List of baseball jargon

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

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 also English language idioms derived from baseball for common idioms that originated in baseball and baseball statistics for more formal definitions of some of the statistical concepts listed below.

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List of baseball jargon (0-9)

List of baseball jargon (A)

[edit] B

[edit] backdoor breaking ball

A breaking pitch, usually a slider or cut fastball that, due to its lateral motion, passes through a small part of the strike zone away from the hitter after appearing it would miss the plate entirely.

[edit] backstop

• The fence behind homeplate, designed to protect spectators from wild pitches or foul tips.

• "Backstop" is also a slang word for catchers.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] bag

Slang for a base.

[edit] bail

• A batter who sees a pitch coming toward his head may "bail out" (hit the dirt).
• 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.

[edit] 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. The rules specify which pitching movements are illegal. 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Baltimore chop

A short downward swing intended to make the ball rebound off home plate or the packed dirt immediately in front of the plate. The goal is to produce a bounce high enough so that, even if the ball can be fielded by an infielder the batter will reach first for a base hit. This was a tactic of the Baltimore Orioles of the National League in the 1890s. John McGraw is supposed to have had the earth in front of home plate compacted for this purpose. When it happens in the modern game, it is more often simply a result of poor contact that just happens to aid the batter-runner.

[edit] bandbox

A ballpark with small dimensions that encourages offense, especially home runs. A crackerbox.

[edit] bang

• A baseball player's term for 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] base hit

See hit.

[edit] base knock

A single. Also see knocks.

[edit] bases loaded

Runners on first, second, and third base. Also known as "bases full," "bases packed," or "bases jammed."

[edit] basement

Last place, bottom of the standings. Also cellar.

[edit] baserunner

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

[edit] basket catch

Catching a fly to the outfield with open glove near the belt level. The signature catch of Willie Mays.

[edit] 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.

[edit] bat around

A team is said to have "batted around" after each of the nine players in the lineup makes a plate appearance and the hitter who led off the inning returns for a second at-bat in that inning.

[edit] bat the ball

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

[edit] batter

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

[edit] 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) since at least the late 1800s.

One example of a batter's background is the black area in center field of Yankee Stadium. At one time, there were seats where the black area is now, but because of distractions the seats were removed and the area painted black.

[edit] batter's box

A rectangle on either side of home plate in which the batter must be standing for fair play to resume. Only a foot and a hand out of the box are required to stop fair play.

[edit] battery

• The pitcher and catcher considered as a single unit. Henry Chadwick coined the term, drawing from the military sense of the term artillery battery. It also suggests a play on words, as its activities center on the batter.
• A battery chucker is a fan who throws small batteries or other objects at the players from the stands.

[edit] batterymates

A pitcher and catcher from the same team.

[edit] 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. 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 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 Adrian 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.

[edit] batting practice

The period, often before a game, when players warm up or practice their hitting technique. Sometimes the term is used to describe 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.

[edit] bazooka

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

[edit] 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).

[edit] beat out

When a runner gets to first base before the throw, he beats the throw or beats it out. Akin to leg out. "Using his great speed, Baldelli beat it out."

[edit] behind in the count

Opposite of ahead in the count. If the pitcher is ahead in the count, the batter is behind, and vice versa.

[edit] belt

To hit a ball hard to the outfield or out of the park, fair or foul. "Pujols belted that one . . . just foul."

[edit] 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 (i.e., they aren't currently in the lineup or removed from it during this game). "LaRussa's bench is depleted because of all the pinch hitting and pinch running duties it's been called on to perform tonight."

[edit] 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.

[edit] bender

A curveball.

[edit] big fly

A long home run.

[edit] 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.

[edit] big leagues

Major League Baseball

[edit] bigs

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

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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)).

[edit] blooper

A blooper or bloop is a weakly hit fly ball that drops in for a single between an infielder and an outfielder.

[edit] 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 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."
• A blow-out is a game in which one team wins by many runs. Headline: "Penny Shines as Dodgers Blow Out Giants."

[edit] blown save

A blown save (BS) is charged to a pitcher who enters a game in a save situation but allows the tying run (and perhaps the go-ahead run) to score. If the pitcher's team does not come back to win the game, the pitcher will be charged with both a loss and a blown save. The blown save is not an officially recognized statistic by Major League Baseball. But analysts and sportscasters count blown saves to characterize the "record" of closers in a way that's analogous to won-loss records of starters. "Jones has made 31 out of 34 saves" or "Jones has 31 saves and 3 blown saves."

[edit] blowser

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

[edit] Blue

A term commonly used by players to address an umpire, referring to the typical dark blue color of the umpire's uniform. Usually when complaining about a call: "Oh, come on, Blue!"

[edit] bomb

A home run.

[edit] bonehead play

A bonehead play or "boner" is a mental mistake that changes the course of a game dramatically. See "Merkle's boner".

[edit] bonus baby

A young player who received a signing bonus.

[edit] bonus baseball

Extra innings. Also called "bonus cantos" by Yankees announcer Michael Kay.

[edit] bottom (of an inning)

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

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] BP

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

[edit] BR

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

[edit] bread and butter

A player's greatest or most reliable skill. For example: "The curveball is this pitcher's bread and butter pitch." From the more general expression, "bread and butter", denoting any person's most basic source of nourishment and strength.

[edit] break

The Break is the "All-Star Break", the 3-day period roughly halfway through the regular season during which the all-stars of the American League play a game against the all-stars of the National League. It's also a common reference point for comparing a player's statistics: before the break vs. after the break; the first half vs. the last half of the season (even though the "last half" is shorter than the "first half" — about 45% of the games remain to be played).

[edit] 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.

[edit] break one off

To throw a curveball.

[edit] bring

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

[edit] brush-back

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. 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".

[edit] 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". See also Mendoza line.

[edit] 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).

[edit] bunt

To deliberately bat the ball weakly to a particular spot on the infield by holding the bat nearly still 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.

[edit] bush league

A slang term used to describe play that is of minor league or unprofessional quality. The "bushes" or the "sticks" are small towns where minor league teams may operate, the latter term also used in the acting profession, famously in the Variety headline of July 17, 1935, "Sticks nix hick pix", meaning small towns reject motion pictures about small towns.

[edit] C

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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^st, several minor leaguers may be called up to take a spot on the expanded roster.

[edit] campaign

A season. The "2006 campaign" is the 2006 Major League season.

[edit] can of corn

An easily-caught fly ball. Supposedly comes from a general store clerk reaching up and dropping a can from a high shelf. Frequently used by Chicago White Sox broadcaster Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson.

[edit] Captain Hook

A manager who often takes a pitcher out of the game at the first sign of trouble. See hook.

[edit] 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.

[edit] catcher's interference

It is catcher's interference when the catcher physically hinders the batter's opportunity to swing at a pitch. 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 catcher is charged with an error. This is one of many types of interference call.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] chair, the

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.

[edit] 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 pinky 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 of the New York Mets, 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.

[edit] charging the mound

• Charging the mound refers to a batter assaulting the pitcher after being hit by a pitch. The first incidence 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.

