野球用語集

これは、野球で使用される非公式かつ専門用語、フレーズ、その他の専門用語とその定義をアルファベット順にリストしたものです。多くの項目には説明的な例も含まれています。

「ああ、それと…」 カウントを参照してください。

野球における数字の「1」は、投手のポジション、一塁への送球の速記、シングルヒット、速球のサインなどを表します。

投手が打者 3 人だけと対戦し、誰も安全に塁に到達できないイニング。「3 アウト、3 アウト」

ダブルプレーとは、投手（1）が打球を捕り、捕手（2）に送球して三塁から進塁する走者をアウトにするものである。その後、捕手は一塁手（3）に送球して打者をアウトにする。これは満塁のときにほぼ必ず起こる。

投手（1）は打球を捕り、二塁に進んでいる走者をアウトにするために遊撃手（6）に送球する。遊撃手は次に一塁手（3）に送球し、打者をアウトにする。

キャッチャー（2）は二塁への送球で「ツー！」のコールを受け、「ツーバガー」は二塁打であり、2番はカーブボールのサインをします。

デュースワイルドを参照してください。

MLBスカウトは選手を評価するために20～80のスケールを使用します。50は平均（MLBレベル）、20は非常に低く、80はエリートです。全体的な能力と、打撃や投球速度などの特定のスキルに適用されます。^[1]

一塁手（3）は「スリー！」の掛け声とともに送球を受け、三塁打を狙う走者を捕球し（「スリーバガー」）、また、3番は投手からのスライダーの合図となることもあります。

一塁手（3）が打球を捕球し、捕手（2）に送球します。捕手は三塁から進塁する走者をアウトにし、一塁手に送球し返して打者をアウトにします。これはほとんどの場合、満塁のときに起こります。

一塁手 (3) が打球を捕球し、一塁を踏んで（打者をアウトにするため）、遊撃手 (6) に送球し、遊撃手が走者をアウトにする。別の可能性としては、一塁手がライナーを捕球し、遊撃手に送球し、遊撃手が二塁を踏んで二塁アウトになる。

一塁手（3）は打球を捕球し、二塁走者をアウトにするために遊撃手（6）に送球する。遊撃手は次に、一塁手が捕球に忙しかったため一塁をカバーしている投手（1）に送球し、打者をアウトにする。

一塁手（3）は打球を捕り、二塁手（4）に送球して二塁走者をアウトにします。二塁手は一塁手に送球し返し、打者をアウトにします。

一塁手（3）は打球を捕り、遊撃手（6）に送球して二塁走者をアウトにする。遊撃手は一塁手に送球し、打者をアウトにする。

• スコア記録の速記における二塁手。
• 「フォー！」という掛け声は、ボールをホームベースに投げるべきであることを示します。
• 「フォーバガー」はホームランです。
• 投球の文脈では、 4 番はチェンジアップを表す一般的な記号 (およびニックネーム) です。

二塁手（4）は打球を捕り、遊撃手（6）に送球し、遊撃手は二塁走者をフォースアウトにし、一塁手（3）に送球して打者をフォースアウトにする。

野球における45フィートのラインとは、打者走者が一塁へ走る際に妨害行為としてアウトにならないようにするために、そのライン内に留まらなければならないエリアを示すものである。

4球連続で故意にストライクゾーンから外れる。プリーチャー・ローはスタン・ミュージアルにこの戦略を「4球ワイドに投げて一塁でアウトにしようとする」と要約した。^[2]

スコア記録の速記における三塁手。

• プレーヤーの脚の間（特にキャッチャーの脚の間）。パックをゴールキーパーの後ろまで進める方法（「5 ホールを抜けて」）を表すホッケー用語に由来。

三塁手（5）と遊撃手（6）の間のスペース。

サンディエゴ・パドレスの常連首位打者トニー・グウィンが、野球ボールを打つときに好む場所を説明した言葉として有名になった。^[3]

三塁手（5）は打球を捕り、一塁から進塁する走者をアウトにするために二塁手（4）に送球する。次に二塁手は一塁手（3）に送球し、打者をアウトにする。

三塁手（5）は強打のボールを捕球し、三塁に踏み込んでR2（6）をフォースアウトにし、次に二塁手（4）にレーザーパスを投げてR1（7）を二塁でフォースアウトにする。最後に二塁手（4）は一塁手（3）にボールを投げて打者（2）をアウトにしてダブルプレーを完成させる。

ウィリー・メイズ^[4]、 アンドレ・ドーソン^[5] 、デューク・スナイダー^{[6] [7]、} ウラジミール・ゲレーロ^[8] 、ムーキー・ベッツ、ケン・グリフィー・ジュニア^{[6] [9]}のような野手（投手以外）で、以下の点で優れている選手：

1. 平均打率
2. パワーを狙う
3. ベースランニング
4. 投げる
5. 守備^[6]

