stepping on a car's gas pedal to
accelerate.

gate receiptsEdit

The gross ticket prices paid by all the customers who passed through the entrance gates
for a game or a series. Also referred to simply as "the gate". "There's a big gate awaiting
the champions. . . ."[105]

GEDPEdit

Abbreviation for game ending double play.

general managerEdit
Main article: General manager (baseball)
The general manager (GM) runs the organization of a baseball team (personnel, finance,
and operations). Normally distinct from the field manager and the club owner.

gemEdit

A very well pitched game, almost always a win, in which the pitcher allows few if any
hits and at most a run or two. Headline: "Mulder Shakes Off Injury to Pitch Gem".[106]

get a good piece of itEdit

When swinging a round bat at a round ball, the batter hopes to hit the ball solidly in the
center. When he does, he's said to "get a good piece of the ball". "'When you hit in the
middle of the order, those are the situations you want', said Cabrera, who leads the major
leagues with 116 RBIs. 'He threw me a fastball, and I got a good piece of it'."[107]

get on one's horseEdit

When a fielder (usually an outfielder) runs extremely fast towards a hard hit ball in an
effort to catch it.

get good woodEdit

To hit a ball hard. A batter who "gets good wood on the ball" or who "gets some lumber
on the ball" hits it hard.

get off the schneidEdit

To break a scoreless, hitless, or winless streak (i.e., a schneid). According to the Dickson
Baseball Dictionary, the term "schneid" comes to baseball via gin rummy, and in turn
comes from German / Yiddish "schneider", one who cuts cloth, i.e., a tailor.

GIDPEdit

Main article: Grounded into double play

Statistical abbreviation for grounded into double play.

gloveEdit

Main article: Baseball glove

 A baseball glove or mitt is a large padded leather glove that players on the defensive
team wear to assist them in catching and fielding balls hit by a batter or thrown by a
teammate. Different positions require different shapes and sizes of gloves. The term
"mitt" is officially reserved to describe the catcher's mitt and the first-baseman's mitt. By
 rule, fielders other than the first-baseman and the catcher can only wear conventional
gloves (with individual finger slots), not mitts. There is no rule requiring fielders to wear
a glove or mitt, but the nature of the game normally renders it a necessity. A fielder may
have to catch a ball bare-handed, if he loses his glove in pursuit of a ball, or otherwise
finds himself at the wrong angle to use it. A video clip from 1989, that was included in
several "amazing plays" videos, showed Kevin Mitchell of the San Francisco Giants
catching a ball over-the-shoulder and barehanded.

Most batters nowadays wear leather batting gloves to improve their grip on the bat and
provide a small amount of padding. This practice began in the 1960s when some batters
began wearing golf gloves. Hawk Harrelson pioneered this practice. Additionally, some
base-stealing artists, especially those who practice the head-first / hands-first slide, will
wear specialized sliding gloves. All-time base-stealing record holder Rickey Henderson
often used sliding gloves.
Players will generally keep batting and sliding gloves in their pants pockets when not in
use, and set their fielding gloves on a shelf or other convenient place in the dugout. At
one time, it was common practice to leave the fielding glove on the playing field. After
that practice was outlawed due to risks to other fielders and possible interference with a
live ball, players would sometimes carry their gloves in their pants pockets. That fact
illustrates (1) how much larger and baggier the uniforms were at the time and (2) how
much smaller the gloves were. The old adage "two hands while you're learning" was a
necessity in the early years, when the glove was mostly used simply to absorb the shock
of the hit or thrown ball. The glove has since evolved into a much more effective "trap",
so the rules have very specific limitations on the size and shape of gloves. One-hand
catches are now commonplace, although the occasional fielding gaffe by one-handers
brings the old adage to mind.
Jokes used in movies and cartoons notwithstanding, the rules forbid throwing the glove
to "catch", slow down, or even touch a batted ball. When the umpire calls it, the batter is
awarded an automatic triple (meaning that all runners ahead of him are allowed to score
freely) and it is also a live ball, so the batter-runner has the option of trying for home if
possible. Similarly, it is against the rules to take off one's cap to use it as an alternate
"glove", as "All the Way Mae" (Madonna) was shown doing in A League of Their Own.
Note that it is only against the rules to actually touch the ball by a thrown glove or other
equipment; there is no penalty if the ball is not touched.

 A player who is very skilled at playing defense is said to have a good glove.

GMEdit

An abbreviation for general manager.

go-ahead runEdit

The run which puts a team which was behind or tied into the lead. Used particularly with
runners on base (e.g., "The Phillies have Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino on base
 down 4–2; Victorino represents the tying run and Chase Utley is the go-ahead run at the
plate.").

go deepEdit

 To hit a home run. "Richie Sexson and Kenji Johjima also went deep for the
Mariners."[108]
 A starting pitcher who pitches past the 6th inning is said to "go deep into the
game". "Against the White Sox on Thursday, Morrow's command wasn't there.
He walked six batters in 52⁄3 innings, and despite coming one out shy of recording
a quality start, he didn't prove yet he's able to pitch deep into games."[109]

go down in orderEdit

 When the defending team allows no opponent on base in a half-inning, thereby

retiring the side facing the minimum three batters, the batting team is said to have
gone down in order, the defending team is said to have retired it in order.

go quietlyEdit

 When a team fails to mount a strong offense, such as going 1–2–3 in an inning, it
may be said to have "gone quietly". "Outside of a walk to Mantle after Tresh's
clout and a ninth-inning single by Pepitone, the Yankees went quietly the rest of
the way."[110]
 A player who retires without a lot of fanfare or complaining may be said to "go
quietly".

go the distanceEdit

See go the route.

go the routeEdit

A pitcher who throws a complete game "goes the route".

go yardEdit

To "go yard" is to hit a home run, i.e., to hit the ball the length of the baseball field or
"ball yard".

gold gloveEdit

Main article: Gold Glove

The major league player chosen as the best in his league at fielding his position is given a
Gold Glove Award.
Golden SombreroEdit

Main article: Golden sombrero

One who strikes out four times in one game is said to have gotten a "Golden Sombrero".
Three strike outs is called the "Hat Trick" and the rare five strike outs is called the
"Platinum Sombrero".

golfingEdit

Swinging at an obviously low pitch, particularly one in the dirt. Also used to describe
actual contact with a pitch low in the zone.

goneEdit

 A ball hit over the wall, a home run. Announcer: "That ball is gone." That's a
reduction of the timeless phrase, "Going . . . going . . . gone", and of the way
famed Detroit Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell would say it: "That ball is loooong
gone." It wasn't necessary to pronounce the words "home run". Long-time
Cincinnati Reds TV announcer George Grande would exclaim as the ball went
over the wall, "It's gonna be... gone!"
 Conversely, a batter who has just been struck out, especially by a power pitcher.
Used frequently by Chicago White Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson, as in, "He
gone!"
 An announcer may simply announce "one gone" or "two gone" to indicate how
many outs have been made in the inning. This has the same meaning as "one
away" and "two away".

good eyeEdit

A hitter who has excellent awareness of the strike zone, and is able to lay off pitches that
are barely out of the strike zone, is said to have a "good eye", "Ortiz and Ramirez are a
constant threat, whether it's swinging the bats or taking pitches", Cleveland third baseman
Casey Blake said. "They have a couple of the best swings in the game and a couple of the
best eyes in the game. . . ."[111]

good hit, no fieldEdit

Said to have been the world's shortest scouting report, and often quoted in reference to
sluggers such as Dick Stuart and Dave Kingman, who were notoriously poor fielders.

good takeEdit

An accolade given to a batter who does not swing at a pitch that is close to, but not in the
strike zone. Most often, this accolade is given when the batter has two strikes and would
be naturally tempted to swing at any pitch close to the strike zone.
Goodbye Mr. Spalding!Edit

Exclamation by a broadcaster when a batter hits a home run. First uttered by an unknown
broadcaster in the film The Natural. Spalding is a major manufacturer of baseballs.

goose eggEdit

A zero on the scoreboard.

gopher ballEdit

A gopher ball (or gopher pitch) is a pitch that leads to a home run, one that the batter
will "go for". Illustration from an on-line chat: "He was always that guy who'd go in and
throw the gopher pitch in the first inning and he'd be two down." A game in which
several home runs have been hit by both teams may also sometimes be described as
"gopher ball".

got a piece of itEdit

When a batter hits a foul ball or foul tip, perhaps surviving a two strike count and
remaining at bat, a broadcaster may say "He got a piece of it".

got himEdit

An expression from a player or a broadcaster that's short for "got him out".

got under the ballEdit

When a hitter swings slightly under the center of the pitched ball, thereby leading to a
high fly ball out instead of a home run, he's said to "get under the ball".

grab some pineEdit

Go sit on the bench, used as a taunt after a strikeout. Popularized by Giants sportscaster
Mike Krukow.

got to him earlyEdit

When a team's batters gets several hits and runs off of the opposing starting pitcher in
early innings the batters are said to "get to him early".

grand slamEdit

Main article: Grand slam (baseball)

Home run hit with the bases loaded. A "grand salami" or a "grand ol' ding dong".
grandstand playEdit

Main article: Grandstand

Showing off for the fans in the grandstands. Also called grandstanding. Not only
players, but managers, owners, and politicians often play to the crowd to raise their
public image.
An example: "Tellem weighed in with a thoughtful back-page article in this Sunday's
New York Times regarding the recent Congressional and mainstream media grandstanding
over steroids."[112]

grannyEdit

A grand slam home run. "Torii Hunter's game-winning grand slam was his 10th career
granny and third career walk-off homer".[113]

Grapefruit LeagueEdit

Main article: Spring training

The group of major league teams that conduct Spring Training in Florida, where
grapefruit trees grow in abundance.

great seatsEdit

A sarcastic term for seats high in the bleachers, a long way from the playing field. The
phrase was popularized by Bob Uecker in a series of TV commercials.

green lightEdit

Permission from the manager for a batter or runner to be aggressive. Examples include
permission for the batter to swing away on a 3–0 count or for a runner to steal a base.
An example: "Instead of the bunt sign, Tigers manager Jim Leyland gave Rodríguez the
green light and he hit a three-run homer off Riske to give the Tigers a 3–2 win over
Kansas City on Sunday."[114]

Green MonsterEdit

Main article: Green Monster

The Green Monster is a popular nickname for the 37.2 feet (11.3 m) high left field wall at
Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team. The wall is 310 feet (94.5 m)
from home plate and is a popular target for right-handed hitters. The seats on top of the
Monster, installed for the 2003 season, are among the most coveted seats at Fenway.
The Red Sox play spring training at JetBlue Park at Fenway South (or informally JetBlue
Park) in Fort Myers, Florida. JetBlue is an exact copy of Fenway, including a full-sized
Green Monster.
Also, the team mascot of the Red Sox is "Wally, the Green Monster."
groove a pitchEdit

When a pitcher throws a pitch down the middle of the plate ("the groove"). The result
may be predictable. An example: "But in the third, with two out and a man at second and
the Cards ahead 2–1, Verlander grooved a pitch that Pujols clobbered for a home
run."[115]

ground ballEdit

Main article: Types of batted balls in baseball

A ball that is hit on the ground so that it bounces in the infield. Also grounder. A bunt is
not considered a "ground ball".

ground ball with eyesEdit

A ground ball that barely gets between two infielders for a base hit, seeming to "see" the
only spot where it would be unfieldable. Also seeing-eye single.

ground ball pitcherEdit

A pitcher who tends to induce more ground balls than fly balls from the hitters. Often a
manager will bring a ground ball pitcher in as a relief pitcher when there are men on base
and less than two outs in hopes that the next batter will hit a ground ball that leads to a
double play.

ground-rule doubleEdit

Under standard ground rules, there are conditions under which a batter is awarded second
base automatically due to ground rules, such as it getting caught in the ivy at Wrigley
Field. If a ball hit in fair territory bounces over a wall or fence without being touched by
a fielder, it is likely to be declared an automatic double, often referred to as a ground rule
double. If a ball hit into fair territory is touched by a fan, the batter will be awarded an
extra base, typically leading to advancing that runner automatically to second base.

ground rulesEdit

Main article: Ground rules (baseball)

Rules that are specific to a particular ballpark (or grounds) due to unique features of the
park and where the standard baseball rules may be inadequate. See ground rules for some
examples.[116]

guess hitterEdit
 A hitter who primarily guesses what type of pitch is coming and where it will be located
as their approach to hitting rather than just looking for a fastball and then reacting to off
speed pitches.

gunEdit

 A strong arm. Also, a cannon.

 To throw strongly. Announcer following a play in which the shortstop fields a
ground ball and throws hard to first: "Guillen guns and gets him."

gun downEdit

To throw out a runner. "Valentin was erased when he tried to steal second, though, and
Posada gunned him down."[117]

gyroballEdit

Main article: Gyroball

A type of curveball with a severe break. Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is
said to throw a gyroball. It was designed by a couple of Japanese scientists to reduce arm
fatigue in pitchers. The result was a way to throw the ball with an extreme break.
Whether such a special pitch really exists remains the subject of great controversy among
experts of various pedigrees.[118]

Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
 H
 I
 J
 K
 L
 M
 N
 O
 P
 Q
  R
 S
 T
 U
 V
 W
 X
 Y
 Z
 See also
 References
 External links

HEdit
hackEdit

To swing awkwardly at the ball. "As his son stood in the batter's box and hacked away,
Wolpert came up with the idea of opening his own batting cage in Manhattan."[119]
Sometimes said of an aggressive hitter who would swing at any pitch within reach,
whether high, low, inside, or outside. "An unrepentant free swinger who hacked at
anything in the same area code as the strike zone, Puckett drew just 23 walks that
year."[120]

Hall of FameEdit

Main article: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Abbreviated HOF. In popular
usage, the terms "Hall of Fame broadcaster" and "Hall of Fame writer" are often used to
describe recipients of two annual awards, respectively the Ford C. Frick Award and J. G.
Taylor Spink Award. Recipients of these awards are recognized in dedicated Hall
exhibits, but are not considered actual Hall of Fame members.

Hall of Very GoodEdit

A tongue-in-cheek expression used to refer to players who had successful careers, but whose
stats and/or overall performance are not good enough to put them into consideration for the Hall
of Fame. Example of players said to be in the "Hall of Very Good" are Chris Carpenter,[121] Lee
Smith, and Mark McGwire.[122]

hammerEdit

 To hit the ball hard, typically for extra bases. "Aaron hammered that pitch."
  The nickname of Henry Aaron — Hank "The Hammer" Aaron — second all-time
in Major League career home runs.
 A curve ball, usually of the 12 to 6 variety.

handcuffEdit

 A hard-hit ground ball that bounces directly at an infielder may be difficult for
him to get his hands up in time to grab. He may appear to be handcuffed in that
situation.
 A pitch thrown high and inside may handcuff a batter because he can't get his
hands far enough away from his body to swing the bat.

handleEdit

Often it's said of a player who has not fielded a batted ball cleanly that he "couldn't find
the handle on it". This suggests the fanciful notion that the baseball would be easier to
hold onto if there were a handle attached to it.

hangEdit

 A breaking ball that does not break, and so is easy to hit. A hanging curveball.
 A pitcher may be hung with a loss if he is responsible for his team falling behind
in runs and the team never recovers the lead.
 A runner may be hung up if he is caught in a rundown.
 A runner may be hung out to dry if he gets picked off at first base, or if a hitter
misses a hit-and-run sign and the runner is easily tagged out at second base. A
player may be hung out to dry if his team treats him in an unexpected or
disappointing way. (Story: "The Mets got what they needed from pitcher Al Leiter
yesterday. Unfortunately, Leiter was hung out to dry again, done in by his team's
anemic offense.")

hanging a snowmanEdit

Said of a team when it scores eight runs in one inning. Broadcaster Eric Nadel used this term on
8 August 2015 when the Texas Rangers sent eight men across home plate in the 11th inning,
defeating the Seattle Mariners 11-3. May also be used when a team gets the opposing pitcher
charged with eight runs over one inning or a series of innings.

happyEdit

When a pitcher uses a particular type of pitch so much that he becomes less effective, he's
sometimes said to be "happy" with the pitch – fastball happy or curveball happy, for
example. "This article is a response, in part, to a Boston Globe sports rumor asserting that
Josh Beckett has become 'Curveball Happy' and has changed his release point".[123]

hard handsEdit
 A tendency to mishandle fielded balls. Also stone fingers.

hardballEdit

Baseball, as opposed to softball.

hat trickEdit

Main article: Hat-trick § Baseball

To strike out three times. Used jokingly, as the same term means to score three times in
hockey and other sports. This term is also used to indicate someone who has hit three
home runs in a game.

HBPEdit

Hit By Pitch.

head of lettuceEdit

The event when a player breaks their bat after hitting the pitch, that results in the main
portion of the bat (the barrel) to land within the infield. The broken portion can be intact
or splintered into many pieces. If the main portion of the broken bat lands either in foul
territory or outside of the established infield, as determined by the base path between 1st
& 2nd and 2nd & 3rd bases, it is not considered to be a "Head of Lettuce". This term pays
homage to other great food related baseball terms such as "Can of Corn", "High Cheese",
"In a Pickle", etc. The original use of the term dates to 2006 at a Greenville Drive game
where Joshua Githens first noted after such an event the likeness to striking a head of
lettuce with the bat. "That bat exploded like a head of lettuce!' said Josh Githens, 10 May
2006.

headhunterEdit

A pitcher who has a reputation for throwing beanballs.

heart of the plateEdit

Middle of home plate. "Looking to go up the ladder, Hughes instead missed right over the
heart of the plate just below belt high with a 95-mph fastball. As good hitters do,
Guerrero made him pay with a single up the middle".[124]

heatEdit

Also heater. A fastball.

heavy hitterEdit
 A power hitter. A player who hits a lot of home runs or other extra base hits. A batter
with a high slugging percentage. A slugger. A term shared with the sport of boxing,
referring to a fighter who scores a large number of knockouts.

help his own causeEdit

Said of a pitcher who knocks in runs as a hitter, thereby helping himself to earn credit for
a win.

herky-jerkyEdit

A pitcher with an unusual or awkward wind-up or motion, as if he's not in full control of
his legs and arms, may be said to have a herky-jerky motion.

hesitation pitchEdit

A pitcher who pauses in his wind-up, perhaps at the top of the wind-up, may be said to
have a hesitation pitch. If this is part of his regular motion, it may be effective in
throwing off the timing of the batter. If it's an occasional motion and used when there are
runners on base, the pitcher is at risk of being called for a balk.

hidden ball trickEdit

Main article: Hidden ball trick

A very rare feat in which a fielder has the ball and hides it from a runner, trying to trick
him into believing that some other fielder has it or that it has gotten away from them. One
example would be if the pitcher throws to first to force a runner back to the base, and the
first baseman pretends to throw the ball back to the pitcher. If the runner starts to lead off
again right away, he could be tagged out. Another example would be for the fielder to
spin around, "looking" for a hit or thrown ball that has "eluded" him, while actually
carrying it in his glove. There is no rule against this kind of deception. The exception is
that once the pitcher toes or stands astride the rubber, he must have the ball in his
possession, or else a balk will be called. Any baserunner victimized by a hidden ball trick
play is liable to be ribbed endlessly by his teammates for having been caught napping.

high and tightEdit

A location pitch thrown above the strike zone and close to the batter.

high cheeseEdit

A fastball thrown high in the strike zone.

high hard oneEdit

 A fastball thrown high in, or above the strike zone.

high heatEdit

A strike thrown high in the strike zone.

high let it fly; low let it goEdit

An adage about batting against a knuckleball pitcher. Fluttering knuckleballs are

notoriously difficult to hit, especially when low in the strike zone.

hillEdit

The pitcher's mound.

hitEdit

Main article: Hit (baseball)

 The act of safely reaching first base after batting the ball into fair territory.
Abbreviated as H, this meaning is synonymous with base hit. See also single,
double, triple, home run, extra base hit, error, fielder's choice.
 The act of contacting the ball with the bat. "The batter hit the ball right at the
second baseman."
 When a batter is touched by a pitch. See hit by pitch
 The term sacrifice hit is used by scorekeepers to indicate a sacrifice bunt. It is
typically an out, not a base hit (unless the batter beats the throw to first without
benefit of an error).

hit a bulletEdit

To hit the ball very hard, typically a line drive.

hit and runEdit

Main article: Hit and run (baseball)

An offensive tactic whereby a baserunner (usually on first base) starts running as if to
steal and the batter is obligated to swing at the pitch to try to drive the ball behind the
runner to right field. Contrast this to a run and hit, where the runner steals, and the batter
(who would normally take on a straight steal) may swing at the pitch.

hit awayEdit

After a batter has attempted but failed to lay down a bunt, or in a situation in which he
might ordinarily be expected to bunt, he may instead make a normal swing at the ball on
 the next pitch. In such a case he is said to "hit away" or "swing away". "Smoltz swung
away, fouling it off for strike one. Knowing that the bunt had been given away on the
first pitch, Braves manager Bobby Cox took off the bunt sign this time."[125]

hit behind the runnerEdit

An offensive tactic where the batter intentionally puts the ball in play to the right side
with a runner on second. The intent is to advance the baserunner to third, where a
sacrifice fly by the next hitter can score a run.

hit by pitchEdit

Main article: Hit by pitch

When a pitch touches a batter in the batter's box, the batter advances to first base.
Abbreviated as HBP. Colloquially, a batter who is hit by a pitch may be said to be
plunked, drilled, nailed, plugged, or beaned. If the pitch is a strike or hits him while he is
swinging at the pitch, it is considered a strike and the batter is not awarded a base. In
addition, if the umpire feels that the batter didn't make an effort to avoid getting hit by the
pitch, the umpire can simply call the pitch a ball and not award the batter the base.

hit 'em where they ain'tEdit

Said to be the (grammatically-casual) response of turn-of-the-20th-century player Willie

Keeler to the question, "What's the secret to hitting?" in which "'em" or "them" are the
batted balls, and "they" are the fielders.

hit for averageEdit

Contrary to what might be literally implied, a player who "hits for average" is one who
achieves a high batting average.

hit for the cycleEdit

Main article: Hit for the cycle

When a given player hits a single, double, triple and home run in the same game. To
accomplish this feat in order is termed a "natural cycle". Hitting for the cycle is a rare
enough occurrence that Major League Baseball keeps special statistics on it.[126]

hit it where the grass doesn't growEdit

Hit the ball into the stands for a home run.

hit on Christmas DayEdit

 When a player seems to have a natural aptitude to get hits in all situations. “Magglio can
hit Christmas Day", Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “It’s an old saying, and he’s one
of those guys who can. There’s nothing fancy. He sees it, hits it and does it pretty damned
good".[127]

hit the ball on the screwsEdit

To hit the ball even center with measured force, often resulting in a loud crack of the bat.
A slumping batter might be comforted by "hitting the ball on the screws" when not
getting a hit. The phrase apparently derives from golf, referring to "a well executed shot.
In the good ol' days, when woods were made of wood, club makers fitted a plastic insert
into the club face as a safeguard against premature wear. These inserts were fastened to
the club with screws. When a golfer would hit a good shot, he would say, 'I hit it on the
screws'."[128]

Another source is the fact that early baseball bats usually cracked lengthwise in two pieces.
Because of the cost involved, many of these bats were repaired using glue and 2 screws, and the
original phrase was " (he)hit it between the screws" subsequently modified since such repaired
bats became illegal.

hit the deckEdit

When a batter drops or dives to the ground to avoid being hit by a pitch. "The third kind
of pitch is the one that is coming right at your head. This one you don't even have time to
think about. Some part of you sees the ball as it leaves the pitcher's hand, and something
about the fact that the ball is coming straight toward your eye makes it almost disappear
into a blind spot. You hit the deck before you even know you've done it."[129]

hit the dirtEdit

To slide. Sometimes used also as equivalent to hit the deck.

hitch in his swingEdit

When a batter does not swing the bat in a single motion – perhaps he lifts the bat or
moves his hands or hesitates before swinging – he may be said to have a "hitch in his
swing". Having a hitch may slow down how quickly or powerfully he swings at the pitch.
"All winter, Green worked on eliminating a hitch from his swing. He did it by setting up
a video camera at a batting cage near his home in Irvine, California, taping swing after
swing, and comparing it with video from his days with the Los Angeles Dodgers."[130]

hitterEdit

Batter.

a person who hits a ball with a bat in baseball.

hitter's countEdit

When a batter is way ahead in the count (3–0, 3–1, 2–0) he's likely to anticipate that the
next pitch will be thrown down Broadway—in the middle of the plate. See count.

hitter's parkEdit

A baseball park in which hitters tend to perform better than average. This may be a result
of several factors, including the dimensions of the park (distance to the outfield fences,
size of foul territory behind the plate and down the lines), prevailing winds, temperature
and relative humidity, and altitude. Whether a park is a hitter's park or a pitcher's park (in
which hitters perform worse than average) is determined statistically by measuring Park
Factors, which involves comparing how well hitters perform in a given park compared
with how they perform in all other parks. This measure is regularly reported and updated
for Major League Baseball parks by ESPN.com.[14] Baseball Reference [15] and other
baseball research organizations also report park factors for major league parks. Baseball
Prospectus [16] and other baseball researchers calculate park factors for minor league
parks to help in adjusting the statistics of baseball prospects.
Whether a park is a hitter's park or pitcher's park may change from day to day. For
example, when the wind is blowing "out" at Wrigley Field, it is typically rendered a
"hitter's park", and double-digit scores for one or both teams are not unusual.
On the other hand, some are hitter's parks, any and all other factors notwithstanding.
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Braves home field from 1966-1996, was known as The
Launching Pad.

hitterishEdit

A physical and/or mental state where a player is seeing pitches well and his timing is on,
so that observers or the player himself feel he has a good chance at getting a hit. Often
used by players and sportscasters. "It's like Charley Lau used to tell us, used to tell me:
'You look very hitterish up there. You look hitterish, you look like you're going to hit the
ball hard'", Brett said in camp.[131]

holdEdit

Main article: Hold (baseball)

A hold (abbreviated as H) is awarded to a relief pitcher if he enters in a save situation,
records at least one out, and leaves the game without having relinquished that lead. To
receive a hold, the pitcher must not finish the game (thus becoming the closing pitcher) or
be the winning pitcher.
Unlike saves, more than one pitcher can earn a hold in a game. It is also not necessary for
the pitcher's team to win the game in order to achieve a hold; they merely have to be in
the lead at the time the pitcher exits.
The hold was invented in 1986 to give credit to non-closer relief pitchers. Holds are most
often accredited to setup pitchers, as they usually pitch between the starter and the closer.
 Holds are not an official Major League Baseball statistic, but are recognized by the MLB
in its rules.

hold the runner onEdit

When a runner is on first base, the first baseman might choose to stand very close to first
base rather than assume a position behind first base and more part-way toward second
base (a position better suited to field ground balls hit to the right side of the diamond).
When he does this he's said to "hold the runner on (first)" because he's in a position to
take a throw from the pitcher and thereby discourage the runner from taking a big lead-
off.

hold up on a swingEdit

When a batter begins to swing the bat at a pitch but stops swinging before the bat makes
contact with the ball or the bat passes the front of the plate, he may be said to "hold up on
his swing".

holeEdit

 One of the 9 places in the batting lineup. The leadoff hitter in the first inning is
the player in the "one hole". In the four hole, the cleanup hitter is hoping to get to
the plate in that inning.
 Also see in the hole.

hole in his gloveEdit

A tendency to drop fly balls, usually after they hit (and seem to go through) the fielder's
glove.

