A designed play in baseball where the baserunner runs and the hitter tries to hit the ball. Stay on Top: For a hitter this means not getting underneath the ball causing a pop-up. Typically, a curveball or changeup of some variation. Philadelphia Phillies' Maikel Franco (7) throws his bat and runs the bases after hitting the game winning three run home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, in Philadelphia. A batter is ahead in the count when the count is 3-1. What is OPS in baseball? In the hole: The batter who follows the on-deck batter. Also called extra frames.. Upper decker: A home run that lands in a stadiums upper deck of seating is referred to as an upper deck home run or upper decker., Warning track power: What a batter hits a fly ball that is either caught on the warning track or lands just on the warning track just shy of a home run, they are said to have warning track power., Wheelhouse: A hitters power zone is usually called their wheelhouse. Snow Cone Grab: When a fielder catches a ball very high in his mitts webbing and the ball is sticking out of the top of his glove appearing to be like a snow cone. Basket catch: When a fielder catches a ball with his glove near his belt. Offspeed pitch: Any pitch thrown at a slower speed than a fastball. [Hanger Banger] - A hitter who is particularly good at hitting curveballs or other off-speed pitches. Utility player: A player who can play several different positions. The bump is located in the middle of the infield, 60 feet, six inches away from the home plate. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Battery: A pitcher and catcher pairing (also, batterymates). Drop a bunt down: When a batter stays in his batting stance until the last possible second before the ball gets to the plate, then quickly bunts the ball in the attempt to bunt for a base hit. Dead red: When a hitter is looking for a specific pitch, receives it and takes advantage of it. Used to walk a batter on purpose or to try and catch a base stealer. Shelled: this refers to a pitcher who gave up a bunch of hits, often times line drives and solid hits. You may here an announcer say he hit one in the hole. FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KKTV/Gray News) - A Colorado boy is in the hospital after suffering a serious injury while practicing baseball on Monday evening. Alloy - A traditional metal used to create bats. Does it make sense? Runners in Scoring Position: This would mean runners are on 2nd or 3rd base or both. OPS: On-base plus slugging - the sum of a players on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Touch em all: Is a term sometimes used when a player hits a home run. That was a shot!. Fighting off a Pitch: When a hitter has 2 strikes on him and is trying to stay alive by fouling off a pitch. Understanding Baseball's Unique Words and Phrases On Deck Vs In The Hole - What Does It Mean? | Little Ballparks 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). Around the horn: A double play that begins with the third baseman and goes to second and then to first. Baseball Slang. A player with a great throwing arm. Hanger: A poorly placed off-speed pitch that seems to just hang in the air, usually right down the middle of the strike zone, that can be easily hit by the batter. Dirt Dogs and Jinegar: Baseball's Slang The richness of baseball's old, weird vernacular is pure, pointless creativity. Also known as "up and in.". Bazooka: This refers to a fielder with a strong throwing arm. This means throwing something unhittable with hopes that the batter will swing and strike out. The Cycle: When a player hits a single, double, triple and homerun all in the same game. Murderers Row: A string of really good hitters in a batting order. Appeal - a claim by the team in the field to an umpire that a violation of the rules has taken place. Fishing: When a batter swings at a pitch that is out of the strike zone they are said to have gone fishing for it. Around the Horn: When players throw the ball around to each other after an out. Many times this comes from a ground ball in the infield, but it can also come from a line drive or fly ball. He had some zip on it. Discover the mysterious origins of some of baseball's most well-known Baseball Slang and Lingo Baseball Words: Terms Only True Baseball Fans Understand Want to sound like a pro at your next baseball game? Slurve: A pitch that is a cross between a slider and a curveball. Yankees pitcher Domingo Germn throws 1st perfect game since 2012. It's Jacks and yicketty yaks. Breaking ball: a pitch that breaks, such as a curveball, slider or slurve.Can of corn: a fly ball to the outfield that is easy to catchCaught napping: when a runner is picked off a baseChecked swing: When a hitter stops his swing early, trying not to offer at the pitch. Runners at the corners: Term used when base runners are on first and third base. It's hit by a coach using a fungo bat, which is longer and thinner than a normal bat. Changeup: A pitch that appears to be a fastball