Baseball Terms
By The 7th Inning
August 30 2003
If you are new to baseball then you will probably not be able to understand what the commentators are talking about, that is why we have set up this page to give you a better understanding of the terms used in baseball.
| 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. |
| assist |
A fielder who helps another fielder put out a hitter or a baserunner is given an assist in scoring the out. |
| 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 favours 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. |
| Bean Ball |
A pitch that catches the hitter's helmet. |
| Bronx cheer |
When the crowd boos. |
| brushback |
A pitch that nearly hits the batter. |
| bush |
Also "bush league." An amateur play or behaviour. |
| 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 closes 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 hold |
The batter after the on-deck hitter. |
| in the hole |
3-0 or 0-2 count. |
| 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. Eg: "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. |
| pick |
A good defensive play by an infielder on a ground ball. Also a shortened version of "pick-off". |
| pickle |
A rundown. |
| pinch hitter |
Utility player who bats instead of the next guy due up. |
| pinch runner |
Utility player who runs for a player already on base. |
| punchout |
A strikeout. |
| rhubarb |
A fight or scuffle. |
| ribbie |
Another way of saying RBI. Also "ribeye." |
| rope |
A hard line drive bit 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. |
| snow cone |
A ball caught in the tip of the glove. |
| 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 that drops between an infielder and outfielder. |
| tools of ignorance |
Catcher's equipment. |
| trencher |
Another name for a utility player. |
| 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. |