hole in his swingEdit

A scouting report phrase describing a batter who can't hit strikes in a particular location.
"Howard became a star after fixing a hole in his swing."[132]

hole in the lineupEdit

A team that has one or more weak hitters in its 9-person batting order has a "hole in the
lineup" that opposition teams can take advantage of. "There are no holes in that lineup, so
to say you're going to pitch around one batter might not be the best thing."[133] "If the
team that Shapiro has constructed is going to overtake the Boston Red Sox, the New
York Yankees or any of the other contenders in the American League, it can’t afford
another season with a hole in the middle of the lineup that Hafner was from May through
the playoffs last season".[134]
homeEdit

Home plate. For a runner to reach home safely is to score a run. Getting a runner who is
on base home is the goal of any batter.

home cookingEdit

 When a player for the home team gets a favorable or generous call from the
official scorer, the players may refer to the scorer's call as "home cooking". For
example, the scorer may credit a batter for a base hit on a batted ball that a fielder
bobbled briefly and then failed to make a putout.
 "Home cooking" is sometimes used synonymously with home field advantage".
The reference may be to the home team having the advantage of living at home,
not just to being able to play in its own stadium.

home field advantageEdit

Main article: Home advantage

Teams playing home games have a small advantage over visiting teams. In recent
decades, home teams have tended to win about 53.5% of their games.[135] Because teams
play the same number of games at home as they do away during the regular season, this
advantage tends to even out. In play-off series, however, teams hope to gain from home-
field advantage by having the first game of the series played in their home stadium.

home gameEdit

Main article: Home team

A game played at the home stadium or ballpark of a baseball club. When the Yankees
play in Yankee Stadium, they're playing a home game. The team that is hosting the game
is referred to as the home team. In rare instances, the home team plays in a stadium that is
not their own. In 2005, the Houston Astros played a "home" series against the Chicago
Cubs at Miller Park in Milwaukee, home of the Brewers, because their home stadium,
Minute Maid Park, was rendered temporarily unusable because of Hurricane Rita. In
2010, the Toronto Blue Jays played a "home" series against the Philadelphia Phillies at
the Phillies' home park, Citizens Bank Park, because of security concerns due to the G-20
summit being held in Toronto. Despite being in Philadelphia, the Blue Jays wore their
home white uniforms and batted last. Also, despite Citizens Bank Park being a National
League field, the designated hitter was used in the series.

home halfEdit

The second or bottom half of the inning, in which the home team is at bat. See inning.

home plateEdit

Main article: Baseball field § Home plate

 See also plate.

home runEdit

Main article: Home run

A home run (or homer) is a base hit in which the batter is able to circle all the bases,
ending at home plate and scoring a run himself.

home run derbyEdit

A batting competition in which the object is to hit the most home runs.[136] The 1960
television series Home Run Derby featured such a competition.[137] A number of
amusement parks, entertainment centers and batting cages offer a home run derby type
competition.[136] Since 1985, Major League Baseball has hosted an annual Home Run
Derby.[138] At least one minor league, the Southern League, has also held a home run
derby.[139] In 2007, the Israel Baseball League played 7-inning games, and if the teams
were tied at the end of the 7th inning the tie was broken by use of a home run derby.[140]

home run trotEdit

When a batter, after seeing that a ball that he's hit is about become a home run, slows
from a run to a celebratory trot. "Well, I've been saying it all year, and it finally happened
tonight: David Ortiz became the first player in the 2010 season to take more than 30-
seconds to trot around the bases after a home run. With four of the top five slowest home
run trots of the year already - all four of which were clocked in at 28.95 seconds or
slower - it seemed inevitable that he would be the first to break the half-minute
barrier."[141]
Sometimes a player mistakenly slows down, however, when the wind or a superb play by
an outfielder, turns a home run into a double or single off the outfield wall, or to a long
out, or to another odd outcome, as the following case illustrates:

"Unfortunately for his personal power totals, Milledge was bamboozled into believing his liner
in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night had cleared the left-field fence
at PNC Park for his first career grand slam. Dead certain he had gone deep, Milledge raised his
fist rounding first base, put his head down and went into a trot. Cool. Double-dog certain because
the fireworks guy at PNC set off the pyrotechnics that explode every time a Bucs player goes
deep. Music also began to blare. What a glorious moment for the Bucs! . . . Only, the ball had not
cleared the fence. It hit the top and stayed in the field of play. As Bucs announcer Bob Walk
said, 'Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh oh — we got a problem here.' Milledge was not quite midway
between second and third base when he realized the Cubs had him in a rundown. And, yeah, um,
he was tagged out. Score that a two-run double and a big ol' base-running blunder."[142]

home standEdit

A series of home games. See also road trip.

home teamEdit

Main article: Home team

The "home team" is the one in whose stadium the game is played against the "visiting
team". The home team has the advantage of batting in the second or bottom half of the
inning. In case a game is played at a neutral site, the "home" team is usually determined
by coin toss.

homerEdit

 A home run.
 Also, a derisive term for a dedicated, almost delusional, fan. Especially used for a
broadcaster, in any sport, whose team "can do no wrong". Johnny Most of the
Boston Celtics was a notorious "homer". In a somewhat more humorous example,
Bert Wilson used to say, "I don't care who wins, as long as it's the Cubs!" A
common "homer" saying is, "My two favorite teams are (my team) and whoever's
playing (my team's rival)."

hookEdit

 When a manager leaves the dugout with the obvious intention of replacing the
pitcher with a reliever, he may be said to be carrying a hook. "Here comes
Sparky, and he's got the hook." Such a usage may have come from the large hooks
that were sometimes used in Vaudeville to yank unsuccessful acts off the stage if
they were reluctant to leave on their own. When he was manager of the Cincinnati
Reds, Sparky Anderson's heavy reliance on relief pitching earned him the
nickname "Captain Hook", a reference both to the standard usage and to the Peter
Pan villain.

 A pitcher is said to be "on the hook" when he leaves the game with his team
behind because of runs that he gave up — a hook on which he may be hung with
the loss.

 A curveball.

hook foulEdit

When the batter pulls the ball down the line, starting fair but ending foul, resulting in a
foul ball. See also slice foul.

hopperEdit

A batted ball that takes several bounces in the infield or perhaps just a single "high hop"
after it hits the ground just in front of home plate. Also see "short hop".

horsehideEdit
  The ball (a baseball) used in the game of baseball.
 The leather cover on the baseball (which is now usually made of cowhide, not
horsehide). A slugger may be said to "knock the horsehide off the ball".
Horsehide was the cover of choice for decades, as it was less prone to stretching
than cowhide. This was necessary in part because in the early days, they tried to
play the entire game with a single ball, or as few as possible. That became moot in
the 1920s, but horsehide continued to be used until the 1980s or so, when
horsehide became prohibitively expensive and cowhide was finally adopted as the
standard cover for a baseball.

hoseEdit

A strong arm, said typically of an outfielder. To "be hosed" is to be thrown out on the
bases, typically from the outfield.

hotEdit

A batter who is having a hitting streak or a team having a winning streak is said to be
"hot". "'Today was pretty impressive', Scioscia said. 'Hitters, they have their times. When
they’re hot, they’re hot. You can’t do anything about it'."[143]

hot boxEdit

The area between two fielders during a rundown.

hot cornerEdit

The area around third base and the third baseman, so called because right-handed batters
tend to hit line drives down the third base line. The third baseman is sometimes called a
"cornerman".

Hot stove leagueEdit

Main article: Hot stove league

An old fashioned term for a "Winter league" with no games, just speculation, gossip, and
story-telling during the months between the end of the World Series and the beginning of
Spring training, presumably conducted while sitting around a hot stove. One of Norman
Rockwell's well-known baseball paintings is a literal illustration of this term.

House by the side of the roadEdit

A batter who strikes out looking. The term was made popular by legendary Detroit Tigers
radio broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who would often say, “He stood there like the house by
the side of the road, and watched the ball go by.”[144] The phrase originates from the title
of a poem by Sam Walter Foss.
HowitzerEdit

A very strong arm. A cannon. A gun. Usually applied to an outfielder. Named after the
Howitzer artillery piece. Headline: "Roberto Clemente: A Howitzer for an Arm, An
Ocean for a Heart".[145]

human rain delayEdit

A derisive term for a player who is very deliberate in his play, such as a pitcher who
takes a long time between pitches or a batter who constantly steps out of the batter's box.
"The Seattle Mariners will announce a new manager today—Mike Hargrove. Hargrove
bears a great nickname—'The Human Rain Delay'. The name stems from the fact that, as
a player, Hargrove would take about 15 minutes for every plate appearance. He would
step out of the batter's box, fidget with his gloves, his helmet, his pants. He drove the
pitcher nuts, but that was his plan."[146]

humpback linerEdit

A term frequently used to describe a ball hit deep in the infield that has a trajectory in
between that of a fly ball and a line drive. They would often fall in for hits, but the extra
topspin on the ball makes them take a dive before they can get to the outfield. While not
the hardest hit, these types of balls can be hard for infielders to get to if they are not in
double-play depth.

hurlerEdit

A pitcher.

Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
 H
 I
 J
 K
 L
 M
  N
 O
 P
 Q
 R
 S
 T
 U
 V
 W
 X
 Y
 Z
 See also
 References
 External links

IEdit
ice cream coneEdit

See: snow cone.

I have it. You get it.Edit

A fielding play, usually where a lofty fly ball is to land equidistant between two fielders.
Both fielders become unsure of who is to field the ball, usually resulting in last-second
leaps or dives. Often this results in neither player catching the ball, in which case the
fielder who had the best chance of fielding the ball is charged with an error.

immaculate inningEdit

Main article: Pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches
A half-inning in which the pitcher strikes out all three batters he faces on exactly nine
pitches—that is, throwing nothing but strikes.

in the batter's eyesEdit

A high fastball, usually at or near the batter's eye level. Above the strike zone, so a ball,
and hard to hit, but also hard to lay off.

Infield fly ruleEdit

Main article: Infield fly rule
The umpire calls the batter out when (a) there are less than two outs in the inning, and (b)
the batter hits a fly ball that can be caught with ordinary effort by an infielder in fair
territory, and (c) there are runners on first and second or the bases are loaded.
The batter is automatically called out in this situation whether or not a fielder attempts to
catch the fly ball, but assuming that the ball stays in fair territory. The rule states that the
umpire is supposed to announce, "Infield fly, if fair". If the ball will be almost certainly
fair, the umpire will likely yell, "Infield fly, batter's out!" or just "Batter's out!"
This rule is intended to prevent the fielder from intentionally dropping the ball and
getting force outs on the runners on base. The rule is a little mystifying to casual fans of
the game, but it has been a fundamental rule since 1895, allegedly to prevent the
notoriously tricky Baltimore Orioles from intentionally dropping the ball.

infielderEdit

Main article: Infielder

First baseman, second baseman and third baseman, plus the shortstop, so called because
they are positioned on the infield dirt. The pitcher and catcher are typically not
considered infielders, but instead as the battery. However, for purposes of implementing
the Infield Fly Rule, the catcher, pitcher, and any player stationed in the infield when the
pitch is delivered are included as infielders.

inherited runnerEdit

Inherited runners or inherited baserunners are the runners on base when a relief pitcher enters
the game. Since a previous pitcher has allowed these runners to reach base (or was simply
pitching when the runners reached base, such as in the case of a fielding error), any inherited
runners who score when the relief pitcher is pitching are charged to the previous pitcher's runs
allowed and/or earned runs allowed total, depending on how each runner reached base. Modern
box scores list how many runners each relief pitcher inherits (if any), and how many of those
inherited runners the relief pitcher allows to score, called inherited runs allowed (IRA).

in jeopardyEdit

In general, a baserunner is in jeopardy at any time the ball is live and he is not touching a
base, unless he overran first base on a fair ball or is advancing to a base he was awarded,
e.g., on a base on balls or hit batsman. A baserunner who is in jeopardy may be tagged
out by a fielder at any time while in jeopardy.
A baserunner is also in jeopardy, regardless of whether or not he is touching a base, if the
ball is live and any of the following conditions apply:

 He is touching a base that he was forced to vacate, i.e., if his teammate hits a fair
ball;
 He failed to tag up on a caught fly ball;
 He failed to touch a base when he last passed it, or failed to touch the bases in
order; or
  He is touching a base that a preceding baserunner is also touching.

inningEdit

Main article: Inning

An inning consists of two halves. In each half, one team bats until three outs are made. A
full inning consists of six outs, three for each team; and a regulation game consists of
nine innings. The first half-inning is called the top half of the inning; the second half-
inning, the bottom half. The break between the top and bottom halves is called the
middle of the inning. The visiting team is on offense during the top half of the inning,
the home team is on offense during the bottom half. Sometimes the bottom half is also
referred to as the home half.

innings eaterEdit

A pitcher who may or may not be a starter or a closer but who can be relied on to pitch
several innings either to keep his team in contention or sometimes when the game is no
longer close, is an "innings eater".
Headline: "Appetites never diminish for 'innings-eating' pitchers":

"The success of most pitchers is based on statistics such as won-loss record, ERA or saves, but
the unsung "innings eater" is judged by how many innings he pitches and the impact his work
has on the rest of the staff.

"'I don't have a whole lot of goals going into the season. I don't shoot for a certain ERA or a
certain strikeout number or certain number of wins', says Blanton, entering his second full
season. 'I try to go out and get a quality start every time, six innings or more, and not miss any
starts. I feel if I can do that, I'll get my 200 innings in a year and everything else falls into place
with that' ".[147]

inside baseballEdit

Main article: Inside Baseball (strategy)

The inside baseball is an offensive strategy that focuses on teamwork and good
execution. It usually centers on tactics that keep the ball in the infield: walks, base hits,
bunts, and stolen bases. This was the primary offensive strategy during the Dead Ball
Era. Inside baseball is also a common metaphor in American politics to describe
background machinations. The equivalent modern term is small ball.

Inside the ballEdit

Proper mechanics of a baseball swing, in which the hitter rotates his body while keeping
his hands and the bat close to his body, with the bat coming across the plate after the
body has almost fully rotated 90 degrees from his initial stance. Sometimes the phrase
used is that the hitter "keeps his hands inside the baseball", and sometimes that the hitter
himself "keeps inside the ball" – with the strange connotation of a hitter himself being
 inside of a baseball. "He's staying inside the ball so good, man", Dunn said. "For big guys
like us, that's a hard thing to do. You always want to get the head [of the bat] out. His
right hand is staying inside, so good. That's why he's able to hit the ball to left, to center,
to right. He's in a good place right now".[148]

inside-out swingEdit

When the batter swings at a pitch with his hands ahead of the end of the bat. For a right-
handed hitter, this often leads to balls being hit toward the right side of the diamond. One
of the most famous "inside-out" hitters is Derek Jeter: "While Jeter became known over
his two decades for rising to the occasion and delighting fans with his heroics, he was
above all a technician, slashing at pitches with his trademark inside-out swing".[149]

inside-the-park home runEdit

Main article: Inside-the-park home run

A play where a hitter scores a home run without hitting the ball out of play.

insurance runEdit

A run scored by a team already in the lead. These surplus runs do not affect the game
outcome but serve as "insurance" against the team giving up runs later.

intentional pass/intentional walkEdit

Additional terms for the intentional base on balls.

interferenceEdit

Main article: Interference (baseball)

Interference is an infraction where a person illegally changes the course of play from
what is expected. Interference might be committed by players on the offense, players not
currently in the game, catchers, umpires, or fans; each type of interference is covered
differently by the rules. See the Wikipedia article on interference for details on the
varieties of interference calls.

interleague playEdit

Main article: Interleague play

Regular season Major League Baseball games played between teams in different major
leagues. This has allowed some teams that are natural rivals or crosstown rivals with one
another but in different leagues to play some games during the regular season, not just in
the play-offs.

Internet baseball awardsEdit

 While Major League Baseball calls on the Baseball Writers' Association of America
(BBWA) to name the most valuable player, rookie of the year, and Cy Young Award
winner each year, since 1997 Baseball Prospectus has conducted an on-line poll to make
Internet Baseball Awards in those categories as well as manager of the year.[150]

interstateEdit

A batting average below .200. A player with a batting average of .195 is said to be on I-
95, a reference to the numbering on the Interstate Highway System. See also the
Mendoza Line.

in the booksEdit

The game is over. "This game's in the books [the records]." Long-time New York Mets
radio broadcaster Howie Rose (first on WFAN, now on WOR) ends every Mets win with
the catchphrase, "Put it in the books!" (Rose's memoir is entitled "Put It In The Book!")

in the holeEdit

 The spaces between the first baseman and second baseman and between the
shortstop and the third baseman, one of the usual places where a ground ball must
go for a hit. Infielders try to field balls hit into the hole. "Ozzie went deep in the
hole to get that one" does not mean that Ozzie went under ground to get the ball.
Despite Ozzie's best efforts, the ball may "find a hole" through the infield and into
the outfield. See also up the middle and down the line.
 Due up to bat after the on-deck batter. Probably derived from boating, where it
was originally "in the hold", the place prior to being "on deck".
 An unfavorable count. A pitcher would be "in the hole" 3-0 and a batter would be
"in the hole" 0-2.

in the (his) kitchenEdit

Pitching in on the hitter's hands.

In playEdit

 A game is in play when the umpire declares "play ball" at the beginning of the
game or after a time-out.
 Any batted ball is "in play" until either the play ends, the umpire calls the ball
foul, or there is fan interference or some other event that leads to a dead ball. A
ball hit into foul territory but in the air is in play in that a fielder may attempt to
catch the ball for an out and a runner may attempt to advance after such a catch,
but if it then falls to the ground or hits the fence in foul territory it would then be
called foul and no longer be in play.
  In sabermetrics, a special definition of "ball in play" is the calculation of "batting
average on balls in play" (BABIP), which excludes home runs even though they
are fair balls.
 Also see play.

IO (In and out)Edit

Infield and outfield practice taken before a game, or at practice. "Everyone take your
positions for a quick IO"

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JEdit
J-RunEdit

The run the pitcher takes from the mound to first base in order to cover for the first
baseman who has just fielded the ball.

jackEdit

A home run or to hit a home run. "Hitting a jack" or "Jacking one out of here".

jakeEdit

Half-hearted or lazy effort by a player, i.e. "He jaked that play."

jamEdit

 To pitch far enough inside that the batter is unable to extend while swinging. "The
pitcher jammed the batter". The batter was "handcuffed" or "shackled" by the
pitch.
 When runners are in scoring position with less than two outs and good hitters
coming up. "The pitcher is in a jam."
 "Bases are jammed" means "bases are full". There are runners on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
bases. Sometimes referred to as a "jam sandwich".

jelly legsEdit

When a batter has legs made out of jelly (normally an off-speed or curve ball heading at
an unusual angle) and departs from a good batting stance. “His curve ball . . . it jelly-legs
you.” - Phillies First Baseman Jim Thome, referring to Barry Zito's curve.[151]

jerkEdit

To hit the ball hard, typically used to refer to pulling the ball over the fence for a home
run. "Lee jerked one of his patented doubles into the left-field corner against Mets lefty
Johan Santana."[152]

JudyEdit

A Punch and Judy hitter who hits with little power.

juicedEdit

 "Bases juiced" means bases loaded.

  A player who is said to be juiced is thought to be taking performance-enhancing
drugs. "It is now assumed, of course, that Bonds may well have been juiced on
steroids at the time; the previous year he had set the all-time single-season record
of 73 home runs, and his musculature was almost freakishly swollen."[153]
 A baseball that is said to be juiced is doctored or manufactured in some way that
makes it travel farther when a batter hits it. "Spectacular increases in home runs
have often raised the question: Has the ball been juiced up to travel farther, in
order to increase the number of home runs?"[154]

jumpEdit

 A fielder is said to get a good jump on the ball when he anticipates or reacts
quickly to a batted ball and is thereby able to make a good play by fielding or
catching it.[155] Also see crack of the bat.
 A baserunner gets a good jump when he is able to leave the base well before the
pitch reaches the plate. "Upsetting the timing of the baserunner can effectively
prevent him from getting a good jump.... Base runners often read a pitcher's look
and get their jump, or start, based on the pattern the pitcher establishes."[156]

Junior CircuitEdit

The American League, so-called because it is the younger of the two major leagues. The
American League was founded in 1901, while the National League – the Senior Circuit –
was founded in 1876.

junkEdit

 breaking balls and knuckleballs, pitches that are difficult to hit due to movement
rather than velocity. The term is also used to describe a "junk pitcher" or a
junkball pitcher. "I couldn't believe he threw me a fastball because he had me
down 1-2", Thames said. "He's usually a junk pitcher and he tried to sneak a
fastball past me, and he left it up."[157] See also: Eephus pitch

junkball pitcherEdit

A pitcher who throws predominantly junk, usually due to a weak (or slow) fastball. A
junkballer or a junk artist: "Like all junk artists, Trujillo will have to prove himself at
the higher levels before getting a shot at a major league job."[158] See also: Eephus pitch

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KEdit
KEdit

Main article: Strikeout

The traditional abbreviation for a strikeout. A backwards K is often used to denote a
called strikeout. Invented by Henry Chadwick by taking the "most prominent" letter of
"struck" and reinforced by inference of "knockout" or "K.O." That connotation still
exists, when the announcer says the pitcher "punched out" the batter, a play on words that
also refers to "punching" a time clock and the punching motion that the home plate
umpire usually makes on a called third strike.

keep off the boardsEdit

Also singular, "keep off the board". Keep a team from scoring, and hence off the
scoreboard. "Wainwright has kept runs off the board at a better rate than Lester."[159]
 "After loading the bases with one down in the fourth, the Gators were kept off the board
by Barham."[160]

keep the hitter honestEdit

A pitcher needs to mix up his pitches and thereby "keep the hitter honest" by making it
difficult for the hitter to anticipate the type, speed, and location of the next pitch.
Sometimes this means throwing a brushback pitch to keep the batter from leaning over
the plate to reach a pitch on the outer part of the plate. "Partially with Boston in mind,
Wang focused this spring on expanding his repertoire to keep hitters honest and move
them off the plate."[161]

keep the line movingEdit

A reference to a series of batters getting on base safely and advancing runners on base,
alluding to an assembly line. "Beltran's popout tore apart a rally that had shaken the Hall
of Fame-bound Rivera, molding a game out of what moments before had been a five-run
rout. Instead, Beltran couldn't keep the line moving, leaving an eager David Wright
awaiting on deck."[162] The 2015 Kansas City Royals were one of the most notable
examples of "keeping the line moving" during their postseason run, which led to a World
Series title.[163][164]

keystone sackEdit

Second base. Like the keystone of an arch, second base is the key to both scoring (a
runner on the base is in scoring position) and defense (with strength up the middle).
Together the shortstop and second baseman – the two players who play nearest to second
base, often combining on double plays – are sometimes referred to as the keystone
combination.

kickedEdit

A player who makes an error fielding a ground ball may be said to have "kicked the ball"
or "kicked it".

killEdit

 A batter who hits the ball very far may be said to have "killed the ball".
 A pitcher who stifles a rally by the opposing team may be said to have "killed the
rally".

knee-bucklerEdit

A breaking ball (usually a curveball) that breaks very sharply, so much so that it freezes
the hitter. Also refers to a breaking ball that starts out directly at the batter—so that his or
 her knees buckle out of fear from the belief that the pitch will hit him or her—but which
then drops in the strike zone.

knockEdit

 Knock in: To score an RBI. "Kenny Lofton knocked in the go-ahead run with a
10th-inning single Thursday afternoon as the Cleveland Indians beat Detroit, 3-
1."[165]
 A hit: as in "a two-base knock".
 Knocks: Hard hits or extra-base hits, not necessarily producing RBIs or referring
to a specific type of hit. "Curtis had some solid knocks today".
 Knocked around: A pitcher who gives up a lot of hits and gets removed from the
game is said to have been knocked around or knocked out of the box or
knocked out of the game. Example headline: "Toronto 7, Detroit 4: Phil Coke
knocked around; Tigers' bats don't respond".[166]
 Knock down: an infielder who stops a line drive from getting through the infield
"knocks it down", perhaps then picking up the ball and throwing the runner out.
 Knock off: to knock off an opponent is to win the game. "Hawai'i knocks off
Santa Clara."[167]
 Knock the cover off the ball: to hit a baseball extremely hard. See also tore the
cover off the ball.

knuckleballEdit

Main article: Knuckleball

A pitch thrown with no spin, traditionally thrown with the knuckles, but also with the
fingertips. It tends to flutter and move suddenly and erratically on its way to the plate.
Also refers to a batted ball that flutters "like a knuckleball". SYNONYMS: knuckler,
flutterball, butterfly ball, floater, bug.

Contents:

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LEdit
laceEdit

To reach base by hitting a ball between infielders. "McCann laced it through the shift on
the right side of the infield."

LAIMEdit

An acronym for League Average Inning Muncher. A LAIM is generally a starting pitcher
who can provide around 200 innings over the course of a season with an ERA (Earned
Run Average) near the league average. A LAIM is counted on to consume innings,
keeping his team in the game but not necessarily shutting down the opposition. The term
was coined by baseball blogger Travis Nelson, but is used by other writers as well.[168]

large sausageEdit

A slang term for a grand slam home run. It is a takeoff from the term "grand salami"
which some people use to refer to a grand slam.

laser showEdit

A batting performance with a high number of base hits, particularly line drives. Also, the
nickname of Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
late inningsEdit

The seventh, eighth and ninth innings of a regulation nine-inning game.

laugherEdit

A game in which one team gets a large lead, perhaps early in the game, and it appears
that the other team has no chance at all of catching up. With nothing to worry about, the
manager and team can relax. An easy win; a romp; a blowout.

launchEdit

To hit a long fly ball, as if launching a rocket. "Orso, who recently signed with Alabama
Southern to play college baseball next season, launched several rocket shots and by far
hit the furthest home runs of anyone in the competition. . . ."[169]

launch padEdit

A term for a ballpark in which many home runs are hit.

