If you are a coach or avid baseball fan, you should also learn how to score a baseball game.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'baseball_tools-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-baseball_tools-medrectangle-4-0'); To start things off we are going to look at some of the acronyms used for both pitching and hitting statistics. Pine tar: A sticky substance that batters often use to increase their grip on the baseball bat. Some common baseball terminology that most people know are strikeout, base, walk, home run, hit, bat, batter, etc. Can of corn: A fly ball hit to a player, typically in the outfield, that is very easy for the player to catch; usually without moving at all. Around the horn: A double play that begins with the third baseman and goes to second and then to first. The fans get to see extra innings "for free". ", "Rule review: 'Time plays' can be confusing", "Jays dig deep hole, can't get out of it", "Bryce Harper leads the Nationals in TOOTBLANs this season", "Appreciating TOOTBLAN & other new baseball lingo", "Casey at the Bat by Ernest Thayer on Baseball Almanac", BatSpeed.com_Baseball and Softball Swing Hitting Mechanics, "Dunn's 10 wins an unexpected boost for Marlins", "BASEBALL; Zambrano Is Too Wild in Strike Zone", OrleansFirebirds.wordpress.com, July 13, 2011, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glossary_of_baseball_terms&oldid=1142796295, Official scorekeepers assign a number from. A sing-along of the song Take Me Out to the Ball Game has become part of this tradition. If a pitcher has thrown more strikes than balls to a batter in an at-bat, the pitcher is ahead in the count; conversely, if the pitcher has thrown more balls than strikes, the batter is ahead. Web gem: Literally refers to the webbing of a fielders glove. We hope you have enjoyed reading through this list of commonly used baseball terms and phrases. Base: One of four points on the baseball diamond that players must run through to reach the home plate. Jeff Sullivan, "Here's What Happens When a Pitcher Throws a Meatball". Another of the various forms of "out the ass". Ive played and watched sports all my life and have coached them as well for the last few years. Bad-ball hitter: A batter adept at hitting pitches outside the strike zone. For example, a baserunner may start running "on the crack of the bat", as opposed to waiting to see where the ball goes. No more than one save may be credited in each game. Bonus baseball: When a baseball game goes to extra innings; past 9 innings of play. Double play: A defensive baseball play that results in two outs. When a batter is following his coach's advice to not bunt (never mind those runners), he is said to "swing away". Tater: Another term for a home run. Also called a grounder., Hack: To take a big swing at the ball. 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. Typically, this series takes place in October, so playing in October is the goal of any major league team. 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). Strike out: The throwing of three strikes in one plate appearance. 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. From the hockey term for how a puck is advanced past the goalie ("through the five hole"). Base hit: A fair ball hit such that the batter can advance safely to a base without the aid of an error committed by the team in the field. Some of the terms may be considered acceptable to LGBT peoples in a casual register when used among members within LGBT sexual orientated communities. A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? If the out is not the third out then the ball is alive and in play (unlike on a foul) and runners are in jeopardy if they are trying to advance. I'm not even sure this is possible. A knuckleball. Crooked number: A teams inning run total greater than zero or one. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'baseball_tools-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_18',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-baseball_tools-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');SV: Saves when a relief pitcher enters the game under certain circumstances and the game ends in a win. ". Just like batting in baseball, there are many terms used to describe different aspects of pitching as well. Conversely, a batter who has just been struck out, especially by a. They wont be statistics or scenarios, just common terms used for certain areas on a baseball field that someone hearing them for the first time may be confused by. Mendoza line: Named after Mario Mendoza, is a batting average of .200. In the modern era, Bill James could be said to be the iconic "figger filbert". A set of games between two teams. Conversely, a pitch near the top of the strike zone might be called a ball if the catcher has to rise from his crouched position to catch it, even if it did go through the defined strike zone. 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. Green light: When a hitter is given the go-ahead to swing in a 3-0 count or a runner is given the go-ahead to try to steal a base. Pine tar: A sticky substance most commonly used by batters to improve their grip on the bat. strike | see definition . Stars and Stripes | The U A day when a team does not have a game scheduled. You are now ready to talk ball with the best of them. Slang for extra innings. If the batter is ahead, the pitcher is in increasing danger of walking him. "Tigers cut Rangers' ALCS lead to 2-1 as Miguel Cabrera backs Doug Fister". Since this pitching motion takes less time, it gives the runners less time to steal bases. RW: Relief wins the number of times a game ends in a win where the pitcher is brought in as a relief pitcher. 