• In the famous Pine Tar Game, George Brett charged home plate to protest the umpire's ruling that his apparent 2-run home run was hit with an illegal bat. Brett was tossed from the game.

[edit] chase

To chase (or chase after) is to swing at a pitch well outside of the strike zone.

[edit] check the runner

When the pitcher 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.

[edit] check 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," then a defensive player such as the catcher or pitcher can appeal the call and the home plate umpire will ask another umpire to tell him whether the batter swung at the pitch. In such a case, the home plate umpire always accepts the judgment of the other umpire.

[edit] cheese

A fastball. Also high cheese.

[edit] chin music

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

[edit] chopper

A chopper refers to a batted ball that immediately strikes the hardened area of dirt directly infront of home plate. This causes the ball to jump high into the infield air. Fast batters can convert such choppers into base hits.

[edit] 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.

[edit] chuck

Throw. A pitcher is sometimes referred to as a chucker or someone who can really chuck the ball. A fan who throws objects from the stands onto the field may be a battery chucker.

[edit] circus catch

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

[edit] 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 #4 hitter would ideally "clean off" the bases with a grand slam home run.

[edit] 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."

[edit] 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 knuckleball.

[edit] 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 somnthing that good hitters in general do. An old synonym for clutch is pinch, as in Christy Mathewson's book, Pitching in a Pinch.

[edit] 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."

[edit] comebacker

A ball batted directly back to the pitcher.

[edit] command

The ability of a pitcher to throw a pitch where he intends to. More than just the ability to throw strikes, it is the ability to hit particular spots in or out of the strike zone. Also see location.

[edit] 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. Note: A complete game can be awarded to a pitcher even if he pitches less than (or more than) nine-innings. Also, a pitcher will not be awarded a complete game even if he pitches for nine (or more) innings and has to be relieved say, in the 10th.

[edit] 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, with lots of doubles and triples. One of the best examples: Pete Rose.

[edit] 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.^[1] 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.

[edit] corner outfielder

The left fielder and right fielder are corner outfielders.

[edit] cornerman

A third baseman.

[edit] cornucopia

Texas Rangers TV announcer Bill Land once called an easily-caught fly ball in a game incorrectly by stating, "It's a cornucopia!" In the background, you could hear color commentator, Tom Grieve mumbling "can..of..corn.." It is not uncommon to hear fans in the lower rows of Section 15 at Ameriquest Field in Arlington yelling "CORNUCOPIA!"

[edit] 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", 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. 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.

[edit] 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 "31", meaning first baseman to pitcher).

[edit] 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." ^[2]

Similarly, with metal bats, the outfielders have to learn to distinguish a "ping" from a "plunk".

[edit] crackerbox

A small baseball field considered to be friendly to power hitters and unfriendly to pitchers. A bandbox.

[edit] Crackerjack

A crackerjack player or team is exceptionally good.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] crowding 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] cup of coffee

A short time spent by a minor league player at the major league level, often for a 10-day contract. The idea is that the player was only there long enough to have a cup of coffee.

[edit] curtain call

A player who has excited the fans because of a great play or hit may come back onto the field or out of the dugout to wave or tip his cap to the crowd. A term obviously derived from the theater.

[edit] curveball

A pitch that curves or breaks from a straight or expected flight path toward home plate.

[edit] cut fastball

A cut fastball or cutter is a fastball that has lateral movement. A "cut fastball" is another name for a slider that has more speed than lateral movement.

[edit] 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 is taught for two reasons: it increases accuracy over long distances and shortens the time required to get a ball to a specific place. 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.

[edit] cut-off man

A fielder that "cuts off" a long throw to an important target. Often the shortstop or second 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.

[edit] D

[edit] daisy cutter

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.

[edit] dark one

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.

[edit] dead ball

The ball becomes "dead" (i.e., the game's action is stopped) 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.

[edit] 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. In this case the ball literally was "dead", relatively speaking. Hitting a home run over the fence was a notable achievement.

[edit] dead red

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. Also see "shooting the cripple."

[edit] deal

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".

A player trade, or exchange (a common term to all American team sports).

[edit] defensive indifference

When the defense allows a baserunner to advance. 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 two outs, where the focus is on inducing the batter make the final out.

[edit] deliver

• To deliver is to pitch. Announcer: "Koufax delivers. . . . Strike three!!!"
• Delivery refers to 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] deuce

A curveball, because the catcher's sign is usually made by extending the first two fingers. From playing cards, where the "2" card is conventionally called the "deuce".

[edit] deuces wild

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 poker term "deuces are wild". Often used by Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully.

[edit] dial long distance

To hit a home run. Headline: "Sox Sluggers Dial Long Distance — Ramirez, Ortiz Each Crank Two-Run Homers".

[edit] diamond

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".

[edit] dig it out

To field a ball on or near the ground. Usually a first baseman taking a low throw from another infielder.

[edit] dinger

A home run.

[edit] 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.

[edit] dish

• 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).

[edit] DL

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

[edit] doctoring the ball

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, emory 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.^[3]

[edit] double

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.

[edit] doubleheader

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. In minor league baseball, doubleheader games are often scheduled for 7 innings rather than the 9 innings that is standard 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.

[edit] 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, a reference to the fact that they play either side of second base (also known as second sack).

[edit] double play depth

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.

[edit] doubles hitter

A gap hitter

[edit] down

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.

[edit] down the line

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

[edit] down the middle

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

[edit] DP combo

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.

[edit] drilled

Hit by a pitch, plunked.

[edit] drive

• A line drive (noun).
• To hit a line drive (verb). "Magglio drove the ball to center."
• To make hits that produce RBI's. "Tejada drove him home from second." "Ramirez drove in three."

[edit] drop ball

• 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.

[edit] drop off the table

Used to describe a pitched ball, usually a curveball, that breaks extremely sharply.

[edit] duck snort

A softly hit ball that goes over the infielders and lands in the outfield for a hit. Originally called a "duck fart" because it was assumed that a duck's feathers would make its farts as soft (or quiet) as the hit. Changed to a "snort" for use in polite company.

[edit] ducks on the pond

runners at second and third, but especially when the bases are loaded. "He doesn't hit when there are ducks on the pond."

[edit] due

A batter is said to be "due" when he's been in a hitting slump.

[edit] dugout

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. The term dugout refers to 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.

[edit] duster, dust-off pitch

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.

[edit] dying quail

A batted ball that drops in front of the outfielders for a hit, often unexpectedly (like a shot bird).

[edit] E

[edit] Eephus

A very slow pitch with a high arcing trajectory. Invented by 1930s Pittsburgh Pirates hurler Rip Sewell, it is not a part of any current pitcher's repertoire, but some do throw it 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.

[edit] early innings

The first, second and third innings of a regulation nine-inning game.

[edit] 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.

[edit] earned run average

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

[edit] ejected

A player or coach who is disqualified from the game by an umpire for unsportsmanlike conduct. SYNONYMS: tossed, thrown out, banished, given the thumb, given the heave-ho, kicked out, booted, sent to the clubhouse.

