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ace
A team's best starting pitcher.
alley
The section of the outfield between the outfielders.
Also "gap."
around
the horn
A double play going from third base to second to first.
backdoor
slider
A pitch that appears to be out of the strike zone,
but then breaks back over the plate.
bag
A base.
Baltimore
chop
A ground ball that hits in front of home plate
(or off of it) and takes a large hop over the infielder's
head.
bandbox
A small ballpark that favors hitters.
bang-bang
play
A play in which the baserunner hits the bag a split-second
before the ball arrives or vice versa.
basket
catch
When a fielder catches a ball with his glove near belt level.
Bronx cheer
When the crowd boos.
brushback
A pitch that nearly hits a batter.
bush
Also "bush league." An amateur play or behavior.
can
of corn
An easy catch by a fielder.
caught
looking
When a batter is called out on strikes.
cellar
Last place. Also "basement."
cheese
Also "good cheese." Refers to a good fastball.
chin
music
A pitch that is high and inside.
circus
catch
An outstanding catch by a fielder.
closer
A team's relief pitcher who finishes the game.
cutter
A cut fastball (one with a late break to it).
cycle
When a batter hits a single, double, triple and home run in
the same game.
dinger
A home run.
dish
Home plate.
fireman
A team's closer or late-inning relief pitcher.
fungo
A ball hit to a fielder during practice. It's usually hit
by a coach using a "fungo bat," which is longer and thinner
than a normal bat.
gap
See "alley." A ball hit here is a "gapper."
gopher
ball
A pitch hit for a home run, as in "go for."
heat
A good fastball. Also "heater."
high
and tight
Referring to a pitch that's up in the strike zone and inside
on a hitter. Also known as "up and in."
hill
Pitcher's mound.
homer
A home run. Other terms include: blast, dinger, dong, four-bagger,
four-base knock, moon shot, tape-measure blast and tater.
hot corner
Third base.
in
the hole
The batter after the on-deck hitter.
jam
When a hitter gets a pitch near his hands, he is "jammed."
Also when a pitcher gets himself in trouble, he is in a "jam."
leather
Refers to how good a player plays defensively or handles the
glove. Ex: "He flashed some leather on that play."
meatball
An easy pitch to hit, usually right down the middle of the
plate.
Mendoza
line
A batting average of around .200.
moon
shot
A very long, high home run.
nail
down
As in "nail down a victory." Refers to a relief pitcher finishing
off the game.
on
the screws
When a batter hits the ball hard. Also "on the button."
painting
the black
When a pitcher throws the ball over the edge of the plate.
pea
A ball traveling at high speed, either batted or thrown.
pepper
Pepper is a common pre-game exercise where one player bunts
brisk grounders and line drives to a group of fielders who
are standing about 20 feet away. The fielders try to throw
it back as quickly as possible. The batter hits the return
throw. (Some ballparks ban pepper games because wild pitches
could land in the stands and injure spectators).
pick
A good defensive play by an infielder on a ground ball. Also
a shortened version of "pick-off."
pickle
A rundown.
punchout
A strikeout.
rhubarb
A fight or scuffle.
ribbie
Another way of saying RBI. Also "ribeye."
rope
A hard line drive hit by a batter. Also "frozen rope."
rubber
game
The deciding game of a series.
run-down
When a baserunner gets caught between bases by the fielders.
Ruthian
With great power.
seeing-eye
single
A soft ground ball that finds its way between infielders for
a base hit.
set-up
man
A relief pitcher who usually enters the game in the 7th or
8th inning.
shoestring
catch
A running catch made just above the fielder's shoetops.
southpaw
A left-handed pitcher.
sweet
spot
The part of the bat just a few inches from the barrel.
table
setter
Batter whose job is to get on base for other hitters to drive
him in. Usually a leadoff or No. 2 hitter.
tape-measure
blast
An extremely long home run.
tater
A home run.
Texas
Leaguer
A bloop hit that drops between an infielder and outfielder.
tools of ignorance
Catcher's equipment.
touch
'em all
Hitting a home run (touching all the bases).
twin
killing
A double play.
Uncle
Charlie
Curve ball.
utility
player
A player who fills in at many positions.
wheelhouse
A hitter's power zone. Usually a pitch waist-high and over
the heart of the plate.
wheels
A ballplayer's legs.
whiff
Strikeout.
yakker
Curve ball.
Prepared by the Publishing
Department of Major League Baseball Properties.
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