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 in foul territory). Apple comes up: Fails in a pinch (swallows his Adam's apple). Shot: Describes a hard-hit ball or a home run. Alley: The area between two outfield players. On a dropped third strike, the strike is called (and a pitcher gets credited with a strike-out), but the umpire indicates verbally that the ball was not caught and does not call the batter out. The term is sometimes used to describe a player who is good at both offense and defense: "Manager. Two straight lines drawn on the ground from home plate to the outfield fence to indicate the boundary between fair territory and foul territory. "This allowed Loehrke to score, and then a miscue by Ranger right fielder Drew Orbergfell allowed Lounsbury, "Pinch runner Brandon Varnell used his blazing speed, (NABBP) - the 1857-1870 first governing body of baseball, the, (NA) - the 1871-1875 first professional league (in any sport), the, (NAPBL) - the 19012021 trade association of minor leagues, the, The last pitches or last play of a winning game, A game in which one team does not get any, It is a superstition that when a pitcher is working on a no-hitter (or, The portion of a ballpark's spectator area, usually the front row of seats, where a fielder may legally reach into to catch a fly ball, while a spectator or other personnel may legally touch same fly ball even if it interferes with the fielder's attempt to catch it. Payoff pitch: A pitch thrown with a full count. Clear the bases: When a batter drives home/scores all runners on base. A pitcher's "stuff" is an overall evaluation of how effective his pitches are: "good stuff" when they are hard to hit, and "just stuff" or "lousy stuff" when they are not. Basket catch: When a fielder catches a ball with his glove near his belt. The foul poles on the outfield walls are vertical extensions of the foul lines. Beanball: A pitch that hits a batter in the head. 1-2-3 inning: An inning in which a pitcher faces only three batters, none of whom successfully reach base. [Daisy Cutter] - Old-fashioned term for a hard-hit ground ball, close enough to the grass to be able to "lop the tops off any daisies" that might be growing on the field. A starting pitcher who pitches past the 6th inning is said to "go deep into the game". Ribbie: An RBI or run batted in is a run scored as a result of a hit. H: Hits when a batter successfully hits the baseball into fair territory and reaches a base. A team in the lead is "up" by some number of runs. A Complete Overview. David Brown, "Fireworks send Lastings Milledge into an ill-fated home-run trot". From the theatrical term. Senior circuit: Nickname for the National League, as it is the older of the two leagues. Find a gap: hitting the ball between the gap in the outfielders. The pitch is considered not cleanly caught if the ball touches the dirt before being caught, or if the ball is dropped immediately after being caught. O-fer: When a batter does not score a hit. Runners at the corners: Term used when base runners are on first and third base. This article was originally published on November 5, 2019, and has been updated with new information. Find me on: Fastpitch softball has a way of its own when it comes to the language you hear between players, coaches, and parents, but if you're a newcomer to the sport, you might be left a little in the dust. A hitter who likes to hit the first pitch in an at bat, especially if the hitter often gets a hit on the first pitch. Dont forget, you can get all the baseball gear you may need at BaseballMonkey.com! A team may "put away" its opponent by making a decisive play or out, or by, On occasion, teams do not complete every game of the regular season, as when playing a, A very strong arm. ", A "mistake" is poor execution, as distinguished from an error. This gives the base runner a head start. "Alex Avila's 3-run homer rallies Tigers in 9th". Dead certain he had gone deep, Milledge raised his fist rounding first base, put his head down and went into a trot. It cracks. Have you ever been watching a baseball game and overheard some words or phrases that you didnt understand? My name is Steven and I love everything sports! Another Yankee, Derek Jeter, picked up the nickname "Mr. November" after he hit a walk-off home run in Game4 of the 2001 World Series just after midnight local time on November1. A pitcher is said to be "in the zone" not only by throwing strikes but by maintaining his focus and throwing pitches that get batters out. Framing a pitch: Refers to the positioning and or movement of the catchers mitt and body when he catches a pitch in the attempt to make the pitch appear as a strike to the umpire. Base-tender: A vintage baseball term referring to a baseman. For just a peek at some of the most notable examples of. There are different variants of changeups. Cancelling a game because of bad weather: "I thought we were gonna get banged but we got in five innings. Despite their names, both the foul lines and the foul poles are in fair territory. A base hit that results from a weakly batted ball or one that takes an odd bounce. When two fielders are converging on a fly ball, one of them may "bail out" to avoid running into the other. Rundown: When a baserunner gets caught between bases by the fielders. only, the ball had not cleared the fence. Sweet spot: A location on the barrel of the bat that is perfect for the batter to hit a ball on. 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. It is not a foul tip, as most announcers and journalists mistakenly use the term, if the ball is not caught by the catcher. The leather cover on the baseball (which is now usually made of cowhide, not horsehide). GO: Groundouts when the batter hits the ball on the ground and is tagged out before reaching first base. Also called a three up, three down inning. After reading this, youll be able to talk baseball with the best of them! Caught napping: When a runner is picked off. Some pitchers like to use the stretch all the time regardless of the base runners. Some of these terms are also commonly used by announcers when calling a game. A compliment for a pitcher, especially one who specializes in breaking balls with a lot of movement. Backdoor: Usually a breaking pitch that looks like it will be outside the strike zone but then breaks back over home plate. Baseball Twitter: The term for the people obsessed with the game who are perpetually online. Ultimate grand slam: A game-ending grand slam hit when the hitters team is down by exactly three runs in the final inning of play. Mel Antonen, "Appetites never diminish for 'innings-eating pitchers'". Cup of coffee: A short time spent by a Minor League