Lawrence WelkEdit

A (rare) 1-2-3 double play ("...and a one, ana 2, ana 3"). A reference to pop orchestra
director Lawrence Welk.

lay downEdit

A player who bunts the ball is said to lay down a bunt. Also see dump.

lay offEdit

If a batter decides not to swing at a pitch, especially if he deliberately avoids swinging at

certain types of pitches, he may be said to "lay off" a pitch. Pitchers tempt hitters to
swing at pitches that they cannot hit; batters try to lay off such pitches. "Batters can’t
seem to lay off his slider, just as his parents can’t seem to lay off his carrot cake —
they’re nearly addicted to it."[170]

leadEdit

 When a baserunner steps off a base before a pitch is thrown in order to reduce the
distance to the next base he takes a lead.
 The player who is first in the batting order for a given team in any given inning is
said to lead off the inning.

leadoff hitterEdit
  The first batter listed on a team's line-up card (in the 1-hole or the "leadoff spot"
on the line-up card). When the announcers read the starting line-up they might
say, "Leading off, and playing short-stop, is Sammy Speedyrunner. Batting
second, playing second base, Carlos Contacthitter. Batting third, in the pitcher's
spot, is designated hitter Burt "Biggie" Brokenleg. Batting clean-up, playing left
field, Thor Thunderbat. . . ."
 The first batter in an inning (who could be in any hole on a team's line-up card). If
that batter gets a single, or a home run, or a walk, the announcer would say he has
a "leadoff single", a "leadoff home run", or a "leadoff walk".

leaningEdit

A baserunner is said to be "caught leaning" or "leaning the wrong way" when he is

picked off a base while shifting his weight toward the next base.

leatherEdit

 Referring to a fielder's glove, a player with good leather is a good defensive

player (typically an infielder).
 Flashing the leather means making an outstanding defensive play.
 A leather player refers to a player who is outstanding on defense but only
average or even less on offense. Ron Karkovice is one example of a "leather
player".

left-handed batEdit

Although baseball bats are symmetrical in shape, and thus there is no such thing as a left-
handed baseball bat (or a right-handed baseball bat), in colloquial language a hitter who
bats left-handed may be referred to as a "left handed bat" or "left-hand bat". Headline:
"Giants look to acquire left-handed bat".[171]

left-handed hitterEdit

Also "left-hand hitter". A batter who, paradoxically, bats from the right-side of the plate.
Typically, an individual who is left-handed in most activities, including throwing a
baseball, stands in the right-hand batter's box, the one closest to first base.

left-handed specialistEdit

Main article: Left-handed specialist

A left-handed relief pitcher specializing in getting one out, often in critical situations. See
also LOOGY.

left on baseEdit
 A baserunner is said to be left on base (abbreviated LOB) or stranded when the half-
inning ends and he has not scored or been put out. This includes a batter-runner who has
hit into a fielder's choice, causing another runner to be put out as the 3rd out.[172]
Team LOB totals are commonly reported in a baseball box score. It counts only those
left standing on the bases when the third out of an inning occurs. Team LOB is used in
"proving" a box score. The number of a team's plate appearances is to equal the sum of
that team's runs, that team's LOB, and the opposing team's putouts. In other words, every
batter who completes a plate appearance is accounted for by a run scored, being put out,
or LOB.
Individual LOB totals are sometimes reported in baseball box scores. This is a more
recent statistic that is computed for each player who is at bat at least once in a game and
is calculated on how many baserunners were "left on base" when the player was at-bat
and caused an out, no matter how many outs there were at the time. Note that "at bat"
does not include other plate appearances such as sacrifice bunts or flies made by the
batter, third outs caused by pickoffs or caught stealing, or games ended with the winning
run scoring on a successful steal, etc. Two common misconceptions of the individual
LOB are that the individual LOB is the number of times the player was left on base as a
baserunner (this is a "runner's LOB" and is not usually recorded), or that the individual
LOB applies only when the at-bat player caused the third out. Note that the total of the
individual LOBs for all players on a team will usually exceed the team LOB.
A related statistic is "left on base in scoring position", which includes only those LOB
where the runner was occupying second or third base. Yet another related statistic is "left
on base in scoring position with less than two out". The intention of these statistics is to
measure the tendency of a team or player wasting an opportunity to score.

leg outEdit

To run hard to get safely on base or to advance a base: "Podsednik legged out an infield
hit, stole second and scored when Everett legged out a double."[173]

letter highEdit

A letter-high pitch is one that crosses the plate at the height of the letters on the batter's
chest. Also see at the letters. Equivalent term: "chest high". "Dietrich fouled off a couple
of pitches before Porcello put him away with a letter-high fastball at 94."[174]

liftEdit

To remove a player from the lineup in the middle of a game. "Casey was lifted for a
pinch runner."

lights-outEdit

A pitcher who so dominates the hitters that the game is effectively over once he takes the
mound — so they can turn out the lights and go home. The pitcher retires the batters in
 order without allowing a single run. "Putz pitched lights-out baseball once he took over
the job for good from Guardado."[175]

line driveEdit

 Also known as a liner, a line drive is a batted ball that is hit hard in the air and
has a low arc. See also rope.
 A line drive may also be said to be "hit on a line".
 A batter may be said to have "lined out" if the liner was caught by a fielder.
 Line drives can be dangerous to baseball players and spectators. For example, on
July 22, 2007, Tulsa Drillers first base coach Mike Coolbaugh was killed in a line
drive accident at an away game with the Arkansas Travelers. Though the ball hit
his neck, his death was the impetus for base coaches to start wearing helmets.[176]

lineupEdit

The batting order, which also lists each player's defensive position. An announcer reading
the starting lineup for a game will typically begin something like this: "Batting first,
playing second base. . . ."

lineup cardEdit

A form kept by each manager listing the starting players and all other players who are on
the active roster and available to play in the game. Typically this form will be taped to the
wall inside the dugout for the manager and coaches to consult when they need to make
substitutions during a game. Before the game starts the manager hands a lineup card to
the home plate umpire. This lineup will change throughout the game as starting players
are removed and substitutes inserted.

live armEdit

A strong arm, usually describing a pitcher who has a great deal of velocity on his pitches.
"That pitcher has a live arm."

Live Ball EraEdit

Main article: Live-ball era

The time since 1919 or 1920 when several rule changes favored the strategy of the power
game over the time-honored inside game, ending the Dead Ball Era.

live on the cornersEdit

A pitcher who "lives on the corners" throws most of his pitches on the inside or outside
edges of home plate. He's not inclined to try to overwhelm the hitter with hard pitches
down the center of the plate. Many of his pitches will appear to barely nibble the plate.
lively fastball/life on the ballEdit

A fastball that seems to be not just fast but also hard to hit because it may have some
movement on it or it may appear to speed up as it gets closer to the plate. "'His fastball
has got more life to it', Jays catcher Rod Barajas said. 'It's finishing. What I mean by that
is the last 10 feet [to home plate], it seems that it picks up speed.' According to Barajas,
that has particularly helped Ryan against right-handed hitters. 'They end up being late,
because that last 10 feet, it seems like it picks us a couple miles per hour, Barajas
said".[177]

load the basesEdit

A succession of plays that results in base runners on first, second, and third bases. See
also bases loaded or bases full.

LOBEdit

Abbreviation for left on base.

locateEdit

A pitcher's command is reflected in his ability to locate the ball – to throw it to an

intended spot. A pitcher with "good location" not only has command but makes the right
choices about where to throw the ball against particular batters.

lock him upEdit

 To sign a player to a long-term contract, thereby keeping him off the free-agent
market. "Come on Uncle Drayton, you have to lock this guy up for a few years.
He is one of the best in the league and along with Berkman, is the new face of the
Astros".[178]
 To throw a pitch that keeps the hitter from making any effective swing. For
example, when a left-handed pitcher throws a roundhouse curve or an inside
fastball to a left-handed hitter, the hitter may appear to freeze in place. "We had
him 0-2. We were trying to go in with a fastball, hopefully lock him up."[179] Also
see "freeze the hitter".

lollipopEdit

A soft, straight pitch with a lot of arc.

long ballEdit
 A home run. A team is said to "win by the long ball" after a walk off home run or the
team hits several home runs to win. Headline: "Phillies Use the Longball To Take Game
1 from the Dodgers".[180]

long onesEdit

Home runs. "He ravaged Pacific Coast League pitching for seven more long ones before
being recalled by the Reds later the same month."[181]

long outEdit

A ball that's hit deeply into the outfield and is caught by the fielder is a "long out".

long relieverEdit

Main article: Long reliever

A type of relief pitcher. Long relievers enter early in a game (generally before the 5th
inning) when the starting pitcher cannot continue, whether due to ineffective pitching,
lack of endurance, rain delay, or injury.

long strikeEdit

A foul ball which finishes particularly close to being fair, often where a fair ball would
have been a home run. So named as despite the good effort of the hitter, the result is a
strike against him.

LOOGYEdit

Main article: Left-handed specialist

A mildly derogatory nickname for a left-handed specialist. An acronym for "Lefty One
Out GuY", a left-handed pitcher who may be brought into the game to pitch against just
one or two left-handed batters to take extreme advantage of platoon effects.

look the runner backEdit

 When there is a runner on first base, a pitcher who has already gone into the
stretch may step off the rubber and either threaten a throw toward first base or just
stare at the runner to encourage him to step back toward first. In either case he's
said to "look the runner back" to first (rather than throwing over to first in an
effort to pick the runner off).
 When there is a runner on second or third base (but not first) with fewer than two
outs, an infielder fielding a sharp ground ball briefly stares at the runner to
discourage him from trying to advance. The fielder then throws to first to force
out the batter.
looperEdit

A softly hit Texas leaguer that drops in between the infielders and outfielders. Also
blooper. A fielder may make a superior defensive play, however, and turn a looper into
an out. "Sacramento’s Lloyd Turner ended the fourth with a sprinting, sliding snag of
Alvin Colina's looping liner to left that sent the stands into a frenzy."[182]

Lord CharlesEdit

A slang term for a "12-to-6" curveball. Similar to Uncle Charlie.

lose a hitterEdit

When a pitcher gives up a walk, especially when he gets ahead in the count or has a full
count but gives up a walk, he is said to have "lost the hitter".

losing recordEdit

During the regular season, the team lost more games than it won. For a modern Major
League team, this means a team lost at least 82 games out of 162 games played in what is
called the losing season.

losing streakEdit

A series of consecutive losses.

lossEdit

An entire team receives a "loss" on its record if it scores fewer runs than the opposing
team. The pitcher gets pinned with the loss (an L) on his record is the pitcher that allowed
the base-runner who eventually scored the ultimate lead. See win.

lost his swingEdit

See find his swing.

lost the ball in the sunEdit

When a player attempting to catch a fly ball is temporarily blinded by the glare of the sun
in his eyes, he may "lose the flyball in the sun".

loud outEdit

When a batter hits a long fly ball that is caught in the outfield, perhaps when a crowd
reacts loudly thinking it will be a HR, the announcer may say the batter made a "loud
 out". "Home runs are already overrated. A home run in one park is a loud out in
another."[183] "Long, loud out as Garciaparra takes Green to the warning track. But the
former Dodger makes the catch easily and we’re in the bottom of the third."[184]

lumberEdit

A baseball bat. Sometimes used in reference to a powerful offensive showing, "The

Yankees busted out the lumber tonight with a 10–0 victory." Also timber.

Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
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 See also
 References
 External links
MEdit
MadduxEdit

Colloquial term for a game in which the pitcher throws a complete game shutout, on 99
or fewer pitches. Named after Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, who threw 13 such
shutouts in his career.

Magic numberEdit

Main article: Magic number (sports)

A number that indicates how close a front-running team is to clinching a division or
season title. It represents the total of additional wins by the front-running team or
additional losses by the rival team after which it is mathematically impossible for the
rival team to capture the title.

magic wordsEdit

Specific words directed towards an umpire that are almost certain to cause immediate
ejection from the game.

make a statementEdit

When a player does something to catch the attention or make an impression on the other
team, he may be said to "make a statement". Perhaps he makes a spectacular fielding
play, hits a home run, slides hard into second base, or throws a brushback pitch. This
phrase is also used in other sports when a team seeks to show up or to demonstrate its
power against an opponent. "There were a lot of times where we could have given up, but
no one gave up. We made a statement here tonight".[185]

make the pitcher workEdit

When an offensive team tries to make the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches and tire
him out by working the count, or taking pitches or fouling off pitches, it is said to be
making the pitcher work. "We've got a lot of good hitters up and down this lineup, but the
key is to make the pitchers work", Laird said. "Tonight we made Saunders work. Then
we got to their bullpen and were able to string some key hits together."[186]

make-up callEdit

When an umpire makes a bad call on a pitch, he may implicitly acknowledge it on a later
pitch by making another bad call to "make up" for the first. For example, say an umpire
mistakenly calls a strike on a pitch that is out of the strike zone; he may later call a ball
on a pitch that's in the strike zone so that the hitter gets back what was initially taken
 away. Umpires typically, and understandably, deny that there is any such thing as a
"make-up call".

make-up gameEdit

When a game is canceled because of a rainout or for some other reason, a make-up game
is usually scheduled later in the season. Late in the regular season if the outcome of that
game would not affect which teams would reach the play-offs, then the game might not
be made up.

managerEdit

Main article: Manager (baseball)

See field manager. Different from the general manager.

manufacturing runsEdit

Producing runs one at a time, piece by piece, component by component by means of

patience at the plate, contact hitting, advancing runners, taking advantage of errors, alert
baserunning including stealing a base or advancing on an out or a mistake by a fielder. In
other words: small ball.[187]

masherEdit

A home run hitter. See crush the ball.

matchsticksEdit

A string of 1's on the scoreboard (the shape of matchsticks), indicating successive innings
in which 1 run was scored. Also referred to as a picket fence.

meatEdit

 A rookie, popularized by the baseball movie, Bull Durham; implying more brawn
than brain.
 An easy out, typically evident during a strikeout.
 A baserunner easily thrown out at a base.
 A fielder's throwing hand, typically used for the pitcher; "Glavine started to reach
for the ball with his meat hand but then thought better of it."

meat of the batEdit

On the barrel or fat end of the bat, but not too close to the end, is the "meat of the bat"
where a hitter tries to make contact with the pitched ball.
meat of the orderEdit

Refers to the 3, 4, 5 and sometimes 6 hitters in the lineup. Since it is the middle of the
order and usually the strongest hitters.

meatballEdit

An easy pitch to hit — down the middle of the plate.[188]

Mendoza lineEdit

Main article: Mendoza line

A batting average of .200. Named (most likely) for Mario Mendoza, a notoriously poor
hitter but decent shortstop who managed to have a 9-year major league career from 1974
to 1982 with a life-time batting average of .215.[189]

men in blueEdit

The umpires.

metal bat swingEdit

A long swing that does not protect the inside part of the plate. Generally used to describe
college players adjusting to professional ball and wooden bats.

middle infieldersEdit

The second baseman and shortstop.

middle inningsEdit

The fourth, fifth and sixth innings of a regulation nine-inning game.

middle of the inningEdit

The time between the top half and bottom half of an inning when the visiting team takes
the field and the home team prepares to bat. No gameplay occurs during this period and
television and radio broadcasts typically run advertisements. See also seventh-inning
stretch.

middle of the order hitterEdit

A batter who hits with power, and who thus may be suited to be in the third, fourth, or
fifth slot in the batting order. "I think Brett Jackson looks a lot more like a top of the
 order guy right now than a middle of the order guy, and he seems like a viable leadoff
hitter based on his performance as a professional".[190]

middle relieverEdit

A relief pitcher who is brought in typically during the middle-innings (4, 5, and 6). Since
he's typically in the game because the starting pitcher allowed the opponents a lot of runs,
the middle reliever is expected to hold down the opponents' scoring for an inning or two
in hopes that his own team can close the gap.

midnightEdit

Used during the early days of integration to refer to any African-American player.

miscueEdit

An error. A word from billiards, when the cue stick slips or just brushes the cue ball
thereby leading to a missed shot.[191]

miss some batsEdit

A pitcher who is good at getting batters to strike out may be said to "miss some bats",
that is, to make the batters swing and miss. A relief pitcher who is good at missing bats
may be brought into a game when the other team already has runners in scoring position.

miss some spotsEdit

A pitcher who does not have good command of his pitches and is not able to throw the
ball where he intends to is said to "miss some spots". "Angels Manager Mike Scioscia
agreed. 'He missed some spots on a couple of hitters', Scioscia said, 'and they didn't miss
their pitches'."[192]

mistakeEdit

A "mistake" is poor execution, as distinguished from an error. It could be throwing to the

wrong base, missing the cut-off, running into an obvious out, or throwing a pitch into the
batter's "hot zone" instead of where the catcher set up for it.
There may be such a thing as a mistake hitter, a mediocre hitter who occasionally gets a
pitch that he can drive. But a "mistake pitcher" doesn't usually last long in the big
leagues.
When asked how the mighty Yankees lost the 1960 World Series, Yogi Berra remarked,
"We made too many wrong mistakes."

mistake hitterEdit
 A batter who isn't adept at hitting good pitches that are located well but can take
advantage of a pitcher's mistakes.

mittEdit

Main article: Baseball glove

"Mitt" (derived from "mitten") can refer to any type of baseball glove, though the term is
officially reserved to describe the catcher's mitt and the first-baseman's mitt. Those mitts
(like a mitten) have a slot for the thumb and a single sheath covering all the fingers,
rather than the individual finger slots that gloves have. By rule, mitts are allowed to be
worn only by the catcher and the first baseman. See the entry on glove.

mix up pitchesEdit

To be successful, most pitchers have to use a variety of pitches, and to mix them up
tactically (not randomly) to keep hitters off balance. "Jackson was overwhelming. 'I was
just trying to come out and be aggressive and mix my pitches up', he said. 'I've seen them
in the past and I know what they can do. You have to mix it up to keep them honest'."[193]

MLBEdit

Main article: Major League Baseball

Commonly-used abbreviation for Major League Baseball, the organization that operates
the two North American major professional baseball leagues, the American League and
the National League.

money pitchEdit

A pitcher's best pitch or a one that he throws as the most critical times in a game. He's
said to earn his pay – his money – with that pitch. Headline: "The Outlawed Spitball Was
My Money Pitch".[194]

money playerEdit

A man who is good in the clutch. Someone you can count on (or bet on) when it really
matters. Sometimes the term used is simply "money", as in "Alex has really been money
these last few games".

MoneyballEdit

Main article: Moneyball

An often misused term. It refers to Michael Lewis's 2002 book. "Moneyball player" most
often refers to one who has a high on-base percentage, and does not steal a lot of bases.
However, the essence of the book is about running an organization effectively by
identifying inefficiencies and finding undervalued assets in a given market. As an
example, the so-called Moneyball teams have shifted their focus to defense and speed
 instead of OBP which is no longer undervalued. "Moneyball" is often seen as the
antithesis of "smallball", where teams take chances on the basepaths in an attempt to
"manufacture" runs. In more traditional baseball circles, evoking Moneyball to describe a
player or team can be a term of derision.

moonshotEdit

Main article: Moonshot (baseball)

 A home run hit so high and deep that it is said to travel toward the moon.

 When the Dodgers first moved out to Los Angeles and played in the L.A.
Coliseum, home runs hit by Wally Moon over the short left-field fence (251 feet
down the left-field line, a 42-foot high fence) were also headlined in the
newspapers as "Moon Shots".[195] Moon didn't hit many home runs in the
Coliseum. That these were opposite-field home runs, however, brought more
attention to them.

mop upEdit

A mop-up pitcher or "mop-up man" is usually the bullpen's least effective reliever who
comes in after the outcome of the game is almost certain. Sometimes other position
players also come in to mop up in the last inning in order to gain playing experience as
well as give the regulars a rest. "La Russa said Hancock's final outing was typical of a
reliever whose role frequently called for mop-up duty."[196]

motorEdit

A player who gets an extra-base hit, or who is on base when a teammate gets one, is
sometimes said to "motor" for an additional base – to continue running without
hesitation. "This allowed Loehrke to score, and then a miscue by Ranger right fielder
Drew Orbergfell allowed Lounsbury to motor to third base".[197]
"Pinch runner Brandon Varnell used his blazing speed to motor down the third base
line on the fielding error by Memorial reliever Garrett Hill and slide head first into home
plate to tie the game at 5-5".[198]

moundEdit

Main article: Baseball field

The pitcher's mound is a raised section in the middle of the diamond where the pitcher
stands when throwing the pitch. In Major League Baseball, a regulation mound is 18 feet
(5.5 m) in diameter, with the center 59 feet (18 m) from the rear point of home plate, on
the line between home plate and second base. The front edge of the pitcher's plate or
rubber is 18 inches (46 cm) behind the center of the mound, making it 60 feet 6 inches
(18.44 m) from the rear point of home plate. Six inches (15.2 cm) in front of the pitcher's
rubber the mound begins to slope downward. The top of the rubber is to be no higher than
 10 inches (25 cm) above home plate. From 1903 through 1968 this height limit was set at
15 inches, but was often slightly higher, especially for teams that emphasized pitching,
such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were reputed to have the highest mound in the
majors.

moundsmanEdit

A pitcher.

movementEdit

Deviations from the expected flight of a pitch that make the ball harder to hit. Can be
used to refer to both fastballs and breaking balls.

mow them downEdit

A pitcher who dominates the opposing hitters, allowing few if any to get on base, is said
to have "mowed them down" as if they were just so much hay being cut down by a
mower.

muffEdit

To make an error, typically on an easy play. "He muffed it. The ball went right through
his legs."

murderer's rowEdit

Main article: Murderers' Row

Murderers' Row was the nickname given to the New York Yankees baseball team of the
late 1920s, in particular the 1927 team. The term was actually coined in 1918 by a
sportswriter to describe the 1918 pre-Babe Ruth Yankee lineup, a team with quality
hitters such as Frank "Home Run" Baker and Wally Pipp that led the A.L. in home runs
with 45. In subsequent years, any line-up that has a series of power hitters who represent
a daunting challenge to opposing pitchers might be dubbed by the press as a "murderer's
row".

mustardEdit

Refers to a high amount of velocity on a throw or pitch. A player may be exhorted to "put
some (extra) mustard on it", with "it" usually referring to a pitcher's fastball or fielder's
throw.

MVPEdit
 Abbreviation for Most Valuable Player. At the end of every season, the Baseball Writers
Association of America chooses an MVP from each Major League. Typically an MVP is
also chosen for each major play-off series, the World Series, and the All-Star Game.

Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
 H
 I
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 See also
 References
 External links

NEdit
NAEdit
National Association. This may refer to the

 (NABBP) - the 1857-1870 first governing body of baseball, the National Association of
Base Ball Players
 (NA) - the 1871-1875 first professional league (in any sport), the National Association of
Professional Base Ball Players
 (NAPBL) - the 1901-to-date trade association of minor leagues, the National Association
of Professional Baseball Leagues — officially renamed Minor League Baseball in 1999
[17].

The second meaning for "NA" is most common by far, as suggested by the nonexistence
of the more complete abbreviation "NAPBBP" outside the Wikipedia. There are two
reasons why the 1871-1875 league is most common. First, in that sense NA is a league
abbreviation akin to NL and AL, and there is far more baseball writing and talk about
leagues than about higher associations. Second, the league is included in most major
league baseball encyclopedias, digital and print, despite that MLB does not recognize the
NA as a major league.

nail-biterEdit

A close game. Nervous fans may be biting their nails.

nailedEdit

 Hit by a pitch, drilled, plunked.

 The last pitches or last play of a winning game nail down the win or put the nails
in the coffin of the opposing team.
 To throw a runner out. "Sizemore nailed him at the plate."

nailsEdit

A relief pitcher who is as "tough as nails" or very effective at nailing down a win is
sometimes said to be "nails". "As the season has progressed, you can see that he looks
forward to that 9th inning and he has been nails lately."[199] "'This guy has been nails for
us'", Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said".[200] Phillies and Mets center fielder Lenny
Dykstra was known as "Nails" for his all-out style of play.

neighborhood playEdit

Main article: Neighborhood play

An informal rule that used to apply to double plays. As long as the defensive player
covering second base was in the "neighborhood" of second base when he caught the ball
and threw it on to first base, the runner would be called out. The rule was designed to
compensate for runners who slid into second too hard, making it dangerous for the
defensive player. In recent years, umpires have required the defensive player to have a
foot actually on second base, not just in the neighborhood, and have penalized runners
 who slide toward the defensive players too aggressively, so neighboorhood plays are
rarely seen today.

next batter's boxEdit

The official name of either of the two on-deck circles. Each team has its own circular
area, 5 feet (1.5 m) in diameter, which is designated for unencumbered use by the on-
deck batter (the next batter due to bat after the current batter); the on-deck batter may
wish to stretch, run in place, or take practice swings immediately prior to taking his turn
in the batter's box (which actually is rectangular in shape). Especially during finals and
semifinals, each circle is typically painted with the corresponding team logo. The location
of the next batter's box is specifically defined in MLB rules, and the most common
method to locate it was granted a patent.[201]

nibbleEdit

When a pitcher focuses on pitching just at the left or right edges of home plate rather than
throwing a pitch over the heart of the plate where a batter can get the meat of the bat on
the ball, he's said to nibble at the edges. "Tigers manager Jim Leyland praised Scherzer
for his aggressiveness against such a powerful lineup: 'The one thing you can't do against
the Yankees is get behind in the count. If you do, they'll just sit on pitches and hit a lot of
them hard. Max went after them. He understood he couldn't nibble around the edges of
the plate, and he did a heckuva job'."[202]

nickel curveEdit

A slider. Also used to mean an average or possibly "hanging" slider. Hitters look at the
spin on a ball when it is released by the pitcher, so the "dot" (circle which is created from
the pitcher's rotation on the ball that the batter sees to identify a pitch as a slider out of the
pitcher's hand) is said to be "nickel sized". Also, it could be used to mean a pitch with
more lateral movement (closer to a slurve than to a slider) rather than velocity.

nightcapEdit

The second game of a doubleheader.

NintendoEdit

To strike out a batter on three pitches. Alternatively, to strike out on three pitches.

NL or N.L.Edit

Abbreviation for National League, the older of the two major leagues.

NLCS or N.L.C.S.Edit
Main article: National League Championship Series
Abbreviation for National League Championship Series: the final, best 4 out of 7, playoff
series to determine the National League champion. The winners of the National League
Division Series play in this series. The winner of the NLCS is the winner of the National
League pennant and advances to the World Series against the pennant winner from the
American League.

NLDS or N.L.D.S.Edit

Main article: National League Division Series

Abbreviation for National League Division Series: the first round of the league playoffs,
to determine which two teams advance to the National League Championship Series
(NLCS). This round pits the winners of each of the three league divisions plus the winner
of the wild-card slot (the team that wins the most games in the regular season without
winning a division) in two pairings, each of which plays a best 3 out of 5 game series to
determine who advances to the NLCS.

no decisionEdit

Any starting pitcher who earns neither a win (W) nor a loss (L) is said to have a "no
decision." A "no decision" has no special meaning in official baseball statistics. But
regardless whether a pitcher earns a W, a L, or a "no decision", it has become
conventional in recent years to note how well a starting pitcher performed by recording
whether he made a quality start.

no-hitterEdit

Main article: No-hitter

A game in which one team does not get any hits, a rare feat for a pitcher, especially at the
major league level. Also colloquially called a "no-no". If no batter reaches base safely by
any means (walk, error, etc.) the pitcher is said to have pitched a perfect game, which is
much rarer than a "normal" no-hitter.
It is a superstition that when a pitcher is working on a no-hitter (or perfect game), his
teammates stay far away from him (sometimes even a whole bench length) and will not
say anything to anyone about the no-hitter. Some play-by-play on-air announcers will
also avoid mentioning the no-hitter until either an opposing batter gets a hit or the no-
hitter is completed; others however will mention one in progress and are sometimes
blamed for jinxing no-hitters.[203]

no man's landEdit

 The area of the outfield between the middle infielders and outfielders, where a
flyball can fall for a hit (a Texas leaguer).
 A baserunner caught in a pickle is said to be in "no man's land".
 The portion of a ballpark's spectator area, usually the front row of seats, where a
fielder may legally reach into to catch a fly ball, while a spectator or other
 personnel may legally touch same fly ball even if it interferes with the fielder's
attempt to catch it. A ball touched by a spectator in this manner is not spectator
interference.

no room at the innEdit

Sometimes said by a play-by-play announcer when the bases are loaded, i.e., there is no
open base. Usually means that intentionally walking and pitching around the batter are
poor strategies for the fielding team, as a walk will score a run for the batting team. Also
"no place/nowhere to put [the batter]."

no-noEdit

A no-hitter and a shut-out. Thus no hits, no runs. Headline: "Start of something good:
Verlander's no-no may foreshadow future greatness."[204]

northpawEdit

A right-handed pitcher. See southpaw.

NRIEdit

A Non-Roster Invitee (NRI) is a player invited to Spring training who is not yet on a
Major League team's 40-man roster. He may be a young prospect, a veteran who has been
released from or retired from a previous contract with a team, perhaps someone who left
baseball after an injury. If he performs well, he has a chance to be placed on the roster
and assigned to a minor league team or even join the major league team.

nubberEdit

A batted ball that travels slowly and not very far, typically because the ball is hit on the
end of the fat part of the bat.

Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
 H
  I
 J
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 N
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 W
 X
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 Z
 See also
 References
 External links

OEdit
obstructionEdit

Main article: Obstruction (baseball)

When a fielder illegally hinders a baserunner, the fielder is guilty of obstruction. The only
time a fielder need not "get out of the way" of a baserunner is when the fielder is fielding
or in possession of the ball.