but is lesser in speed. You may also hear somebody say the player has a bazooka or he threw a seed. You'd have basic reports from a coach that say things that can be discerned from general knowledge: A hit that causes the ball to immediately bounce high enough off the ground to escape the reach of infielders while the batter safely makes it to first base is a Baltimore chop. Position player: Any baseball player on the field but the pitcher. Bottom Dropped Out: This refers to a sinking pitch that dives down as it comes to the hitter. We hope you have enjoyed reading through this list of commonly used baseball terms and phrases. Batters eye: A solid-colored, uncluttered area beyond the center-field wall that is in the hitters line of sight when looking out at the pitcher. Strand: To leave men on base without them scoring . Hold: When a relief pitcher comes in while the team has a lead, gets at least one out and doesnt relinquish the lead. Hitter definition, a boxer who has a hard punch rather than skill or finesse See more. Nick Stillman Share Maine is on the northern edge of a pocket of the. Also called a pop fly.. To start things off we will look at some commonly used terms when it comes to batting. It is intended to help fielders get a feel of how close they are to the fence. A play in baseball where the defense records two out-on-one plays. 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. This pitcher is throwing meatballs!. This gives the base runner a head start. Backstop: The fence/wall behind home-plate, designed to protect spectators from wild pitches or foul balls. In each half, one team bats until three outs are made. Bonus baseball: When a baseball game goes to extra innings; past 9 innings of play. It involves the ball being tossed between each of the four infielders before returning to the pitcher for the next at-bat. 6-4-3 Double Play: Each position on the field is given a number. Cycle: When a batter hits a single, double, triple and homer in the same game. Lineup: The batting order, which also lists each players defensive position. Bandbox: A small ballpark that is beneficial to hitters. Golden sombrero: When a player strikes out four times in one game. Consider yourself a baseball fan? Moon Shot: A high towering fly ball homerun. Dribbler: When a hitter hits a slow bouncing ball in the infield. Yard: This can refer to a ballpark OR if a person says he went yard that means the player hit a homerun. 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. Payoff pitch: A pitch thrown with a full count. Scoring position: When a base runner is on second or third base, they are in scoring position. 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. Dingers and big flies. He sets the table for the closer. Nubbin, Merriam-Webster says, is much older: Its first recorded use is from 1692. When a pitcher strikes out all three batters in an inning with nine pitchers, the pitcher throws nine consecutive strikes. These terms come from the idea of someone hitting a baseball a long, long way. Never has that number been more appropriate. Intentional walk: When the defending team elects to walk a batter on purpose, putting him on first base instead of letting him try to hit. losing record During the regular season, the team lost more games than it won. Goose Egg: When a team doesnt score any runs in the game. Baseball Bats for 10 Year Olds: Sizing Guide and Expert Reviews. And with all of that comes its own language, its own grand and goofy glossary of phrases that, for the unindoctrinated, might sound like total gibberish. Barrel it up: Refers to the action of hitting a pitch hard with the sweet spot of the baseball bat. Choke up: When a batter grips the bat handle higher to achieve greater control. For away teams, they bat in the top frame and field in the bottom frame. No-hitters are the second-best feat a pitcher can have in a single game following a perfect game. On-deck: The next batter due to bat after the current batter. After reading this, youll be able to talk baseball with the best of them! Glossary of Baseball Lingo, Slang & Terms This is a list of common baseball lingo and jargon terms. Americas pastime has all kinds of interesting terminology, which weve included in this look at baseball slang. For just a peek at some of the most notable examples of baseball slang, have a look at the 17 examples below. A home run with the bases loaded. For home teams, the field in the top frame and bat in the bottom frame. Wheels: You may hear somebody refer to a player as having wheels. Runners at the Corners: This would mean runners are on 1st base and 3rd base. Lastly, the terms below are mainly used when discussing aspects of a game of baseball overall. He hit for the cycle. Hose(d): A strong throwing arm. Checked swing: A batter checks a swing by stopping it before the bat crosses the front of home plate. Batting order (baseball) - Wikipedia Mop Up Pitcher: A pitcher who comes in to close out a game when the other team is up by a ton and has pretty