スコア記録の速記における遊撃手。

遊撃手（6）は打球を捕り、二塁手（4）に送球し、二塁手は一塁から進塁してきた走者をアウトにし、一塁手（3）に送球して打者をアウトにする。

スコア記録の速記における左翼手。

フライボールが外野手によって捕球され、走者が三塁からタグアップして得点しようとしたが、キャッチャーによってタグアウトされた。

スコア記録の速記におけるセンターフィールダー。

スコア記録の速記では右翼手。

メジャーリーグベースボールの没収試合の公式スコア。

時計の針を思わせる動きをするカーブボールの一種。

1シーズンで30本塁打を放ち、 30盗塁を達成した選手。

1シーズンで40本塁打を放ち、 40盗塁を達成した選手。

1シーズンで50本塁打を放ち、 50盗塁を達成した選手。

60ヤード未満で跳ね返る投球に対する軽蔑的な用語+投球フォームとプレートの間は1 ⁄ 2フィートです。

走者が 1 塁進むと、連続する塁間の距離である「90 フィート前進」します。三塁にいる走者は得点まで「90 フィート」の距離にあります。

2022年シーズン現在、「クラスA」は現代の系列マイナーリーグ野球の最下位グループであり、「ハイA」と「シングルA」のサブカテゴリがあります。「ショートシーズンA」リーグも2021年以前には存在していました。ハイAは、ミッドウェストリーグ、ノースウェストリーグ、サウスアトランティックリーグの3つのリーグに分かれています。シングルAも、カリフォルニアリーグ、カロライナリーグ、フロリダ州リーグの3つのリーグに分かれています 。

• 「ダブルA」（AA）はマイナーリーグベースボールの2番目に高いレベル（AAAの下）であり、2022年現在、イースタンリーグ、サザンリーグ、テキサスリーグが含まれます。
• 「AA」はアメリカン・アソシエーションの略称でもあり、19世紀の短命だったメジャーリーグ、 20世紀の大半のマイナーリーグ、そして2021年にメジャーリーグベースボールの「パートナーリーグ」となった独立マイナーリーグなど、数多くのプロ野球リーグの名称にもなってきました。

「トリプルA」はマイナーリーグ野球の最高レベルです。2022年現在、このレベルにはインターナショナルリーグとパシフィックコーストリーグが含まれます。

「4A選手」（または「Quadruple-A選手」）とは、上位マイナーリーグ（AAA）で一貫して成功しているが、メジャーリーグレベルでの成功につながらないマイナーリーグ選手を指す用語である。マネジメントの不備が原因の可能性がある。^{[10] 「AAAA」は、MLBほど競争は激しくないがAAAよりは競争が激しいとされる}北米以外の高品質だが非公式の海外野球リーグを指すこともある。これは通常、日本のNPBに限定されている。^{[11] [12] [13]}

走者が塁上にいるとき。走者が安全に塁上にいるときは、「走者が塁上にいる」状態です。

チームで最も優秀な先発投手。通常は投手ローテーションの先頭に位置する。チームでそのポジションで最も優秀な選手。

ランナーを安全に別のベースに進塁させるため、スモール ボールをプレイするチームの意識的な戦略であることが多い。打者がアウトになった場合、ランナーを得点圏に進めていれば打席での悪影響は少なくなる。状況によっては、打者は故意に犠牲になることもある。

• 打者と投手のどちらが打席で有利であるかを示す用語。 投手が打者に対してボールよりもストライクを多く投げた場合、投手がカウントでリードします。逆に、投手がストライクよりもボールを多く投げた場合、打者がリードします。
• 投手がカウントでリードしている場合、打者は三振する危険性が増します。打者がリードしている場合、投手が四球を与える危険性が増します。

投手が投球位置をコントロールしようとして慎重になりすぎると、投球するのではなく「ボールを狙う」と言われることがあります。これは、打者を打とうとして投手が打者を狙う状況での「狙う」の意味とは異なります。

野手がボールを投げるつもりだった選手の頭上を高く飛んでしまう、野手の誤った送球を指す俗語。たとえば、三塁手が一塁手の頭上を越えてスタンドにボールを投げた場合、その送球は「エアメール」されたと言われます。「しかし、チャンドラーは三塁への送球をダグアウトにエアメールした ...」

ピッツバーグ・パイレーツのアナウンサー、ボブ・プリンスが作った造語であるボルチモア・チョップは、フォーブス・フィールドの非常に硬い土のため、通常よりも高く跳ねる。

また、「ギャップ」または「パワー アレー」とも呼ばれ、左翼手と中堅手の間、または右翼手と中堅手の間のスペースを指します。打者が十分な力でボールを「アレーの上」に打つと、​​一塁を越えて長打として記録される可能性が高くなります。通常、これはライナー ドライブやゴロを説明するのに適切な用語です。壁に当たったフライ ボールは、通常このように説明されません。

初球をスイング（特に打つ）すること。

現存する2つのメジャーリーグのジュニア。

ワールドシリーズに進出するアメリカンリーグチームを決定する、シーズン最後の7戦制のプレーオフシリーズ。ALCSは、その類似のNLCSと同様に、1969年に開始されました。ALCSの優勝者は、アメリカンリーグの優勝旗とそのシーズンのアメリカンリーグチャンピオンのタイトルを獲得します。アメリカンリーグディビジョンシリーズの優勝者は、1995年以来、ALCSで対戦しています。

リーグ プレーオフの第 1 ラウンド。3 つのディビジョンの勝者とワイルド カード ゲームの勝者が 2 回のベスト 5 シリーズで対戦し、勝者が ALCS に進みます。

野球の試合を観戦したり、一塁に行ける無料チケット（「フリーパス」または「四球」）。

攻撃側のミスを指摘したり、別の審判員の意見を求めたりすることで、守備側が審判員から有利な判定を得る機会があるプレイ。アピールするには、守備側が適切な審判員に口頭でアピールする必要があります。アピールする状況が明らかな場合は、プレーヤーがジェスチャーでアピールを示すことができます。アピールを行う責任は守備側にあります。アピールが行われるまで、審判員はランナーがベースに触れなかった、打順が狂った、スイングが制御されていないなどのアピールの可能性がある状況をアナウンスしません。