OBPEdit

Main article: On-base percentage

See on-base percentage.

O-ferEdit

A batter who goes hitless in a game, as in "0 for 4" (spoken as "oh for four"). Also wears
the collar.

official gameEdit
Main article: Official game
A game that can be considered complete. If more than half the game has been played
before being called by an umpire, it is considered "official" and all records from the game
are computed in the players' and teams' statistics. For a 9-inning game, five innings need
to be played, or four-and-a-half if the home team is in the lead. A game that cannot be
considered complete can either be suspended or replayed from the first inning.

official scorerEdit

Main article: Official scorer

The official scorer is a person appointed by the league to record the events on the field
and to send this official record to the league offices.[205] The official scorer never goes on
the field during a game (but typically watches from the press box). The official scorer's
judgments do not affect the progress or outcome of the game but they do affect game and
player statistics. For example, only umpires call balls and strikes, whether a batted ball is
fair or foul, whether a hit is a home run, and whether runners are safe or out. But it's the
official scorer who determines whether a pitch that gets by the catcher is a wild pitch or a
passed ball or whether a batted ball is a hit or an error (or a combination of the two), and
who gets credited with an error, put-out, or assist.

off-dayEdit

 A day when a player performs below his normal level, whether due to illness, bad
luck, or other factors. "Bonderman had an off-day and didn't have good command
of his breaking pitches."

 A day when a team does not have a game scheduled. During the regular season,
Major League Baseball teams almost always have games scheduled on Fridays,
Saturdays, and Sundays, and they may need to travel between series. Off-days
tend to occur on Mondays and Thursdays.

off-speed pitchEdit

Main article: Off-speed pitch

A pitch that is significantly slower than a given pitcher's fastball. Typically, a curveball
or a change-up.

off the hookEdit

When a team that is behind ties the game or takes the lead, the pitcher who would
otherwise have been credited with the loss is said to be "off the hook".

off the trademarkEdit

 When a player hits the ball off the middle of the bat, where the manufacturer's trademark
is usually placed, resulting in a weakly hit ball. Usually the result of a pitcher jamming
the hitter.

OFPEdit

Overall Future Potential (OFP) is a scouting assessment of a young player's potential as a

future major leaguer, scored from 20 to 80. The criteria are different for pitchers and
position players. See also tools.

Ol’ Number OneEdit

The fastball. From the sign the catcher gives for that pitch.

Olympic RingsEdit

When a batter strikes out five times in a game. This same dubious achievement may also
merit a Platinum Sombrero.

on a lineEdit

When an outfielder throws the ball directly to an infielder or the catcher without relaying
it or bouncing it, he's said to "throw the ball on a line". Usually used when a strong throw
beats the runner and gets him out. "Jack Barry, however, made a running stab to grab the
ball and threw on a line to McInnis for an out."[206]

On-base percentage (OBP)Edit

Main article: On-base percentage

Percentage of plate appearances where a batter reaches base for any reason other than an
error or a fielder's choice.

on-deckEdit

Main article: On deck

The next batter due to bat after the current batter. The area designated for the on-deck
batter is a circle 5 feet (1.5 m) in diameter, officially called the "next batter's box" and
commonly called the "on-deck circle". Ironically, the on-deck batter rarely stands in the
on-deck circle.

on his horseEdit

Running at full speed, especially in reference to an outfielder tracking down a fly ball.

on the blackEdit
  The edge of home plate, derived from the black border of the plate that is buried
when the plate is correctly installed.

 A pitch that just nicks the edge of the zone for a called strike.

on the boardEdit

A team is "on the board" (i.e., the scoreboard) when it has scored one or more runs.
"After being shut out for 6 innings, the Sox are finally on the board." White Sox
announcer Hawk Harrelson also uses the phrase as part of his home run call: "You can
put it on the booooard... YES!"

on the farmEdit

When a player is playing in the minor leagues, he is said to be spending time "on the
farm". It refers to a team's farm system.

on the interstateEdit

A player batting between .100 and .199 is said to be "on the interstate". The term refers to
the fact that a batting average in the .100s can resemble an interstate name (e.g. .195
resembles I-95), especially on older scoreboards where the numeral "1" appears identical
to the uppercase letter "I" (with no serifs). A hit to put an average above .200 gets a batter
"off the interstate." A batter whose average is below .100 is sometimes said to be "off the
map". See also Mendoza line. Players in the majors who spend too much time "on the
interstate" will most likely be demoted to AAA for seasoning.

on the ropesEdit

When a pitcher appears to be tired or lost command of his pitches, he may be said to be
"on the ropes" and about to be replaced by another player. The term likely derives from
the sport of boxing, in which a fighter who is being beaten up or dominated by his
opponent may lean against the ropes to keep from falling to the mat.

on the rugEdit

A player is said to be "on the rug" while playing a ball in the outfield on artificial turf.

on the throwEdit

 A defensive attempt to put out a baserunner attempting to reach more bases than
the type of hit would typically allow, such as a runner on first attempting to
advance to third on a single.
 Also refers to the successful advance of a baserunner while such a play is being
attempted on his teammate. See also: fielder's choice.
  A batter who safely reaches first base but is tagged out attempting to reach a
subsequent base on the same play is credited with a hit for the number of bases he
safely reached, but is said to be out on the throw.
 Example: With Abel on first base, Baker hits a base hit to center field. Abel easily
reaches second and tries to advance to third, but the throw from the outfield is in
time and he is tagged out by the third baseman. Meanwhile, Baker has safely
reached second base. Abel is out at third base on the throw. Baker has a single
and advanced to second on the throw. The next batter, Charlie, hits a double to
the center field wall, allowing Baker to score from second. Charlie safely rounds
first and second base and attempts for third, but the throw from center field is in
time and Charlie is tagged out at third base. Charlie is credited with an RBI
double, but is out at third base on the throw.

one-game wonderEdit

A player who appears in just one major league game, plays respectably, and then is either
demoted to the bench or the minor leagues.

one-hitterEdit

A game in which one team was limited to one hit, a great feat for a pitcher. Batters may
have reached base via walks, errors, or being hit by a pitch. See also no-hitter and perfect
game.

one-two-three inningEdit

Side retired in order. Three up, three down.

openerEdit

A traditional relief pitcher who starts a game for strategic reasons and is replaced early in
the game, usually after the first inning, by a pitcher who is expected to last as many
innings as a true starter.[207]

opposite field hitEdit

A hit to the "opposite" side of the field from the direction of a player's natural swing, i.e.,
a left-handed batter who hits to left field or a right-handed batter who hits to right field.
Also known as going the other way. See pull hitter.

OPS (On-base Plus Slugging)Edit

Main article: On-base plus slugging

A term recently invented by statheads to measure of a batter's ability to produce runs.
Obtained by adding slugging average and on-base percentage.
ordinary effortEdit

Defined in MLB Rule 2 as "the effort that a fielder of average skill at a position in that
league or classification of leagues should exhibit on a play, with due consideration given
to the condition of the field and weather conditions." A defensive player's ordinary effort
is considered by the official scorer in making certain judgment calls, such as errors, wild
pitches, the infield fly rule, etc.

out pitchEdit

The type of pitch that a pitcher relies on to get a batter out. This is often the pitcher's best
pitch. Headline: "Angels Notebook: Rodriguez embraces change as out pitch".[208]

outfielderEdit

Main article: Outfielder

An outfielder is a player whose position is either left field, center field, or right field. See
position.

outside cornerEdit

The location of a strike that travels over the far edge of home plate from the batter.

overpower the hitterEdit

To throw a pitch that is so fast the batter cannot catch up to it with his swing. "And eight
runs were more than enough offense to back Wolfe, as he continually overpowered hitters
with his blazing fastball. Santa Clara hitters just couldn't catch up to it.[209]

overshift (sic)Edit

A baseball vernacular term synonymous with "shift", either an infield or outfield shift.
The fielders shift to occupy the areas a particular batter typically hits, or is thought to
typically hit the ball.

overthrowEdit

 When a fielder throws the ball so high that it sails over the head and out of reach
of an infielder. "Sean Halton struck out, but the catcher couldn’t hold onto the
pitch, and then overthrew first base, which allowed both Martin and Greene to
score".[210]
 If a thrown ball goes over the head or wide of the infielder and sails off the field
of play into the dugout or the stands, the umpire will rule an overthrow and allow
the runner to advance one base.
  A pitcher who throws the ball too hard to control it well is said to be
"overthrowing the ball". "Gardenhire said Crain, demoted to Class AAA
Rochester earlier this season, is pitching with more confidence and, most
importantly, he's not trying to overthrow the ball".[211]

Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
 H
 I
 J
 K
 L
 M
 N
 O
 P
 Q
 R
 S
 T
 U
 V
 W
 X
 Y
 Z
 See also
 References
 External links

PEdit
to paintEdit
 To throw pitches at the edges of the strike zone. A pitcher who can "paint" consistently
may be said to paint the black or paint the corner.

pair of shoesEdit

Said of a batter who strikes out looking. "He was left standing there like nothing but a
pair of shoes."

parachuteEdit

A fly ball, perhaps driven into a strong wind, that appears to drop straight down into the
fielder's glove.

parkEdit

To hit a home run. "He parked a three-run homer." Often mistaken to have derived from
'hitting the ball into the parking lot', the term actually implies hitting the ball 'out of the
park'.

park effectsEdit

Main article: Batting Park Factor

See hitter's park.

passed ballEdit

Main article: Passed ball

A catcher is charged with a passed ball (abbreviated PB) when he fails to hold or control
a legally pitched ball which, in the opinion of the official scorer, should have been held or
controlled with ordinary effort, and which permits a runner or runners to advance at least
one base; and/or permits the batter to advance to first base, if it's a third strike (with first
base unoccupied and/or 2 out). A run that scores because of a passed ball is not scored as
an earned run. Neither a passed ball nor a wild pitch is charged as an error. It is a
separately kept statistic.

pasteEdit

To hit the ball hard. Often used in the past tense: "He pasted the ball."

patient hitterEdit

Doesn't do a lot of first-pitch swinging, swinging at pitches out of the strike zone, or even
swinging at strikes that he can't hit because of their location and/or type. Generally gets a
lot of walks.
patrolEdit

 An outfielder may be said to be "patrolling the outfield" (like a good soldier or

police officer patrolling his assigned territory),
 A catcher who keeps runners from stealing bases is said to be good at "patrolling
the basepaths".

paybackEdit

If after the pitcher from one team tries to bean or otherwise hit a batter, the opposing
pitcher retaliates by trying to hit a batter from the first pitcher's team, it's a "payback".
Such retaliation often happens when it is one of a team's stars who is the initial target; in
such a case the opposing pitcher is likely to target the star player on the other team when
he gets his first opportunity. Umpires may issue a warning if they think a pitch is
intentionally thrown at a batter, and if such an attempt happens again by either team's
pitcher, the pitcher is likely to be ejected from the game.

payoff gameEdit

The decisive game in a series, such as the third game in a three-game series in which each
team has already won one game.

payoff pitchEdit

A pitch thrown with a full count. The implication is that much effort has gone into
reaching this point (this is at least the sixth pitch of the at-bat), and the pitch will either
pay off for the pitcher (a strikeout) or the batter (a hit or a walk). However, a foul ball can
extend the at-bat. The term is most often used when a hit will score a run and a strikeout
will end the inning.

PCL (Pacific Coast League)Edit

Main article: Pacific Coast League

A AAA minor league that formerly had "open" classification (between AAA and major
league) from 1952 to 1957.

peaEdit

A pitched ball thrown at high speed. "Clem can really fling that pea."

pearlEdit

Slang for a baseball.

A brand new baseball.

pearodEdit

A hard line drive batted back at the pitcher.

PECOTAEdit

Main article: PECOTA

A system for forecasting pitcher and hitter performance developed by Nate Silver of
Baseball Prospectus. A player's "PECOTA" may be the forecasted range of his
performance on a variety of indicators for the current or future seasons.

peekingEdit

The batter trying to see the catcher's signals to the pitcher.

pegEdit

To throw the ball to one of the bases. "The fielder pegged the ball to first."

penEdit

The bullpen.

pennant raceEdit

The competition to win the regular season championship in a baseball league. To win the
pennant or flag, a major league baseball team must first win enough of the 162 games in
the regular season to reach the playoffs. Then it must win the league division series
(LDS) and the league championship series (LCS). See American League Division Series
(ALDS), American League Championship Series (ALCS), National League Division
Series (NLDS), and National League Championship Series (NLCS). "The New York
Yankees have won the American League Pennant 39 times. Each of these pennants have
earned them an appearance in the World Series where they have come away with 26
World Champion titles".[212] Also see List of American League pennant winners and List
of National League pennant winners.

pepperEdit

Main article: Pepper (baseball)

Pepper is a common pre-game exercise in baseball, where one player bunts brisk ground
balls and line drives to a group of fielders who are standing close by. The fielders try to
make a play on the ball, and throw it back as quickly as possible. The batter then attempts
to hit the return throw, and so on. A good contact hitter may sometime seem to be playing
pepper with the opposing pitcher during a game: "Polanco is a good hitter", Blanton said.
"He just kind of stands up there and plays pepper. He's a guy you really can't strike out.
 He's going to put the ball in play. He's the kind of guy who seems to place it out
there."[213]

percentage pointsEdit

When a first and second place team are separated by less than 1/2 a game in the
standings. For example, if Team A is in first place by less than half a game over Team B,
Team B is said to be "within percentage points" of Team A.

perfect gameEdit

Main article: Perfect game

A special type of no-hitter where each batter is retired consecutively, allowing no
baserunners via walks, errors, or any other means. In short, "27 up, 27 down". A "perfect
game" could involve multiple pitchers with one pitcher relieving another, but in the major
league they are defined as being thrown by a single pitcher.

perfect inningEdit

An inning in which a pitcher allows no runners to reach base.

permanently ineligibleEdit

Major League Baseball's designation for someone who is banned from MLB or affiliated
minor league clubs, for misconduct. Permanently ineligible players are also ineligible for
induction into the Hall of Fame. Banned individuals may be reinstated at the discretion of
the Commissioner of Baseball.

PFPEdit

A commonly used acronym for Pitchers' Fielding Practice. A session in which pitchers
practice fielding bunts and other ground balls, throwing to a base, and covering first base
and home plate.

phantom ballplayerEdit

Main article: Phantom ballplayer

Someone who is incorrectly listed in source materials as playing in a Major League
Baseball game, although they did not actually play.

phantom tagEdit

an erroneous call by an umpire in which a baserunner is ruled as having been tagged out
when in fact the fielder never legally tagged the runner.
pick it cleanEdit

To field a sharply hit ground ball without bobbling it. "One of the fastest guys that we
have hit a ball down the line at third and Zimmerman came in, picked it clean and threw
across the diamond like it was nothing."[214] Sometimes just expressed as "pick it", as in:
"There was a time when baseball teams were happy with a third baseman who could
reach double digits in homers and pick it with the glove".[215]

pick me upEdit

When one player makes a mistake or fails to do something he tried to do, he may ask
another, "Pick me up". Or said in praise of his offensive teammates by a pitcher who
allowed more runs than he wished: "The guys picked me up with a lot of runs today. I'll
have to improve on that outing and get better."[216] "I just told him, 'Great win for us and
thanks for picking me up,' Jones said. Jones had inherited a three-run lead for the ninth --
and allowed four runs to put the Tigers a run down. But with one out in the Tigers' ninth,
and with runners on first and second, Cabrera ripped the first pitch from left-handed
closer Brian Fuentes far up the rightfield gap."[217]

pick up the pitchEdit

A batter's ability to see what kind of pitch is being thrown. "The Tigers are having a hard
time picking up Saenz's slider." When they don't pick up the pitch, batters are likely to
swing and miss.

picket fenceEdit

A series of 1's on the scoreboard, resembling a picket fence. After the 3rd inning of the
final game of the 2007 ALCS, broadcaster Tim McCarver reported that the Red Sox, who
had scored one run in each of the first three innings, had a "picket fence" on the
scoreboard. Also referred to as matchsticks.

pickleEdit

A rundown.

pickoffEdit

Main article: Pickoff

A quick throw from the pitcher (or sometimes the catcher) to a fielder covering a base
when the ball has not been hit into play. Normally done to catch a runner off-base, it may
also keep the runner's lead in check. The pitcher must either first step off the pitching
rubber with his push-off foot, or clearly step towards the base he is throwing at with his
lifted leg in order for the move to not be ruled a balk.
pillEdit

The baseball.

pimpingEdit

Acting ostentatiously or showboating to gain the attention or approval of the fans. One
form of showboating is home run pimping. "In the seventh inning, when Guillén
smashed a ball into the right-field seats, he lingered in the batter's box to admire his
handiwork and pointedly flipped his bat, a strictly prohibited form of grandstanding
known as home-run pimping".[218] See also grandstand play.

pinch hitterEdit

Main article: Pinch hitter

A substitute batter. Often brought in during a critical situation (a "pinch") to replace a
weak batter (usually the pitcher, in the National League). In other circumstances it may
be a situational substitute.

pinch runnerEdit

Main article: Pinch runner

A substitute baserunner. Often brought in during a critical situation (as with a pinch
hitter), typically to replace a slower runner in hopes of stealing a base, avoiding a double
play, or having a better chance to get to third base or score on a hit. Herb Washington's
1975 Topps card is the only baseball card that uses the "pinch runner" position label.

pink hatEdit

A fan of a team who is perceived to be merely "jumping on the bandwagon" as opposed

to a more loyal, knowledgeable fan (of either gender). This term comes from the alternate
pink caps that are sometimes worn by female fans. A "pink hat" is not necessarily a
female fan, nor do they all literally wear pink hats.[219]

pine tarEdit

A sticky substance used by batters to improve their grip on the bat.

 See also George Brett's famous 1983 Pine Tar Incident.

pinpoint controlEdit

A pitcher who is able to throw the ball to a precise spot in the strike zone may be said to
have "pinpoint control'. Also a control pitcher or finesse pitcher. Headline: "Ryan Hoping
to Regain Pinpoint Control".[220]
pitchEdit

Main article: Pitch (baseball)

A baseball delivered by the pitcher from the pitcher's mound to the batter as defined by
the Official Rules of Baseball, Rule 2.00 (Pitch) and Rule 8.01.

pitch aroundEdit

Not throwing a batter a hittable pitch, but also not walking him intentionally and hoping
to get him to chase bad pitches. Typically this might be done when the batter is one of the
best in a team's lineup and is followed in the batting order by a comparatively weak
hitter. "There are no holes in that lineup, so to say you're going to pitch around one batter
might not be the best thing."[221]

pitch countEdit

Main article: Pitch count

The total number of pitches a pitcher has thrown in a given game. 100 is considered the
point at which a starter who has been pitching well may start to lose his effectiveness,
often dramatically. 100 pitches will get an effective starting pitcher through the seventh
or eighth inning and a moderately effective one through the fifth or sixth. An ineffective
starting pitcher may use his hundredth pitch during the fourth inning or even earlier.

pitch toEdit

The opposite of pitching around, i.e., throwing pitches in the strike zone. Typically this
means either that the bases are loaded and giving up a walk will also give up a run, or that
the batter is not likely to chase a bad pitch so the pitcher has to throw pitches in the strike
zone.

pitch to contactEdit

A pitcher who doesn't try to strike out batters but instead tries to get them to hit the ball
weakly, especially on the ground, is said to pitch to contact. "Schilling has gone on the
record as saying he'd like to pitch to contact more this season in an effort to reduce his
pitch count and go deeper into games. Such an effort is likely to reduce the number of
strikeouts he gets but in theory might provide quicker innings and faster games."[222]

pitcherEdit

Main article: Pitcher

The fielder responsible for pitching the ball. Defensive position 1. The term "pitch"
(which literally means "to place") comes from the early days when an underhand delivery
was required, as with "pitching" horseshoes. The original rules specified that the ball was
to be "pitched, not thrown to the bat". Overhand throwing by the pitcher has been legal
since 1884, but the term pitcher and its variants remain in the language of the game.
pitcher of recordEdit

The pitchers who receive the win (W) and the loss (L) are the "pitchers of record". When
used during a game, "pitcher of record" refers to a pitcher who would be the winning or
losing pitcher if the game were to end at that point. The pitchers of record are designated
by the official scorer in accordance with the scoring rules. Also see win.

pitcher's best friendEdit

A nickname for a double play.

pitchers' duelEdit

A very low-scoring game in which the starting pitchers on both teams allow few batters
to reach base.

pitcher's moundEdit

The mound, or colloquially the hill or the bump. The rule book will state the exact
dimensions of the mound including the distance and incline to home plate.

pitcher's parkEdit

A park in which pitchers tend to perform better than they perform on average in all other
parks. This in the inverse of being a hitter's park. See hitter's park and park factor for
further information.
For example, when the wind is blowing "in" at Wrigley Field, it is typically rendered a
"pitcher's park", and low scores for one or both teams are not unusual. Under those
circumstances, no-hitters also become possible at a park many fans normally think of as a
"hitter's park".
Because of its large foul area (recently shrunk to add more seating), symmetrical outfield
walls, and small "corners" near the foul poles, Dodger Stadium is traditionally known as
a pitcher's park, especially at night, when fly balls tend to die more quickly than they do
during the day.

pitcher's pitchEdit

"That's the pitch the pitcher wants you to swing at and hit because he knows that even if
you hit it, it will most likely result in an out".[223]

pitcher's spotEdit

In games where the designated hitter rule is not in effect, or in DH rule games where a
team has forfeited its DH, this term refers to the pitcher's turn in the batting order; its
 usage usually implies that there is some possibility that the pitcher will not actually take
his turn batting and instead will be replaced by a pinch hitter and by rule a relief pitcher.

pitching from behindEdit

When a pitcher frequently falls behind in the count, he finds himself pitching from
behind.

pitchoutEdit

Main article: Pitchout

A defensive tactic used to pick off a baserunner, typically employed when the defense
thinks that a stolen base play is planned. The pitch is thrown outside and the catcher
catches it while standing, and can quickly throw to a base.

pivot manEdit

Generally refers to the second baseman. A second baseman often has to turn or pivot on
one foot in order to complete a double play. A short-stop also sometimes pivots to
complete such a play.

PL or P.L.Edit

Main article: Players' League

Abbreviation for Players' League, a one-year (1890) major league.

place hitterEdit

A batter who has skill in controlling where he hits the ball.[224] George Herman (Babe)
Ruth wrote, "The place hitter is the chap who can take a ball which ordinarily he would
hit to left, he would hit to right, or vice versa."[225]

plateEdit

Main article: Home plate

 As a noun, plate usually connotes home plate. There is also a pitcher's plate, but it
is more commonly referred to as the rubber.
 As a verb, plate means to score a run. "In the fourth our defense continued to hold
and we managed to plate a couple of runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie
the game at 3."[226]

plate appearanceEdit

Main article: Plate appearance

 Any turn at bat is considered a plate appearance for computing stats such as on-base
percentage, and for determining whether a batter has enough of them (minimum 3.1 X
number of scheduled games) to qualify for the batting average championship. Plate
appearances consist of standard at-bats plus situations where there is no at-bat charged,
such as a base on balls or a sacrifice. However, if the batter is standing in the batter's box
and the third out is made elsewhere (for example, by a caught-stealing or by an appeal
play), then it does not count as an appearance, because that same batter will lead off the
next inning.

plate disciplineEdit

A batter shows "plate discipline" by not swinging at pitches that are out of the strike zone
or at pitches that are in the strike zone but not located where he can get the bat on the
ball. Such a batter might be described as a patient hitter.

Platinum VisorEdit

A batter who strikes out five times in one game is said to have gotten the Platinum Visor.
Alternatively, he may be awarded Olympic Rings.
Also referred to as Platinum Sombrero.

platoonEdit

Main article: Platoon system

 The practice of assigning two players to the same defensive position during a
season, normally to complement a batter who hits well against left-handed
pitchers with one who hits well against righties. Individual players may also find
themselves marked as a platoon player, based on their hitting against righties vs.
against lefties. Casey Stengel brought some attention to the system by using it
frequently during his New York Yankees' run of five consecutive World Series
champions during 1949–1953.

 The term "platooning" sometimes refers to the in-game strategic replacement of

batters in the line-up based on the handedness of a newly inserted relief pitcher, or
conversely the strategic insertion of a relief pitcher to face a batter of the same
hand. This is the logic behind having a LOOGY on the roster, for example. The
LOOGY is to pitching what a pinch-hitter is to batting: put into the line-up for
short-term strategic advantage.

platterEdit

Home plate.

play by the bookEdit

 To follow the conventional wisdom in game strategy and player use. For example, when
to bunt or when to bring in the closer.

play (noun)Edit

 Any small sequence of events during a game, never lasting long enough to contain
more than one pitch, during which at least one offensive player could advance, or
score a run, or tag up, etc., or could be put out. This includes, for example, a pop
foul, during which it is possible that the batter could be put out, but advancing is
not possible, and neither is scoring. This term, "play", is mentioned (appears) in
the article about the definition of an error.

 Where the action is focused at a given time, in particular where a runner is about
to reach a base or reach home, and the defense is attempting to get him out. An
announcer might declare "There's a play at home", for example, if a runner is
attempting to score and the catcher is about to receive a throw and attempt to tag
the runner out.

 Also see In play.

player to be named laterEdit

Main article: Player to be named later

When two baseball clubs make a trade, part of the publicly announced deal may involve
an unspecified "player to be named later" who is not one of the headline players in the
deal. In some cases, the PTBNL is simply a financial payment equal to the annual salary
of a base-level major league baseball player ($300,000 as of 2007).

players' managerEdit

A manager who is close to his players and who the players may consider a peer and a
friend. The knock on players' managers is that they tend not to be tough disciplinarians
and that out of concern for losing the sympathy of the players they may find it difficult to
make tough decisions that are in the best interests of the team. Thus, the term is not
always complimentary. Many managers find they must maintain some aloofness in order
to be effective. Joe Torre is often referred to as a player's manager; his approach can be
effective with mature players who take their responsibilities seriously. Casey Stengel
used to say that the secret to managing was "to keep the guys who are neutral about you
away from the guys that hate your guts".

playing inEdit

When the infield is shallower than normal in order to attempt to throw out a runner on
third-base on a ground ball. This does not allow the infielders to cover as much ground
however, and can turn a routine ground ball into a base hit.
playing backEdit

The usual position depth taken by infielders when they're not anticipating a bunt or
setting up for a double play.

playoffsEdit

 All the series played after the end of the 162-game regular season. This includes
the American League Division Series, National League Division Series, American
League Championship Series, National League Championship Series, and the
World Series.
 Any short set or series of games played after the regular season to determine a
division or league champion. Also called the "post-season". Technically speaking,
if a one-game playoff is required to determine who wins the regular season or the
wild card (and thereby qualifies for the post-season) is counted as part of the
regular season.

plunkedEdit

Hit by a pitch.

plusEdit

The plus sign (+) is an indicator that a starting pitcher began an inning and faced at least
one hitter without recording an out. In the box score, the pitcher is said to have pitched
x+ innings, where x is the number of innings completed in the game. For example if the
starter gives up two walks to lead off the sixth inning and is pulled for a reliever, "5+"
innings is recorded in the box score.

plus pitchEdit

A pitch that is better than above average when compared to the rest of the league. Often
the strikeout pitch.

plus plus pitchEdit

A pitch that is among the best of its type in the league and is essentially unhittable when
thrown well. Often a breaking pitch.

plus playerEdit

A player with above-average major league skills. A term from baseball scouting and
player evaluation. See tools.

pokeEdit
 A hit. Referring to an extra-base hit or home run, a fan or announcer might exclaim,
"That was quite a poke." A reporter might record a line drive as "Cameron pokes a shot
into left field."[227]

popEdit

The term has several usages that have different meanings in terms of batting success and
failure.