much locked up the win. But if you don't understand the announcers' lingo, watching the game on television or listening to it on the radio can be confusing. March 9, 2019 | Coaches Reading Time: 10 minutes As a small or lower-level school pitcher or pitching coach, one thing that can be frustrating is the lack of resources available to create an effective game plan from game to game and hitter to hitter. Mendoza line: A batting average around .200, named after former Major Leaguer Mario Mendoza, who posted a .215 career average. Hot corner: Another word for the third base position. Count: The number of balls and strikes on a batter. Pinch Hitter: A batter who hits for another batter. Bottom of the inning: The second half or last half of an inning, during which the home team bats, derived from its position in the line score. He has the hook with him. This article was originally published on November 5, 2019, and has been updated with new information. Baseball slang helps describe baseball in ways that other descriptions can't. For example: Did you know that Dennis Eckersley coined the term "walk-off" just months before serving up this walk-off? 3. Short Hop: A ball that comes to a fielder and bounces right in front of his glove in turn bouncing up quickly. It's the "no-no" that's one of the rare events that happen in a baseball game. Tossed: When a player or coach is ejected from the game by an umpire, they are said to have been tossed out of the game. Bases loaded: Runners on first, second, and third base. A hook is a nickname for a curve ball. Copyright 1999 - 2023 MonkeySports, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Touched Up: When a pitcher gets hit hard and gives up a bunch of runs. It may be a corruption of the word nubbin, which, as any Middle Western farm boy can tell you, refers to a dwarfed ear of cornone that is small and not properly filled out, the author wrote. Rubber arm: A pitcher is said to have a rubber arm if they can throw many pitches without tiring. So, what is some baseball terminology that is used during games? Rake: A term used to describe a player who hits well to all parts of the field. Dont forget, you can get all the baseball gear you may need at BaseballMonkey.com! Dig it Out: When a fielder catches a ball that bounced in the dirt in front of him. Stanza: Another word for an inning. Relief pitcher: A pitcher who comes in the game to relieve the starting pitcher when they become tired, suffer an injury or are letting up too many hits/runs. . Booted: Another way to say, made an error. Sometimes used when a player misplays a ball hit to them on the ground. , Where to live in New York if you've just come into $324 million. How to Scout Off a Stat Sheet - Driveline Baseball When either the batter is closer to a walk or a pitcher is closer to a strikeout. HomerThis is probably the most common substitute for "home run" in the English lexicon, but while it might be well-worn, it still packs a delightful punch.14. Switch-hitter: A player who can hit from both sides of the plate; left-handed and right-handed. The Hot Corner: This refers to third base. The term was coined by Bill James, an enthusiastic proponent and its most notable figure. Warning track power: When a hitter doesnt have enough power to hit the ball over the wall. Yiketty Yak.. Round-tripperJust the right amount of old-fashioned (imagine this in the dulcet tones of Mel Allen and thank us later).9. Mendoza Line: A .200 batting average. Comebacker: A ball hit back to the pitcher. Error: A mistake in fielding the baseball by the defense that allows a batter to reach base or a base runner to advance. >>> Shop Alloy Baseball Bats. Each idiom is explained in terms of the game of baseball, and how it is used in daily life by native speakers. Passed Ball: When a catcher misses a pitch that allows a baserunner to advance. This is worth four runs, so this is the biggest hit a player can have in baseball. Punch and Judy Hitter: A weak hitter that has no homerun power. A pitcher is ahead in the count when the count is 0-2. The evocative term dying quail for a fly ball that quickly descends before reaching the outfielder, resulting in a single, may have been coined in the 1940s. Leather meaning the fielders glove. Seventh-inning stretch: The period between the top and bottom of the seventh inning, when the fans present traditionally stand up to stretch their legs. Windup: The windup involves a longer motion than the stretch. This is very rare for a pitcher to try. Meatball: When a pitcher is throwing pitches that are extremely easy to hit. Pimped It to destroy a ball on a good hit typically for a liner or a dinger. lose a hitter When a pitcher gives up a walk, especially when he gets ahead in the count or has a full count but gives up a walk, he is said to have "lost the hitter". Again, these can be used when discussing certain actions, plays or statistics you may encounter as a pitcher. , Competition, joy and a little pain: Beep Baseball is a world of freedom for blind athletes, By