Glossary of baseball terms
The following is an alphabetical list of selected unofficial and specialized terms, phrases, and other jargon used in baseball, and explanations of their meanings.1
- See also baseball slang for common slang that originated in baseball and baseball statistics for more formal definitions of some of the statistical concepts listed below.
0–9
0-1 (i.e., "oh and one"), also, 1-0, 0-2, 1-1, 2-0, 1-2, 2-1, 3-0, 2-2, 3-1, 3-2
- The possible instances of the "count", the number of balls and strikes, in that order, currently totaled for the batter. Japanese baseball reverses this. So 1-2 is 1 strike and 2 balls instead of 1 ball and 2 strikes.
1
- 1 refers to the pitcher.
12-to-6
- A curve ball, the motion of which evokes the hands of clock. The ball starts high (at "12-o'clock") and drops sharply as it reaches the strike zone ("6-o'clock"). Also known as "12-to-6 Downers" or a "12-to-6 Drop". Barry Zito is perhaps baseball's best current practitioner of the 12-to-6 curve.
2
- 2 refers to the catcher.
3
- 3 refers to the first baseman.
3-2-3 double play
- A relatively rare combination resulting in a double play: With the bases loaded, the batter hits the ball to the first baseman, who relays it to home for the force out, who fires it back to the first baseman to retire the batter. Occurred very notably during Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, when catcher Brian Harper and first baseman Kent Hrbek of the Minnesota Twins turned a 3-2-3 against the Atlanta Braves; Lonnie Smith was prevented from scoring while Sid Bream was retired at first.
4
- 4 refers to the second baseman.
- In this instance 4 refers not to the second baseman (the 4 position), but to home plate, in essence the fourth base. This is typically used to signal that a runner is heading home and that the ball needs to be thrown to home plate.
5
- 5 refers to the third baseman
6
- 6 refers to the shortstop.
6-4-3 double play
- A common combination resulting in a double play: A runner is on first base and a ground ball is batted to the shortstop (numbered 6 in scorekeeping). He throws to the second baseman (4) who steps on second base to force out the runner from first, then throws to the first baseman (3) standing on first base to force out the batter. A famous infield trio for the Chicago Cubs is remembered by this sequence: "Tinker to Evers to Chance." A similar combination is the 4-6-3 double play.
7
- 7 refers to the leftfielder.
8
- 8 refers to the centerfielder.
9
- 9 refers to the rightfielder.
55 foot
- A pitch that bounces before it reaches the plate is sometimes referred to as a "55 foot fastball" or a "55 foot curveball," though nobody has measured exactly how far it fell short of the 60' 6" distance from the pitching rubber to home plate.
A
AA or A.A.
- Abbreviation for American Association, the name of a major league of the 1880s, a minor league for much of the 20th century, and more recently and independant minor league. Also the abbreviation of the modern organization Alcoholics Anonymous, a possibly amusing coincidence in that critics of the Association in the 19th century (notably the rival National League) referred to the AA as "The Beer and Whiskey League".
- "Double-A" (AA) is also a minor league baseball level, and includes the Eastern League, the Southern League, and the Texas League.
AAA
- "Triple-A" is the highest level of minor league baseball, including the Pacific Coast League, the International League, and the Mexican League.
AAAA player
- A "Four-A player" is someone who is (repeatedly) very successful in the high minor leagues (the AAA level) but can't seem to to make it in the bigs. He's "too good" to remain in the minors but not good enough for the majors. He may bounce up and down between the minors and majors and never become an established major league player. This may be more due to mismanagement or bad luck than to his inability to play major league ball.
A-Ball or "Single-A"
- "Single-A" is the lowest grouping of modern affiliated minor league baseball with sub-categories of "High-A," "Low-A," and "Short-Season A." The California League, Florida State League, and the Carolina League are some of the Single-A leagues.
Air Mail
- A very high overthrow in an attempt to make a play on a runner.
AL or A.L.
- Abbreviation for American League, the newer of the two existing major leagues.
alley
- The space between outfielders. A power hitter may hit the ball "up the alley" (the "power alley") or "in the gap," typically with the ball reaching the fence on a bounce. (If it hit the wall on the fly, it would be described as "off the wall," not "up the alley" or "in the gap".)
around the horn
- a 5-4-3 double play, in which the ball goes from the third baseman, to the second baseman, who tags second, to the first baseman, who tags first. Like many baseball terms, this originates from sailing. Until the Panama Canal was built, the quickest way from the North Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean was to sail around Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America. By extension, "going around the horn" refers to covering all or several angles of something in baseball. More commonly, this phrase refers to the tradition of tossing the ball around the infield after an out is recorded such that no runners are left on base. For example, after an out recorded at first base, if there are no runners on, the first baseman will toss to the second baseman, and the ball will subsequently be thrown to the shortstop and then the third baseman, and finally back to the pitcher. The order in which the ball is thrown "around the horn," can vary from team to team and from situation to situation, but many teams see this as the "way" to do it and it may even be considered bad luck to deviate from this standard pattern. Also, some teams use this only when a strikeout is recorded. This version starts with the pitch being thrown and the last strike recorded then is quickly thrown from the catcher to the first baseman who proceeds with the regular order. Now it is used more as a method to show off, than to ensure that no runner is left on.
assignment
- A major league player may be "assigned" or "sent on assignment" to a minor league team to work himself back into playing shape after an injury. His spell in the minors is expected to be short, perhaps just a few games, but while he's on assignment another player will hold his place on the major league roster.