[edit] elephant ear(s)

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

[edit] emergency starter

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. Recent 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."

[edit] ERA

See earned run average.

[edit] erase

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

[edit] error

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.

[edit] even count

1-1 or 2-2. See count.

[edit] everyday player

• 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:

• a platoon player who plays only against pitchers of the opposite hand.
• 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.

[edit] excuse me swing

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

[edit] expand the strike zone

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.

[edit] expanded roster

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.

[edit] extra bases

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.

[edit] extra innings

Additional innings needed to determine a winner if a game is tied after the regulation number of innings (typically 9, though sometimes 7). Also known as bonus baseball or free baseball because paying spectators are witnessing more action than normal.

[edit] F

[edit] Fall Classic

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. Jeter's walk-off homer was the first plate appearance in the month of November in MLB history; the 2001 season was delayed for several days following 9/11, eventually pushing the start of the World Series into the last week of October.

[edit] fan

• A strong supporter of a player, a team, or the game in general. This term originated in 19th century England as "the fancy" to refer to those who followed or "fancied" boxing. "The fancy" was shortened to "the fance," then "the fans" was adopted into baseball (replacing the 19th century term "kranks" or "cranks"). Its use was reinforced by its apparent connection to the word "fanatics."
• To "fan" a batter is to strike him out, especially a swinging strike three.

[edit] fan interference

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.

[edit] fencebuster

A slugger.

[edit] 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).

[edit] fat pitch

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.

[edit] feed

• 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.
• To draw energy from the fans. A newly-hired manager might say "I really think we can feed on the excitement that's already here."

[edit] field

• 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, Comerica Park).
• 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."

[edit] fielder

• 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.

[edit] field manager

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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] figger filbert

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.

[edit] fireballer

A pitcher who throws primarily fastballs. A flamethrower.

[edit] fireman

A team's top relier pitcher who is often brought in to end an offensive rally and put out the fire.

[edit] first-ball hitter

A hitter who likes to hit the first pitch in an at bat.

[edit] five o'clock hitter

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

[edit] FL or F.L.

Abbreviation for Federal League, a major league that existed from 1914 to 1915.

[edit] flamethrower

A fireballer.

[edit] flare

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

[edit] fly ball

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

[edit] force play

When a runner must advance (after a hit) or retouch (after a fly out), a tag on the baserunner is not required. A fielder can merely touch the base with the ball in hand to force out a baserunner. A batter-runner can always be forced out at first base. (Official Rules of Baseball, Rules 2.00 (Force Play) and 7.08(d))

[edit] fork ball

A split-finger fastball or splitter.

[edit] foul lines

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 considered to be in fair territory. Any fly ball that strikes the foul line (including the foul pole) beyond first or third base is a fair ball.

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 international football (American "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.

[edit] foul off

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."

[edit] foul pole

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).

[edit] four-bagger

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

[edit] frame

• 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, to frame a pitch is to adjust the position of a catcher's mitt to mislead the umpire into thinking that the ball was caught within the strikezone.

[edit] free baseball

Slang for extra innings.

[edit] free pass

A base on balls. "Free" because the batter doesn't have to hit the ball to get on base.

[edit] frozen rope

A hard-hit line drive.

[edit] 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.

[edit] full house

• 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] fungo bat

A lightweight bat with a triangular or flat barrel used to hit fungoes. It is not a legal or safe bat to use with live pitching, because it is too light.

[edit] G

[edit] gap

The space between outfielders. Also alley. A ball hit in the gap is sometimes called a gapper.

[edit] gap hitter

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

[edit] gas

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

[edit] general manager

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.

[edit] get on one's horse

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

[edit] get good wood

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.

[edit] get off the schneid

To break a scoreless or 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.

[edit] GIDP

Statistical abbreviation for grounded into double play.

[edit] 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, throwing the glove to try to "catch" or slow down a batted ball is forbidden by the rules. 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.

[edit] GM

An abbreviation for general manager.

[edit] going yard

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

[edit] Golden Sombrero

One who strikes out four times in one game is said to have gotten a "Golden Sombrero".

[edit] golfing

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

[edit] gone

• 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".
• 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."

[edit] good hit, no field

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.

[edit] goose egg

A zero on the scoreboard.

[edit] gopher pitch

A gopher pitch (or gopher ball) 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."

[edit] grab some pine

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

[edit] grand slam

Home run hit with the bases loaded. A "grand salami."

[edit] Grapefruit League

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

[edit] green light

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 steal a base.

[edit] ground ball

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

[edit] ground ball with eyes

A ground ball which barely gets between two infielders for a base hit, seeming to "see" the only spot where it would be unfieldable.

[edit] ground rules

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.

[edit] guess hitter

A hitter who may not be the best at reading what kind of pitch is coming toward him so he guesses what the next pitch is going to be.

[edit] gun

• A strong arm.
• 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."

[edit] gun down

To throw out a runner. "Alfonso gunned him down when he tried to stretch his single to a double."

[edit] gyroball

A type of curveball with a severe break. Japanese 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.

[edit] H

[edit] Hall of Fame

The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Abbreviated HOF.

[edit] hammer

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

[edit] handcuff

• 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.

[edit] handle

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.

[edit] hang

• 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.")

[edit] hard hands

A tendency to mishandle fielded balls. Also stone fingers.

[edit] hat trick

To strike out three times. Used jokingly, as the same term means to score three times in hockey and other sports.

[edit] HBP

A shorthand term used to abbreviate Hit By Pitch.

[edit] headhunter

a pitcher who throws beanballs.

[edit] heat

Also heater. A fastball.

[edit] helping his own cause

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

[edit] 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.

[edit] high and tight

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

[edit] high cheese

A fastball thrown high in the strike zone.

[edit] high, hard one

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

[edit] high heat

A strike thrown high in the strike zone.

[edit] hill

The pitcher's mound.

[edit] hit

• The act of safely reaching first base after batting the ball into fair territory. Abrreviated as H. See also base hit, 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).

[edit] hitter

batter

[edit] hitter's count

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.

[edit] hitter's park

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.^[4] Baseball Reference^[5] and other baseball research organizations also report park factors for major league parks. And Baseball Prospectus^[6] 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.

[edit] hit and run

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. 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.

[edit] hit by pitch

When a pitch touches a batter in the batter's box, the batter advances to first base. Abbreviated as HPB. Colloquially, a batter who is hit by a pitch may be said to be plunked, drilled, nailed, plugged, or beaned.

[edit] hit 'em where they ain't

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.

[edit] hit for the cycle

To hit a single, double, triple and home run in the same game. To accomplish this feat in order is termed a "natural cycle."

[edit] hit the ball on the screws (on the button)

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.

[edit] hitting behind the runner

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.

[edit] hold

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 (as of 2006) an official Major League Baseball statistic.

[edit] hold the runner on

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.

[edit] hole

• One of the 9 places in the batting lineup. The lead-off 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.

[edit] hole in his glove

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

[edit] hole in his swing

A scouting report phrase describing a batter who can't hit strikes in a particular location.