Hard 90: Running hard to first base out of the batters box. Left field is a short porch!. Cup of Coffee: This refers to a minor league player coming up to the major league club for a short period and then being sent back down to the minors. Throw em a chair: Most commonly used when cheering on a pitcher to strike out a batter, due to the batter going back to the dugout to sit down after striking out. Banjo hitter: A hitter who notches a lot of bloop hits without hard contact. Synonymous with bag 1st, 2nd, or 3rd base. DEPOSIT $100 AND THEYLL GIVE YOU $50 FREE AT BOVADA SPORTSBOOK! Most pitchers are right-handed, so southpaws are unique in baseball. Smoke: A pitcher who throws hard with high velocity. Dirt Dogs and Jinegar: Baseball's Slang | The Nation The catcher will catch the ball and turn his mitt to make a ball or borderline pitch appear to be a strike in hopes that the umpire will give them the call. Fireman: A team's closer or late-inning relief pitcher. The distance between each base is 90 feet. Full count: A count of 3 balls and 2 strikes; another strike will result in a strikeout, while another ball will result in a walk. This is where a hitter mainly prefers a pitch to be thrown in the strike zone. The 26 best nicknames for a home run, ranked Pitch around: When the pitcher does not throw the batter a pitch near the plate to walk the batter without intentionally walking them. Strike: When a batter swings at a pitch but fails to hit it. Where a pitcher throws an entire game without giving up any hits. Curtain call: As in theater, when a players performance causes such excitement from the audience that he returns from the dugout to tip his cap or wave. [1] The meaning of "out of the ball park" is to hit a home run; its non-baseball equivalent is to do something well or exactly as it should be done. Baseball Terms. Ace - the best starting pitcher on a team. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. He got shelled. Blistered: A ball that is hit extremely hard. Off-speed pitch: A pitch that is significantly slower than a given pitchers fastball. I go better against a swinging ball club. The Punch and Judy he's referencing dates back to the silly and violent puppet shows from 17th-century England. "I understand that a curveball is thrown with a deliberate attempt to deceive," he is quoted as saying. Walk - Another term for base-on-balls. Umpire has discretion to deem it a strike or not. Ruthian Blast: A long homerun which is named after the legend Babe Ruth, who was known for hitting very long homeruns. Feel free to use these slogans where ever you want and also share them with your friends. Count: the number of balls and strikes on a hitter. Dead-red: When a batter is waiting on or expecting a fastball to be thrown. It could be said that its a right handed batters natural power alley. A pitch the batter finds it easy to make contact with is a cookie. When the ball touches the batter as he swings at it. In order to understand baseball stats and commentators, it's important to know basic baseball slang. You will also find funny Baseball Slogans & catchphrases. And with all of that comes its own language, its own grand and goofy glossary of phrases that, for the unindoctrinated, might sound like total gibberish. Deuces Wild: Announcers will sometimes bust this term out when a hitter has a 2-2 count and there are 2 outs. Snowman: When a team hangs a snowman, it has scored 8 runs in an inning (because the 8 resembles a snowman). Caught napping: When a runner is picked off. Brushback: A pitch that nearly hits a batter. Bonus Baby: A young player who received a large signing bonus when he became a pro. Bat flip: An action typically done by a batter to show off after hitting a home run. Gas: Another term for a fastball. Warning track: The dirt area that borders the fences of a baseball field, usually in the outfield, that is used to help prevent fielders from running in to the fence at full speed. The pitch must be over home plate, above the batters knees, and below the middle of the torso. Dropped third strike: A dropped third strike occurs when the catcher fails to cleanly catch a pitch which is a third strike (either because the batter swings and misses it or because the umpire calls it). Baseball Words: Terms Only True Baseball Fans Understand According to Dickson, this is an embellishment of punch, describing the way these players quickly jab at the ball instead of taking a full swing. High cheese is designated for a fastball through the upper strike zoneit can also be alto queso. Fly ball: A baseball that is hit high into the air. Blue: A term commonly used by players to address an umpire, referring to the typical dark blue color of the umpires uniform. Just one more dying quail a week and youre in Yankee Stadium, Kevin Costner, Jim Beam in hand, explains to Tim Robbins in Bull Durham (1988). Nibble: When a pitcher throws a lot of pitches on the edges of the plate and strike zone. So, the on-deck hitter is next in the batting order after