 A pop-up is a batted ball that is hit very high and stays in the infield. Called a pop-foul
when it falls or is caught in foul territory. Example: "Rondini popped it foul out of play"
implies that Rondini hit a pop-up or pop-foul that went into the stands where a defender
couldn't reach it.

 Brendan C. Boyd and Fred C. Harris, in their impish commentary in The Great
American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book, discussed a
player who was known for hitting sky-high popups and said that "he could have
played his career in a stovepipe".[228]

The term "high pop" is short for "high pop-up".

 A batter with "pop" has exceptional bat speed and power. "Reggie popped one" implies
that Reggie hit a home run. Example in baseball writing: "Ian Kinsler Proves He Has Pop
to Center".[229]

portsiderEdit

A left-handed pitcher, so named because "port" refers to the left side of a ship. Synonym:
southpaw

positionEdit

Main article: Baseball positions

 One of the nine defensive positions on a baseball team, consisting of (in

scorekeepers' numerical order): (1) pitcher, (2) catcher, (3) first baseman, (4)
second baseman, (5) third baseman, (6) shortstop, (7) left fielder, (8) center
fielder, (9) right fielder. Positions 3 through 6 are normally called infield
positions. Positions 7, 8, and 9 are outfield positions. The pitcher and catcher are
the battery. However, for purposes of implementing the Infield Fly Rule, the
pitcher and catcher are counted as infielders, and such a broader definition of
infielders is commonly used, if only to differentiate them from outfielders.
Players in positions 2 through 9 — all positions except the pitcher — are position
players.
 A defensive player also positions himself differently — sets up in a different
location on the field while playing his position — depending on who is pitching,
 who is at bat, whether runners are on base, the number of outs, and the score of
the game.

position playerEdit

Main article: Position player

Any defensive player other than the pitcher.

post-seasonEdit

The playoffs.

pound the batter insideEdit

To pitch the ball over the inside of the plate, in on his hands. Typically with a fastball.
"Scouts say Ortiz still is vulnerable up and in, but only against pitchers with above-
average fastballs. The way to pitch Ortiz, one scout says, is to pound him inside, back
him off the plate, then get him to chase down and away."[230]

pound the strike zoneEdit

See attack the strike zone.

powder riverEdit

A fastball with extreme velocity.

power alleysEdit

They are either of the two areas in the outfield between the outfielders, i.e. left-center field and
right-center field. The furthest dimensions may not be marked on the wall.

power hitterEdit

Main article: Power hitter

A powerful batter who hits many home runs and extra base hits, but who may not have a
high batting average, due to an "all or nothing" hitting approach. Dave Kingman is
perhaps the best example of a "all power, low batting average" slugger. See also slugger
and slugging percentage.

power outageEdit

When batters who normally have a high slugging average or hit a lot of home runs
suddenly seem to lose that ability, they may be said to have a "power outage" – just like
electrical power may be lost during a storm. "Barring a rainout on Sunday, the Phillies
 will have played 30 games in 31 days. This may have played a role in their early June
power outage as it took them until June 8th to hit their first home run this month".[231]

power pitcherEdit

Main article: Power pitcher

A pitcher who relies heavily on his fastball to get hitters out, typically by getting a lot of
strike-outs. Distinguished from a control pitcher or a contact pitcher who rely on the
variety and location of their pitches to be effective.

power strokeEdit

A hitter with a good power stroke is one who is capable of hitting for extra bases.
Headline: "Catcher leads league in hitting, but has developed power stroke this year".[232]

power surgeEdit

Opposite to power outage. When batters who normally have a low slugging average or hit
few home runs suddenly seem to gain that ability, they may be said to have a "power
surge" – just like a bolt of lightning, but could be sustained over a longer period of time.
It can also be used to describe a baseball field that is becoming more batter-friendly.
"Through games of April 12 (2014), no team in baseball has hit more home runs than the
Chicago White Sox, with 62.5 percent (10 of 16) of the team's blasts coming at U.S.
Cellular Field. The park lends itself to a power surge thanks to reasonable power alleys, a
prevailing wind and outfield fences no higher than eight feet."[233]

pow wowEdit

A meeting on the mound between a coach and players to discuss strategy. Based on the
more general meaning of Pow-wow as a gathering of North American indigenous people.
Also called a tea party.

prepEdit

A prep player is a draft prospect who is still in high school. E.g., "Nationals select prep right-
hander Lucas Giolito 16th overall."[234]

pro ballEdit

Used to refer to both major and minor leagues, especially on baseball cards. For example,
"Complete Professional Record" would include both minor and major league seasons
while "Complete Major League Record" would include only major league seasons. Minor
league players consider it an insult when asked when they'll "get to the pros".

probable pitcherEdit
 A pitcher who is scheduled to start the next game or one of the next few games is often
described as a "probable pitcher".

productive outEdit

When a batter makes an out but advances one or more runners in the process, he has
made a productive out. In contrast, a strikeout or other out in which no runners advance is
unproductive.[235] An at bat that is productive is often said to be a "good at bat", even if a
batter doesn't get safely on base. Statistically speaking, however, although a given out
may be associated with scoring a run (such as via a sacrifice fly, a fielder's choice, or
even a double play), an out reduces the number of future runs that are likely to be scored
in the inning and game, when compared with a base hit or base-on balls that puts another
runner on base who can potentially score.[236]

projectableEdit

A scouting term for a young player with excellent tools who appears likely to develop
into a productive or more powerful player in the future. "I don't think he's going to be a
big home run hitter, but his pop to the gaps has improved this year, and his speed and on-
base skills are impressive. His youth stands out, and he's athletic and still physically
projectable."[237]

protested gameEdit

A manager may protest a game if he believes that an umpire's decision is in violation of

the official rules. An umpire's judgment call (i.e., balls and strikes, safe or out, fair or
foul) may not be protested. A protested game is reviewed and adjudicated by the league
president, who may order a game replayed from the point of the protested decision only if
he finds the umpire's decision to be a violation and that the decision had a direct impact
on the protesting team's ability to win the game. A well-known example of a protested
game that was replayed is the 1983 Pine Tar Game.

Public Enemy Number OneEdit

A good curve ball or it can refer to a player who is hitting well in that game.

pullEdit

 To pull a pitcher is to take him out of the line-up and substitute a relief pitcher in
his place. This is the same meaning as to yank a pitcher or use the hook.

 To pull a hitter is to substitute a pinch hitter for the next at-bat.

 To pull the ball is to hit the ball toward the side of the field that is usually
associated with the batter taking a full swing and hitting the ball hard. A right-
handed hitter pulls the ball toward the left-side of the diamond; a left-handed
 hitter pulls the ball toward the right side of the diamond. Some players are known
as pull hitters. Others are spray hitters or opposite field hitters especially in
opportune situations such as when a right-handed hitter hits the ball to the right
side behind a runner who is on first or second base, making it easier for that
runner to advance even on a ground ball.

pull hitterEdit

A batter who often hits the ball ("pulls") towards the "natural" side of the field (e.g., a
right-handed hitter hitting to left field).

pull the stringEdit

To throw a pitch that breaks sharply and perhaps late. A pitcher has only "pulled the
string" if the batter is fooled into swinging where the pitch was going, not where it ends
up, therefore striking him out. The image is of a marionette jerking to one direction as a
string is pulled hard. It could also be referring to a simple changeup that causes a batter to
swing and miss. This is to say it's as if the ball is attached to a string and the pitcher is
yanking the ball away as the batter swings at it.

punch a hitEdit

To hit the ball to the opposite field. The term implies that instead of taking a full swing,
the hitter took a short swing at the ball. "With speedster Willy Taveras pinch running at
first, Berkman punched a hit to right."[238]

Punch and Judy hitterEdit

A hitter with very little power. Akin to banjo hitter. The first use of the term is attributed
to former L.A. Dodgers manager Walter Alston who, when asked about a home run by
Giants' slugger Willie McCovey, said: "When he belts a home run, he does it with such
authority it seems like an act of God. You can't cry about it. He's not a Punch and Judy
belter." In current usage, a hitter may be referred to simply as "a Judy". Illustration: "The
other day when Future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn was touring Cooperstown in advance
of his Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Tony referred to himself as a "Judy" (in
reference to the phrase "Punch and Judy Hitter"). At the time I felt that Tony was being
Tony, and he was downplaying the fact that he was called a "Judy". Though Tony did not
take offense, I did. I felt that regardless of the title "Judy", Tony set the modern standard
for hitters in this era of baseball. . . ."[239]

punch-outEdit

A strikeout. Named such because the umpire will typically make a punching-like signal
on the third strike, especially if the batter does not swing at the pitch. Punch out is also
used as a verb: "Another thing I noticed early on was the flair that the homeplate umpire
was exhibiting. His calls were flamboyant and spirited. The highlight of his performance
 was the calls he would make when a batter would strike out looking. He would drop his
arms to his sides, walk about 5-6 steps to his right and then punch out the hitter
emphatically. Early on I thought he was about to walk into the stands and punch us in the
face. We loved it. If only MLB umpires displayed the artistic panache this Cuban umpire
did then the game would be so much more entertaining".[240]

purpose pitchEdit

A brushback, intended to make the batter move away from home plate. A batter targeted
by such a pitch is sometimes said to get a close shave. 1950s pitcher Sal Maglie was
called "the Barber" due to his frequent use of such pitches. A sportswriting wag once
stated that its "purpose" was "to separate the head from the shoulders".

pushEdit

A right-handed batter who hits the ball toward the right side of the diamond may be said
to push the ball. The best situation for a push bunt is runners at first and third with 1 out.
A successful push bunt in this situation will result in a run scored, a runner on second,
and two outs. This is opposite to the situation when a right hand-hitter pulls the ball to the
left side. "Jacqueline Wetherbee pushed a leadoff base hit through the right side and
Cagney Davis took her spot on the basepath."[241]

put a charge on the ballEdit

It hit the ball very hard, typically a home run. Probably derived from the idea of giving
the ball extra energy like an electric charge or shock.

put a hurtEdit

 To hit the ball extremely hard. "Known as "The Big Hurt" (because he puts the
hurt on the ball), Frank Thomas is known for his strength and batting eye."[242]
 To beat another team, especially by a decisive score. Headline: "Dodgers Put the
Hurt on Angels."[243] This usage is common to other sports.

put awayEdit

 A fielder who catches a fly ball, or who tags a runner may be said to "put away"
his opponent. Similarly, a pitcher may "put away" a batter by striking him out.
 A team may "put away" its opponent by making a decisive play or out, or by
breaking open the game and gaining a substantial lead on its opponent.

Contents:

 0–9
  A
 B
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 See also
 References
 External links

QEdit
quality at batEdit

An at bat in which the batter is productive in a way that fits the situation, whether that
involves advancing the runner with a sacrifice bunt or even a ground ball out, getting on
base, or making the pitcher throw a lot of pitches. Thus a quality at bat is not measured
simply by the standard batting statistics such as batting average, on-base percentage, or
slugging average. Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer: "Seeing a lot of pitches, fighting
bad pitches off – basically, just waiting for a pitch you can handle. Whether you’re a
power guy, or more of a slap hitter guy, if you find a pitch you’re comfortable in
handling, that’s a quality at-bat. If you get on base or drive a ball up the gap, you pretty
much know you had a good plate appearance. But it’s mostly about making sure you get
your pitch."[244]
quality startEdit

Main article: Quality start

When a starter pitches at least 6 complete innings and allows 3 or fewer earned runs --
even in a loss. A pitcher can perform well yet not be involved in the win-loss "decision".
This statistic was developed by sportswriter John Lowe to capture an aspect of pitcher
performance that is not part of the standard statistics collected by Major League
Baseball.[245] It is catching on among baseball players and management, but also has
some skeptics. Former Houston Astros manager Jimy Williams was said to hate this
statistic. "Quality start?" he would harumph. "Quality means you win."[246]

quick pitchEdit

For the MLB Network TV Show, see Quick Pitch (TV series).
An illegal pitch where the ball thrown is before the batter is set in the batter's box.
(Official Rules of Baseball, Rule 8.05(e))[247] If there is no one on base, the pitch is called
a ball, but if there are any number of runners on base, it is ruled a balk. The ruling of a
quick pitch is always up to the umpire.

quiet batsEdit

When a pitcher prevents the opposing hitters from getting a lot of hits, or big hits, he's
said to have "quieted some bats". "Iowa's starting pitcher, Jarred Hippen was able to quiet
the Spartans' bats the rest of the way to seal the victory".[248] Headline: "Miscues, Quiet
Bats, Cost D-Backs".[249]

quiet swingEdit

A batter who holds his head, hands, and bat very still while awaiting the pitch may be
said to have a quiet swing. "Hideki Matsui's quiet swing and stance are a big part of the
reason why he is able to hit for both power and average.[250]

Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
 H
 I
  J
 K
 L
 M
 N
 O
 P
 Q
 R
 S
 T
 U
 V
 W
 X
 Y
 Z
 See also
 References
 External links

REdit
rabbit earsEdit

Indicates a participant in the game who hears things perhaps too well for his own good. A
player who becomes nervous or chokes when opposing players or fans yell at or razz him
is said to have rabbit ears. Also, an umpire who picks up on every complaint hurled at
him from the dugouts is described this way.

rag armEdit

A player, typically a pitcher, with a weak arm. "I hope the Cardinals did not give up an
actual Major League player for this rag-arm home-run machine."[251]

railroadEdit

To run into and knock over the catcher when running home from third base, or to run into
a first-baseman when running from home to first. In either case, neither the catcher nor
the first baseman may be able to duck out of the way because he must play the ball and
stay in position in order to make an out.[252]

rain delayEdit
 Rain delay refers to situations when a game starts late due to rain or is temporarily
suspended due to rain. A game that is suspended after it has begun may be resumed either
the same day or at a later date. A game that never begins, or that is canceled after it
begins due to rainy weather is a rainout and in most cases will be rescheduled for a later
date – a make-up date. In the event of a non-tie game past the 5th inning with heavy
inclement weather, the game may be called (finalized) with the winner being the team
that was winning at the end of the last completed inning, except during the MLB
postseason.

rainbowEdit

A curveball with a high arc in its path to the plate.

rainoutEdit

Main article: Rainout (sports)

A rainout refers to a game that is canceled or stopped in progress due to rain. Generally,
Major League Baseball teams will continue play in light to moderate rain but will
suspend play if it is raining heavily or if there is standing water on the field. Games can
also be delayed or canceled for other forms of inclement weather, or if the field is found
to be unfit for play. If a game is rained out before play begins, a make-up game is
rescheduled for a later date. If a game is called after play begins but before 4½ innings
have been completed (if the home team is ahead) or five innings have been completed (if
the visitors are ahead or the game is tied), the game is not an official game. The umpire
declares "No Game", the game is played in its entirety at a later date, and statistics
compiled during the game are not counted. Games that are stopped after they become
official games count in the standings (unless the game is tied, in which case it is replayed
from the beginning), and statistics compiled during the game are counted. In the MLB
postseason, however, games that are called before 4½ innings have been completed are
treated as suspended games.

rakeEdit

To really hit the ball hard, all over the park. When you're raking, you're hitting very well.
"Mike Gosling allowed one run on five hits over 6⅓ innings and Alex Terry raked
Pawtucket pitching for 14 hits as the Bats defeated the Red Sox, 7-1, in an International
League game Wednesday."[253]

rallyEdit

To come back from a deficit. This typically occurs in the final innings of a game.

rally capEdit

Main article: Rally cap

 A cap worn backwards, sideways, or inside-out by fans or players to bring a rally. Said to
have originated by fans of the New York Mets during the 1985 baseball season, when the
Mets captured several dramatic come-from-behind victories, and spread to the players
themselves some time during the 1986 season. It rose to national awareness during the
1986 World Series. The Mets were down three games to two and losing the deciding
game to the Red Sox, when in the seventh inning, television cameras showed some of the
New York Mets players in the dugout wearing their caps inside-out. The team rallied to
win the game and the series.

rangeEdit

A fielder's ability to move from his position to field a ball in play.

RBIEdit

Main article: RBI

 An RBI or "run batted in" is a run scored as a result of a hit; a bases-filled walk or
hit-by-pitch or awarding of first base due to interference; a sacrifice; or a single-
out fielder's choice (not a double play).
 Official credit to a batter for driving in a run.

RBI situationEdit

Runners in scoring position.

receiverEdit

Another term for catcher. Also backstop, signal caller.

regular seasonEdit

The 162 game schedule that all Major League Baseball teams usually complete.
However, if a special one-game playoff is required to determine which team goes to the
league division championship series (the ALDS or the NLDS), this 163rd game is also
counted as part of the regular season. All team and player statistics from this game are
also counted as regular season statistics. For example, if a pitcher wins his 20th game in
the 163rd game played in the one-game playoff, he would be a "20 game winner" for the
season. Similarly, a batter's performance in that extra game might determine whether he
wins the title for best batting average or most home runs in the season.
On occasion, teams do not complete every game of the regular season, specifically when
playing a make-up game owing to the previous suspension or cancellation of a game due
to weather or some other factor would require scheduling hardships and when the
outcome of that game would not affect which teams might make the playoffs.

regulation gameEdit
 A standard baseball game lasts nine innings, although some leagues (such as high school
baseball) use seven-inning games. The team with the most runs at the end of the game
wins. If the home team is ahead after eight-and-a-half innings have been played, it is
declared the winner, and the last half-inning is not played. If the home team is trailing or
tied in the last inning and they score to take the lead, the game ends as soon as the
winning run touches home plate; however, if the last batter hits a home run to win the
game, he and any runners on base are all permitted to score.
If both teams have scored the same number of runs at the end of a regular-length game, a
tie is avoided by the addition of extra innings.[254] As many innings as necessary are
played until one team has the lead at the end of an inning. Thus, the home team always
has a chance to respond if the visiting team scores in the top half of the inning; this gives
the home team a small tactical advantage. In theory, a baseball game could go on forever;
in practice, however, they eventually end (although see Longest professional baseball
game). In addition to that rule, a game might theoretically end if both the home and away
team were to run out of players to substitute.

rehab assignmentEdit

When a Major League player recovering from injury or illness plays a short stint with one
of the team's minor-league affiliates before coming off the disabled list. The particular
affiliate may be chosen based on its proximity to the club's home town rather than the
level of play. A rehab assignment does not carry the same stigma for an established
Major League player that being sent down to the minors for performance reasons does.

relayEdit

A defensive technique where the ball is thrown by an outfielder to an infielder who then
throws to the final target. This is done because accurate throws are more difficult over
long distances and the ball loses a considerable amount of speed the farther it must be
thrown. Also cut-off. Also the second throw during a double-play. As in "They were only
able to get the lead runner because the relay was not in time."

relief pitcherEdit

Main article: Relief pitcher

A relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher brought in the game as a substitute for (i.e., "to
relieve") another pitcher.

relieverEdit

A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the
starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, ejection from the game or
fatigue.

replacement-level playerEdit
 A player of common skills available for minimum cost to a major league baseball team.
A team of replacement-level players would be expected to win a baseline minimum
number of games, typically 40-50, per 162 game season.

replacement playerEdit

Main article: List of Major League Baseball replacement players

A player that is not a member of the Major League Baseball Players Association but
plays during strikes or lockouts.

restricted listEdit

A roster designation for players who are not available because of the player’s own doing,
e.g. declining to play or getting arrested, that allows a team to remove a player from both
their active roster and their payroll for an indefinite amount of time while retaining their
rights to the player.[255][256]

retire the batterEdit

To get the batter out.

retire the runnerEdit

To throw the runner out at a base.

retire the sideEdit

See side retired.

rhubarbEdit

An argument or fight in a baseball game. Hence, Rhubarb, a novel by H. Allen Smith.

The term was popularized by famed baseball broadcaster Red Barber.

ribbie, ribeyeEdit

Slang for a run batted in (RBI).

rifleEdit

 A very strong arm. A cannon, a bazooka, a gun. Also used as a verb, "He rifled
the ball home to catch the runner."
 A batter can also be said to rifle a ball when he hits a hard line drive. "Griffey
rifles the ball . . . foul, just outside first base".
right-handed batEdit

Although baseball bats are symmetrical in shape, and thus there is no such thing as a
right-handed baseball bat (or a left-handed baseball bat), in colloquial language a hitter
who bats right-handed may be referred to as a "right handed bat" or "right-hand bat".
Headline: "Can That Right Handed Bat Play Third Base?"[257]

right-handed hitterEdit

Also "right-hand hitter". A batter who, paradoxically, bats from the left-side of home
plate. Typically, an individual who is right-handed in most activities, including throwing
a baseball, stands in the left-side batter's box, the one further from first base.

ring him upEdit

A strikeout. The phrase is probably drawn by analogy to cashiers who ring up the total on
the cash register when a customer is ready to pay up. It also comes from the "cha-ching"
motion that plate umpires use to signal a strikeout. "Outside corner, ring him up, strike
three called!"

ripEdit

 To hit a hard line drive, as in "He ripped a single through the right side."
 A hard swing, usually one that misses the ball: "Reyes took a good rip at that
pitch."

RISPEdit

Acronym for Runners In Scoring Position. See Runner In Scoring Position.

road gameEdit

A game played away from a baseball club's home stadium. When a team plays away from
home, it's on a "road trip" and is the "visiting team" at the home stadium of another team.

road tripEdit

A series of road games or away games occurs on a road trip, a term derived from the days
when teams indeed traveled from one town to another by roadway or railroad.

robbedEdit

 When a fielder makes a spectacular play the denies the batter a hit or a home run,
the batter may be said to have been "robbed" by the fielder -- as if the fielder had
 taken away something that belonged to the hitter. Headline: "A-Rod robbed of
HR, Joba will join rotation."[258]
 When a questionable call is made by an umpire that leads to losing a game, the
losing team or its fans may complain that the team was "robbed". "Braves Robbed
of a Win . . . was Beltran Out at 3rd in the 9th?"[259]

rocking chairEdit

The position occupied by the third base umpire, likely because the third base umpire does
not generally have to make as many calls as the other umpires. For example, "Jim Joyce
is in the rocking chair at third base."

ROOGYEdit

A slightly derogatory acronym for a right-handed relief specialist. Stands for "Righty
One Out GuY".

rookieEdit

Conventionally, rookie is a term for athletes in their first year of play in their sport. In
Major League Baseball, special rules apply for eligibility for the Rookie of the Year
award in each league. To be eligible, a player must have accumulated:

 Fewer than 130 at bats (for hitters) and 50 innings (for pitchers) during the MLB
regular season or

 Fewer than 45 days on the active rosters of MLB clubs (excluding time on the
disabled list or any time after rosters are expanded on September 1).

roll a pairEdit

A slang term used by players and coaches to say that the next play is a double play. Also
known as "roll it".

room serviceEdit

A ball hit directly to a fielder such that he hardly has to move to get it. Or a pitch that is
easy for a batter to hit. For example, see the headline "Yanks Enjoy Room-Service
Pitching".[260]

rooster tailEdit

A spinning ball rolling on wet grass that kicks up a line or tail of water behind it.

ropeEdit
 A hard line drive. Also see "frozen rope". Sometimes used as a verb, "He roped one up
the middle."

rosterEdit

The official list of players who are eligible to play in a given game and to be included on
the lineup card for that game. Major League Baseball limits the regular-season active
roster to 25 players during most of the season, but additional players may be on the
disabled list, and the roster can be expanded to as many as 40 active players after August
31st by bringing up players on the 40-man roster.

rotationEdit

Main article: Starting pitcher

A starting pitcher in professional baseball usually rests three or four days after pitching a
game before pitching another. Therefore, most professional baseball teams have four or
five starting pitchers on their roster. These pitchers, and the sequence in which they pitch,
are known as "the rotation" or "starting rotation". In modern baseball, a five-man rotation
is most common.
Often a manager identifies pitchers by their order in the rotation, "number 1", "number
2", etc. "Discussions over whether Jason Schmidt or Brad Penny is more deserving to
occupy the No. 2 spot in the starting rotation behind Derek Lowe can cease, as least
temporarily."[261]

roughed upEdit

An offense has "roughed up" the opposing pitcher when it hits his pitches hard and scores
several runs. Akin to beating somebody up. Headline: "Hill Roughed Up in Loss to
Pirates."[262]

roundhouse curveballEdit

A curveball that instead of breaking sharply makes a more gradual loop. "One Boston
writer in the late-'40s summed up Joe Dobson's roundhouse curveball this way: 'It started
out somewhere around the dugout and would end up clipping the outside corner of the
plate. There are curveballs, and there are curveballs.'"[263]

round-tripperEdit

A home run. The analogy is to a commuter who buys a round-trip ticket from home plate
to second base and back again to home.

rubberEdit

The rubber, formally termed the pitching plate, is a white rubber strip the front of which
is exactly sixty feet six inches (18.4 m) from the rear point of home plate. A pitcher will
 push off the rubber with his foot in order to gain velocity toward home plate when
pitching.

rubber armEdit

A pitcher is said to have a "rubber arm" if he can throw many pitches without tiring.
Relief pitchers who have the ability to pitch consecutive days with the same effectiveness
tend to be known as "rubber arms". Examples of these include Justin Verlander and
Aroldis Chapman.

rubber gameEdit

A term used for the last game of a series or match when the two teams have evenly split
the previous games. See also rubber bridge / best-of-three playoff. Another Name for a
pitchers Duel.

runEdit

Main article: Run (baseball)

 A player who advances around all the bases to score is credited with a run. The
team with the most runs wins the game.
 A manager "runs his players" when he calls on them to steal bases and to be
generally aggressive in trying to advance extra bases when the ball is in play.
 A player or coach may be "run" by an umpire by being ejected from a game.

run on contactEdit

See contact play.

rundownEdit

Main article: Rundown

A play in which a runner is stranded between two bases, and runs back and forth to try to
avoid fielders with the ball. The fielders (usually basemen) toss the ball back and forth, to
prevent the runner from getting to a base, and typically close in on him and tag him. Also
called a hotbox or a pickle. Sometimes used as a baserunning strategy by a trailing
runner, to distract the fielders and allow a leading runner to advance.

rungEdit

To be ejected from the game. Also used as slang for striking out looking. "He rung him
up on the changeup." "He got rung up on the high fastball."

runners at the cornersEdit

 runners on 1st and 3rd, with 2nd base open.

runners in scoring positionEdit

Runners on 2nd or 3rd base are said to be in scoring position, i.e., a typical base hit
should allow them to reach home. Batting average with runners in scoring position
(RISP) is used as an approximation of clutch hitting. Game announcers are apt to put up
and comment on the latter statistic during a broadcast to set the stage for an at bat.

Ruthian blastEdit

A home run that travels very far. After famous slugger Babe Ruth.

Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
 H
 I
 J
 K
 L
 M
 N
 O
 P
 Q
 R
 S
 T
 U
 V
 W
 X
 Y
 Z
 See also
 References
  External links

SEdit
sabermetricsEdit

Main article: Sabermetrics

Sabermetrics is the analysis of baseball through objective evidence, especially baseball
statistics. The term is derived from the SABR – the Society for American Baseball
Research. The term was coined by Bill James, an enthusiastic proponent and its most
notable figure.

sackEdit

 Synonymous with bag — 1st, 2nd, or 3rd base.