- Colloquially, a batter is "at bat" or up to bat any time he's at the plate and in active play, attempting to hit the ball.
- In baseball statistics, an at bat (AB) is counted only when the batter reaches first base on a hit or an error, is called out for any reason other than as part of a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly, or there is a fielder's choice. If the batter receives a walk, is hit by a pitch, or reaches first base because of catcher's interference, he is not charged with an "official AB." See plate appearance for further details.
B
backdoor breaking ball
- A breaking ball thrown to the outside of the strike zone of a left-handed batter by a right-handed pitcher, or to a right-handed batter by a left-handed pitcher. Since most breaking balls curve toward the batter in this configuration, a backdoor breaking ball appears to be a ball, on the outside, then curves sharply into the strike zone after the batter has given up on it, coming through the "back door" of the strike zone. A backdoor slider is the common version, because the slider has more lateral motion than other breaking pitches.
bad hop
- a ball that bounces in front of an infielder in an unexpected way, usually because it hit some irregularity on the ground
- 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. There are specific guidelines in the rules about what pitching movements are illegal. The spirit of a balk is that certain movements effectively "declare" the pitcher's intent to pitch to the batter, freeing the baserunner from any fear that he will be picked off. Some balks result from errant or unsuccessful motions, such as the case of the ball accidentally slipping out of the pitcher's hand; this usage is likely linked to its use outside of baseball, to mean any process that has been prematurely blocked.
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 it can be fielded by an infielder the batter will have time to reach first for a base hit. This was a tactic of the Baltimore Orioles of the National League in the 1890s, who frequently attempted this kind of hit purposely. John McGraw is supposed to have had the earth in front of home plate intentionally compacted for this purpose. When it happens in the modern game, and so named, it is more often simply a result of poor contact that just happens to aid the batter-runner.
bandbox
banjo hitter
- A batter who lacks power. A banjo hitter usually hits bloop singles, often just past the infield dirt, and would have a low slugging percentage. The name is said to come from the twanging sound of the bat at contact, like that of a banjo.
- See hit.
base knock
baserunner or runner
- A player on the offensive team (i.e. the team at bat) who has safely reached base.
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.
batter's background or 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.
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.
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.
batterymates
batting average (BA)
batting practice (also referred to as BP)
- 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.
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).
- 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.
bender
- A curveball.
big fly
- A long home run.
big leagues
bigs
- The big leagues, major leagues, "the Show." If you're in the bigs you're a big leaguer, a major leaguer.
block the plate
- A catcher who puts a foot, leg, or whole body between home plate and a runner attempting to score, is said to "block the plate." Blocking the plate is a dangerous tactic, and may be considered obstruction (Official Rules of Baseball, Rule 2.00 (Obstruction)).
bloop
- A weakly hit fly ball that drops in for a single between an infielder and an outfielder.
blowser
- A closer who seems to get more blown saves than saves.
Blue
- A term commonly used by players address an umpire, referring to the typical dark blue umpire's uniform color. Usually when complaining about a call: "Oh, come on, Blue!"
bonehead play or just "boner"
- A mental mistake that changes the course of a game dramatically. See "Merkle boner".
- A young player who received a signing bonus.
bonus baseball
- Extra innings. Also called "bonus cantos" by Yankees announcer Michael Kay.
bottom (of an inning)
- The second half of an inning, during which the home team bats, derived from its position in the line score.
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 "back 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.
- The statistical summary of a game. The line scoren abbreviated version of the box score, duplicated from the field scoreboard. Invention of the box score is credited to Henry Chadwick.
BP
- batting practice.
- Devotees of baseball research also sometimes refer to Baseball Prospectus as BP.
BR
- Bats right; used in describing a player's statistics, for example: John Doe (TR, BR, 6', 172 lbs.)
bread and butter
- term used to describe a players greatest skill
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.
bring
- A pitch intentionally thrown close to a batter to intimidate or misdirect, 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 have had a "close shave". 1950s pitcher Sal Maglie was called "the Barber" due to his frequent use of such pitches.
- 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 baseline, 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).
- 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. When done correctly, fielders have no play except, at best, to retire the batter-runner. Speedy runners also bunt for base hits when infielders are playing back.
- 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.
C
- 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.
called up
- A Major League team may call up 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 31st, several minor leaguers may be called up to take a spot on the expanded roster.
campaign
- a season
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. It may also be used in reference to acknowledging something or used when one is in mild excitement. Frequently used by Chicago White Sox broadcaster Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson.