[edit] home field 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.^[7] 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.

[edit] home game

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.

[edit] home team

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

[edit] home plate

See plate.

[edit] 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.

[edit] homer

• 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!"

[edit] homestand

A series of home games. See also road trip.

[edit] hook

• 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.

[edit] hook foul

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

[edit] horsehide

• 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.

[edit] hot box

The area between two fielders during a rundown.

[edit] hot corner

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."

[edit] 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.

[edit] humpback liner

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.

[edit] hurler

A pitcher.

[edit] I

[edit] ice cream cone

Colorful term used to describe the appearance of a baseball caught in the tip of the webbing of a glove. The partially protruding white ball contrasted with the tan-colored glove resembles a large waffle cone. More usually called a "snow cone."

[edit] in the batter's eyes

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.

[edit] 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 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.

[edit] 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 and pitcher are included as infielders.

[edit] 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.

[edit] inside baseball

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.

[edit] inside-the-park home run

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

[edit] insurance run

A run that is scored in the late innings when the leading team is only ahead by one or two, providing a margin of safety against a rally.

[edit] intentional pass

Same as intentional walk.

[edit] intentional walk

A walk given by the pitcher throwing (normally) four straight balls well outside of the strike zone (though occasionally a pitcher will start an at-bat by pitching around the hitter, and if he gets into a hitter's count he will "give in" and intentionally walk the hitter. Usually the catcher will not crouch in the catcher's box, but will instead stand, extending a hand away from the batter as an obvious sign. (Although the pitcher's "intention" is to walk the batter, if he does not take care to pitch far enough outside, the batter may still be able to hit the ball safely, which would be rare but legal.) Often an "intentional walk" will occur with first base open since then the walk doesn't dramatically benefit the offense, and opens the possibility of a double play. An "intentional walk" is seen as both a compliment to the batter being walked, and an insult to the batter on deck, who is considered to be an easier out. See also pitch around.

[edit] interference

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 Encyclopedia Jr article on interference for details on the varieties of interference calls.

[edit] in the books

The game is over. "This game's in the books [the records]."

[edit] in the hole

• The spaces between the first and second basemen 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 from boating, where it was originally "in the hold," the place prior to being "on deck."
• Used to describe an unfavorable count. A pitcher would be "in the hole" 3-0 and a batter would be "in the hole" 0-2.

[edit] in play

• 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 used to calculate a "batting average on balls in play" (BABIP), which excludes homeruns even though they are fair balls.

[edit] J

[edit] jack

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

[edit] jam

• 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 is no more room there.

[edit] Junior Circuit

The American League, so-called because it is the younger of the two major leagues.

[edit] junk

• breaking balls and knuckleballs, pitches that are difficult to hit due to movement rather than velocity.
• A pitcher who throws junk is a junkball pitcher or a junkballer.

[edit] junkball pitcher

a pitcher who throws predominantly junk, usually due to a weak (or slow) fastball.

[edit] K

[edit] K

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.

[edit] keep the line moving

reference to a series of batters reaching base, alluding to an assembly line

[edit] keystone sack

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).

[edit] knocks

• To score an RBI. "The cleanup hitter knocked in 3 runs."
• A hit, as in "two-base knock."
• Hard hits or extra base hits, not necessarly producing RBI's or referring to a specific type of hit. "Curtis had some solid knocks today."

[edit] knuckleball

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

[edit] L

[edit] lace

To hit the ball very hard, typically a line drive. "Monroe laced it to left field."

[edit] late innings

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

[edit] Lawrence Welk

A (rare) 1-2-3 double play ("...and a one, ana 2, ana 3")

[edit] lead

• When a baserunner steps off of 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.
• The team with more runs is said "to lead" the game.

[edit] lead-off hitter

• The first batter listed on a team's line-up card (in the 1-hole or the "lead-off 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).

[edit] leaning

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.

[edit] leather

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.

[edit] left on base

Baserunners that are still on base when the third out is made. The total number for a team and a player is usually published in the box score. Abbreviation: LOB.

[edit] left-handed specialist

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

[edit] leg out

To run hard to get safely on base.

[edit] line drive

• A line drive or liner 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.

[edit] lineup

The batting order.

[edit] lineup card

• 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 substitutes during a game.
• Before the game starts the manager hands a line-up card of the starting players to the home plate umpire. This line-up will change throughout the game as players starting players are removed and substitutes inserted.

[edit] 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.

[edit] load the bases

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

[edit] LOB

Abbreviation for left on base.

[edit] locate

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.

[edit] lollipop

A soft, straight pitch with a lot of arc.

[edit] long ball

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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] LOOGY

A mildly derogatory nickname for a left-handed specialist. An acronym for "Lefty One Out GuY."

[edit] look the runner back

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).

[edit] Lord Charles

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

[edit] lose a hitter

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."

[edit] loss

An entire team receives a "loss" on its record if it scores fewer runs than the opposing team. But which pitcher gets pinned with the loss (an L) on his record? See win for the answer to this quiz.

[edit] lumber

A baseball bat. Sometimes used in reference to a powerful offensive showing, "The Yankees busted out the lumber tonight with a 10-0 victory."

[edit] M

[edit] make-up call

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. (This entry was posted just minutes after Joe Buck referred to it on the NLCS broadcast of October 18, 2006.) Umpires typically, and understandably, deny that there is any such thing as a "make-up call".

[edit] manager

See field manager. Different from the general manager.

[edit] manufacturing runs

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. In other words: small ball.

[edit] masher

A home-run hitter. See crush the ball.

[edit] matchsticks

A string of 1's on the scoreboard (the shape of matchsticks), indicating successive innings in which 1 run was scored.

[edit] meat

• 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; “Bonderman started to reach for the ball with his meat hand but then thought better of it.”

[edit] meatball

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

[edit] Mendoza line

A batting average of .200. Named for Mario Mendoza, a notoriously poor hitter of the 1970s who still managed to have an 8-year career.

[edit] men in blue

The umpires.

[edit] middle infielders

The second baseman and shortstop.

[edit] middle innings

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

[edit] middle of the inning

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.

[edit] miscue

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

[edit] mistake

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.

Perhaps one of the most over-used excuses in baseball. Sometimes the pitcher may try to absolve himself for his mistakes, but his manager might have a different opinion. After giving up two home runs to Phillies slugger Ryan Howard, and losing the game 3-2 as a result, Marlins pitcher Scott Olsen remarked: "Except for a couple of pitches to Ryan, I pitched a good game. He's got 56 home runs for a reason." Marlins manager Joe Girardi had a different view: "We've talked about not letting him beat us," Girardi said. "Ollie made some mistakes to one guy. He's one guy in the league right now you can't afford to make mistakes to. All I'm going to say is we didn't execute the way we were supposed to."

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."

[edit] mistake hitter

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

[edit] mitt

"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.