 A player who plays a particular base might be called a sacker. Most often this is
the second sacker (second baseman). Together the second sacker and the short-
stop may be referred to as sackmates because they often coordinate or share the
coverage or play at second base. See double play.

sacrifice buntEdit

Main article: Sacrifice bunt

A sacrifice bunt (also called a sacrifice hit or simply a "sacrifice") is the act of
deliberately bunting the ball in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to
another base, while the batter is himself put out. If the sacrifice is successful, the batter is
not charged with an at bat (AB). But he is credited with an SAC or S or SH.

sacrifice flyEdit

Main article: Sacrifice fly

When a batter hits a fly ball to the outfield which is caught for an out, but a runner scores
from 3rd base after tagging up or touching the bag following the catch. The batter is
credited with an RBI and is not charged with an at bat. Also referred to as "sac fly",
abbreviated as SF.

safe hit (aka) safetyEdit

A base hit or "base knock". Getting "safely on (first) base" after hitting the ball without
the interposition of a fielding error.

safety squeezeEdit
 A squeeze play in which the runner on third waits for the batter to lay down a successful
bunt before breaking for home. Contrast this with the suicide squeeze.

saladEdit

An easily handled pitch.

salamiEdit

A grand slam home run. "Get out the rye bread and the mustard, Grandma, it is grand-
salami time!"

Sally LeagueEdit

The South Atlantic League ("SAL"), a Class A minor baseball league with teams located
mainly in the southeastern United States.

sandwich roundEdit

Main article: Major League Baseball Draft

In the Major League Baseball Draft, a round of drafts that occurs between the first and
second rounds, and again between the second and the third, comprising solely
compensatory drafts granted to teams that failed to sign their first or second round draft
picks of the year before.

saveEdit

Main article: Save (baseball)

In baseball statistics, save (abbreviated SV, or sometimes, S) is the successful
maintenance of a lead by a relief pitcher, usually the closer, until the end of the game. A
save is credited to a pitcher who fulfills the following three conditions:

1. The pitcher is the last pitcher in a game won by his team;

2. The pitcher is not the winning pitcher (For instance, if a starting pitcher throws a
complete game win or, alternatively, if the pitcher gets a blown save and then his
team scores a winning run while he is the pitcher of record, sometimes known as a
"vulture win".);
3. The pitcher fulfills at least one of the following three conditions:
1. He comes into the game with a lead of no more than three runs.
2. He comes into the game with the potential tying run being either on base,
at bat, or on deck.
3. He pitches effectively for at least three innings after entering the game
with a lead and finishes the game.

If the pitcher surrenders the lead at any point, he cannot get a save, even if his team
comes back to win. No more than one save may be credited in each game.
 If a relief pitcher satisfies all of the criteria for a save, except he does not finish the game,
he will often be credited with a hold.
The third rule can be contentious, as it is subject to the judgment of the official scorer.
The last criterion in that rule can lead to ludicrous results. On August 22, 2007, the Texas
Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 30 to 3. The winning pitcher, Kason
Gabbard, pitched 6 innings, and left the game with a 14-3 lead. The Rangers' relief
pitcher, Wes Littleton, pitched three scoreless innings, while his team went on to score
another 16 runs, including 6 runs in the 9th inning. In return for protecting his team's lead
for the last three innings, Littleton was awarded a "save".[264]

save situationEdit

Generally, a save situation is when a pitcher enters the game in the seventh inning or later
with a lead of three runs or fewer, or with the potential tying run in the on-deck circle.
Most of the time, the saving pitcher pitches one or more innings. Also called a save
opportunity.

saw offEdit

When a pitcher gets a batter to hit the ball on the handle, and the batter hits the ball
weakly or even breaks his bat, the pitcher may be said to have sawed off the bat. "If the
bat handles are getting "sawed off" in players' hands or shattering into splinters, it's
because players are ordering bats too thin to withstand the impact of a 90 mile-per-hour
fast ball."[265]

scoring positionEdit

Main article: scoring position

A runner on 2nd or 3rd base is in scoring position, as he is presumed to have a good
chance to score on a base hit to the outfield.

scratch hitEdit

A weakly hit ground ball that eludes the infielders and leads to a base hit. A bleeder.

screaming line driveEdit

Also a screamer. A line drive that is hit extremely hard, perhaps hard enough to knock
the glove out of the hand of a fielder or to be so hard that the pitcher cannot get out of the
way before he is hit by the ball. "I distinctly remember watching the game where Jon
Matlack was hit in the head by a screaming line drive off the bat of Marty Perez and it
bounced off his head. I also remember watching the night Cal Ripken hit a screamer right
into Andy Pettitte's mouth. Both were a nauseating sight but this one must have been
much worse. Baseball can be a dangerous game for the players and also the
spectators."[266]
screwballEdit

Main article: Screwball

A pitch that curves to the same side as the side from which it was thrown. For a right-
hand pitcher, the ball would break to the pitcher's right — it would break "in" to a right-
hand hitter. SYNONYMS: reverse curve, fadeaway, fader, screwgie, scroogie, reverse
curveball.

seal the winEdit

To finish off the opposing team and end the game. "Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon
nearly blew the game with a walk and an error, so he had plenty to celebrate when he
then whiffed the dangerous Tampa Bay trio of Carlos Peña, B. J. Upton and Carl
Crawford to seal the win".[267] See also nailed and shuts the door.

seamerEdit

 2 seamer – a "two seam fastball" where the ball is held by the pitcher such that,
when thrown, its rotation only shows two seams per revolution
 4 seamer – like a 2 seamer, but the rotation shows 4 seams per revolution of the
ball. Batters count the number of visible seams to help judge the kind of pitch by
its rotation.

seasonEdit

Main article: Major League Baseball schedule

The period from the first to the last scheduled game of a year. Typically, the major league
baseball season runs from about April 1 til the end of October, including the "regular
season" 162 games that each team plays and the play-offs, including the World Series.
Baseball team and player records are also kept on a "seasonal" basis. "Sandy Koufax
ended his career with four of the best seasons in history".[268]
The post-season, including divisional and league series plus the World Series, is
sometimes called the "Second Season."

seasoningEdit

The time-period when a struggling major-league player is temporarily sent down to the
minors (most likely AAA) in the hope that the player can improve his skills enough to
return to the major-league club. This can also refer more broadly to the time that a team
keeps a young up-and-coming player in the minor-leagues, so as to give the player time
to continue to develop their skills, before they are brought up to the major leagues.

seedEdit

Any hit that is hit so hard it barely has an arc on it. See rip. Also refers to any thrown ball
with the same characteristic, typically in the infield.
seeing-eye ballEdit

A batted ground ball that just eludes capture by an infielder, just out of infielder's range,
as if it could "see" where it needed to go. Less commonly used for a ball that takes an
unusual lateral bounce to elude an infielder. Sometimes called a seeing-eye single. See
ground ball with eyes.

send a runnerEdit

If a coach signals for a runner to attempt to steal a base, he is "sending" a runner.

Similarly, a third-base coach who signals to a runner who is approaching third base that
he should turn toward home plate and attempt to score, the coach is "sending" the runner
home.[269]

Senior CircuitEdit

The National League, so-called because it is the older of the two major leagues, founded
in 1876. As opposed to the Junior Circuit, the American League, which was founded in
1901.

sent downEdit

A major league player may be sent down or demoted to a minor league team either before
or during the season. When this occurs during the season, another player is usually called
up or promoted from the minor leagues or placed on the active roster after being removed
from the disabled list.

sent to the showersEdit

When a pitcher is removed from the lineup, he is sometimes said to be "sent to the
showers" because his work for the day is done. Theoretically it is possible for him to be
removed as pitcher and kept in the lineup as a designated hitter or even as a position
player. But this is a very rare occurrence in the professional game, and is more frequent
in the amateur game, especially in NCAA competition.

seriesEdit

A set of games between two teams. During the regular season, teams typically play 3- or
4-game series against one another, with all of the games in the series played in the home
park of one of the teams. The set of all games played between two teams during the
regular season is referred to as the season series. For games played between teams in a
single league, the regular season series includes an equal number of games in the home
parks of each team. Its purpose is to minimize travel costs and disruptions in the very
long major league baseball season.
 In the playoffs, series involve games played in the home stadiums of both teams. Teams
hope to gain from having a home field advantage by playing the first game(s) in their
own ballpark.

serve upEdit

To throw a pitch that gets hit hard, typically for a home run, as if the pitcher were
intentionally giving the batter an easy pitch to hit. Question in a baseball history quiz:
"Who served up Tino Martinez’ Game One Grand Slam in the 1998 World Series?".[270]
"The Sultan reports that Weaver is only the fourth pitcher in the DH era to serve up three
gopherballs in one year to his fellow pitchers."[271]

set the tableEdit

To get runners on base ahead of the power hitters in the lineup.

setup pitcherEdit

A relief pitcher who is consistently used immediately before the closer.

seventh-inning stretchEdit

Main article: Seventh-inning stretch

The period between the top and bottom of the seventh inning, when the fans present
traditionally stand up to stretch their legs. A sing-along of the song "Take Me Out to the
Ball Game" has become part of this tradition, a practice most associated with Chicago
broadcaster Harry Caray. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States,
"God Bless America" is sometimes played in addition to, or in lieu of, "Take Me Out to
the Ball Game" in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the attacks, especially at
home games of the New York Yankees and New York Mets. This occurs on Opening
Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, September 11th, Sundays and during the All-Star
Game, and post-season including the World Series. In Milwaukee, fans often sing "Roll
Out the Barrel" after the traditional song, while Boston fans sing "Sweet Caroline" and
Baltimore fans sing along to "Thank God I'm A Country Boy". At Kaufmann Stadium,
Royals fans sing "Friends in Low Places". "OK Blue Jays" is sung at Toronto Blue Jays
home games.

shadeEdit

A player (usually an outfielder) who positions himself slightly away from his normal spot
in the field based on a prediction of where the batter might hit the ball he is said to
"shade" toward right or left.

shagging fliesEdit

Main article: Shagging (baseball)

 Catching fly balls in the outfield when not involved in actual baseball games. "While the
other pitchers looked bored just shagging flies, he was busting a few dance moves to the
music coming over the loudspeakers."[272]

shelledEdit

A pitcher who is giving up numerous hits, especially extra base hits, is said to be getting
shelled – as if under siege by enemy artillery.

shake offEdit

 A player, typically a pitcher, who has a bad game or series, may be said to be trying to
shake off the experience and regain his usual performance level. Detroit News headline:
"Miner Tries to Shake Off Poor Start".
 A pitcher who disagrees with the catcher's call for the next pitch may shake off the sign
by shaking his head "no", thereby telling the catcher to call for a different pitch. If the
pitcher shakes off several signs in a row, the catcher may call time out and walk to the
mound to talk to the pitcher.

shiftEdit

Where all infielders and/or outfielders position themselves clockwise or counter-

clockwise from their usual position. This is to anticipate a batted ball from a batter who
tends to hit to one side of the field. Also shade. In the case of some batters, especially
with left-handed batters and the bases empty, managers have been known to shift fielders
from the left side to the right side of the diamond. The most extreme case was the famous
"Ted Williams shift" (also once called the "Lou Boudreau shift"). Cleveland Indians
manager Boudreau moved 6 of 7 fielders (including himself, the shortstop) to the right of
second base, leaving just the leftfielder playing shallow, and daring Teddy Ballgame to
single to left rather than trying to "hit it where they ain't" somewhere on the right side.
Williams saw it as a challenge, a game within The Game, and seldom hit the ball to left
on purpose in that circumstance.

shine ballEdit

One way for a pitcher to doctor the ball is to rub one area of the ball hard to affect the
ball's flight toward the plate.

shoestring catchEdit

When a fielder, usually an outfielder, catches a ball just before it hits the ground ("off his
shoetops"), and remains running while doing so.

short hopEdit
 A ball that bounces immediately in front of an infielder. If the batter is a fast runner, an
infielder may intentionally "short hop the ball" (take the ball on the short hop) to hasten
his throw to first base. Balls may be short-hopped to turn a double play, but it may
backfire sometimes. For example, Carlos Guillén had a ground ball that bounced to him,
and he short hopped it, however, it went off his glove and went high in the air.

short porchEdit

When one of the outfield walls is closer to home plate than normal, the stadium may be
said to have a short porch. For example, Yankee Stadium has long had a short porch in
right field.

short restEdit

When a pitcher starts games with just a 3 or 4 day break, instead of the typical 5 days
between starts, he is said to have had a short rest. "The big story Tuesday night, by a long
shot, was Dallas Keuchel pitching six shutout innings. In the Bronx. On short rest".[273]

shorten his swingEdit

See "cut down on his swing".

shorten the gameEdit

A team that has a strong staff of relief pitchers is sometimes said to have the ability to
shorten games: "The Tigers will be fearsome postseason opponents because of their
bullpen's ability to shorten games."[274] If the team gets ahead in the first six innings, its
bullpen can be counted on to hold the lead; thus the opponent needs to grab an early lead
to still have a chance in the last few innings to win the game.

shotEdit

 A home run, as in "Ryan Howard's 2-run shot gives him 39 home runs for the
year."

the ShowEdit

The major leagues. Particularly "in the Show". Or in "the Bigs" (big leagues, major
leagues).

show buntEdit

When a batter changes his stance so that he appears ready to bunt the ball, he's said to
"show bunt". Sometimes this move is intended to make the infielders creep in toward
 home plate, but the hitter swings away instead. And sometimes it's intended to cause the
pitcher to change his pitch. See also butcher boy.

"It's a great way to get a fastball", Krukow said. "Pitchers are always taught that
the fastball high is the hardest one to bunt. You show bunt on the first pitch and a
pitcher often-times will come back on a 1-0 count and he'll give you a fastball.
Bruce Bochy knows this, lets him swing away and (Sanchez) finds a hole".[275]

show meEdit

An easy-to-hit ball thrown by a pitcher to a batter who has fouled off many balls in that
particular at-bat, so risking an excessive pitch count. While the likelihood of an extra-base hit is
high, there is also a chance that the batter will strike out or put the ball in play where it can be
fielded. Either way, a show-me pitch usually finishes the at-bat quickly.

shutoutEdit

Main article: Shutout

According to the Dickson dictionary, the term derives from horseracing, in which a bettor
arrives at the window too late to place a bet, due to the race already having started, so the
bettor is said to be "shut out" (this specific usage was referenced in the film The Sting).

 A team shuts out its opponent when it prevents them from scoring any runs in a
given game.
 "Santana shut out the Royals with a 3-hitter" means that the Royals went scoreless
as Santana pitched a complete-game shutout. The pitcher or pitchers on the
winning team thus get statistical credit for an individual shutout or a combined-to-
pitch-shutout, respectively.

shuts the doorEdit

When a pitcher, generally the closer, finishes the ballgame with a save or makes the last
out (or fails to do so): "No one from the Brandeis bullpen was able to shut the door in the
top of the ninth in Tuesday's game."[276] Also used more generally to refer to a victory:
"Thomas, Halladay slam door shut on Dodgers."[277]

side retiredEdit

When the third out of an inning is called, the "side is retired" and the other team takes its
turn at bat. A pitcher or a defensive team can be said to have "retired the side". The goal
of any pitcher is to face just three batters and make three outs: to "retire the side in order",
have a "one-two-three inning", or have "three up, three down".

sidearmerEdit

Main article: sidearm

 A pitcher who throws with a sidearm motion, i.e., not a standard overhanded delivery.

signEdit

Non-verbal gestures used by catchers and coaches to communicate team strategy:

 A catcher is said to call the game by sending signs to the pitcher calling for a
particular pitch. After he moves into his crouch, the catcher gives the sign by
placing his non-glove hand between his legs and using his fist, fingers, wags, or
taps against his inner thigh to tell the pitcher what type of pitch to throw (fastball,
curve, etc.) as well as the location. A pitcher may shake off (shake his head "no"
to) the initial sign or nod in agreement when he receives the sign that he wants
before going into his windup. If there is a runner on second base, a catcher may
change the location of his glove (from his knee to the ground, for example) to
signal the pitcher that he is using an alternate set of signs so that the runner won't
be able to steal the sign.
 A coach sends signs to players on the field, typically using a sequence of hand
movements. He may send signs to offensive players, including batters and
runners, about what to do on the next pitch — for example, to sacrifice bunt, to
take or to swing away at the next pitch; to steal a base; or to execute a hit-and-run.
He may send signs to the catcher to call for a pitchout or to intentionally walk the
batter.

singleEdit

A one-base hit.

sinkerEdit

Main article: sinker (baseball)

A pitch, typically a fastball, that breaks sharply downward as it crosses the plate. Also see
drop ball.

sitting on a pitchEdit

A batter who is waiting for a particular type of pitch before swinging at it. He may be
sitting in wait for, say, a curveball or a change-up, or a pitch thrown in a certain location,
and he won't swing at anything else even if it's down the middle of the plate. Sometimes
hitters who know a pitcher's pattern of pitches, or what type of pitch he likes to throw in a
given count, sit on that particular pitch. This approach stems from the advice Rogers
Hornsby gave to Ted Williams, telling him that the secret to hitting was simply to "wait
for a good pitch to hit".

situational hittingEdit
 When a batter changes his strategy depending on the game situation: the inning, number
of outs, number of men on base, or the score. He may not swing for the fences or even try
to get a base hit, but instead make a sacrifice bunt or try to get a sacrifice fly or make
contact with the ball in some other way.

skidsEdit

A team that is on the skids is having a losing streak, perhaps a severe one that threatens
to ruin their chances at the playoffs or to drop them into the cellar. Headline: "Yankees
Remain on the Skids".[278] Also used in the singular, skid, for a losing streak or hitless
streak: "Peralta's single in the fourth ended an 0-for-26 skid."[279]

skipper or skipEdit

A manager. Taken from the boating term skipper, the captain or commanding officer of a
ship.

skyEdit

Used as a verb: to hit a fly ball. "Sizemore skies one. . . .Caught by the right fielder."

skyscraperEdit

A very high fly ball. Sometimes referred to as a "rainmaker" because it is so high it may
touch the clouds.

slantEdit

A pitch. This is now a rare usage. Headline in New York Times: "Pfeffer's Slants Bewilder
Quakers – Brooklyn Moundsman Shows Form That Made Him Famous and Phillies
Lose, 5 to 0".[280] "Brooklyn garnered only seven safeties off the slants of Johnny
Antonelli and two relievers."[281]

slap hitterEdit

A hitter who sacrifices power for batting average, trying to make contact with the ball
and "hit it where they ain't". Prime examples: Willie Keeler, Ty Cobb, Tony Gwynn, Pete
Rose, Rod Carew, and Ichiro Suzuki.

slash lineEdit

A representation of multiple baseball statistics separated by the slash, for example

.330/.420/.505. The typical data represented are batting average / on-base percentage /
slugging percentage.[282]
slice foulEdit

When a fly ball or line drive starts out over fair territory, then curves into foul territory
due to aerodynamic force caused by spinning of the ball, imparted by the bat. A slice
curves away from the batter (ie: it curves to the right for a right-handed batter and to the
left for a left-handed batter).

slideEdit

Main article: Slide (baseball)

 A slide is when a player drops to the ground when running toward a base, to avoid
a tag and (in the case of second or third base) as a means of stopping, so as not to
overrun the base and risk being put out. Players also sometimes slide head-first
into first base. If former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and Hall of Famer Dizzy
Dean had seen something like that, he'd probably have said the player never
should have "slud into first".
 A team having a losing streak is in a slide or on the skids.

sliderEdit

Main article: Slider

A relatively fast pitch with a slight curve in the opposite direction of the throwing arm.

slugEdit

To hit with great power.

slugfestEdit

An exceptionally high scoring game, typically one in which both teams score a lot of
runs. The opposite of a slugfest is a pitcher's duel.

sluggerEdit

Any person who commonly hits with great power. A batter with a high slugging
percentage.

slugging averageEdit

Main article: Slugging percentage

A measure of the power of a hitter, calculated as total bases divided by at bats. Often
abbreviated as SLG or SA. Just as a "perfect" batting average would be 1.000 (read "one
thousand") a "perfect" slugging average would be 4.000 (read "four thousand"). Also
referred to as "slugging percentage".
slumpEdit

Main article: slump (baseball)

An extended period when player or team is not performing well or up to expectations. A
dry spell or drought.

slurveEdit

Main article: slurve

A pitch that's a cross between a slider and a curve.

small ballEdit

Main article: Small ball (baseball)

A strategy by which teams attempt to score runs using station-to-station, bunting and
sacrifice plays; usually used in a situation where one run will either tie or win the game;
manufacturing runs; close kin to inside baseball. "It's important for us to think small ball
and hit behind runners, and also score with base hits, doubles, sacrifices — there are
many ways to score", Alex Rodriguez said. "Later on, when it counts the most, it's hard
only to score by home runs".[283]

smokeEdit

 A pitcher who throws smoke throws the ball so hard that the batter is likely only to see
the ball's (imaginary) smoke trail.
 To smoke the hitter inside is to throw an inside fastball that batter is unable to hit.
 When a play-by-play reporter exclaims That ball was smoked! he implies that it was hit
so hard that all you could see of the ball is its (imaginary) smoke trail.
 A smoker is a colloquial term for fastball.

snap throwEdit

A throw made by the catcher to either first or third base after a pitch in an attempt to pick
off the runner.

snickerEdit

A type of foul ball in which the batter grazes ("snicks") the ball with the bat. The ball
continues toward the catcher, with a slightly modified trajectory, making it a difficult
catch.

snow coneEdit

A catch made with the ball barely caught in the tip of a glove's webbing. Sometimes
referred to as an "ice cream cone".
snowmanEdit

An 8-run inning as it appears on the scoreboard, like two large balls of snow stacked on
top of one another.

soft handsEdit

A fielder's ability to cradle the ball well in his glove. Contrast hard hands. "I was teaching
the players to field the ball out front and 'give in' with the ball and bring it up to a
throwing position. The analogy I used was to pretend the ball is an egg and give in with
it. I consider this to be 'soft' hands."[284]

soft tossEdit

When a coach or teammate from a position adjacent the hitter throws a ball under-hand to
allow the hitter to practice hitting into a net or fence.

soft tosserEdit

A pitcher who doesn't have a really fast fastball. "Jones, a soft tosser when compared to
the Tigers’ other hard throwers, struck out Posada, retired Cano on a soft fly, and got
Damon to fly out."[285]

solo home runEdit

A home run hit when there are no runners on base, so the batter circles the bases solo.

sophomore jinxEdit

Main article: Sophomore jinx

The tendency for players to follow a good rookie season with a less-spectacular one.
(This term is used outside the realm of baseball as well.) Two of the most notorious
examples are Joe Charboneau and Mark Fidrych. The statistical term for the sophomore
jinx is "regression to the mean".

southpawEdit

Main article: Southpaw

Left-hander, especially a pitcher. Most baseball stadiums are built so that home plate is in
the west and the outfield is in the east, so that when the sun sets it is not in the batter's
eye. Because of this, a left-handed pitcher's arm is always facing south when he faces the
plate. Thus he has a "southpaw".

spankEdit
  To hit the ball, typically a line drive to the opposite field.
 To win a game handily or decisively. Headline: "Tigers Spank KC 13-1. Did the
Royals Wave the White Flag?"[286]

sparkplugEdit

A fireplug. A player known for his aggressive, never-say-die attitude (though perhaps
modest ability) who may help to spark his team into a rally or a win. "Versalles was the
sparkplug that led the 1965 Twins to their first World Series."[287]

speed merchantEdit

A fast player, often collecting stolen bases, bunt singles and/or infield hits.

speedsterEdit

A fast runner.

spikeEdit

A runner can "spike" an infielder by sliding into him and causing an injury with the
spikes of his shoes.

spitterEdit

Main article: Spitball

A spitball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of spit, petroleum
jelly, or some other foreign substance.

split-fingerEdit

Main article: Fastball § splitfinger fastball

A fastball that breaks sharply toward the ground just before reaching the plate due to the
pitcher's grip; his first two fingers are spread apart to put a downward spin on the ball.
Also called a forkball, splitter or Mr. Splitee.

splitsEdit

A player's splits are his performance statistics broken down or split into categories such
as batting average against right-handed vs. left-handed pitchers, in home games vs. away
games, or in day games vs. night games. When statistics are split in such a way they may
reveal patterns that allow a manager to use (perhaps to platoon) a player strategically
where he can be most effective. Sabermetricians may use such splits to investigate
patterns that explain overall performance, including topics such as whether a pitcher may
have doctored the ball during home games.[288]
spoil a pitchEdit

When a pitcher throws a strike over the plate that at first seems good enough to strike the
batter out but the batter fouls it off, the batter may be said to "spoil the pitch". The usage
is similar to that of "fighting off a pitch".

spot starterEdit

A pitcher who starts an occasional game (perhaps only one game) who is not a regular
starter in the rotation. This is a pitcher who is already on a team's roster and usually
works as a relief pitcher. In contrast to a spot starter, who is already on the roster, an
emergency starter is typically a player who is brought up from the minor leagues on very
short notice because a regular starter is injured. Sometimes, however, even a player who
is already on the roster may be referred to as an emergency starter if his starting role
arises because the regularly scheduled starter has been injured.
In recent years, the term "spot starter" has more commonly been used to describe a
pitcher called up from the minors specifically to make one start before being optioned
back down to the minors immediately following the game, particularly when the pitcher
in question is the 26th man added to the active roster for a scheduled doubleheader.

spray hitterEdit

A batter who hits line drives to all fields. Not a pull hitter. "I'll say that I could dominate
those hitters who tend to pull the ball. The thing is, I had very good command, and those
hitters kept trying to pull the ball, even though I was pitching in the outside corner, on the
black, as we say in baseball. On the other hand, my worst headaches were the players that
pushed the ball the other way, or used the whole field. The spray hitters. That's a very
tough kind of hitter for a pitcher with good command as it was my case" — Pitcher Juan
Marichal.[289]

Spring trainingEdit

Main article: Spring training

In Major League Baseball, spring training consists of work-outs and exhibition games
that precede the regular season. It serves the purpose of both auditioning players for final
roster spots and giving players practice prior to competitive play. The managers and
coaches use spring training to set their opening-day 25-man roster.

squadEdit

Team.

square aroundEdit

When a batter turns his stance from being sideways to the pitcher's mound to facing the
pitcher's mound. This is typically done when a batter prepares to bunt a ball, in particular
 when he intends to do a sacrifice bunt. "Whether you square around or pivot, you want to
make sure you are in a comfortable and athletic position to bunt the ball. Your knees
should be bent and your bat should be held out in front of your body. The barrel of the bat
should be at the same height as your eyes and at the top of the strike zone".[290]

square upEdit

To get a good swing at the ball and hit it hard near the center of the ball. "It makes a big
difference because you work hard to square a ball up, but they catch it or make a good
play", Pierre said. "It takes the wind out of you a little bit and it makes him (Verlander)
probably feel better, too".[291]

squeeze playEdit

Main article: Squeeze play (baseball)

A tactic used to attempt to score a runner from third on a bunt. There are two types of
squeeze plays: suicide squeeze and safety squeeze. In a suicide squeeze, the runner takes
off towards home plate as soon as the pitcher begins his throw toward home plate. In a
safety squeeze, the runner waits until the batter makes contact with the ball before
committing himself to try to reach home.

squeeze the zoneEdit

When an umpire calls balls and strikes as if the strike zone is smaller than usual, he's said
to "squeeze the zone". "I don't think Chapman is getting treated any different than any
other rookie. I've noticed over the years that umps squeeze rookies. I don't think they
should, a strike is a strike, but those are the realities."[292]

squibberEdit

A nubber. A batted baseball that is either off the end of the bat or with the batter
swinging very late. This puts a side spin on the ball as it rolls typically to the first
baseman. The ball is difficult to catch and can be trouble for the infielder to make a play.

staffEdit

The "pitching staff", the pitchers on the team's roster, who nowadays typically number 11
or 12 of the 25 men on the active roster.

stand-up double/tripleEdit

An extra-base hit in which the runner reaches base easily without needing to slide; that is, he
remains standing up as he touches the bag.