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.
changeup or change
- A pitch meant to look like a fastball, but with less velocity; short for "change of pace". Varieties of this pitch include 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 and vice versa, frequently resulting in ground balls. Also, a straight change, made famous by Pedro Martinez 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.
chase after
- To swing at a pitch well outside of the strike zone.
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.
cheese
- A fastball. Also high cheese.
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.
choke up
- Whereas an ordinary person might sometimes "choke up" with emotion and have a hard time speaking, in baseball a batter "chokes up" by sliding his hands up from the nub end of the bat to shorten his swing.
- 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.
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."
- 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.
- 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't hit in the clutch"), or to specific hits ("that was a clutch hit"). The existence of "clutch" hitting is a controversial and divisive topic among sports fans. All baseball fans agree that clutch hits exist, but there is significant disagreement over whether clutch hitting or "being clutch" is a skill a player can possess, i.e. whether his batting performance "in the clutch" is statistically or mathematically different from his overall batting performance, especially over the course of a career as opposed to a small portion of it.
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.
comebacker
- A ball batted directly back to the pitcher.
- A complete game (denoted by CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game himself, without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A complete game can be either a win or a loss.
- A hitter who does not strike out often. Thus, he's usually able to make contact with the ball and put it in play.
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 The Ballpark in Arlington yelling "CORNUCOPIA!"
cover a base
- 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.
crooked number
- A number greater than 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.
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.
- 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.
- A pitch that curves or breaks from a straight or expected flight path toward home plate.
cut fastball or cutter
- a fastball that has lateral movement. A "cut fastball" is another name for a slider that has more speed than lateral movement.
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. Accurate throws are more difficult over long distances and the ball loses a considerable amount of speed the farther it must be thrown.
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.
D
- 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.
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.
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".
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".
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".
dig it out
- To field a ball on or near the ground. Usually a first baseman taking a low throw from another infielder.
dinger
- A home run.
disabled list (DL)
- 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.
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).
DL
- The disabled list. Sometimes used as a verb, as in "Woods was DL'ed yesterday."
doctoring the ball
- Cheating by 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))
- A hit where the batter makes it safely to second base. Also a two-base hit.
- When two games are played back-to-back by the same two teams on the same day.
- When the games are scheduled for late in the day, they are referred to as a "twilight-night" or "twi-night" doubleheader. When one game is scheduled for the afternoon and one for the evening (typically with separate admission fees), it is referred to as a "day-night" doubleheader.
- 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.
- 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.
down the line
- On the field near the foul lines, often used to describe the location of batted balls.
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.
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.
drop off the table
- Used to describe a pitched ball, usually a curveball, that breaks extremely sharply.
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.
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."
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.
dying quail
- A batted ball that drops in front of the outfielders for a hit, often unexpectedly (like a shot bird).
E
- 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.
early innings
- The first, second and third innings of a regulation nine-inning game.
- 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.
earned run average (ERA)
- The average number of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per innings pitched.
emergency start
- To start the game as a pitcher due to the unexpected availablity of the scheduled starting pitcher.
excuse me swing
- When a batter inadvertently makes contact during a check swing. Contrast with swinging bunt.
- A major league term for the larger roster of players that can be used under specific circumstances.
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.
- 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.
F
- 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.
- 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).
fielder's choice (FC)
- The act of a fielder, upon fielding a batted ball, choosing to try to put out a baserunner and allow the batter-runner to advance to first base. Despite reaching first base safely after hitting the ball, the batter is not credited with a hit but would be charged with an at-bat.
figger filbert
- An old-fashioned way of saying "numbers nut," for a fan with a near-obsessive interest in the statistics or "figures" of the game. Bill James could be said to be the iconic "figger filbert" but also a founding father of the field of baseball research called sabermetrics.
fireballer
fireman
- A team's top relier pitcher who is often brought in to end an offensive rally and put out the fire.
FL or F.L.
- Abbreviation for Federal League, a major league that existed from 1914 to 1915.
fly ball
- A ball hit high in the air. See also pop fly, infield fly, and ground ball.
force play or force out
- 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))
foul off
- Purposly 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."
free baseball
- Slang for extra innings.
frozen rope
- A hard-hit line drive.
- A count of 3 balls and 2 strikes; another strike will result in a strikeout, while another ball will result in a walk.
fungo
- A fly ball hit for fielders to practice catching.
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.
G
gap
- The space between outfielders. Also alley
gas
general manager (GM)
- The person who runs the organization of a baseball team (personnel, finance, and operations). Normally distinct from the field manager and the club owner.
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.
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.
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.
- Statistical abbrieveation for grounded into double play.
GM
- An abbreviation for general manager.
Going Yard
- One who strikes out four times in one game is said to have gotten a "Golden Sombrero".
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.
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.
grab some pine
- Go sit on the bench, used as a taunt after a strikeout. Popularized by Giants sportscaster Mike Krukow.
Grapefruit League
- The group of major league teams that conduct Spring Training in Florida, where grapefruit trees grow in abundance.
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.
- A ball hit on the ground so that it bounces in the infield. A bunt is not considered a "ground ball."