[edit] MLB

Major League Baseball: the organization that operates the two North American major professional baseball leagues, the American League and the National League. This organization also seeks to control the rights to all commercial products based on Major League Baseball team and player achievements, although its claimed right to limit the use of player statistics for fantasy baseball and computer simulation games has been challenged in court.^[8] MLB presents a lot of information (as well as innumerable promotional efforts) in its electronic portal MLB.com ^[9], which is managed by MLB's subdidiary MLB Advanced Media.

Although minor league baseball is closely linked to (and governed by) major league baseball, the official portal for minor league baseball is found elsewhere on the internet as MiLB.com^[10], which is also operated by MLB Advanced Media.

[edit] 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.

[edit] moonshot

• 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."^[11] Moon didn't hit many home runs in the Coliseum. That these were opposite-field home-runs, however, brought more attention to them.

[edit] mop up

A mop-up pitcher comes in after the outcome of the game is all but certain. Sometimes other position players also come in to mop up in the last inning, and give the regulars a rest.

[edit] mound

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 (18.0 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 (45.7 cm) behind the center of the mound, making it 60 feet 6 inches (18.4 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 ten inches (25.4 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.

[edit] movement

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.

[edit] muff

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

[edit] mustard

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.

[edit] N

[edit] NA or N.A.

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 [1].

The second meaning for "NA" is most common by far, as suggested by the nonexistence of the more complete abbreviation "NAPBBP" outside the Encyclopedia Jr. 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.

[edit] nailed

• Hit by a pitch, drilled, plunked.
• The last pitches or last play of a winning game nail down the win.
• To throw a runner out. "Sizemore nailed him at the plate."

[edit] nickel curve

A slider.

[edit] NL or N.L.

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

[edit] NLCS or N.L.C.S.

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.

[edit] NLDS or N.L.D.S.

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.

[edit] no decision

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.

[edit] 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 given the childlike nickname "No-No". If no batter reaches base 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 in the middle of throwing a no-hitter none of his teammates or coaches will speak to him, or if they do they will not say anything about the no-hitter. Most 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.^[12]

[edit] no man's land

• 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".

[edit] no room at the inn

Sometimes said by a play-by-play announcer when the bases are loaded and the pitcher cannot afford to walk the batter. All the spaces are taken.

[edit] no-no

A no-hitter, typically also a shut-out. Thus no hits, no runs.

[edit] northpaw

A right-handed pitcher. See southpaw.

[edit] nubber

A batted ball that travels at low speed, and not very far, often due to hitting the ball on the very end of the fat part of the bat.

[edit] O

[edit] OBP

On-base percentage.

[edit] O-fer

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

[edit] 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. A game that cannot be considered complete can either be suspended or replayed from the first inning.

[edit] 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.^[13] 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.

[edit] OFP

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.

[edit] Ol’ Number One

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

[edit] Olympic Rings

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

[edit] On-base percentage (OBP)

Percentage of at-bats where a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error or a fielder's choice.

[edit] 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.

[edit] on the black

• The black edge of home plate.

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

[edit] on the board

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 in the booooard... YES!"

[edit] on the "interstate"

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 a "spur" interstate name (e.g. .195 resembles I95), 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.

[edit] one-hitter

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.

[edit] one-two-three inning

Side retired in order. Three up, three down.

[edit] "Onion"

Derisive nickname of the short-lived Union Association.

[edit] opposite field hit

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.

[edit] OPS (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.

[edit] outfielder

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

[edit] outside corner

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

[edit] P

[edit] to paint

To throw pitches at the edges of the strike zone. A pitcher who can "paint" consistiently may be referred to as Rembrandt or Picasso, and can be said to paint the black or paint the corner.

[edit] park

To hit a home run. "He parked a three-run homer." The term implies hitting the ball into the parking lot.

[edit] park effects

See hitter's park and Batting Park Factor.

[edit] 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.

[edit] patient hitter

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

[edit] payoff pitch

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.

[edit] PCL (Pacific Coast League)

A AAA minor league.

[edit] pea

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

[edit] pearod

A hard line drive batted back at the pitcher.

[edit] 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.

[edit] pen

The bullpen.

[edit] perfect game

A special, very rare no-hitter where each batter is retired consecutively, allowing no baserunners via walks, errors, or any other means. A "perfect game" could involve multiple pitchers with one pitcher relieving another, but in the major leagues they all have been completed by a single pitcher.

[edit] PFP

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.

[edit] pick up the pitch

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.

[edit] pickle

A rundown.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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).

[edit] 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.

[edit] pine tar

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

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

[edit] pitch

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.

[edit] pitch around

Not throwing a batter a hittable pitch, but also not walking him intentionally and hoping to get him to chase bad pitches.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] pitcher of record

The pitchers who receive the win (W) and the loss (L) are the "pitchers of record." A starting pitcher who is neither the winner nor the loser "earns" a "no decision". The pitchers of record are designated by the official scorer in accordance with the scoring rules. Also see win.

[edit] pitcher's best friend

A double play, which helps to bail a pitcher out of a threatening situation. Headline and story: "PITCHER'S BEST FRIEND. The Twins on Sunday turned five double plays in a game for the first time since 1995."

[edit] pitcher's park

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".

[edit] 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. A pitchout is typically always a called "ball" (unless the batter vainly tries to hit it) and if a stolen base is indeed "on", the runner is almost certainly going to be thrown out. If no steal is on, it's just another called ball. Obviously, a pitchout is not done when the batter already has a count of 3 balls.

[edit] PL or P.L.

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

[edit] plate

• "The plate" usually connotes home plate, though a baseball field also has a pitcher's plate, more commonly referred to as the rubber. Home plate has five sides, unlike the other bases, which are square. Also unlike the other bases, home plate is hard, usually a slightly flexible hard plastic with beveled edges that rises only slightly above ground level. Home plate is the last base that a runner must touch safely in order to score a run. Thus, his route around the bases both starts and ends "at home."
• To plate a run is to score a run. "The pitcher started getting behind in the count and as a result the opponents were able to plate a couple."

[edit] 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.

[edit] Platinum Sombrero

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

[edit] platoon

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.

[edit] platter

Home plate.

[edit] play by the book

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

[edit] 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.

[edit] players' manager

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 find it difficult to make tough decisions that are in the best interests of the team. Thus, the term is not especially complimentary. Most managers (in business in general, as well as baseball) find they must maintain some aloofness in order to be effective. 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."

[edit] playing in

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.

[edit] playing back

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

[edit] plunked

Hit by a pitch.

[edit] plus player

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

[edit] pop

The term has two usages that are of opposite 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.

• "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".^[14]

• The term "high pop" is short for "high pop-up".

• However, a batter with "pop" has exceptional bat speed and power.

• "Reggie popped one" implies that Reggie hit a home run.

There is the unrelated meaning of "pop" as a beverage sold in mass quantities at the ballpark on hot summer days; also known as "soda pop", "soda", "sodie", etc.^[15])

[edit] portsider

A left-handed pitcher, so named because "port" refers to the left side of a ship. Synonym: southpaw

[edit] position

• 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 there men on base, the number of outs, and the score of the game.

[edit] position player

A non-pitcher.

[edit] pound the strike zone

See attack the strike zone.

