Finally, it’s playoff time for Baseball! If you saw the Rockies Vs. Padres last night, you should have a good indication of how good the playoffs should be this year (Yankees Vs. Cubs anyone?). :)I thought it would be fun to list some of the funner phrases used in Baseball. For example, many of us left-handers (yes, I’m left handed) get called “southpaws,” but why? Well, when creating Baseball fields, they typically design it so the hitters are facing the East, so the sun isn’t in there eyes. When a left-hander is on the mound, the left arm is facing the south, hence the term Southpaw.
Here are some other notable/funny phrases. I italicized some of my favorite ones.
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 for a strike
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 (usually first base) 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 League– An amateur play or behavior, referring to an amateur league.
Can of Corn — An easy catch by a fielder.
Cellar — Last place in the standings. Also known as, the “Basement.
Cheese/Quesso — Refers to a good fastball.
Chin music — A pitch that is high and inside, thrown nears the hitter’s chin.
Circus catch — An outstanding catch by a fielder.
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.
Fill thy horn with oil, and go — This is prominent on ESPN when they show offensive highlights, typically RBI’s and homer runs.
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
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.”
Hot corner — Third base.
In the hole — The batter after the on-deck hitter.
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, named after the Mariner’s hitter Mario Mendoza and hit .198 in the season of 1979.
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 for a strike.
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 between a fielder and a baserunner caught between bases.
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. See “pickle”.
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. This is spot that provides the most impact when you hit the ball.
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. Usually referring to how fast/slow they are.
Whiff — When a batter swings and misses.
Yakker — Curve ball.
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