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.
- 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.
H
- The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Abbreviated HOF.
hang
- Describes a breaking ball that does not break, and so is easy to hit. "A hanging curveball."
hard hands
- a tendancy to mishandle fielded balls
- To strike out three times. Used jokingly, as the same term means to score three times in hockey and other sports.
headhunter
heat
- A fastball.
high and tight
- the location pitch thrown above the strike zone and close to the batter.
high cheese
- A strike thrown high in the strike zone.
high, hard one
- a fastball thrown high in, or above the strike zone.
high heat
- A strike thrown high in the strike zone.
hill
- The pitcher's mound.
- 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
- An offensive tactic whereby a baserunner (usually on first base) starts running as if to steal and the batter swings at the pitch (so contrary to the name, the hit follows the run).
- When a pitch touches a batter in the batter's box, the batter advances to first base. Abbreviated as HPB.
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.
- To hit a single, double, triple and home run in the same game. To accomplish this feat in order is termed a "natural cycle."
hit the ball on the screws (or on the button)
- To bat the ball solidly, often used when the ball is caught for an out. A slumping batter might be comforted by "hitting the ball on the screws" when not getting a hit.
hitting behind the runner
- An offensive tactic where the batter intentionally put 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.
hole in his glove
- a tendency to drop caught balls.
hole in his swing
- A scouting report phrase describing a batter who can't hit strikes in a particular location.
home plate or "the plate" or "home"
- See plate.
homer
homestand
- A series of home games. See also road trip.
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.
hot box
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.
I
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.
- A call made by the umpire signaling the batter is out when he hits a fly ball that can be caught by an infielder with runners on first and second or with the bases loaded and less than two outs. This rule is intended to prevent the fielder from intentionally dropping the ball and getting force outs on any or all of the runners on base. The rule is sometimes a little mystifying to casual fans of the game, but it has been a fundamental rule since 1895, presumably to prevent the notoriously tricky Baltimore Orioles from doing it.
- 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 not considered infielders, but instead as the battery.
inside game or 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 its background machinations.
insurance run
- When a team is leading the game by a run or two, it hopes to get an "insurance run" to provide a margin of safety in the late innings of the game.
intentional walk
- When a pitcher throws pitches well outside of the strike zone in order to walk a batter, rather than give him a chance to get a potentially more damaging hit. Usually, the catcher will take a step or two away from the batter to minimize the chance of the pitch drifting into the hittable area. Often an intentional walk will occur with "first base open," meaning there is a runner on second or third, but none on first, 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 following batter, whose batting skills are being disregarded. There is also a term, "unintentional intentional walk," which refers to an intentional walk given by throwing pitches in the vicinity of the strike zone, hoping to get the batter to chase one, but without any real attempt at getting him out. This is also called "pitching around" the batter.
in the books
- the end of a game.
in the hole (1)
- On the infield at a location nearly exactly between fielders, used to describe the location of a batted ground ball, or the location a fielder as he runs to try to retrieve that ball. Used most often in reference to the space between the first and second basemen, or between the shortstop and the third baseman. A ground ball hit between second and short is more apt to be described as "up the middle". The term is also occasionally used to designate the space between any pair or group of fielders. In any case, "the hole" is "where they ain't" as Willie Keeler famously stated. Term similarly used in football.
in the hole (2)
- Due to bat third in order; batting immediately after the on-deck batter. Presumably derived from card-playing terminology, or perhaps from boating, where it was originally "in the hold" - the place prior to being "on deck!"
in the hole (3)
- Used to describe an unfavorable count. Example: Pitcher X is in the hole 3-0 against Batter Y. Or, Batter Y is in the hole 0-2 against Pitcher X.
in play
- See "put the ball in play."
J
Jack
- A Home Run, as in, "Hitting a jack" or "Jacking one out of here"
jam
- As a verb, to throw a pitch far enough inside that the batter is unlikely to make good contact if he hits it. "The pitcher jammed the batter". As a noun, a situation where there are runners on base in scoring position, 1 or none out, and good hitters coming up. "The pitcher is in a jam."
Junior Circuit
- The American League, so-called because it is the younger of the two major leagues.
junk
- a sequence of several different pitches with not much velocity but a lot of movement. Throwing junk is usually a strategy of a pitcher who does not have a good fastball.
junkball pitcher
- a pitcher who throws predominantly off-speed pitches.
K
- Strikeout. A backwards K is sometimes used to denote a strikeout looking and forwards to indicate a strikeout swinging. Originating from the last letter of "struck" (as per Henry Chadwick, inventor of baseball scorekeeping techniques) and reinforced by inference of "knockout" or "K.O."
keep the line moving
- reference to a series of batters reaching base, alluding to an assembly line
keystone sack
- Second base. Like the keystone of an arch, second base is "key" to both scoring (a runner on the base is in "scoring position") and preventing scoring (by defensive "strength up the middle").
knocks
- 1. A player who "knocks in 3" gets three RBI's. 2. Sometimes a player is simply praised for getting some "solid knocks" (perhaps extra-base hits) but not necessarily any RBI's. 3. A "base knock" or "one-base knock" is a single; a "two-base knock" is a double. Presumably the "knocks" are the sounds of the ball hitting the wooden bat.
knuckleball
- A pitch that is thrown with the knuckles and/or the fingernails. It tends to flutter and move suddenly as it is on its way to the plate. Often, knuckleballs have very little or no spin at all. Can also refer to a batted ball, typically a line drive that appears to flutter in flight.