stanceEdit
  When a hitter steps into the batter's box, he typically stands a few inches from home plate
with one shoulder facing the pitcher's mound. His particular manner of bending his knees
or holding his bat is referred to as the batter's stance or hitting stance.[293]
 A catcher typically crouches or squats behind home plate, holding his glove up as a target
for the pitcher. This is referred to as a catcher's stance.[294]
 A pitcher's stance or pitching position involves how and where he stands on the
mound, how his back foot toes the rubber, his windup, and his delivery.

stanzaEdit

An inning. "In that stanza, however, the Tigers . . . clawed their way back into the
ballgame."[295]

starting pitcherEdit

Main article: Starting pitcher

The starting pitcher (or "starter") is the first pitcher in the game for each team. A starter is
expected to pitch at least five innings, in contrast with relievers who often pitch just
three, two or one or even fractional innings. In fact, by the scoring rules, a starter must
complete five innings in order to qualify as the winning pitcher in the game, though he
need face only a single batter to become the losing pitcher if his team immediately falls
behind and stays behind for the remainder of the game. (For a less frequently used
strategy to start the game, see opener.)

starting rotationEdit

Another term for rotation (the planned order of a team's starting pitchers).

stationEdit

A player's assigned defensive position.

station-to-stationEdit

Oddly enough, this term can mean completely different things. It can be referred to as a
close relative of inside baseball, where hit-and-runs and base-stealing are frequent. It can
also mean its exact opposite, where a team takes fewer chances of getting thrown out on
the bases by cutting down on steal attempts and taking the extra base on a hit; therefore,
the team will maximise the number of runs scored on a homer.

statheadEdit

Statheads use statistical methods to analyze baseball game strategy as well as player and
team performance. They use the tools of sabermetrics to analyze baseball.
statsEdit

Short for "statistics", the numbers generated by the game: runs, hits, errors, strikeouts,
batting average, earned run average, fielding average, etc. Most of the numbers used by
players and fans are not true mathematical statistics, but the term is in common usage.

stayed aliveEdit

When a batter who already has two strikes swings at but fouls off a pitch, he may be said
to have "stayed alive". He (or his at bat) will live to see another pitch. Similarly, when a
team that is facing elimination from the playoffs wins a game, it may be said to have
"stayed alive" to play another game. "Milwaukee stays alive in the playoffs with a 4-1
win over Philadelphia in Game 3 of their National League Division Series from Miller
Park."[296]

steady dietEdit

When a batter shows that it is easier to get him out with a certain type of pitch, he may
receive a "steady diet" of that type of pitch thrown. Headline: "Phillies' Howard Gets a
Steady Diet of Curveballs".[297]

steaksEdit

RBIs. Derived from the common pronunciation of RBI as "ribbie", which was apparently
once pronounced as Rib-eye.

steal, stealingEdit

See stolen base

stealing signsEdit

When a team that is at bat tries to see the sign the catcher is giving to the pitcher
(indicating what type of pitch to throw), the team is said to be stealing signs. This may be
done by a runner who is on base (typically second base) watching the catcher's signs to
the pitcher and giving a signal of some kind to the batter. (To prevent this, the pitcher and
catcher may change their signs when there is a runner on second base.) Sometimes a first-
base or third-base coach might see a catcher's signs if the catcher isn't careful. In unusual
cases, the signs may be read through binoculars by somebody sitting in the stands,
perhaps in center field, and sending a signal to the hitter in some way.
When a hitter is suspected of peeking to see how a catcher is setting up behind the plate
as a clue to what pitch might be coming or what the intended location is, then the pitcher
will usually send the hitter a message: stick it in his ear.

stepping in the bucketEdit

 A phrase for an "open" batting stance, in which the hitter's leading foot is aligned away
from the plate (toward left field for a right-handed batter). The stance reduces power in
the swing and slows the hitter's exit toward first base, however, many players believe it
allows them to see the pitch better, and more naturally drive the ball to the opposite field.
Babe Ruth criticized a young ballplayer in the 1931 short "Slide, Babe, Slide", for
"stepping in the bucket". (see: Al Simmons)

stick it in his earEdit

"Stick it in his ear!" is a cry that may come from fans in the stands, appealing to the home
team pitcher to be aggressive (throw the ball at the opposing batter). The line is attributed
originally, however, to Leo Durocher.

stolen baseEdit

Main article: Stolen base

In baseball, a stolen base (or "steal") occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to
the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate. In baseball statistics,
stolen bases are denoted by SB. If the catcher thwarts the stolen base by throwing the
runner out, the event is recorded as caught stealing (CS). Also see uncontested steal.

stolen firstEdit

The successful advancement of a batter to first base following an uncaught third strike.
While the base has been "stolen" in practical terms, statistics do not actually register the
incident as a "stolen base".

stone fingersEdit

A player who misplays easy ground balls. Also see hard hands. In 1963, Hank Aaron
gave Boston Red Sox first-baseman Dick Stuart the nickname "Stone Fingers"[298] (which
has, however, since been overshadowed and largely supplanted by "Dr.
Strangeglove"[299][300]—a reference to the 1964 film, Dr. Strangelove).

stopperEdit

This term originally referred to a team's best starting pitcher, who would be called upon
to stop a losing streak. It can also refers to a team's closer.[301] Headline: "Tigers ace
Verlander again stellar in stopper role".[302] "José Valverde – The Stopper. Despite him
giving us a few heart-attacks this season, Papa Grande has not blown a save this year, not
a one".[303]

strandEdit

Another term for left on base.

streakEdit

 A series of consecutive wins (a winning streak) or losses (a losing streak). Also,

a string, especially if referring to a series of wins.
 A series of games in which a batter gets a hit (hitting streak) or fails to get a hit
(hitless streak), or accomplishes some other feat of interest (e.g, gets a stolen
base or hits a home run).

stretchEdit

Main article: Pitching position

 To pitch from a stretch is to begin the pitching motion by facing sideways

relative to home plate, raising one's arms at the elbow and bringing the glove hand
and pitching hand together in a full stop, then hurling the ball toward the plate.
This is the usual pitching motion when there are men on base, so that the pitcher
can check on the runners before throwing home. Sometimes, however, pitchers
use a stretch even when the bases are empty.
 For other uses of the word "stretch", see stretch a hit, stretch run, down the
stretch, and seventh inning stretch.

stretch a hitEdit

 To stretch a hit is to take an additional base on a hit, typically by aggressive

running. "Damon stretched that single to a double with his hustle." "Glaus got
caught trying to stretch a double to a triple". If a batter is out trying to stretch his
hit, he is still credited with a hit (according to the last base he reached safely).

stretch the lineupEdit

 To stretch the lineup is to have strong hitters after the 3rd, 4th, and 5th places in
the batting order, which are normally where the power hitters are found. "Victor
goes out there every day and shows you why he is a professional hitter – he's
never afraid to just take a base hit when that's what there for him", Leyland said.
"Carlos lets us stretch our lineup with another professional hitter, and also a
switch-hitter".[304]

stretch runEdit

The last part of the regular baseball season when teams are competing to reach the
playoffs or championship. Perhaps derived from the term "home stretch" in horse racing
or car racing when the horse (or car) comes out of the final turn and is racing toward the
finish line. Headline: "Tigers eyeing help for stretch run"[305] (The Tigers are seeking
additional players as they approach the end of the season).

strikeEdit
  When a batter swings at a pitch, but fails to hit it, when a batter does not swing at
a pitch that is thrown within the strike zone, when the ball is hit foul and the strike
count is less than 2 (a batter cannot strike out on a foul ball, however he can fly
out), when a ball is bunted foul, regardless of the strike count, when the ball
touches the batter as he swings at it, when the ball touches the batter in the strike
zone, or when the ball is a foul tip.
 A particularly hard, accurate throw by a fielder attempting to put out a baserunner
(or a particularly hard, accurate pickoff attempt by the pitcher) is sometimes
referred to as throwing a strike. This is an unofficial usage, employed primarily
by broadcasters and writers: "Racing to his left on the crack of the bat, Ichiro
[Suzuki] reached Albert Pujols' line drive in the corner, wheeled and fired a strike
to Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter to cut down the Cardinal at second."[306]

strike outEdit

Main article: Strikeout

 The throwing of three strikes in one plate appearance. This normally retires the
batter, and counts as one out. However, it is possible to strike out and still reach
base, if the catcher drops the strikeout pitch.

strikeout pitchEdit

1. The last pitch of a strikeout; the third strike.

2. The type of pitch (specific to each pitcher) that he or she prefers to use as the last
pitch of a strikeout. This is almost always a breaking pitch – a pitch that moves
out of the strike zone, increasing the chance that the batter will swing and
miss.[307]

strikeout pitcherEdit

A pitcher who strikes out hitters a lot.

strike em out/throw em outEdit

A double play in which a batter strikes out and the catcher then immediately throws out a
baserunner trying to steal. Sometimes this is called strikeout/double-play.

strike out the sideEdit

Main article: Striking out the side

A pitcher is said to "strike out the side" when he retires all three batters in a half inning
by striking them out. "All three batters" may mean that only three batters came to the
plate during that half inning and all three went down on strikes, but may instead mean all
three batters who made outs were out on strikes, no matter what other batters did in that
half inning. Major League Baseball announcers are not in agreement on this point. Some
 baseball announcers (e.g., Vin Scully) use it in the latter sense such that multiple runs
may score in the half inning on various hits including home runs, but if all three outs
were strike outs, the pitcher "struck out the side". But Ross Porter, Scully's co-announcer,
contemporaneously used the term in the former sense, i.e., three up, three down on strike
outs. The difference appears to be in the definition of "the side" in baseball. "The side"
can mean either: (1) the batters who made out during the inning (Scully's view), or (2) the
batters who come to bat during the inning (Porter's view).

strike zoneEdit

Main article: Strike zone

An imaginary box used to call strikes (see image here). The Rules Book definition is that
the strike zone "is that area over home plate the upper limit of which is a horizontal line
at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the
lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap. The strike zone shall be
determined from the batter's stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball."
When, in the plate umpire's judgment, the ball passes through the strike zone and the
batter does not swing, one strike is called (a called strike as opposed to a swinging
strike).
The formal definition of the upper limit of the strike zone is sometimes reduced to "the
letters", i.e., the area of the uniform shirt where the team's name usually appears; or, as
some plain-speaking types say, "the nipple line". (Taking the anatomical comparisons
further, the ever-earthy Ted Williams used to describe certain good pitches to hit as being
"at cock level").
Despite the formal rules, umpires differ in the strike zones that they recognize.[308] Major
League Baseball has experimented in recent years with the QuesTec system, which uses
laser light technology to standardize the zone and to measure umpires' personal strike
zones. But balls and strikes are still called by umpires, not machines. Whether a pitch is a
ball or a strike is typically the focal point of arguments during a game. The rules prohibit
managers from leaving the dugout to protest ball-and-strike calls, the penalty for which is
ejection.

stringEdit

 A series of consecutive wins. A winning streak.

 Any other series of consecutive events, such as strike-outs or scoreless innings.
Headline: "Lincecum runs scoreless innings string to 23".[309]

struck out lookingEdit

A batter called out on strikes without swinging on the third strike is said to have "struck
out lookin'." Labeled with a backwards "K" by some scorecard keepers. Sports
commentators have also been known to use the slang term "just browsing" when showing
a batter that's "struck out looking" on SportsCenter or other related shows.

struck out swingingEdit

 A batter called out on strikes when swinging at the third strike is said to have "struck out
swinging". Usually labeled with the traditional forward "K" on scorecards.

struck out buntingEdit

A batter called out on strikes when the third strike resulted from a bunted ball that came
to rest in foul territory.

stuffEdit

A pitcher's "stuff" is an overall evaluation of how effective his pitches are; it is "good
stuff" when the pitches are difficult to hit, and usually just "stuff" or sometimes even
"lousy stuff" when the pitches are poor. Many factors, including location, velocity,
movement, delivery, and intangibles like weather and rest, influence the quality of a
pitcher's stuff on any given day.
Alternatively, "stuff" can be used to mean "a pitcher's pitches, judged by how inherently
hard those pitches are to hit." A fastball delivered at particularly high velocity or a
curveball with especially sharp break are examples of "good stuff." In this definition,
location, sequencing, and timing are distinct from stuff, such that a pitcher might be said
to have good stuff, but poor command.[310]

submarinerEdit

Main article: Submarine (baseball)

A pitcher who throws with such a severe sidearm motion that the pitch comes from below
his waist, sometimes near the ground. (A submariner does not throw underhanded, as in
fastpitch softball.) See submarine.

subway seriesEdit

Main article: Subway Series

When two teams from the same city or metropolitan area play a series of games, they are
presumed to be so near to one another that they could take the subway to play at their
opponent's stadium. Mets vs. Yankees would be (and is) called a subway series; a Cubs
vs. White Sox series would be an "L" series; and a series between the Oakland A's and
the San Francisco Giants would be (and was) the "BART" series. However, a series
between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim would not be
a subway series, because there is no subway or other rail service between Dodger
Stadium and Angel Stadium of Anaheim (not even the fabled but fanciful line between
"Anaheim, Azusa and Cuc...amonga").[311] Instead such a series is referred to as a
freeway series.

Sunday FundayEdit
 After winning a weekend series in college baseball, the team will party Sunday night.
This is because college teams play five nights a week and have no free time to party
except on Sundays, because they can rest on their required Monday off day.

suicide squeezeEdit

Main article: Squeeze play (baseball)

A squeeze play in which the runner on third breaks for home on the pitch, so that, if the
batter does not lay down a bunt, then the runner is an easy out (unless he steals home).
Contrast this with the safety squeeze.

Summer ClassicEdit

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the Mid-Summer Classic.
These annual games pit the all-stars of the National League against the all-stars of the
American League, a concept designed to acknowledge and showcase the achievements of
the best players in each league.

sweepEdit

To win all the games in a series between two teams, whether during the regular 162-game
season or during the league championships or World Series. During the regular season,
pairs of teams typically square off in several 3- or 4-game series at the home parks of
each team. It is also thus possible for one team to sweep a 3- or 4-game series, the "home
series" (all the games a team plays at its home field against another given team), the "road
series", or the "season series" between two teams. ("Sweep" was also used to mean
winning both games of a doubleheader. Sweeps are also used for a college baseball team
who wins all three games of a weekend series.)

sweet spotEdit

Main article: Sweet spot (sports)

A location that's perfect for the batter to swing at and hit a pitch very hard on the meat of
the bat.[312] "Batters know from experience that there is a sweet spot on the bat, about 17
centimetres (6.7 in) from the end of the barrel, where the shock of the impact, felt by the
hands, is reduced to such an extent that the batter is almost unaware of the collision. At
other impact points, the impact is usually felt as a sting or jarring of the hands and
forearm, particularly if the impact occurs at a point well removed from the sweet
spot".[313][314] " 'I was ready for a fastball early in the count, because I knew he would go
to his other stuff later", Santiago said. "I got one, and I just wanted to hit it on the sweet
spot' ".[315]

swing awayEdit

When a batter is instructed by the coach to swing hard at the ball instead of bunting when
there are men on base, he's said to "swing away".
 Also used to instruct a batter to swing freely at a pitch they think they can hit well.

swing for the downsEdit

To swing mightily trying to hit a home run – an all-or-nothing swing. See swing for the
fences. Swing for the hills.

swing for the fencesEdit

Try to hit a home run. Sometimes batters who swing for the fences rather than just trying
to get a base hit only end up whiffing on the ball. "And Ruth was able to hit more homers
than some teams because he played the game differently – he swung for the fences every
at bat. Most players played 'fundamental' baseball – choke up on the bat, move the runner
over, bunt, make contact, etc."[316]

swing from the heelsEdit

To swing very hard at a pitch in an effort to get an extra base hit. "They swing from the
heels at all times, and . . . simply refuse to go with a pitch and be satisfied with a
groundball through the infield for a base hit."[317]

swingmanEdit

A pitcher with relatively good stamina who can function as either a long reliever or a
starting pitcher, depending on his team's needs at a particular time. An example would be
Justin Masterson during his time with the Boston Red Sox.[318]

switch hitterEdit

Main article: Switch hitter

A player who can hit from both sides of the plate, i.e., he bats both left-handed and right-
handed. The reason many natural right-handers learn to either bat left-handed exclusively
or to switch-hit is to give them an advantage at the plate, due to (1) the fact that most
pitchers (like most humans) are naturally right-handed and (2) it can boost their ability to
hit for power. A right-handed pitcher's natural throwing motion tends to bring the ball
"in" toward a left-hand batter, and "away" from a right-hand batter. Thus, a player who
hits well in general, and about equally well either way, is considered an asset because he
is not subject to platooning of left-hand vs. right-hand pitchers. Most, if not all, switch-
hitters are natural right-handers. (Notice also that a left-handed batter is closer to 1st base
than a right-handed batter would be.)
One of the best-known "singles-hitting" switch hitters was Pete Rose, although later in
his career the naturally right-handed Rose became exclusively a left-hand batter.
Probably the most famous switch-hitting slugger was the natural right-hander Mickey
Mantle, whose power at the plate was especially notable batting opposite (left) handed. In
contrast, there is the old joke told by Joe Garagiola, about a nameless switch-hitter who
could bat "three ways: right-handed, left-handed... and seldom!"
 Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
 H
 I
 J
 K
 L
 M
 N
 O
 P
 Q
 R
 S
 T
 U
 V
 W
 X
 Y
 Z
 See also
 References
 External links

TEdit
tabascoEdit

A pitch that has a little extra on it to make it fast

tablesetterEdit
  a player placed high in the batting order for his tendency to hit for average and
steal bases is said to "set the table" for the power hitters behind him in the lineup.
 an unexpected event early in a ball game, such as a defensive error or a hit
batsmen, can be called a "tablesetter" for the outcome of the game.

tagEdit

 To hit the ball hard, typically for an extra-base hit. "Yanks Tag Price but Rays
rally with five-run 6th".
 A tag out, sometimes just called a tag, is a play in which a baserunner is out
because he is touched by the fielder's hand holding a live ball while the runner is
in jeopardy. "Helton was tagged out at second" implies that a defensive player
touched him with the ball before he reached second base.

tag upEdit

When a batter hits a ball that is caught before touching the ground, he is out and all base
runners must retreat back to their original base. The act of touching their original base is
called "tagging up" after which, they may legally advance to the next base. If a runner
fails to tag up before he or his original base is tagged by a fielder with the ball, he is out
on appeal.

tailgateEdit

A catcher's butt. In the phrase, "he didn't keep his tailgate down", a baseball announcer
means that a pitched ball that was very low or even hit the dirt went through the legs of
the catcher. The analogy is to a latch at the bottom of a gate on the back of a truck or van,
which if it's left open might allow things to fall out of the back of the vehicle.

take a pitch aka red lightEdit

When a batter decides not to swing at a pitch, he "takes the pitch". He may do this
following the instruction of a coach who has given him a take sign.

take signEdit

A sign given by a coach to a batter to not swing at the next pitch—to "take" the next
pitch. Sometimes when a new pitcher or a reliever comes in, batters are given a general
instruction to take the first pitch. Most often, they are told to take a pitch when the count
is 3–0. Poor hitters are often given the take sign, while better hitters much less often.

take something off the pitchEdit

To throw an off-speed pitch or to throw a given pitch slower than the pitcher usually
throws it. "When Washburn took something off a fastball and left it out over the plate,
Bonds lined an RBI double that rolled to the wall in right field, and the rout was on."[319]
take the bat out of his handsEdit

To issue an intentional walk. By doing so, a pitcher reduces the potential damage from
allowing the batter to swing at and hit a pitch. "Buck Showalter took the bat out of Barry
Bonds' hands with an unheard-of strategy – a bases-loaded intentional walk. Amazingly,
the Arizona Diamondbacks manager got away with it."[320]

take the crownEdit

To win the championship -- remove the current champions from the throne.

take the fieldEdit

When the defensive players go to their positions at the beginning of an inning the defense
takes the field. The pitcher goes to the pitcher's mound or takes the hill.

take the hillEdit

When a pitcher moves to his defensive position on the mound he is said to "take the hill".

take-out slideEdit

A slide performed for the purpose of hampering the play of the defense. A runner from
first to second base will often try to "take out" the fielder at the base to disrupt his throw
to first base and "break up the double play". Although the runner is supposed to stay
within the base-paths, as long as he touches second base he has a lot of leeway to use his
body. Runners in this situation usually need to slide in order to avoid being hit by the
throw from second to first; but whether they do a "take-out slide" or come into the base
with their spikes high in the air depends as much on their personal disposition as it does
the situation. The title of a biography of Ty Cobb — "The Tiger Wore Spikes" — says
something about how he ran the basepaths.[321]

tapEdit

To hit a slow or easy ground ball, typically to the pitcher: "Martinez tapped it back to the
mound." A ball hit in this way is a tapper.

tape measure home runEdit

An especially long home run. The term originated from a 1953 game in which Mickey
Mantle hit a ball out of Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. The distance the ball flew
was measured and the next day a picture of Mantle with a tape measure was published in
the newspaper. A play-by-play announcer may also call a long home run a tape measure
job. Although fans have always been interested in how far home runs may travel and in
 comparing the great home runs of the great and not-so-great home run hitters, the science
of measuring home runs remains inexact.[322][323]

taterEdit

A home run. The term started to appear in the 1970s, specifically as "long tater". The ball
itself has been known as a "potato" or "tater" for generations. A long ball is thus a "long
tater", shortened to just "tater" for this specific meaning.

tattooEdit

To hit the ball very hard, figuratively to put a tattoo from the bat's trademark on the ball.

tax evaderEdit

A deep fly ball which has a chance to become a base hit or home run. Said of Brett
Lawrie's inside-the-park home run on 25 June 2016 when the ball was still in the air with
its fate not yet certain.

tea partyEdit

Conference on the mound, involving more players than just the pitcher and catcher, and
sometimes coaches and managers. Also a pow wow.

tee offEdit

Easily hittable pitches are likened to stationary baseballs sitting on batting tees (or
possibly golf tees, since this term is also part of the lexicon of golf), and therefore batters
hitting such pitches are said to be 'teeing off'.

telegraphing pitchesEdit

A pitcher's sending unintentional signals to the hitters about what kind of pitch is about to
be delivered. See tipping pitches. Headline in Houston Chronicle: "Lidge Was
Telegraphing His Pitches."[324]

terminatorEdit

A pitcher’s “out pitch” (usually his best pitch; as a result, it is the pitch upon which he
relies to get batters out). Made famous by the movie Major League II.

Texas LeaguerEdit

A Texas Leaguer (or Texas League single) is a weakly hit fly ball that drops in for a
single between an infielder and an outfielder. These are now more commonly referred to
 as flares, bloopers, or "bloop singles". Most colorfully called a 'gork shot' or a 'duck
snort.' See blooper.
The term is said to have originated when Ollie Pickering, a popular Texas League player,
made his major league debut and proceeded to run off a string of seven straight bloop
hits, leading fans and writers to say, 'Well, there goes Pickering with another one of those
"Texas Leaguers"'.[citation needed]

third of an inningEdit

Line stat credited to a pitcher retiring one out of a full inning. For convenience in print,
however, a pitcher who goes 4 and one-third innings might be shown in the box score as
completing 4.1 innings, as compared with a pitcher who goes four and two-thirds innings
for whom the box score would show 4.2.

three-baggerEdit

A triple.

three-base hitEdit

A triple.

three true outcomesEdit

The three ways a plate appearance can end without fielders coming into play: walks,
home runs, and strikeouts. Baseball Prospectus coined the term in homage to Rob Deer,
who excelled at producing all three outcomes. The statistical result of the three true
outcomes on a player's slash line is a low batting average, as well as an unusually high
on-base percentage relative to the batting average. Traditionally, players with a high
percentage of their plate appearances ending in one of the three true outcomes are
underrated,[citation needed] as general managers often overestimate the harm in striking out,
and underestimate the value of a walk.

three up, three downEdit

To face just three batters in an inning. Having a "three up, three down inning" is the goal
of any pitcher. Unlike in a 1-2-3 inning, batters are permitted to reach base so long as
only three batters are faced by the pitcher. For instance, a single, then a strikeout, then a
double play is a three up three down inning, but not a 1-2-3 inning. See also: side retired,
1-2-3 inning.

through the wicketsEdit

When a batted ball passes through the legs of a player on the field (most commonly an
infielder) it's often said, "That one went right through the wickets." The term refers to the
metal arches (called wickets) used in the game of croquet through which balls are hit.
 Letting the ball through his legs makes a baseball player look (and feel) inept, and the
official scorekeeper typically records the play as an error.

throw a clotheslineEdit

When a fielder throws the ball so hard that it hardly appears to arc at all, he may be said
to "throw a clothesline". Akin to a batter's line drive being described as a rope or frozen
rope.

throw him the chairEdit

Striking out a batter, causing him to sit down in the dugout.

throwerEdit

A pitcher who throws the ball hard in the direction of home plate but without much
accuracy or command. Distinguished from a "pitcher", who may or may not throw the
ball as hard but who has command and is likely to be more successful in getting batters
out. "However, what was special about Martinez during his heyday was that he wasn’t
just a thrower, someone blessed with a great arm who could miss bats all day. Martinez
was a pitcher, someone who changed speeds and had four good pitches that he could
locate and could think his way through an at-bat, an inning, and a game as well as anyone
this side of Maddux."[325]

throwing seeds/throwing the pill/throwing BBsEdit

When a pitcher's fastball is so good it seems as though the baseball is the size of a seed
(or pill or BB), and just about as hittable.

tie him upEdit

Getting a pitch in on the hitter's hands, making it impossible for him to swing.

tiltEdit

A game. A face-off between competitors, as in a joust. Headline: "Myers, Phillies beat

Mets in key NL East tilt".[326]

time playEdit

A run can be scored on the same play as the third out, but only if the third out is not a
force out, and is not made by the batter before reaching first base. In order for the run to
count, the runner must reach home plate before the third out is made elsewhere on the
field, so the play is known as a "time play".[327]
tin gloveEdit

A poor fielding (defensive) player is often said to have a "tin glove", as if his baseball
mitt was made of inflexible metal. This is a sarcastic reference to the gold glove awarded
for defensive excellence.

tipping pitchesEdit

When a pitcher is giving inadvertent signals to the hitters concerning what kind of pitch
he's about to throw, he's said to be "tipping his pitches" or "telegraphing his pitches". It
may be something in his position on the rubber, his body lean, how he holds or moves his
glove when going into the stretch, whether he moves his index finger outside his glove,
or some aspect of his pitching motion. Akin to what is called a tell in poker: a habit,
behavior, or physical reaction that gives other players more information about your hand.
A case in point: "Turns out Maine, who was 0-2 with an 8.24 ERA in September, had
been tipping his pitches all month, subtly curling his glove as he went into his windup for
a curveball."[328]
Coaches as well as players on the bench make a habit of watching everything an
opposing pitcher is doing, looking for information that will allow them to forecast what
kind of pitch is coming. When pitchers go through a bad spell, they may become
paranoid that they're tipping their pitches to the opposing batters. A pitcher and coaches
are likely to spend a lot of time studying film of the games to learn what the pitcher might
be doing that tips his pitches.
Pitchers will try to hide their grip even while delivering the ball. Rick Sutcliffe used to
wind up in such a way that his body concealed the ball from the batter almost until the
moment of release. In contrast, relief ace Dennis Eckersley, playing a psychological
game, would hold the ball up in such a way that he purposely showed off the type of grip
he had on it, essentially "daring" the batter to hit it.

toe the slabEdit

To take the mound; to pitch. Sometimes expressed as "toe the rubber". Literally, to put
the toe of his shoe on the rubber.

took the ball out of the catcher's gloveEdit

When a batter swings a bit late, perhaps hitting the ball to the opposite field, a
broadcaster may say he "took the ball out of the catcher's glove" (just before the catcher
was able to catch it).

took the collarEdit

Went hitless. See collar.

tomahawkEdit
 To hit a high pitch, perhaps one that's out of the strike zone, so that the batter may appear
to be swinging downwards as if his bat is a tomahawk. "Things started well for the Blue
Jays in their first at-bat when Stairs tomahawked a Matsuzaka pitch on one bounce into
the stands behind Fenway Park's famed Pesky's Pole for a ground-rule double."[329]
Kirby Puckett when asked by broadcaster Jim Kaat about his walk-off home run which
won Game Six of the 1991 World Series, "I just tomahawked that ball, Kitty!"