[edit] 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. See also slugger and slugging percentage.

[edit] pow wow

A meeting on the mound between a coach and players to discuss strategy.

[edit] pull hitter

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).

[edit] pull the string

To throw a pitch that breaks sharply and perphaps 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.

[edit] punch a hit

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."

[edit] Punch and Judy hitter

A hitter with very little power. 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."

[edit] punch-out

A strikeout.

[edit] purpose pitch

A brushback.

[edit] Q

[edit] quality start

When a starter pitches at least 6 complete innings and allows 3 or fewer earned runs. 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. 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."

[edit] quick pitch

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))

[edit] R

[edit] rabbit ears

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.

[edit] rainbow

A curveball with a high arc in its path to the plate

[edit] 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 sometime 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.

[edit] range

A fielder's ability to move from his position to field a ball in play.

[edit] 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.

[edit] RBI situation

Runners in scoring position.

[edit] regulation game

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. 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.

[edit] relay

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.

[edit] relief pitcher

A relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher brought in the game as a substitute for (i.e., "to relieve") another pitcher.

[edit] retire the runner

To throw the runner out at a base, after which he retires to the bench.

[edit] retire the side

See side retired.

[edit] rhubarb

An argument or fight in a baseball game. Hence, Rhubarb, a novel by H. Allen Smith.

[edit] ribbie, ribeye

Slang for a run batted in (RBI).

[edit] rifle

• A very strong arm. A canon, 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. "Pierzynski rifles the ball . . . foul, just outside first base."

[edit] ring him up

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.

[edit] rip

• 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."

[edit] RISP

Acronym for Runners In Scoring Position. See runners in scoring position.

[edit] road game

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.

[edit] road trip

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.

[edit] ROOGY

A derogatory acronym for a right-handed relief specialist. Stands for "Righty One Out GuY".

[edit] rookie

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, prior to the current season:

Fewer than 130 at bats and 50 innings pitched in the major leagues or

Fewer than 45 days on the active rosters of major league clubs (excluding time on the disabled list or any time after rosters are expanded on September 1).

[edit] room service

A ball that's hit right to a fielder, so he hardly has to move to get it.

[edit] rope

A hard line drive. Also see "frozen rope".

[edit] roster

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 disabled list, and the roster can be expanded to as many as 40 active players after August 31^st.

[edit] rotation

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 is known as the rotation. In modern baseball, a five-man rotation is most common.

[edit] rubber

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.

[edit] rubber arm

A pitcher is said to have a "rubber arm" if he can throw many pitches without tiring. Livan Hernandez may have the ultimate rubber arm, having eclipsed 200 innings seven times in his ten-year career.

[edit] rubber game

A term used for the third game of 3-game series, the fifth of a best-of-five series, and the seventh of a best-of-seven series, when the two teams have split the first two, four, or six games, respectively. Originally a card-playing term.^[16]

[edit] 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.

[edit] runners at the corners

runners on 1st and 3rd, with 2nd base open.

[edit] runners in scoring position

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. A good hitter is expected to have a higher batting average when there are runners in scoring position.

[edit] Ruthian Blast

A home run that travels very far.

[edit] S

[edit] 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.

[edit] sack

• Synonymous with bag — 1st, 2nd, or 3rd base.
• A player who plays a particular base might be called a sacker. Most often this term is used to describe the second sacker (second baseman). Together the second sacker and the short-stop may be referred to as sackmates. See double play.

[edit] 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 a SAC or S or SH.

[edit] 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.

[edit] safety squeeze

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.

[edit] salad

An easily handled pitch.

[edit] salami

A grand slam.

[edit] Sally League

The South Atlantic League ("SAL"), a Class A minor baseball league with teams located mainly in the southeastern United States.

[edit] sandwich round

In the MLB Draft, a round of drafts that occurs between the first and second rounds, and again between the second and the third, comprised solely of compensatory drafts granted to teams that failed to sign their first or second round draft picks of the year before.

[edit] save

In baseball statistics the term save (abbreviated SV, or sometimes, S) is used to indicate 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, and pitches at least one full inning.
   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 3 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.

For more discussion see Save (sport).

[edit] save situation

Generally, a save situation is when a pitcher enters the game with a lead of three runs or fewer and finishes the game. Most of the time, the saving pitcher pitches one or more innings.

[edit] 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.

[edit] screwball

A pitch that curves to the same side as the side it was thrown from. For a right-hand pitcher, the ball would break to the right -- it would break "in" to a right-hand hitter. SYNONYMS: reverse curve, fadeaway, fader, screwgie, scroogie, reverse curveball.

[edit] seal the win

See nailed and shuts the door. "Gagne came on in the last inning to seal the victory."

[edit] seamer

• 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.

[edit] seeing-eye ball

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.

[edit] Senior Circuit

The National League, so-called because it is the older of the two major leagues.

[edit] sent down

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.

[edit] series

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.

In the playoffs, series involve games played in the home stadiums of both teams, but these series cannot (mathematically) have an equal number of games in the home parks of each team. As a result, teams hope to gain from having a home field advantage by playing the first game(s) in their own ballpark.

[edit] set the table

To get runners on base ahead of the power hitters in the lineup.

[edit] setup pitcher

A relief pitcher who is consistently used immediately before the closer.

[edit] 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 4th, 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.

[edit] shade

verb, where a player(s) (usually an outfielder) positions oneself slightly away from their normal spot in the field based on a prediction of where the batter might hit the ball.

[edit] shift

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.

[edit] shoestring catch

When a fielder, usually an outfielder, catches a ball just before it hits the ground ("off his shoetops"), and remains running while doing so.

[edit] shoot the cripple

When the pitch count is 3 balls and no strikes, the pitcher is presumed to need to pitch inside in order to obtain a strike. The name comes from the belief that the next pitch will be easy to hit; since the pitcher has to throw a strike in order to pull close in the count, getting a hit will be as easy as "shooting a cripple".

[edit] short hop

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.

[edit] shot

• A home run, as in "Ryan Howard's 2-run shot gives him 39 home runs for the year."
• A good chance, within reach, as in "The Red Sox have a shot at taking over 1st place."

[edit] the Show

The major leagues. Particularly "in the Show." Or in "the Bigs" (big leagues, major leagues).

[edit] shut out

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.

[edit] shuts the door

Term used to describe when a pitcher, generally the closer, finishes the ballgame with a save or makes the last out.

[edit] side retired

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."

[edit] sidearmer

A pitcher who throws with a sidearm motion, i.e. not a standard overhanded delivery.

[edit] sign

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 wave 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.

[edit] single

A one-base hit.

[edit] sinker

A pitch, typically a fastball, that breaks sharply downward as it crosses the plate. Also see drop ball.

[edit] sitting on a pitch

A batter who is waiting for a particular type of pitch before swinging at it. He may be sitting in waiting 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".

[edit] skipper or skip

A manager. Taken from the boating term skipper, the captain or commanding officer of a ship.