L
late innings
- The seventh, eighth and ninth innings of a regulation nine-inning game.
- a 1-2-3 double play (and a one, ana 2, ana 3...)
lead off (base running)
- When a base runner steps off of the base in order to reduce the distance to the next base, before a pitch is thrown.
lead off (batting order)
- The player who is first in the batting order for a given team. Also, the first batter in any given inning.
leather
- Referring to a fielder's glove, a player with "good leather" is a good defensive player (typically an infielder).
left on base (LOB)
- The number of runners left on the basepaths after the third out is made. Published Box scores usually include LOB totals for each team as a game statistic, and often include LOB totals for each hitter in the lineup.
leg out
- To reach a base just before the throw arrives, typically said of a ground ball hit to the infield. "Randy legged that one out."
lineup
- the batting order
lineup card
- a scorecard kept by the manager of each team on which all players who enter a game for any reason must be listed showing their place in the batting order
Lively Ball Era
- The time starting around 1919 (many say 1920) when several factors came together to shift baseball away from the time-honored inside game to the power game, ending the Dead Ball Era. Following World War I, the construction of the baseball improved significantly, with a cork center and tighter-wound yarns that made the ball inherently "livelier". Also, there were significant rules changes that abolished abuse of the ball (such as the spitball) and also required substitution of a new ball when the previous ball became dirty or scuffed. This gave a great advantage to hitters, especially power hitters. Babe Ruth and Rogers Hornsby were most notable among those who took full advantage of these changes and rewrote the record books.
load the bases
- A succession of plays that results in base runners occupying first, second, and third bases.
lollipop
- a soft straight pitch with a lot of arc
long ball
- A home run. A team may be said to "win by the long ball" if a player hits a game-winning home run or the team hits several home runs to gain a win.
LOOGY
- Lefty One Out GuY: a left-handed relef pitcher specializing in getting one out, often in critical situations.
M
meat
- rookie, popularized by the the movie 1988 baseball movie, Bull Durham.
meatball
- an easy pitch to hit - down the middle of the plate
Mendoza line
- A batting average of .200. Batters hitting below .200 are colloquially said to be below the Mendoza line. Named for Mario Mendoza, a notoriously poor hitter of the 1970s. Less commonly used for .215, Mendoza's lifetime batting average. See this site for more.
men in blue
- The umpires.
- Refers to Fred Merkle's infamous baserunning gaffe that cost the Giants the 1908 pennant, but can be used to describe any mental error that costs a team the game. A good example would be forgetting the number of outs and tossing the ball into the stands, allowing the runners to advance.
middle infielders
- The second baseman and shortstop.
middle innings
- The fourth, fifth and sixth innings of a regulation nine-inning game.
middle of the inning
- The few minutes that lapse between the top and bottom half of an inning when the visiting team takes the field to defend, and the home team prepares to bat. No gameplay occurs during this period. Television and radio broadcasts run commercial breaks during the middle of an inning. See also seventh-inning stretch.
- An often misused term. It refers to the 2002 book of the same name, written by Michael Lewis. "Moneyball players" are most often referred to those who walk a lot, have high on-base percentages, and don't steal a lot of bases. However, the essense 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.
moonshot
- A high fly ball, typically a homerun 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 were also headlined in the newspapers as "Moon Shots".
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 starters or regulars a rest.
movement
- Refers to deviations from a straight flight of a pitch. More movement is preferable because it makes the ball harder to hit. Can be used to refer to both straight pitches (fastballs) and curving pitches (breaking balls). Movement in a fastball only occurs at higher speeds (over 80 m.p.h). If you watch such a pitch up close, it appears to "bounce" on the way, much like turbulence on an airplane. Hence the term "rising fastball".
N
NA or N.A.
- Abbreviation for National Association. It could mean the long-ago amateur organization called the National Association of Base Ball Players; or the first professional league, called the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players; or the modern collective governing body of those minor leagues that are affiliated with the major leagues, long called the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (also abbreviated NAPBL) and officially renamed "Minor League Baseball" in 1999 [1].
nickel curve
- A slider.
NL or N.L.
- Abbreviation for National League, the older of the two existing major leagues.
no-hitter
- A game in which a team is held hitless by the opposing pitcher(s). Also given the childlike nickname "No-No". If no batter reaches base by any means at all (walk, error, etc.) the pitcher is said to have pitched a "Perfect Game".
nubber
- A batted ball that doesn't travel very far, usually at low speed. It is often the result of hitting the ball on the end of the bat (ie - the fat part of the bat).