メジャーリーグの全 30 チームから優秀な有望選手が 6 チームに編成され、コーチ、スカウト、幹部による評価を受けるために、選手がスキルを磨き、披露する機会が与えられる、シーズンが短いマイナー リーグです。このようなチームは、「スカウト チーム」や「タクシー スクワッド」と呼ばれます。

投手の換喩（「アスレチックスが2人の若手投手をカンザスシティにトレード ...」^[14]「... アンソポロスはトレードを引き出すために投手を蓄えているだけだ ...」^[15]）。

• アウトを記録した後、塁上に走者がいない場合に、内野手が互いにボールを投げ合う習慣。目的は何よりも伝統的であるが、アウトを祝う方法でもある。通常、一塁でアウトになった場合、一塁手が遊撃手に投げ、遊撃手が二塁手に投げ、二塁手が三塁手に投げ、三塁手が投手にボールを返す。パターンはチームによって異なりますが、パターンに関係なく、三塁手が通常最後に送球を受ける内野手になります。
• 送球は三振で走者がいない場合にも行われる。捕手は三塁手にボールを投げ、三塁手はそれを二塁手に投げ、二塁手はそれを遊撃手に投げ、遊撃手はそれを一塁手に投げる。 イバン・ロドリゲス など一部の捕手は、一塁手にボールを投げ、一塁手はこの逆のプロセスを開始することを好んでいる。一部の捕手は、打者の利き手（右利きの打者の場合は一塁手へのラインがブロックされていないため一塁に、その逆の場合も同様）に基づいて誰に投げるかを決めたり、チームがオーバーシフト中であるかどうかに基づいて誰に投げるかを決めたりする。オーバーシフト中は、三塁手が通常遊撃手が守る位置の近くで守備をしており、より強い投球が必要になる。
• この用語のもう 1 つの応用例は、5-4-3ダブル プレーが発生したときに、ボールをホーンの周りに投げるパターンを模倣する場合です。

効果のない救援投手。通常、塁上に誰もいない状態で試合に出場し、その後数点を許してしまう投手。firemanの反対語。

野球のバットを指す古い言葉で、通常はトネリコの木で作られています。「賢い監督は、足の遅い選手の代わりに足の速い選手を起用し、交代させた選手が投入した選手と同じくらいトネリコの扱いが上手い場合は、代打を送り込む。」^[16]

速度や動きのせいで特に打ちにくい速球を指す俗語。アスピリンの錠剤ほどの小さなものに接触するのが難しいことを指す。また、打者が投球されたボールを通常よりも比較的小さく見ることを意味する場合もあり、これはスランプに陥っている打者への潜在的な心理的影響である。^{[17] [18]}

公式スコアラーは、アウトになる前に（打者が打った後の）ボールを捕球または触球した守備側の選手全員に、たとえ接触が故意でなかったとしてもアシストを認定します。たとえば、ボールが選手の脚に当たり、その選手から別の野手に跳ね返り、その野手が走者にタッチした場合、最初の選手にアシストが記録されます。

野手は、記録されたアウトごとに 1 つのアシストのみを受け取ることができます。野手は、他の野手がエラーを犯さなければ刺殺されていた場合にもアシストを受け取ります。

ニグロリーグ野球では、リーグメンバーシップを付与されなかったり、リーグスケジュールに参加することに同意しなかったチームでも、リーグチームがこのチームと対戦した試合はリーグ順位にカウントされます。

記録保持者が記録を達成するにあたって不当な優位性を持っていたという認識のため、世論で（つまり非公式に）議論されている野球記録を指す俗語。これは、記録には不当な優位性を説明する脚注が必要であることを意味し、アスタリスクは脚注を示すためにタイポグラフィでよく使用される記号です。最近では、次の状況でよく使用されています。

• この記録保持者は、その使用が証明または認められているかどうかにかかわらず、パフォーマンス向上薬を使用したと広く信じられている。バリー・ボンズは、 2007 年シーズンにハンク・アーロンの通算ホームラン記録を破った際、アスタリスクの付いた横断幕や看板で頻繁に迎えられた。ボンズが記録破りのホームランを打ったボールには、その後、アスタリスクの印が付けられ、野球殿堂入りした。
• シーズン記録保持者はより長いシーズンでその偉業を成し遂げたため、記録を破るさらなる機会があった。この有名な例としては、 1961年にロジャー・マリスが162試合のレギュラーシーズン最終日にベーブ・ルースのシーズン本塁打記録を破ったときがある。一方、ルースは1927年に154試合のシーズンでそれ以前の記録を樹立していた。マリスがルースの記録を破ろうとする物語を描いた映画『61*』のタイトルにアスタリスクの使用例がある。野球コミッショナーの フォード・フリックは、マリスの記録はルースの記録とは別に記載すべきであると宣言したが（一般に信じられているのとは反対に、この場合はアスタリスクは言及も使用もされなかった）、この決定は1991年まで正式に覆されることはなかった。
• ヒューストン・アストロズの2017年ワールドシリーズ優勝は、後にアストロズが2017年シーズンを通してテクノロジーを使ってサインを盗んでいたという疑惑で汚された。対戦チーム、特にヤンキースとドジャースのファンは、チームの2017年のシーズンについて言及する際に頻繁にアスタリスクを使用し、チームを「ヒューストン・アスタリスク」と軽蔑的に呼ぶことが多い。