the one that is currently at-bat. It is the batters responsibility to hit the baseball into play or swing at the pitch to obstruct the catchers vision, so the runner will not get thrown out. Flashing the leather: When a fielder makes a great play. Mendoza line: A batting average of .200; named after Mario Mendoza. This is illegal to use in a baseball game. "Here comes the dish" (the pitch . Bang-bang play: A play in which the baserunner hits the bag a split-second before or after the ball arrives. Junk: He throws a lof of junk would refer to a pitcher who throws a bunch of non fastball pitchers. Baseball Lingo Glossary - Terms, Slang & Jargon | SportsLingo.com Mike is the founder and editor of Sports Feel Good Stories. When a team goes through all nine batters in the same inning, this doesnt happen very often, so it is special when it does happen. Alas, Uncle Charlie remains a small mystery. No-doubterDid you have any doubts at all that your favorite hitter just hit a ball out of the stadium? Basically a lob. Blooper For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Staying Alive: A batter who fouls off pitch after pitch not striking out. This normally retires the batter and counts as one out. The baserunner begins running once he sees the pitcher throw a pitch, and the hitter does his best to contact the ball. A "no-no" in the baseball community is what stands for a no hitter. Middle reliever: A relief pitcher who is brought in typically during the middle-innings (4, 5, and 6). Baseball Terms Every Baseball Mom Should Know Gapper: When a player hits a ball in between two outfielders. Or, try these slang pages for other sports: Copyright 2009-2023 Michael & Gabriel, Inc. Privacy Policy Note: We earn an affiliate commission from some of the sites we link to. While every sport has its own lingo, no sport uses acronyms and abbreviations as much as baseball. 1 : a baseball player designated at the start of the game to bat in place of the pitcher without causing the pitcher to be removed from the game 2 : representative, substitute Synonyms backup cover fill-in locum tenens pinch hitter relief replacement reserve stand-in sub substitute See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus Example Sentences Up the Middle: The area between the shortstop and second baseman. Wheelhouse: A hitter's power zone is usually called their "wheelhouse". Stranded Runners: Runners left on base after a team gets 3 outs in an inning. Pitch Around a Hitter: Intentionally throwing bad pitches to a good hitter because you dont want him to get a hit off of you. The stretch is most commonly used when there are base runners on first or second base. Eliot did cast a jaundiced eye on college sports, but that quotation didn't appear in print until 1963 (Eliot died in 1926). Best baseball slang terms 10 Common English Baseball Idioms. Take the Bat out of His Hands: This is said when a team intentionally walks a player. Baseball Slang Terms This pitcher is throwing gas.. Paul Dicksons compendious Baseball Dictionary is the go-to place for most lexical queries relating to Americas favorite pastime. When baseball's biggest stars need a haircut, they come to Jos 'Jordan' Lpez, By Some people use the term kicked it in place of this. Examples may be a screwball, forkball, circle change, sinker, etc. The term is derived from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Check Swing: When a player starts to swing but holds it back not crossing the plate. This type of hitter usually sees a lot of pitches, goes deep into counts, is content with taking a walk and fouls off a ton of pitches forcing a pitcher to work hard and increase the pitchers pitch count. Much talk about this intimidating play would therefore be a lot of chin music about chin music.. Slump: When a player isnt doing very well for a prolonged period of time. Eric Chesterton Small Ball: When a team scores runs using its speed as its main source of run scoring. Three true outcomes: The three ways a plate appearance can end without fielders coming into play -- walks, homers and strikeouts. The batter is sitting dead-red here.. The batter might do this to advance another base runner. Strike out: to fail while giving your best effort. Went deepAs promised, the better version of went long.19. These are probably the most commonly known terms, but we thought we would highlight them for someone who may be new to the game. Cutoff man: A fielder who takes the incoming throw from an outfielder after a hit. When there are three balls and two strikes in an at-bat, the next ball would be a walk, and the next strike would be an out. The purpose of throwing a changeup is to keep the hitter off balance and mess with his timing. Moonshot: A towering fly ball; typically used when a player hits a home run. Have you ever been watching a baseball game and overheard some words or phrases that you didnt understand? Tattoo: You might hear someobdy say he tattoed it!. [Harvest The Crops] - To hit the runners that were in scoring position home.