O
Ofer
- A player who goes hitless in a game, or wears the collar, as in "0 for 4" (spoken as "oh for four") or however many at bats he took in the game.
- Also sometimes called a regulation game, an official game is a game that has progressed beyond the point at which it can be considered complete if necessary. This is approximately the halfway point of the game. Since most professional baseball games are nine innings long, the fifth inning is used as the threshold for an official game. If the visiting team is leading, or the game is tied, the end of the fifth inning marks this point. If the home team (which bats last) is already ahead in the score, and theoretically would not need its half of the fifth inning, then 4½ innings (i.e., the middle of the fifth) is considered an official game. If a game is not an official game, and also is not "suspended" and completed at a later date, none of the records from the game are computed in the players' or teams' statistics. It is as if the game never happened. If the game is later replayed, it starts over from the first inning.
Olympic Rings
- Used when a player strikes out five times in a game.
On base percentage (OBP)
- Percentage of the time that a batter gets on base for any reason other than a fielding error or a fielder's choice.
on-deck
- The next batter due to bat, after the current batter; the second batter in order. The designated area 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 steps or stands on the on-deck circle.
"Onion"
- Derisive nickname of the short-lived Union Association.
on the black
- A pitch which is over the outside or inside, black edge of home plate.
one-hitter
- A game in which one of the teams was limited to only one base hit, typically thought to be an extraordinary pitching performance. Other batters can reach base via walks, errors, or being hit by a pitch, but only one can reach base through a base-hit.
opposite field hit
- A hit by a left-handed batter that travels to left field, or from a right-handed batter that travels to right field. The ball is said to be hit to the "opposite" side of the field from the direction of a player's natural swing. Contrary to pull hitter. Also known as "going the other way" or "going oppo'."
OPS
- On-base plus slugging. A recent term invented by "statheads" that is said to be a good measure of a player's ability to produce runs for his team.
outside corner
- Over the edge of home plate away from the batter, used to describe the location of pitches.
P
to paint
- to throw the ball at the edges of the strike zone. A pitcher who has so much control that he can paint regularly may be referred to as Rembrandt or Picasso. Or he can be said to "paint the black" (the black edges of the plate).
park
- To hit a home run. He parked a three-run homer. Also see yard
payoff pitch
- A pitch made when the pitch count is full, i.e., when three balls and two strikes have been totaled for the batter. 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 (resulting in a strikeout) or the batter (resulting in a hit or a walk). This is not always so, though, as a foul would extend the length of the at bat. The term is most often used when whatever happens next will either score a run or end the inning.
PCL
- Pacific Coast League -- a class AAA baseball league (AAA minor league).
pea
- A pitched ball thrown at high speed. "Clem can really fling that pea."
pearod
- a hard line drive batted back at the pitcher.
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.
- A special type of no-hitter, in which the pitcher (or pitchers) retire each batter consecutively, allowing no baserunners via base on balls, error, or any other means. Although a perfect game could involve multiple pitchers (one pitcher relieving another for whatever reason), this has never happened in major league baseball. The list of perfect games is very short, and all of them were complete games by a single pitcher.
pickle
- Same as rundown.
- A quick throw from the pitcher to a fielder covering a base, with the intention of catching the runner off-base. It may also serve to 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. The catcher may also sometimes make a pickoff throw if a runner has strayed too far off-base after a pitch is thrown.
pinch hitter
- A hitter substituted, mid-inning, for the scheduled batter. Often, a pinch hitter is brought in during a critical situation (a "pinch", or "the clutch") to replace a weak batter (usually the pitcher, in the National League). Although that's the origin of the term, any batter substituting for another, for any reason, is conventionally called a pinch hitter.
pinch runner
- A runner substituted for another runner who is on base. Often, a pinch runner is brought in during a critical situation (just as with a pinch hitter), typically to replace a slower runner with a faster runner in hopes of gaining an extra base. However, any substitute runner, for whatever reason, is conventionally called a pinch runner.
pitch
- When the baseball is thrown by the pitcher from the pitching mound to the catcher in standard play.
pitcher
- The player responsible for pitching the ball. Known as the "1" position.
pitch around
- not intentionally walking a batter, but not throwing him a hittable pitch - hoping to get him to swing at bad pitches
- The total number of pitches a pitcher has thrown in a given game.
pitch out
- A pitch that is so far outside that it can't be hit. The catcher catches the pitch while standing, allowing a quick throw to try picking off a runner.
PL or P.L.
- Abbreviation for Players' League, a one-year (1890) major league.
plate or home plate
- "The plate" usually refers to home plate, which is the final base that a player must touch to score. Home plate also defines the horizontal limits of the strike zone. A baseball field also has a "pitcher's plate," more commonly referred to as the pitching rubber or simply "the rubber."
- A special definition of an at-bat used to caluclate on base percentage.
Platinum Sombrero
- A batter who strikes out five times in one game is said to have gotten the Platinum Sombrero
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.
playing in
- see double play depth. Also can refer to the 1st baseman and/or 3rd baseman playing closer to home plate in anticipation of fielding a bunt.
position player
- A non-pitcher.