Tommy John surgeryEdit

Main article: Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction

A type of elbow surgery for pitchers named after Tommy John, a pitcher and the first
professional athlete to successfully undergo the operation. Invented by Dodgers team
physician Dr. Frank Jobe in 1974 and known medically as an ulnar collateral ligament
reconstruction.

toolsEdit

Tools are a position player's abilities in five areas: hitting for average, hitting for power,
running, fielding, and throwing. Baseball scouts evaluate prospects based on their current
skills and likely further development in each of these areas. The scouts also make an
overall judgment of a player's tools, and they assign an Overall Future Potential (OFP)
score to each player; but the OFP is not computed in any formal way from numeric
assessments of the players in the specific skill areas. An analogous scouting assessment
of pitchers refers to a variety of pitching skills as well as to the pitcher's OFP. The OFP
scale for pitchers and position players ranges from 20 to 80. A player with an OFP of 50
is thought to have the potential to play at an average major league level. A score of 60 is
also called a "plus", and a score of 70 is also called a "plus-plus"; thus, plus and plus-plus
players are viewed as having the potential to become above-average major leaguers. This
language can also be applied to the specific tools of a player, as in: "He still projects as a
plus hitter with plus power and plus-plus speed." Or "Verlander came into his rookie
season with a plus change-up, a plus curve, and a plus-plus fastball."
Also see 5-tool player.

tools of ignoranceEdit

A catcher's gear.[330] The coining of the phrase is attributed variously to catcher Muddy
Ruel and to Yankee catcher Bill Dickey.[331][332]

toolsyEdit

A player with a lot of tools who hasn't yet developed into a mature player: "Granderson is
not just a toolsy player trying to learn how to convert his excellent tools into usable
baseball skills. He's already well down the road of converting them."

TOOTBLANEdit
 A tongue-in-cheek term for when a baserunner commits a blunder that leads to him being
tagged or forced out. It stands for "Thrown Out On The Basepaths Like A
Nincompoop."[333]

top of the inningEdit

The first half of an inning, during which the visiting team bats, derived from its position
in the line score.

top of the order batterEdit

A batter who has speed and a propensity to get on base, and who thus may be suited to be
the lead-off or second hitter in the line-up. "I think Brett Jackson looks a lot more like a
top of the order guy right now than a middle of the order guy, and he seems like a viable
leadoff hitter based on his performance as a professional".[334]

top-step pitcherEdit

When a pitcher has reached a point where he's at risk of being pulled and replaced by
another pitcher, the manager may be standing at the "top step" of the dugout, ready to go
immediately to the mound after the next pitch.

tore the cover off the ballEdit

Hit the ball so hard that the batter figuratively tore the cover off the ball. Also used in
Ernest Thayer's famous "Casey at the Bat" poem:

"But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,

And Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball. . . ".[335]

tossedEdit

When a player or manager is ordered by an umpire to leave a game, that player or

manager is said to have been "tossed". Usually, this is the result of arguing a ruling by the
umpire. Similar to being "red carded" in the game of soccer. See ejected.

total basesEdit

The sum of the number of bases advanced by a batter/runner on his own safe hits over a
specified period of time, where a single = 1 base; double = 2 bases; triple = 3 bases; home
run = 4 bases. The quotient of total bases divided by at-bats is slugging average, a
measure of a given hitter's power. It could be argued however, that it's not truly total
bases as it does not count walks, hit by pitch, or stolen bases.
touch all the basesEdit

To "touch all the bases" (or "touch 'em all") is to hit a home run. (If a player fails to
literally "touch 'em all" – if he misses a base during his home run trot – he can be called
out on appeal).

touched upEdit

A pitcher who gives up several hits may be said to have been "touched up". Headline:
"McGraw's Star Pitcher Touched Up for Fourteen Hits."[336]

touchdownEdit

A seven-run difference, derived from six points for a touchdown in plus the extra point in
American football. For example, a team up 10-3 is said to be "up by a touchdown".
Obviously this term is only used in exceptionally high scoring games. See slugfest.

TREdit

Throws right; used in describing a player's statistics, for example: John Doe (TR, BR, 6',
172 lbs.)

track downEdit

To field a ball, typically a ground ball that a fielder has to travel some distance to stop or
a fly ball that an outfielder has to run far to catch. "Mike Cameron, Milwaukee Brewers,
can track down flies with the best centerfielders in baseball today."[337]

trappedEdit

When a fielder attempts to catch a batted baseball in the air but the ball hits the ground
just before it enters the fielder's glove, the fielder is said to have "trapped the ball".
Sometimes it is difficult for the umpire to tell whether the ball was caught for an out or
instead trapped. "Any outfielder worth his salt always makes the catch of the sinking line
drive by rolling over and raising his glove triumphantly. It does not matter if he trapped
the ball. It does not matter that the replay shows he trapped the ball. What is important is
the success of the deception at that moment so that the umpire calls the batter out".[338]

tripleEdit

Main article: Triple (baseball)

A three-base hit.

triple crownEdit
Main article: Triple crown (baseball)
In baseball the term Triple Crown refers to:

1. A batter who (at season's end) leads the league in three major categories: home runs, runs
batted in, and batting average.
2. A pitcher who (at season's end) leads the league in three major categories: earned run
average, wins, and strikeouts.

triple playEdit

Main article: Triple play

When three outs are made on one play. This is rare. While a typical game may have
several double plays, a typical season only has a few triple plays. This is primarily
because the circumstances are rather specific — that there be at least two runners, and no
outs, and that typically one of these circumstances occurs: (1) the batter hits a sharp
grounder to the third baseman, who touches the base, throws to second base to get the
second out, and the second baseman or shortstop relays the ball to first quickly enough to
get the batter-runner for the third out (also called a 5-4-3 or 5-6-3 triple play,
respectively); OR (2) the runners are off on the pitch, in a hit-and-run play, but an
infielder catches the ball on a line-drive out, and relays to the appropriate bases in time to
get two other runners before they can retreat to their bases. The latter situation can also
yield an extremely rare unassisted triple play, of which 14 have occurred in the entire
history of major league baseball. A second baseman or shortstop will catch the ball, his
momentum will carry him to second base to make the second out, and he will run and
touch the runner from first before the runner can turn around and fully regain his
momentum back to first.

turn twoEdit

To execute a double play. "In the West, professional middle infielders are taught
techniques to avoid injury while turning two -- keep runners guessing on which side of
the bag you'll throw from, escape quickly, know who's running, keep your left toe pointed
to first base whenever possible and tumble forward on impact."[339]

twinbillEdit

 A doubleheader.

twin killingEdit

 A double play.
 Winning both ends of a doubleheader.

twirlerEdit
 An old fashioned term for a pitcher. In the early years, pitchers would often twirl their
arms in a circle one or more times before delivering the ball, literally using a "windup",
in the belief it would reduce stress on their arms. The terms "twirler" and "twirling" faded
along with that motion. The modern term "hurler" is effectively the substitute term.

two away or two downEdit

When there are two outs in the inning

two-baggerEdit

A double.

two-base hitEdit

A double.

two-seam fastballEdit

A fastball held in such a way that it breaks slightly downward, and most often away from
the pitcher's arm, as it crosses the plate. A sinker. A two-seamer. Due to the grip,
generally with or along the two straight seams, as opposed to a four seamer, which is
gripped across the horseshoe, the batter sees only one pair of seams spinning instead of
two.

two-sport playerEdit

Many college athletes play two sports, but it is rare for someone to play two major league
professional sports well or simultaneously. Sometimes players have brief major league
trial periods in two professional sports but quickly drop one of them. Some "two-sport"
players who played multiple major league baseball seasons have been Jim Thorpe, Brian
Jordan, Gene Conley, Bo Jackson, Danny Ainge, Ron Reed, Deion Sanders and Mark
Hendrickson. Although Michael Jordan tried to become a major league baseball player
after his first retirement from the National Basketball Association, he didn't make the big
leagues and did not try to play both baseball and basketball at the same time.

two-thirds of an inningEdit

Line stat credited to a pitcher retiring 2 outs of a full inning. For convenience in print,
however, a pitcher who goes six and two-thirds innings might be shown in the box score
as completing 6.2 innings, as compared with a pitcher who goes six and one-third innings
for whom the box score would be shown as completing 6.1.

two-way playerEdit
See also: Two-way player

 A term borrowed from American football to describe either a player who can
pitch and hit well, or a player who can pitch and play another defensive position
well. The most famous Major League ballplayer who was truly a two-way player
was Babe Ruth, who in his early career was an outstanding pitcher but later
played in the outfield—and was one of the greatest home run hitters of all-time.
 The term is sometimes used to describe a player who is good at both offense and
defense: "Manager Jim Leyland said during the season that he believes Inge has
the potential to become one of the league's best two-way players."

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 External links
UEdit
UA or U.A.Edit

Abbreviation for Union Association, a one-year (1884) major league.

Uecker seatsEdit

Spectator seating offering a very poor view of the playing field. Usually located in a
stadium's upper decks. Named in honor of longtime Milwaukee Brewers announcer Bob
Uecker, in reference to one of his Miller Lite Beer TV ads in which he is removed from
the box seats and learns that his tickets actually put him in the back row of the right field
upper deck at the stadium.

ugly finderEdit

A foul ball hit into a dugout, presumably destined to "find" someone who is ugly, or to
render him that way if he fails to dodge the ball.

ukulele hitterEdit

A weak hitter – banjo hitter, Punch and Judy hitter. "Wolff: Ukulele Hitter Makes
Hall of Fame as Broadcaster".[340]

ultimate grand slamEdit

A grand slam that is hit by a member of the home team when his team is behind by
exactly 3 runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, extra inning, or other scheduled final
inning. The grand slam causes the home team to overcome the 3-run deficit and take the
lead, thereby ending the game. See also walk-off home run.

umpireEdit

Main article: Umpire (baseball)

Each umpire is a member of an umpiring crew, responsible for refereeing or officiating
a game. Major League Baseball employs 17 4-man crews.[341] The umpires officiate the
game, including beginning, suspending, and ending the game; enforcing the rules of the
game; calling balls and strikes; making judgment calls on plays; and meting out
discipline such as ejecting players or coaches from the game.
Umpires are sometimes addressed as Blue or abbreviated as ump. Fans and players alike
have a rich vocabulary for describing umps.
Each umpiring crew has a crew chief. Each game has an umpire in chief for that game,
with the umpires within a crew rotating responsibilities from one game to the next. A
typical Major League game during the season uses four umpires: the home plate umpire
and three base umpires, stationed near each base. The home plate umpire is the umpire
 in chief for the game and declares when game action is to begin or end, calls balls and
strikes, and whether runners are safe or out on plays at the plate. The base umpires are
responsible for declaring whether runners are safe or out on plays at any base, whether
balls hit to the outfield are fair or foul, whether a ball is caught for an out, whether fly
balls are home runs, whether there is fan interference on a play (or other conditions that
require application of a ground rule). In playoff games, the umpiring crews are expanded
to six, to include umpires for left and right field, who monitor the foul lines as well as
calling plays on other balls hit to the outfield.
The umpiring crew works as a team, and on some occasions consult with one another
before an official ruling is made, such as on appeal plays, whether a fly ball actually was
a home run, when a particular umpire had an obstructed view of a play, or when one
umpire has moved from his initial position and is not the one who is closest to a play and
thus able to make a call.

unassisted playEdit

A play that a fielder single-handedly completes for an out that is more often completed
by multiple fielders. For example, with a runner on first base, a ground ball is hit to the
shortstop who then steps on second base, completing a force out. Variations are: the
unassisted double play (rare) and the unassisted triple play (very, very rare).

Uncle CharlieEdit

A curveball. A type of pitch

uncontested steal, undefended stealEdit

If a base runner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the
ball to home plate but the catcher does not attempt to throw him out, then the steal may
be scored as an uncontested or undefended steal. In the game's statistics, the runner
would not be credited with a stolen base. Also called defensive indifference. See also
stolen base, fielder's choice.

upEdit

"Up" has many and diverse uses in baseball. For example:

 "Batter up!": the umpire's cry starting an inning.

 At bat, at the plate. A player who is at bat is "up" or "up at bat".
 Three up, three down: three batters came to the plate, and all three are out.
 A team in the lead is "up" by some number of runs.
 The batter got under the ball and popped it up.
 The pitcher got the pitch "up", and the batter popped it over the fence for a homer.
 Called up, a player has been promoted from the minors to the majors.

up and inEdit
 Same as high and tight.

up in the zoneEdit

A pitch that's in the upper part of the strike zone. "When Miller throws his fastball up in
the zone, opponents are hitting .079 (6-for-76) and have missed on 36 percent of swings
(league average is .232). When his fastball is down or in the middle of the strike zone,
opponents hit .270 with a miss rate of 15 percent".[342]

upper deckerEdit

A home run that lands in the stadium's upper deck of seating. Also refers to a dip that is
placed in the upper lip as opposed to the lower lip.

uppercutEdit

When instead of being horizontal or level, a batter's swing moves in an upward direction
as the bat moves forward. "The looping or uppercut swing is most common when the
hitter 'loads up his swing' in order to hit with more power."[343]

upstairsEdit

a pitched ball that is high, and usually outside the strike zone

up the elevator shaftEdit

a high pop-up hit directly over the batter in the batters box usually caught by the Catcher
or Pitcher. The term is a play on the notion that the ball is shot up into an elevator shaft.

up the middleEdit

The location of batted balls on the field very close to second base. Also, in a more
general sense, the area of the field on the imaginary line running from home plate through
the pitcher's mound, second base, and center field. General managers typically build
teams "up the middle"; that is, with strong defense in mind at catcher, second base,
shortstop, and center field.

utility playerEdit

Main article: Utility player § baseball

A player (usually a bench player) who can play several different positions.

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 External links

VEdit
visiting teamEdit

A team playing in another team's home stadium is the "visiting team"—or the "visitors".
The visiting team bats in the top half of the inning. A fabled sign at Tiger Stadium on the
visitor's clubhouse read "No Visitors Allowed".

VORPEdit

Main article: VORP

Value Over Replacement Player, Keith Woolner's method of evaluating baseball players.
VORP ranks players by comparing their run production (for batters) to that of an
 imaginary "replacement-level" player that teams can acquire for the league-minimum
salary.[344]

vultureEdit

A reliever who records wins in late innings by being the pitcher of record in the midst of
a comeback.[345]

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 See also
 References
 External links

WEdit
waiting for the express and caught the localEdit

A batter caught looking at an off-speed pitch for strike three, when the game situation
called for (or the batter was expecting) a fastball.

wallopEdit

A home run. "What a wallop!"

Also used as a verb: "Albert Pujols walloped that pitch."

walkEdit

A base on balls

walk-off home runEdit

Main article: Walk-off home run

A game-ending home run by the home team. So called because the losing team (the
visiting team) then has to walk off the field. The term "walk-off" can also be applied to
any situation with two or fewer outs in the last at-bat of the home team (such as the walk-
off single, wild pitch, etc.) where the game ends as the winning run scores. For example,
a bases loaded base on balls in the bottom of the last inning has been described as "a
walk-off walk". In reference to a home run, the older term is "sudden death", or, as touted
by national broadcaster Curt Gowdy, "sudden victory".

walk-off lossEdit

A visiting team immediately loses the game when a team allows a run to take the lead in
the bottom of the 9th inning or later.

walk-off winEdit

See also: Walk-off home run

A home team immediately wins the game when the team scores a run to take the lead in
the bottom of the 9th inning or later.

In its truest sense, a walk-off win occurs when a runner already on base scores the winning run.
The batter that drove in the winning run no longer needs to run the bases, but, after touching first
base, can simply "walk off" the field.

warning trackEdit

Main article: Warning track

The dirt and finely-ground gravel (as opposed to grass) area bordering the fence,
especially in the outfield. It is intended to help prevent fielders from inadvertently
 running into the fence. 1950s and 60s broadcaster Bob Wolff used to call it the "cinder
path". The first "warning tracks" actually started out as running tracks in Yankee Stadium
and Cleveland Stadium. True warning tracks did not become standard until the 1950s,
around the time batting helmets came into standard use also. Rather than having a
warning track, some early stadiums had sloped mounds where the warning track would
be. The change in pitch was similarly intended to prevent fielders from running into the
wall. Multi-purpose ballparks such as Veterans Stadium or Three Rivers Stadium that
used Astroturf instead of natural grass used rubber warning tracks rather than gravel so
that it would be easier to convert the stadium for use for football.

warning track powerEdit

When a batter hits a fly ball that is caught at the warning track, just missing a home run.

waste a pitchEdit

 When a pitcher gets ahead in the count he may choose to throw a pitch that is
outside the strike zone in hopes that the batter will chase a pitch he can't hit.
"Waste a pitch" is the opposite of attack the strike zone. An example of this usage
drawn from a Q & A session: "Basically, it's the preference of pitchers on the
mound about wasting pitches. Tigers hurlers choose to attack opposing hitters."
Wasting a pitch is the pitching counterpart to the batter "taking" a 3-0 pitch in the
hope that the pitcher will throw another one outside the strike zone and result in a
base-on-balls.
 The phrase is sometimes applied also to hitters who deliberately foul off a pitch
that's a strike but that the hitter can't get good wood on.

waveEdit

 To swing and miss a pitch, usually with a tentative swing.

 When an umpire signals to a runner to take a base on an overthrow into the dug-
out or in case of a ground rule double or a balk, he waves the runner to the next
base.
 When a third-base coach signals to a runner advancing toward the base to
continue toward home plate he is said to wave the runner home.
 "Doing the wave" in the stands.

wearing a pitchEdit

 When a batter allows a pitch to hit them, or knowingly drops their elbow or
shoulder into the pitch to be awarded first base.
 Sometimes if a player jumps out of the way of a pitch you may hear his
teammates telling him to, "wear it!" from the dugout.

web gemEdit
 An outstanding defensive play. Refers to the webbing of the fielders' gloves. Popularized
by Baseball Tonight on ESPN.

went deepEdit

Hit a home run. See go deep.

went fishingEdit

When a batter reaches across the plate trying to hit an outside pitch, perhaps one that he
can't reach, he "went fishing". "Burres racked up his fourth strikeout of the game with a
nice change-up that Byrnes went fishing on."[346] Akin to chasing a pitch.

wheelhouseEdit

A hitter's power zone. Usually a pitch waist-high and over the heart of the plate. "Clem
threw that one right into Ruben's wheelhouse. End of story."[347][348]

wheel playEdit

Upon a bunt to the left side of the infield, the third-baseman runs toward home to field
the bunt, and the shortstop runs to third base to cover. The infielders thus rotate like a
wheel. "Lohse's bunt was a bad one, in the air over the head of Beltré, but it required
Andrus to make an outstanding pick, stopping in his tracks as he was headed to cover
third on the wheel play and then throwing to first."[349]

wheelsEdit

Legs. A player who runs the bases fast has wheels.

whiffEdit

A swinging strike (referring to the bat whiffing through the air without contacting the
ball).

whiffoutEdit

A swinging strikeout.

whipEdit

A curveball. Just as a bullwhip may snap, so may a pitch when it breaks.

WHIPEdit
Main article: Walks plus hits per inning pitched
A measurement of the pitcher's ability to keep batters off base. Calculated as (Bases on
Balls + Hits allowed) / (Innings pitched). WHIP is one of the performance statistics that
is commonly used in fantasy baseball.

whitewashEdit

A shutout.

wild cardEdit

Main article: Wild card (sports) § Major League Baseball

In Major League Baseball, the wild-card playoff spot is given to the team in each league
with the best regular season record among divisional second-place teams. MLB was the
final sport (1994) to adopt the wild card and to this day has the fewest wildcards (four) of
the four major US team sports. As a comparison, on the other extreme, the NHL and
NBA both have 10 wildcards each.

wild in the strike zoneEdit

A pitcher who throws strikes but without sufficient control over their location is "wild in
the strike zone". Headline: "Zambrano Is Too Wild in Strike Zone".[350]

wild pitchEdit

Main article: Wild pitch

A wild pitch (abbreviated WP) is charged to a pitcher when, in the opinion of the official
scorer, a pitch is too high, too low, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to catch the
ball with ordinary effort, and which allows one or more runners to advance; or allows the
batter to advance to first base, if it is a third strike with first base unoccupied. Neither a
passed ball nor a wild pitch is charged as an error. It is a separate statistic.

winEdit

Main article: Win (baseball)

The following illustrates how pitchers are credited for a win — the W — when two or
more pitchers have participated on the winning side, some who may have only faced a
single batter, and some who may have faced two dozen or more batters.

 A win (W) is generally credited to the pitcher for the winning team who was in
the game when it last took the lead. A starting pitcher must generally complete
five innings to earn a win. Under some exceptions to the general rules, the official
scorer awards the win based on guidelines set forth in the official rules (see MLB
Official Rule 10.19). The winning pitcher cannot also be credited with a save in
the same game.
 o An example of the allocation of credit for a win: Pitching for Detroit
against Boston in Boston, Bonderman allows 2 runs on 5 hits, with 8 K's
and 1 BB in 7 and two-thirds innings, throwing 103 pitches; he leaves the
game with the score tied 2-2. Rodney relieves Bonderman, throws 3
pitches and faces 1 batter to end the 8th inning with the game still tied 2-2.
In the top of the 9th the Tigers score 1 run to take the lead, 3-2. In the
bottom of the 9th Jones "closes" and retires the Red Sox in order. Tigers
win the game. Rodney gets a Win. Jones gets a Save. Bonderman receives
a "no decision".

 A loss (L) is charged to the pitcher for the losing team who allows the run that
gives the opposing team a lead they do not relinquish for the remainder of the
game. The pitcher who gives up a hit to score the "go-ahead run" does not
necessarily receive the loss; instead the L goes to the pitcher who allowed the run-
scoring player to reach base. A pitcher (including the starter) need face only one
batter to be charged with an L.

For further discussion see Win (baseball).

window shoppingEdit

Caught looking for strike three.

windupEdit

Main article: Pitching position

In baseball, there are two legal pitching positions: the windup, and the set. The choice of
pitching position may be tactical, as the windup has a generally slower execution than the
set and is thus at greater risk of allowing a stolen base. However, some pitchers,
particularly relief pitchers, are more comfortable pitching from the set position, and thus
use it regardless of the situation.

winning recordEdit

Does not mean that a team won the league championship, just that it won more games
during the regular season than it lost. For a modern Major League team, this means a
team won at least 82 games out of 162 games played in what is called the winning
season.

winning streakEdit

A series of consecutive wins.

Winter leaguesEdit
 Currently eight minor leagues with seasons that happen during the "off-season" of Major
League Baseball: the Arizona Fall League, the Australian Baseball League, the
Dominican Winter Baseball League, the Mexican Pacific League, the Puerto Rico
Baseball League, the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, the Nicaraguan
Professional Baseball League, and the Colombian Professional Baseball League. The
winter leagues used to include the Cuban League and the Panamanian Winter League.

wire-to-wireEdit

A phrase borrowed from horse racing; it refers to a team leading a game from the first
inning to the end of the game, or a team leading their division (or league) from the
beginning (or at least from the first two or three weeks) of the season to the end of the
season. Also sometimes used to refer to a pitcher throwing a complete game win,
especially referring to a shut-out. "The Red Sox lead wire to wire in a 14-2 drubbing of
the Yankees yesterday." "The Mets looked like they were going to take their division and
win it wire-to-wire in 2007, but the wheels really fell off for them in the last three weeks
and the Phillies took advantage of that". "The Blue Jays' Roy Halladay took a no-hitter
into the seventh inning and led wire-to-wire in a 3-0 win today, tossing a two-hit
complete game gem at the Rogers Centre."

woodEdit

The baseball bat. See "get good wood".

work the countEdit

When a batter is patient in his at-bats and tries to get "ahead in the count" or to get a pitch
that he can hit hard, he's said to "work the count" or to "work the pitcher". "Working the
pitcher" also implies that the batter should not make the task easy for the pitcher; make
the pitcher throw good pitches to get the batter out. Tigers Manager Jim Leyland: "We
tell our hitters to be aggressive all the time, and at the same time we tell them, ‘Work the
pitcher.’"

worm burnerEdit

A hard hit ground ball that "burns" the ground. A daisy cutter.

worm killerEdit

A pitch, usually an off speed or breaking ball, that hits the ground before it reaches home
plate, thus theoretically killing worms.

wrapped around the foul poleEdit

When a batted ball that goes for a home run passes just inside the foul pole while curving
toward foul territory, it is sometimes described as having "wrapped around the foul pole".
 The ball may actually land in foul territory but if it passed inside the pole it is a fair ball
and a home run. This sometimes leads to controversy, because the umpires and players
may have difficulty seeing whether the ball was fair when it passed the foul pole,
especially if it is hit very high.

WWEdit

Scoresheet notation for "wasn't watching", used by non-official scorekeepers when their
attention has been distracted from the play on field. Supposedly used frequently by
former New York Yankees broadcaster Phil Rizzuto.

Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
 H
 I
 J
 K
 L
 M
 N
 O
 P
 Q
 R
 S
 T
 U
 V
 W
 X
 Y
 Z
 See also
 References
 External links
YEdit
yacker/yakkerEdit

A curveball with a big break.

yankEdit

To pull a fair ball down the foul line. "Damian Miller then yanked a double just inside the
third-base bag and down the line, scoring both runners."[351]

yardEdit

The baseball field. If a batter hits a home run, the ball may be said to have left the yard.
This is also referred to as "going yard".

yardworkEdit

A player is said to be "doing yardwork" by hitting many home runs or exhibiting power.
Compare to going yard.

yardjobEdit

A home run. Compare to going yard.

yellow hammerEdit

Main article: Yellow Hammer

A sharp-breaking curveball. Supposedly named after the yellowhammer bird and its
apparent habit of diving steeply to catch prey.

yipsEdit

A condition in which a player, usually a pitcher, loses control over the direction of his
throws. "Rick Ankiel was transitioned to a position player due to developing a case of the
yips on the mound."

you're outEdit

A phrase commonly used in baseball to indicate that a member of the batting team has
made an out and must leave the field of play.
 Contents:

 0–9
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
 F
 G
 H
 I
 J
 K
 L
 M
 N
 O
 P
 Q
 R
 S
 T
 U
 V
 W
 X
 Y
 Z
 See also
 References
 External links

ZEdit
zeroesEdit

A no-hitter or perfect game, so called because the line score shown on the scoreboard is
0–0–0, though it is subjective when referring to a no-hitter and perfect games, because
the opposing team can make errors. However, it will normally show as 0–0–0 (no runs,
no hits, no errors) on the scoreboard.

zingerEdit
 A hard-hit line drive base hit

zipEdit

Speed. A pitcher with a good fastball is said to have zip on the ball.

zoneEdit

 The strike zone.

 A pitcher is said to be "in the zone" not only by throwing strikes but by
maintaining his focus and throwing pitches that get batters out. "You hear about
pitchers being in the zone and stuff like that, and that’s what I was doing. I was
zoned in. I was throwing the right pitch every time, and until the kid got the hit, I
honestly didn’t even realize”.[352]