[edit] slap hitter

A hitter who sacrifices power for batting average, trying to make contact with the ball and "hit it where they ain't". Prime examples: Ty Cobb, Tony Gwynn, Rod Carew, and Ichiro Suzuki.

[edit] slice foul

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).

[edit] slide

• A slide is when a player drops to the ground when going into 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.

[edit] slider

A relatively fast pitch with a slight curve in the opposite direction of the throwing arm.

[edit] slug

To hit with great power.

[edit] slugger

Any person who commonly hits with great power, but sometimes used in reference to a child to boost their ego.

[edit] slugging average

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").

[edit] slump

An extended period when player or team is not performing well or up to expectations. A dry spell or drought.

[edit] small ball

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.

[edit] smoke

A pitcher who "throws smoke" throws so hard that the batter is likely only to see the ball's smoke trail.

[edit] smoked

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.

[edit] snow cone

Descriptive of a catch made with the ball barely caught in the tip of the webbing. Variant on "ice cream cone".

[edit] soft hands

A fielder's ability to cradle the ball well in his glove. Contrast hard hands.

[edit] soft tosser

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."

[edit] solo home run

A home run hit when there are no runners already on base. The batter circles the bases solo.

[edit] 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".

[edit] 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."

[edit] speed merchant

A fast player, often collecting stolen bases, bunt singles and/or infield hits.

[edit] spike

A runner can "spike" an infielder by sliding into him and causing an injury with the spikes of his shoes.

[edit] spitter

A spitball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of spit, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance.

[edit] split-finger

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 far apart to put a downward spin on the ball. Also called a splitter or a forkball.

[edit] splits

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.^[17]

[edit] spray hitter

A batter who hits line drives to all fields. Not a pull hitter.

[edit] 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.

[edit] squeeze play

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.

[edit] squibber

A nubber.

[edit] 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.

[edit] station-to-station

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 maximize the number of runs scored on a homer.

[edit] stathead

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. See Evolution of baseball player evaluation.

[edit] stats

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.

[edit] stealing signs

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 peaking 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.

[edit] stick it in his ear

"Stick it in his ear!" is a cry that 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] stone fingers

A player who misplays easy ground balls. Also see hard hands. Pittsburgh Pirates first-baseman Dick Stuart was given the label "Stone Fingers" (a reference to the James Bond movie Goldfinger) as well as the nickname "Dr. Strangeglove" (a reference to the movie Dr. Strangelove).

[edit] stopper

This term originally referred to a team's best starting pitcher, who would be called upon to stop a losing streak. Now it refers to the a team's top relief pitcher.

[edit] strand the runner

To leave a runner on base, especially in scoring position, is to "strand the runner." This phrase is often used when a runner reaches base with no outs or one out but the rest of the offense fails to get him home. A lead-off hitter who hits a triple but does not score is one of most disappointing examples of stranding a runner. The odds favor his scoring in this situation. On average when a team has a runner on third with no outs, it scores 1.5 runs, and the team scores at least 1 run 86% of the time.^[18][19]

[edit] stretch

• 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."
• 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.

[edit] strike

When a batter swings at a pitch, but fails to hit the ball within the baselines or when a batter does not swing and the pitch is thrown within the strike zone, or 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)

[edit] strike 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, not necessarily in a row

[edit] 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. 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.

[edit] struck out looking

A batter called out on strikes without swinging on the third strike is said to have "struck out lookin'."

[edit] stuff

Suppose a pitcher has three excellent pitches (fastball, slider, and change-up), a high-90 mph fastball, great command, excellent location, a rubber arm. Bound for stardom, right (assuming no injury)? Only if he has "stuff." Stuff means that his pitches have "something extra" to them: a sudden and timely movement that makes his pitches elusive so that hitters miss them or hit them weakly. In "Amadeus" both Salieri and Mozart could write good music, but only Mozart had "stuff."

[edit] submariner

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.

[edit] 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").^[20]

[edit] suicide squeeze

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.

[edit] Summer Classic

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game. These annual games pit the all-stars of the National League against the all-stars of the American League. A game designed only to acknowledge and showcase the achievements of the best players in each league. Since 2003 it has been a bit more important than an exhibition game, however, because the winning league gets home-field advantage in the World Series.

[edit] sweep

To take 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.

[edit] 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.

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!"

[edit] T

[edit] tablesetter

• 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.

[edit] tag

• To hit the ball hard, typically for an extra-base hit. "McCovey tagged that one into the gap."
• 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.

[edit] take sign

A sign given to a batter to not swing, or "take", at the next pitch. Sometimes when a new pitcher or 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.

[edit] take the field

When the defensive players go to their positions at the beginning of an inning the defense takes the field.

[edit] take-out slide

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" — said something about how he ran the basepaths.

[edit] tap

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.

[edit] tape measure home run

An especially long home run. The term originated from a 1956 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.^{[21] [22]}.

[edit] tater

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.

[edit] tattoo

To hit the ball very hard, figuratively to put a tattoo from the bat's trademark on the ball.

[edit] tee off

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'.

[edit] Terminator

A pitcher’s “out pitch” (usually his best pitch; as a result, it is the pitch upon which he relies to get batters out).

[edit] Texas Leaguer

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. See blooper.

[edit] third of an inning

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.

[edit] three-bagger

A triple.

[edit] three-base hit

A triple.

[edit] three true outcomes

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. Traditionally, players with a high percentage of their plate appearances ending in one of the three true outcomes are underrated, as general managers often overestimate the harm in striking out, and underestimate the value of a walk.

[edit] three up, three down

To face just three batters in an inning. Having a "three up, three down inning" is the goal of any pitcher. See also: side retired, 1-2-3 inning.

[edit] through the wickets

When a batted ball passes through the legs of a player in the field it's often said, "That one went right through the wickets." The term refers to the metal hoops (called wickets) used in the game of croquet through which croquet balls are struck. Letting the ball through his legs makes a baseball player look (and feel) inept, and the official scorekeeper will typically record the play as an error.

[edit] tipping pitches

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." 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.

Coaches and 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.

[edit] tools

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.

[edit] tools of ignorance

A catcher's gear.

[edit] toolsie

A player with a lot of tools who hasn't yet developed into a mature player: "Granderson is not just a toolsie player trying to learn how to convert his excellent tools into usable baseball skills. He's already well down the road of converting them."

[edit] Tommy John surgery

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 Dr. Frank Jobe in 1974 and known medically as an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction.

[edit] top of the inning

The first half of an inning, during which the visiting team bats, derived from its position in the line score.

[edit] tossed

When a player or manager is ordered by an umpire to leave a game, that player or manager is said to haved 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.

[edit] "touch all the bases"

To "touch all the bases" (or "touch 'em all") is to hit a home run. (If a player fails to literally "touch 'em all", i.e. if he misses a base during his home run trot, he can be called out on appeal).

[edit] TR

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

[edit] triple

A three-base hit.

[edit] 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 not due mainly to the fact that 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 exctremely rare unassisted triple play, of which fewer than 20 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.

[edit] turn two

To execute a double play.

[edit] twin killing

A double play.