- 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. Also slugger.
pull hitter
- Any batter that can "pull hit," a technique where the batter hits the ball towards their side of the field (i.e. a right handed hitter would pull hit to the left because they bat on the left side of the plate). This is a difficult thing to do because the tendency is to hit towards the opposite side of the field.
pull the string
- To throw a pitch which breaks hard and late, exclusively in a strikeout situation, usually when the count is full. A pitcher has only 'pulled the string' if he successfully fools the batter 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.
punch-out
- A strike-out. Perhaps borrowed from boxing, just like the K (or K.O.). Also used as a verb, "Clem punched him out."
purpose pitch
- See "brushback."
put the ball in play
- To hit the ball in fair territory where it may go for a hit or a defensive player may make a play on the ball (try to catch or field it). Taking a walk (or being hit by a pitch), striking out, or hitting a home run over the fence are not putting the ball into play.
Q
- A starting pitcher is credited with a quality start if he lasts at least 6 innings and holds the opponents to 3 or fewer earned runs.
quick pitch
- When the pitcher comes to a less-than-complete stop in the midst of the stretch position, in an attempt to throw off the timing of batter and runners. When detected, the umpire calls the pitch a balk, and all runners can freely advance one base.
R
rabbit ears
- A player who becomes nervous or chokes when opposing players or fans yell at or razz him is said to have "rabbit ears."
rainbow
- usually a curve ball with a high arc in its path to the plate
rally cap
- When fans or players wear their caps backwards, sideways, or inside-out to bring good luck to their team in hopes that it will "rally" to win the game. Said to have originated during the 1986 World Series when the New York Mets were losing the 6th game to the RedSox and were down 3-2 in the series; in the 7th inning, the Mets players all started wearing their caps inside out while sitting in the dugout, and the team rallied to win the game and the series.
range
- the extent of a fielder's ability to move from his position in time to reach and field a ball in play.
- Run batted in; a run in baseball that is driven in by a batter. Also: official credit to a batter for driving in a run.
relay
- the process of getting the ball from the deep outfield to third base or home plate by first throwing to an infielder, who then throws to the final target. The relay to the plate...he's out at home!
reliever or relief pitcher
- A pitcher brought in the game to replace (i.e. "relieve") another pitcher.
rhubarb
- an argument or fight in a baseball game. Hence, Rhubarb, a novel by H. Allen Smith.
ribbie
- Expansion of the initial's RBI, which stand for Run batted in
ring him up
- Another term for a strikeout.
RISP
rope
- A hard line drive. Also see "frozen rope."
roster
- The official list of players who are on the team and thus eligible to play (included on the lineup card) in a given game. In Major League Baseball, during the off-season and in Spring training it's conventional to refer to a roster of 40 players. Once the season starts, however, the teams keep a roster of 25 active players, though they may also have some players on the disabled list. After August 31st, Major League teams use an expanded roster and may carry as many as 40 players until the end of the regular season. However, players added to the roster after August 31st are not eligible for the play-offs, except for players who are coming off the disabled list.
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.
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.
rubber game or rubber match
- 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. (Ask Yahoo!).
- 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, barring an error or the need to make a play on another runner. Also called a hot box or a pickle. Sometimes used as a baserunning strategy by a trailing runner, to distract the fielders and allow a leading runner or runners to advance.
runners at the corners
- runners on 1st and 3rd, with 2nd base open.
runners in scoring position (RISP)
- See "scoring position." RISP is also a statistic used to assess the efficiency or the effectiveness of a team's hitters. Good hitters typically have higher batting averages when there are RISP.
Ruthian Blast
- A home run that travels very far.
S
- Sabermetrics is the analysis of baseball through objective evidence, especially baseball statistics. The term is derived from the acronym SABR, which stands for the Society for American Baseball Research. It was coined by Bill James, who has been its most enthusiastic proponent.
- 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.
sacrifice fly (abbreviated as SF).
- 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 thus "sacrifices" himself, gets credited with an RBI, but is not charged with an at bat (AB).
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.
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
salad
- an easily handled pitch.
Sally League
- The South Atlantic League, a Class A minor baseball league with teams located mainly in the southeastern United States.
scoring position
- a runner on 2nd or 3rd base is in scoring position.
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 what kind of pitch by its rotation.
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
Senior Circuit
- The National League, so-called because it is the older of the two major leagues.
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.
setup man
- A relief pitcher who is consistently used immediately before the closer.
- 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.
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.
shift
- where the entire infield and/or outfield (that is, the players) 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 lefthanders, and with the bases empty, managers have been known to shift fielders from the left side to the right side. This was done to Willie McCovey among others. 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.
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.
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".
short hop
- a ball that hits the ground immediately in front of an infielder.
the Show
- the major leagues. Particularly "in the Show." Or in "the Bigs" (big leagues, major leagues).
shuts the door
- Term used to describe when a pitcher, generally the closer, finishes the ballgame with a save.
sinker
- A pitch, typically a fastball, that breaks sharply downward as it crosses the plate. Also see "drop ball."