または「アトムボール」。守備側に直接打たれたボールを指す俗語。

• 打者がヒットまたは犠牲フライ以外のアウトで打席に立ったこと。打数（または「打席数」）は、選手の打率と長打率の計算に使用されます。四球や死球で打者が一塁に到達した場合、または犠牲バントや犠牲フライを打った場合は、打席は「打席」として記録されないことに注意してください。
• 時には、イニングの 3 番目のアウトが塁走者に対して取られたときに打者が打席に立っていることがあります。この場合、打者は次のイニングをクリーンなストライクカウントで開始し、中断された打席は打席としてカウントされません。

打者のユニフォームのシャツにあるチーム名の文字の高さでプレートを横切る投球は、「文字の高さ」、「文字の高さ」、または「胸の高さ」と言われます。

野手にとって処理が難しい打球の動作を表す俗語表現。

参照: ボールを食べる

ストライクゾーン外の球を打者に打たせようとしたり、プレートの「隅を狙う」のではなく、ストライクを投げて積極的に投球することを指す俗語。同義語は「ストライクゾーンを狙う」や「打者に挑戦する」など。

フェア地域で打たれた打球が競技場外（例えば、観客席）に跳ね返った場合、打者と塁上のすべての走者は 2 塁まで進むことができますが、それ以上は進むことができません。この用語は、各球場で適用されるグラウンドルールを指すグラウンドルールダブルの代わりに、一部の解説者によって使用されています。

• 投手がストライクを決めた（通常はカウント 3-0）とき、打者がスイングせずにその投球を受けるほどの自信を持っている場合、ストライクは「自動的」であるとみなされます。
• MLBでは2023年以降、投球時間が8秒以上残っているときに打者が打席にいず投手に注意を払っていない場合、自動的にストライクが宣告される。

• ストライクゾーンの外側、つまり打者と反対側のプレートに投げられた投球は「アウェイ」と呼ばれ、プレートと打者の間に投げられた投球は「インサイド」と呼ばれます。
• アウトを表す俗語。たとえば、2 アウトのイニングは「two away」と表現され、三振は「putting away」と表現されることがあります。
• 対戦相手のホームグラウンドで行われる試合は「アウェイゲーム」です。ビジターチームは「アウェイ」チームと呼ばれることもあります。

変化球。通常はスライダー、カーブボール、カットファストボールで、横方向の動きにより、プレートを完全に外すように見えた後、プレートの外側の端にあるストライクゾーンの小さな部分を通過します。プレートの前を横切らずに後ろだけを横切る場合があり、その場合は「裏口」から入ってくることになります。スライダーは他の変化球よりも横方向の動きが大きいため（下向きにカーブし、ゾーンを「スライド」します）、最も一般的なバージョンです。

• ホームベースの後ろにあるフェンス。暴投やファウルボールから観客を守るために設計されています。
• キャッチャー、時には「バックストッパー」。

連続。2 人の打者が連続してホームランを打つと、連続ホームランを打ったと言われます。または、投手が連続四球を出すなど、連続してホームランを打つこともあります。

「バックドア」の反対。通常はミスで、ホームプレートの内側から始まって、プレートを超えて戻ってくる投球。このような投球は「バックアップ」されたと言われます。

ストライクゾーン外の球を打つことに長けた打者。有名な悪球打ちの選手としては、ヨギ・ベラやウラジミール・ゲレーロなどがいます。

内野手の前で予期せぬ形で跳ね返るボール。多くの場合、競技面の欠陥やボールの回転が原因で発生します。

ベース。また、ツーバガーは二塁打または二塁打、スリーバガーは三塁打または三塁打、フォーバガーはホームランです。

• 打者は、自分の頭に向かって投球が飛んでくるのを見て、「逃げる」（地面に倒れる）ことがあります。
• 2 人の野手がフライボールに向かっているとき、そのうちの 1 人が他の野手にぶつからないように「逃げる」ことがあります。
• リリーフ投手は塁上に走者がいる状態で試合に出場し、前の投手を窮地から救い出すことがあります。

最初の 2 つの例は、パラシュートを使って飛行機から脱出するのと似ていますが、最後の例は、水に浸かりそうな船から脱出する、あるいは誰かを刑務所から保釈するのと似ています。

投手が走者を不当に欺くことを防ぐための規則に違反する投球動作に対して審判が下す判定。ボークが宣告されると、各走者は自由に 1 塁進むことができます。プロ野球では、ボークによって即座にデッドボールにはなりません。投球が行われ、ヒットによりすべての走者が 1 塁進んだ場合、プレイは続行され、ボークは無視されます。ボークが宣告されると、投手は通常投球を止め、審判はボールデッドを宣告して塁を与えるため、このようなことはめったに起こりません。非プロ野球 (高校および大学) では、ボークによって即座にデッドボールとなり、走者に塁が与えられます。規則では、どの投球動作が反則であるかが指定されています。一般的にボークと呼ばれるのは、投手がセット ポジションに来ないこと (または複数回セット ポジションに来ること)、または投球している塁の方向に踏み込まないことです。ボークの精神は、特定の動きによって投手が投球を開始したことを意味し、ランナーを刺されないようにすることです。ボークの中には、ボールが投手の手から滑り落ちるなど、誤った動作や失敗した動作によって生じるものもあります。キャッチャーボークははるかにまれで、投手が投球を開始する前にキャッチャーがプレートの後ろから動くときに発生します（故意四球の場合のみ適用されます）。