[edit] twirler

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.

[edit] two-bagger

A double.

[edit] two-base hit

A double.

[edit] two-sport player

Many college players 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, Gene Conley, Bo Jackson, Danny Ainge, and Deion Sanders. 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 grade.

[edit] two-thirds of an inning

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.

[edit] 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. This term is used almost exclusively to describe high school, college, or low minor league players. 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.

[edit] U

[edit] UA or U.A.

Abbreviation for Union Association, a one-year (1884) major league.

[edit] Uecker Seats

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.

[edit] ugly finder

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.

[edit] umpire

The person charged with officiating the game. Sometimes addressed as Blue or abbreviated as ump. Fans and players alike of course have a rich vocabulary for describing umps.

[edit] unassisted play

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).

[edit] Uncle Charlie

A slang term used to describe a curveball.

[edit] uncontested steal

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 steal." In the game's statistics, the runner would not be credited with a stolen base. See also stolen base and defensive indifference.

[edit] up

"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 means a player has been promoted from the minors to the majors.

[edit] up and in

Same as high and tight.

[edit] upper decker

A home run that lands in the stadium's upper deck of seating.

[edit] upstairs

a pitched ball that is high, and usually outside the strike zone

[edit] up the middle

On the field very close to second base, used to describe the location of batted balls. 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.

[edit] utility player

A player (usually a bench player) who can play several different positions.

[edit] V

[edit] visiting team

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".

[edit] 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.

[edit] W

[edit] wallop

A home run. "What a wallop!"

[edit] walk-off home run

A game-ending home run by the home team. So called because the losing team (usually the visiting team) then has to walk off the field. The term "walk-off" can also be applied to any situation with two outs or less 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 bases 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".

[edit] 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.

[edit] waste a pitch

• When a pitcher gets ahead in the count, say 0-2, 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.

[edit] wave

• 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.

[edit] Web Gem

an outstanding defensive play. Refers to the webbing of the fielders’ gloves. Popularized by Baseball Tonight on ESPN.

[edit] wheelhouse

A hitter's power zone. "Clem threw that one right into Ruben's wheelhouse. End of story." From the boating term.

[edit] wheel play

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.

[edit] wheels

Legs. A player who runs the bases fast has wheels.

[edit] whiff

A term used to describe a swinging-strikeout (referring to the bat whiffing through the air without contacting the ball). The phrase has even been immortalized by ESPN's Dan Patrick, who uses it by saying "The whiff'.

[edit] WHIP

Walks Plus Hits Per Innings Pitched: a measurement of the pitcher's ability to keep batters off base. Calculated as (Bases on Balls + Hits allowed) / (Innings pitched)

[edit] whitewash

A shutout.

[edit] 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's 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.

[edit] win

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.
  • 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).

[edit] Winter leagues

Currently, five minor leagues with seasons that happen during the "off-season" of major league baseball: the Arizona Fall League, the Dominican Baseball League, the Mexican Baseball League, the Puerto Rico Professional Baseball League, and the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. The winter leagues used to include the Cuban League. A new winter league in Hawaii is scheduled to begin in 2006.

[edit] wood

The baseball bat. See "get good wood."

[edit] worm burner

A hard hit ground ball that "burns" the ground.

[edit] WW

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.

[edit] X

[edit] Y

[edit] yacker/yakker

A curveball with a big break.

[edit] yardwork

A player is said to be "doing yardwork" by hitting many home runs or exhibiting power. Compare to going yard.

[edit] yardjob

A home run. Compare to going yard.

[edit] yellow hammer

A sharp-breaking curveball. Supposedly named after the yellowhammer bird and its apparent habit of diving steeply to catch prey.

[edit] Z

[edit] zone

The strike zone.

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— Top of Page

[edit] See also

• Baseball statistics
• "Baseball" Category in the Wiktionary

[edit] Cited Sources

1. ^ Robert K. Adair, The Physics of Baseball (New York: HarperCollins, 2002), pp.136-139.
2. ^ Robert K. Adair, "The Crack-of-the-Bat: The Acoustics of the Bat Hitting the Ball," Acoustical Society of America, 141st Meeting, Lay Language Papers (June 2001) http://www.acoustics.org/press/141st/adair.html.
3. ^ Daniel Engber, "How To Throw the Goopball: The physics of baseball's most popular illegal pitches," Slate (October 23, 2006): http://www.slate.com/id/2152037.
4. ^ See ESPN park factors at http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor.
5. ^ See Baseball-Reference.com at http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/parkadjust.shtml
6. ^ See article on minor league park factors by Baseball Prospectus at http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=3289.
7. ^ Cyril Marong, "Historical Trends in Home-Field Advantage" http://www.geocities.com/cyrilmorong@sbcglobal.net/HomeRoad.htm.
8. ^ Jeff Douglas, "Baseball Appealing Fantasy Legal Victory," Boston Globe, August 9, 2006 http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2006/08/09/fantasy_leagues_allowed_to_use_mlb_stats./
9. ^ MLB.com at http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp.
10. ^ MiLB.com at http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/index.jsp
11. ^ "Wally Moon," BaseballLibrary.com http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/M/Moon_Wally.stm.
12. ^ See Larry Stone, "Ten great moments in baseball superstition history," Seattle Times (Nov. 30, 2005): http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002518793_artmoments25.html.
13. ^ Before 1980 this person was typically a local sportswriter; beginning in 1980 the League hired "independent contractors" for the job. For an informative article, see David Vincent, "The Official Scorer," The Baseball Analysts, Aug. 18, 2005, at http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2005/08/the_official_sc_2.php.
14. ^ Brendan C. Boyd and Fred C. Harris, Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book (Boston: Little, Brown, 1973).
15. ^ On the geography of the terms soda, pop, and coke, see "Pop vs. Soda Page" http://www.popvssoda.com/.
16. ^ Ask Yahoo! at http://ask.yahoo.com/20040512.html.
17. ^ A recent example is in the analysis of Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers' home- and away-game stats to see whether they are consistent with the suspicion that he may be doctoring the ball in home games. See Nate Silver, "Comforts of home; Rogers better at Comerica, but is the success legit?" SportsIllustrated.com (October 23, 2006): http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/specials/playoffs/2006/10/23/extramustard.game2/index.html.
18. ^ Tangotiger, "Sabremetrics 101: Run Expectancy Matrix, 1999-2002" http://www.tangotiger.net/RE9902.html.
19. ^ Tangotiger, "Sabremetrics 101: Run Frequency Matrix, 1999-2002" http://www.tangotiger.net/RE9902score.html.
20. ^ See "Jack Benny's Anaheim - April 2001," City of Anaheim history: http://www.anaheim.net/article.asp?id=307.
21. ^ William J. Jenkinson. 1996. "Long Distance Home Runs," http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/art_hr.shtml.
22. ^ "HitTracker—How Far It Really Went" http://www.hittrackeronline.com/.

[edit] General References

• Dictionary of Baseball
• The New Dickson Baseball Dictionary, by Paul Dickson - contains a very extensive list of Baseball jargon and terms.