player in the big leagues. Unlike previous terms that we discussed, terms related to the actual baseball field are just that. However, the term manager used without qualification almost always refers to the field manager. Hopefully, this list was helpful in helping you understand baseball lingo a little better. Phrases don't get any more self-explanatory than this. ", This rule is intended to prevent the fielder from intentionally dropping the ball and getting. Angels: Fleecy clouds in a high sky; outfielder's dream. So, what is some baseball terminology that is used during games? Infielder: Players who play first base, second base, third base, or the shortstop positions. [citation needed], When a batter has two strikes on him and gets a pitch he cannot hit cleanly, he may be said to "fight off the pitch" by fouling it off. This, and the other various phrases that encompass "out the ass" can be defined as "in abundance" and/or "all over the place". Choke up: When a batter grips the bat handle higher to achieve greater control. Together the shortstop and second baseman the fielders nearest second base, often combining on double plays are sometimes referred to as the. To run hard through first base on a close ground ball play in an attempt to beat the throw. Kevin Baxter, "Botton Line Says: Angels Lose". Josh Terrell, "Windsor Wins Fourth Straight; Cats Top Sox". This answers first letter of which starts with D and can be found at the end of E. We think DECIDE is the possible answer on this clue. This item: The Language of Baseball: A Complete Dictionary of Slang Terms, Cliches, and Expressions From The Grand Ole Game by Ryan Gray Paperback $19.95 The Dickson Baseball Dictionary by Paul Dickson Paperback $17.39 Product details Publisher : Coaches Choice; DVD Video edition (January 1, 2002) Language : English Dead-red: When a batter is waiting on or expecting a fastball to be thrown. It is intended to help fielders get a feel of how close they are to the fence. Typically, on just one side of the outfield. Stolen base: When a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate. "Cody Ross, who singled and moved to second on a ground-out, was stranded when Ramrez's scorched liner was flagged down by a diving Jones. Note that the 4th "bag" is actually a plate. When a pitcher relies too much on his fastball, perhaps because his other pitches are not working well for him during that game, he is said to be "fastball happy". There are different variations of breaking balls. When he gets fastball happy he gets knocked around."[99]. Hot corner: Another word for the third base position. Scoring position: When a base runner is on second or third base, they are in scoring position. This is typically what the closer (closing pitcher) is brought into the game for. 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. More Idioms/Phrases Array a sure thing a sweet tooth a takeoff on a talking to a tall one a tempest in a teapot a thorn in my side a three-bagger a three-bagger (baseball) a tich a token gesture a tongue-lashing a total stranger a touch of a tough act to follow a tough call a tough row to hoe 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. An out that results from an outfielder catching a, A batter whose fly ball is caught in the outfield is said to "fly out". It hit the top and stayed in the field of play. Infielder: A player whose position is either first base, second base, third base, or shortstop. "Orso, who recently signed with Alabama Southern to play college baseball next season, launched several rocket shots and by far hit the furthest home runs of anyone in the competition. "[101], When a batter has been in a slump perhaps for no evident reason, but then starts getting hits, he may be said to have "found his bat". "Double-A" (AA) is the second-highest level of. Line drive: A ball that is hard-hit and appears to be hit in a straight line. Throwing the ball around the horn is also done after a, An additional application of this term is when a, The record holder is widely believed to have used, A holder of a single-season record accomplished the feat in a longer season, and thus had additional opportunities to break the record. That pitch was right in my wheelhouse!, Yiketty: Another term for a home run, made famous by Chipper Jones. A play by the defense where two offensive players are put out as a result of continuous action resulting in two outs. Ate em up: Slang expression for the action of a batted ball that is difficult for a fielder to handle; usually resulting in an error being made. Foul ball -A baseball that is hit outside the field of fair play. When a team fails to mount a strong offense, such as going 123 in an inning, it may be said to have "gone quietly". Platoon: When two players share playing time at a particular position. What a glorious moment for the Bucs! The pitch must be over home plate, above the batters knees, and below the middle of the torso. shortstop | see definition . 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. Runs are said to be "charged" to the pitcher who initially allowed the scoring runner to get on base. Most commonly used when it comes to hitting; if a batter does not get a hit in X amount of games, that batter would be in slump. Between a player's legs (the catcher's in particular). Ground ball or Grounder: When a baseball is hit on the ground. GF: Games Finished the number of games where the pitcher is the last pitcher to pitch for his team. A baserunner easily thrown out at a base. Backstop: The fence/wall behind home-plate, designed to protect spectators from wild pitches or foul balls. "AA" is also the abbreviation for the American Association, which has been the name of numerous professional baseball leagues: A term that signifies whether the batter or pitcher possesses the advantage in an at-bat. Bases loaded: When there are runners on first, second, and third base. A slang term for a baseball record that is disputed in popular opinion (i.e., unofficially) because of a perception that the record holder had an unfair advantage in attaining the record. Blue: A term commonly used by players to address an umpire, referring to the typical dark blue color of the umpires uniform.