ストライクゾーンを外し、打者によってスイングされなかった投球。（ゲームで使用される物理的なオブジェクトについては、「野球（ボール） 」を参照してください。）

セイバーメトリクスでは、「ボール イン プレイ」と「ボール イン プレイでの打率」(BABIP)には特定の技術的定義があり、チームの守備とは関係なく投手の能力を判断するために使用されます。この定義では、ホームランはボールイン プレイではありません。「守備独立投球統計」を参照してください。また、「イン プレイ」も参照してください。

ボールがホームベース付近の地面に強く打ち付けられ、野手の頭上高くでバウンドする。^[19]これにより、打者はボールを捕球する前に安全に一塁に到達する時間が得られる。ボルチモア・オリオールズのコーチ、ジョン・マグロウの「インサイド・ベースボール」戦略の重要な要素であるこのテクニックは、野球チームがホームランに頼ることができなかったメジャーリーグのデッドボール時代に普及した。 ^[20]

ボルチモア・チョップの弾みを最大限にするために、オリオールズのグラウンドキーパー、トム・マーフィーはホームベースの周りの土をしっかりと固め、硬い粘土と混ぜ、内野には水を撒かなかった。^{[21]マグロウ、}ジョー・ケリー、スティーブ・ブロディ、ウィリー・キーラーなどのスピードのあるオリオールズの選手たちは、これを頻繁に練習し、完璧にこなした。

現代の野球では、ボルチモアチョップはあまり一般的ではなく、通常は打者が誤ってボールを打ったときに起こります。人工芝のダイヤモンドでは、その結果がより顕著になることがあります。このテクニックは今でもソフトボールで使用されています。^[22]

低品質の木材で作られたバット。^[23] #morning journalも参照

攻撃、特にホームランを奨励する小規模な球場。クラッカーボックス。(参照:ベイカーボウルおよびシチズンズバンクボールパーク)

• 悪天候のため試合を中止：「大敗すると思ったが、5イニング投げられた。」
• ボールを強く打つこと、特にホームランを打つこと。「アトリーは同点ホームランを打った。」
• 負傷した選手は負傷しているものの、プレーを続けることができます。例: 「負傷したブレーブス、アストロズとのプレーオフ再戦に備える」
• バンアップ ゲームとは、エキサイティングな、または接戦のゲームのことです。スポーツの見出しの例: 「まさにバンアップ フィニッシュ」
• バンバンプレイとは、ランナーがかろうじてアウトになるプレイで、通常は一塁で非常に危うい状況です。おそらく、一塁手のグローブの中でボールが「バン」と鳴り、その直後に走者の足がベースに当たる「バン」という音が聞こえることを反映しているのでしょう。
• バン・インサイドとは、投手がプレートの内側に投げ、打者が腕を伸ばすことができずボールを打てず、キャッチャーのミットに「バン」と入ってしまうことである。「信じられない気持ちだった。一生忘れられない気持ちだ」とジャヴォテラは語った。「シャーザーは一日中、私に迫ろうとしていた。彼は私を内側にバンと投げ、私は手を伸ばすことができなかった。彼はその時プレートを越えられなかったようで、私は手を内側に伸ばしてボールを強く打ち上げ、ボールはパークの外に飛んでいった。」^[24]

パワーに欠ける打者。バンジョーヒッターは、通常、内野の土を少し越えるフライヒットを打つことが多く、長打率も低くなります。この名前は、バットが接触したときにバンジョーのように響く音に由来すると言われています。パンチヒッターとジュディヒッターも参照してください。

野手がグローブで覆われていない手でボールを捕球することを指します。

打者が特定の打ち出し角度と特定の打球速度でボールを打った回数を測定する高度な測定基準。バレルは非バレルよりもヒット、特に長打を生み出す可能性が高くなります。

現代野球では、バットのスイートスポットで投球を強く打つことを指します。

スイートスポットを参照してください。

ヒットを参照してください。

シングル。ノックも参照。

• 野球選手にとって「扱いやすい」ことで知られる女性の「グルーピー」。スーザン・サランドンは、 1988年のアメリカ映画「ブル・ドゥーラム」でアニー・サヴォイというキャラクターの役を演じました。
• 悪名高いルース・アン・スタインハーゲンは最初の「ベースボール・アニー」でした。彼女はカブス、そしてフィリーズの一塁手エディ・ウェイトカスに執着していました。彼女は 1949 年に彼の胸を銃で撃ち、危うく死にかけたほどです。この話は 1952 年の小説『ザ・ナチュラル』の着想となりました。

ランナーが一塁、二塁、三塁にいる状態。別名「満塁」、「満塁」、「塁詰み」、「塁ジュース」、「塁チャック」、「塁酔い」とも呼ばれます。これは、バッティングチームにとっては大きな得点のチャンスとなりますが、守備側にとっては簡単にダブルプレーのチャンスにもなります。塁を満塁にすることを「満塁」と呼びます。二塁と三塁にランナーがいる場合、守備側が複数のアウトを記録しやすくするために、打者に故意四球を与えることがよくあります。