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).
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, thinking it will get them there faster than simply running.
- A relatively fast pitch with a slight curve in the opposite direction of the throwing arm.
slug
- To hit with great power.
slugger
- Any person who commonly hits with great power, but sometimes used in reference to a child to boost their ego.
slugging average, often abbreviated as SLG or SA
- a measure of the power of a hitter, calculated as total bases divided by at bats.
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" run(s); close kin to inside baseball.
smoke
- A pitcher who "throws smoke" throws it so hard that the batter is likely only to see the ball's smoke trail.
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 smoke trail.
soft hands
- A fielder's ability to cradle the ball well in his glove. Contrast hard hands.
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".
- 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."
speed merchant
- a fast player, often collecting stolen bases, bunt singles and/or infield hits.
spike
- A runner can "spike" an infielder by sliding into him and causing an injury with the spikes of his shoes.
spitter
- A spitball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of spit, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance.
splitfinger or forkball
- A fast pitch 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.
- 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.
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.
starter or starting pitcher
- The first pitcher in the game for each team.
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.
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.
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.
steal (stolen base)
- In baseball, a stolen base 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."
sticks
- See "bush league".
stopper
- This term originally a 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.
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)
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
- An imaginary box used to call strikes that lies in the following area: vertically from the knees to the nipple line (how does the umpire know where the batter's nipples are???) and horizontally from the left side of the plate to the right side of the plate. When the ball passes through the strike zone and the batter either does not swing or misses when he swings one strike has occurred. Despite this formal rule, umpires differ in the strike zones that they recognize or enforce. Major League Baseball has experimented in the recent years with the QuesTec system, which uses laser light technology to standardize the zone. But balls and strikes are still called by umpires, not machines.
struck out looking
- A batter called out on strikes without swinging on the third strike "stuck out lookin'."
submariner
- A pitcher who throws underarm.
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.
T
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.
tater
- A home run.
Texas Leaguer or Texas League single
- A weakly hit fly ball that drops in for a single between an infielder and an outfielder. See "Bloop".
third of an inning
- line stat credited to a pitcher retiring one out of a full inning
three-bagger
- a triple
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.
tools of ignorance
- a catcher's gear.
- 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.
top of the inning
- The first half of an inning, during which the visiting team bats, derived from its position in the line score.
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.
touch all the bases.
- hit a home run.
TR
- Throws right; used in describing a player's statistics, for example: John Doe (TR, BR, 6', 172 lbs.)
triple
- A three-base hit. See "hit" and triple (baseball).
triple play: when three outs are made on one play. This is rare.
turn two
- to execute a double play
twin killing
- a double play.
two-bagger
- a double
two-thirds of an inning
- line stat credited to a pitcher retiring 2 outs of a full inning
U
UA or U.A.
- Abbreviation for Union Association, a one-year (1884) major league.
Ueker 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.
- The person charged with officiating the game. Sometimes addressed as Blue or abbreviated as ump.
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).
Uncle Charlie
- A slang term used to describe a curve ball.
Uncontested steal. See also stolen base and defensive indifference.
- 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.
up and in
- Same as high and tight.
upper decker
- A home run that lands in the stadium's upper deck of seating.
upstairs
- a pitched ball that is high, and usually outside the strike zone
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.
utility player
- A player (usually a bench player) who can play several different positions.
V
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.
W
- 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 considered to be known as "a walk-off walk".
- 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.
wave
- 1. To swing and miss a pitch, usually with a tentative swing. 2. "Doing the wave" in the stands. 3. 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. 4. 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."
Web Gem
- an outstanding defensive play. Popularized by Baseball Tonight on ESPN.
wheelhouse
- A hitter's power zone. "Clem threw that one right into Ruben's wheelhouse. End of story."
Wheel play
- upon a bunt to the left side of the infield, the 3rd baseman runs toward home to field the bunt, and the shortstop runs to third base to cover.
wheels
- Legs. A player who runs the bases fast has wheels.
whiff
- Another term used to describe a strikeout. The phrase has even been immortalized by ESPN's Dan Patrick, who uses it by saying "The whiff'.
WHIP
- Walks Plus Hits Per Innings-A measurement of the Pitcher's ability to keep batters off base. Calculated as (Bases on Balls + Hits allowed)/ (Innings pitched)
Winter leagues
- Currently, three minor leagues with seasons that happen during the "off-season" of major league baseball: the Arizona Fall League, the Puerto Rican League, and the Venezuelan Winter League. The winter leagues used to include the Cuban League.
wood
- The baseball bat. See "good wood."
Worm burner
- A hard hit ground ball that "burns" the ground.
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.
X
Y
Yardwork
- A player is said to be "doing yardwork" by hitting many home runs or exhibiting power. Compare to "Going yard".
Yardjob
- A home run. Compare to "Going yard".
Z
See also
Sources
- Dictionary of Baseball
- The New Dickson Baseball Dictionary, by Paul Dickson - contains a very extensive list of Baseball jargon and terms.