満塁の状況は、ホームベースに力が存在する唯一のときです。

打者を置くための余分なスペースがないため、四球や死球で一塁が与えられた場合、三塁手がホームに送り込まれることで1点が入る。年代順で言えば、大リーガーのアブナー・ダルリンプル、ナップ・ラジョイ、メル・オット、ビル・ニコルソン、バリー・ボンズ、ジョシュ・ハミルトン、コーリー・シーガーだけが満塁で故意四球を与えられたという栄誉を保持している。

満塁でホームランを打つと、グランドスラムと呼ばれます。グランドスラムは 4 点を獲得し、1 回のプレイで獲得できる最多得点となります。

最下位、順位表の最下位。また最下位。

走者（略して「ランナー」）は、攻撃側チーム（つまり、打席側のチーム）で安全に塁に到達した選手です。

手を肩より上に位置させるのではなく、グローブを腰のあたりに位置させてフライボールをキャッチします。

• 野球のバットは、投手が投げたボールを打つために使われる、滑らかな輪郭の丸い木製または金属製の棒です。バットの直径は、一方の端 (バレル エンド) がもう一方の端 (ハンドル) よりも大きくなっています。ハンドルの下端はノブです。打者は一般に、バットのバレル エンドの中央付近のスイート スポット(バットの太い部分またはバットの肉の部分と呼ばれることもあります) でボールを打とうとします。
• ボールを打つためにそれを使用するプレーヤー（打者、ヒッター、またはバッツマン）は、ボールを打つと言えます。
• 良い打者として知られている選手は良いバットを持っていると言える。見出し：「ショートストップはゴールデングラブと堅実なバットを兼ね備えている。」^[25]打撃と守備の両方に長けている選手は良いバットと良いグラブを持っていると言える。見出し「ウェズリアン大学のショートストップ、ウィンはバットとグラブを持っている」^{[26] は、}ウィンがバットとグラブを持っているという意味ではなく、打撃と守備の両方に非常に熟練しているという意味である。
• 良い打者を多く抱えるチームは「バット」が多いと言えるかもしれない（楽器ではなく選手のこと）。「みんながこのように調子よくいくのは素晴らしいことだ」とマーフィーは語った。「打線には非常に多くの打者がいるので、打ち続ければ負けるのは難しい」^[27]

ディクソン野球辞典によると、チームの打者9人全員が打席に立ち、1イニング中に先頭打者が再び打席に立つと、チームは「バッティングアラウンド」したことになる。 [ ^{28]しかし、} Dictionary.comでは「バッティングアラウンド」を「1イニング中に打席に立つ選手全員に打席に立つこと」と定義している。^[29]これは公式の統計ではない。「バッティングアラウンド」が成立するには、9人の打者が打席に立たなければならないのか、それとも先頭打者が再び打席に立たなければならないのかについては意見が分かれている。^[30]

バットの物理的特性。通常は負の数で表され、バットの重量（オンス）から長さ（インチ）を引いた値です。たとえば、長さ 34 インチ（86 cm）、重さ 31 オンス（880 g）のバットのバットドロップは -3 です。一般に、バットドロップが大きい（つまり軽い）バットはスイングしやすく、バットドロップが小さい（つまり重い）バットはボールの速度が速くなりますが、これらの結果は打者の能力によって異なります。

ホームランを打った打者が、走り出す際に単にバットを落とすのではなく、劇的にバットをひっくり返したり投げたりするセレブレーション。この行為は物議を醸している。ティム・アンダーソンやホセ・バウティスタなどの選手は、ホームランを打たれた後にバットをひっくり返したために相手チームから報復を受けたことがある。^[31]

バットでボールを打つこと –フェア地域かファウル地域かに関係なく。

打席に立ち、バットでボールを打とうとする選手。「打者」または「打者」とも呼ばれます。

センターフィールドの壁の向こうにある、通常は暗い単色の領域で、打者が投手を見るための視覚的な背景となる。これにより、打者は暗くて雑然とした背景を背景にして投球されたボールを見ることができるため、安全面でも有利である。クリケットのサイトスクリーンに似ている。少なくとも 1800 年代後半から、野球では打者の目の使用が標準となっている。

打者の目の一例は、初代ヤンキースタジアムのセンターフィールドの黒いエリアです。かつてはそのセクションに座席がありましたが、邪魔になるという理由で座席は撤去され、そのエリアは黒く塗られました。

フェアプレイを再開するには、打者はホームベースの両側にある長方形の枠内に立つ必要があります。足と手がボックスから出ているだけではプレイを停止できません (ただし、投手は通常、打者がボックスから出たいという希望を尊重します)。審判はプレイを停止する前に、打者にタイムアウトを与えなければなりません。

投手と捕手は一体として考えられ、互いにバッテリーマン^[32]またはバッテリーメイトと呼ばれることもあります。この言葉は、1860年代にヘンリー・チャドウィックがチームの投手陣の火力を指して初めて使用し、当時南北戦争で使用されていた砲兵隊に触発されました。^[33]その後、この用語は投手と捕手を組み合わせた効果を示すようになりました。^[33]

同じチームの投手と捕手。「バッテリー」を参照。

打率 (BA) は、打席当たりの平均ヒット数です (BA=H/AB)。完璧な打率は 1.000 (「1000」と読む) です。打率が .300 (「300」) であれば優秀とみなされます。これは、最高の打者が打席の 70% でヒットを打てないことを意味します。.400 というレベルは傑出しており稀ですが (メジャー リーグ レベルで最後に達成されたのは 1941 年)、60% の確率で「失敗」を意味します。四球は打率の計算にはカウントされません。これが、OBP が打者の打席での価値をより正確に測る指標として「フィガー フィリバート」によって現在みなされている理由の 1 つです。1887 年には、四球をヒット (および打席) として打率の計算に含める実験が行われました。これは事実上、出塁率獲得に向けた初期の試みであったが、「マーケティングの策略」とみなされ、1 年後に中止された。この結果、キャップ アンソンは通算安打数に関して宙ぶらりんの状態になった。一部の百科事典が行っているように、1887 年の統計から四球を除外したため、通算安打数は基準となる合計 3,000 を下回った。

試合前に選手がウォーミングアップしたり打撃技術を練習したりする期間。試合中に、片方のチームの打者が特定の投手を完全に圧倒し、試合が打撃練習セッションのようになる期間を指すこともあります。口語では BP と略されます。

打者が辛抱強く、あるいはうまく打てない球をわざとファウルするなどしてカウントを稼ぐとき、その打者は「戦っている」と言われる。

力強い投擲腕。銃、大砲、ライフル。

• 野手が追いつくのに苦労するほどの強烈なライナー。BBガンで撃たれたような感じを表現している。
• 「BB」はスコアラーによる四球の略称で、別名「四球」とも呼ばれます。四球はボックススコアの「BB」列に記録されます。

打球反発係数の頭文字をとったもので、アメリカの大学野球など、ほとんどのアマチュア野球リーグで使用するために、木製以外のバット（金属製と複合材製の両方）が満たさなければならない基準である。^[34]

打者が逃げようとしない場合に故意に打者を打つために投げられる球種。特に頭部（または古い俗語では「bean」）を狙った場合。beanという単語は動詞としても使用される。例えば、次の見出しがある。「ピアッツァ氏、クレメンスが故意に彼にBeanを投げたと主張」^[35]

ランナーが送球前に一塁に到達した場合、ランナーは送球を打ち負かすか、アウトに打ち負かす。レッグアウトに似ている。「グリーンの一塁への送球はゴンザレスをベースから引き離し、ノリス・ホッパーはゴンザレスがベースに足を戻す前にアウトに打ち負かすのに十分な速さだった。」^[36]

ランナーが一塁にいてアウトが2つ以下のときに打者が地面にボールを打ったときに発生します。プレイがダブルプレーになる可能性がある場合、打者は二塁で刺殺を記録した野手からの送球前に一塁に到達すれば罰を免れます。プレイの結果は野手の選択になります。

カウントがリードしているの反対。打者の場合: カウントにボールよりストライクが多いとき。投手の場合: その逆。

投手がカウントで負けている場合、打者に四球を与える危険性が増す。打者が負けている場合、投手は三振の危険性が増す。「彼は3安打しか許さなかったが、5四球を与え、カウントで負けている状態で投球した。」^[37]

• フェアかファウルかを問わず、ボールを外野またはパークの外側に強く打つこと。「ジョーンズは左の深いところにボールを打ちました が、ファウルでした。」
• 選手がユニフォームの一部として着用する実際のベルト。通常は、投球またはボールがプレイされている位置に関連して言及されます。「ベナードはベルトで外角の速球を捕り、ストライクと判定した」または「ショートの穴に鋭く落ちたボールを右に走り、オーリリアはベルトの高さのホップを捕り、2 塁から 1 塁に打ち返した」

• 「ベンチ」とは、打席に立っていないとき、オンデッキサークルにいないとき、またはフィールドにいないときに、選手がダッグアウト内で座る場所です。
• 「ベンチ」は、試合に出場できるが、出場ラインには入っていない選手を指すこともある。「ラルーサのベンチは、今夜の代打や代走の任務で人員が不足している。」

ダッグアウトから相手チームの選手や審判を言葉の応酬でいらだたせ、気を散らす才能のある選手、コーチ、または監督。特に、うさぎの耳を持つ相手には有効。言葉による応酬はしばしば「ライディング」と呼ばれる。したがって、ダッグアウトからの「ライダー」は「ベンチジョッキー」となる。相手チームの選手を動揺させるほどにはライディングするが、激怒させて喧嘩を誘発するほどにはしないという行為は、 21世紀のゲームでは急速に廃れつつあると^{[誰が？ ]}考えられている。メジャーリーグの故障者リストに載っている選手はベンチに入ることが許されているが、ベンチジョッキー行為を行うことは許されていない。^[38]

カーブボール。

打者が投球をよく見て、実際の大きさよりも大きく見える場合、打者はボールを「グレープフルーツほどの大きさ」と表現することがある。「ミッキー・マントルは565フィートのホームランを打った後、 『ボールがグレープフルーツほどの大きさに見えた』と言ったことがある。セントルイス・カーディナルズのジョー・「ダッキー」・メドウィックはスランプのとき、 『アスピリンを打っているようだ』と言った。」^[39]

ホームラン。

スモールボールの考え方とは反対に、チームが「ビッグイニング」を考えているときは、バントや他の犠牲フライではなく、ヒットやホームランのみで得点することに焦点を当てています。より一般的には、「ビッグイニング」とは、攻撃側が通常 4 点以上という大量の得点を挙げるイニングのことです。

メジャーリーグベースボールの愛称

ホームランを生むバットのスイング。「代走のエルナン・ペレスがマルティネスに代わって出塁し、ペレスがダークスに四球を与え、アビラのビッグスイングの舞台が整いました。」 ^[40]

ビッグリーグ、メジャーリーグ、「ショー」。ビッグリーグにいる人はビッグリーガー、メジャーリーガーです。

シングルヒット。打者が一塁に残るヒット。「ブラウンはダブルヒットを狙ってアウトになった。モンテ・アービンからフランク・オースティンへのパス。」^[41]（最近では珍しい用法。）

ホームラン。通常はうまく打たれたもの。

ブリーチャー シート (略してブリーチャー) は、屋根のない座席で、通常は外野またはメインのグランドスタンドの先のエリアにある階段状のベンチまたはその他の安価な座席です。この用語は、ベンチが日光で漂白されているという仮定に由来しています。「ブリーチャー」は、元々使用されていた用語「ブリーチング ボード」の短縮形です。ブリーチャー シートのファンは、ブリーチャー バムまたはブリーチャー クリーチャーと呼ばれることもあります。

弱く打たれたゴロがヒットとなった。スクラッチヒット。「ダンは四球でモラを打席に送り、モラは最初に見た球に飛びつき、内野を離れないブリーダーヒットを打ってグラッドウォールをホームインさせた。」^[42]

非常に強く打たれたボールは、それ自体が熱を発しているように見えるため、水ぶくれができたと言える。「チャップマンは左中間に水ぶくれを打ったが、ノブロックはスムーズに動いて戻り、腕を伸ばしてボールを捕った。」^[43]

捕手がホームプレートと得点しようとしている走者の間に足、脚、または体全体を置くことを「プレートをブロックする」と言います。プレートをブロックすることは危険な戦術であり、妨害行為とみなされる可能性があります (野球公式規則、規則 2.00 (妨害行為) )。

イーファスピッチ(参照) は、ソフトボールのスローピッチのように投げられるトリック ピッチで、軌道は高く弧を描き、速度は非常に小さい (約 40 - 55 mph以下)。具体的には、カーブボールとして投げられるピッチ。

• ブルーパーまたはブループは、内野手と外野手の間で弱く打たれたフライボールがシングルとして落ちることです。「ブループシングル」、ダイイングクイル、またはアヒルの鼻息とも呼ばれます。
• 守備エラー。見出し：「コントレラスの失策でレッドソックスがホワイトソックスを圧倒」^[44]
• 打者が打席から出てタイムアウトが宣告された後に投手が捕手にボールを投げるといった奇妙で面白いプレー。おそらくその投球が捕手の頭に当たる。^[45]

• 試合に負けるというのは、リードしていた後に負けることです。「我々は試合を優位に進めていたのに、負けてしまったのです。」
• 打者がボールを落とすというのは、打者がボールについていくことができないほど速くボールを投げることです。
• セーブを失敗するとは、「セーブできる状況」で試合に臨んだ後にリードを失ったり、試合に負けたりすることです。これは野球の統計学において技術的な意味を持ちます。
• ヒット、典型的にはホームラン：「オルティスの一撃で勝利を確定」

試合が非常に拮抗していたり​​、スコアが同点または僅差だったりした後で、試合で圧倒的なリードを得ること。「パイレーツが終盤に得点し、ストーニーブルックとの接戦を一気に制す。」^[46]

セーブ失敗 ( BS ) は、セーブの機会がある状態で試合に出場したが、同点ランナーに得点を許したリリーフ投手に対して課される。投手がさらに勝ち越し点を許した場合、敗戦とセーブ失敗の両方が課される。セーブ失敗後に投手のチームがリードを取り戻した場合、投手は勝利も記録される可能性がある。セーブ失敗はメジャーリーグベースボールによって公式に認められた統計ではないが、ロレイズ・リリーフマン賞では認められており、セーブ失敗の機会に対してリリーフ投手の記録に 2 ポイントが加算される。これは放送で、先発投手の勝敗記録に類似したクローザーの「記録」を特徴付けるためによく使用される。「ジョーンズは 34 回のセーブのうち 31 回を達成した」または「ジョーンズは 31 回のセーブと 3 回のセーブ失敗を記録している」。

「closer」と韻を踏む。セーブするよりもセーブを失敗することが多いクローザー。

審判員。審判員のユニフォームの典型的な濃い青色を指します。プロ野球では、判定に不満を言うときなどに、軽蔑的に使われることがあります。例: 「ああ、ブルー、頼むよ!」

ホームラン。​

ボナーとは、ゲームの流れを劇的に変えてしまう精神的なミスのことです。

契約金を受け取った若手選手。

延長イニング。サンディエゴ・パドレス（および元ボストン・レッドソックス）のアナウンサー、ドン・オルシージョが使用したのが最も有名です。ヤンキースのアナウンサー、マイケル・ケイは「ボーナス・カントス」とも呼んでいます。

エラーを犯して、それを蹴った – 通常はゴロに対するミスプレイを指す。「ミゲル・カブレラはアレックス・S・ゴンザレスにゴロを打ち、彼はボールを蹴った。ゴンザレスがボールを適切に捕球していれば、カブスはダブルプレーでイニングを終えることができただろう。」^[47]

ホームチームが打席に立つイニングの後半または「後半」。ラインスコアの順位によって決まります。

シンカーやドロップボールについて言われることもあるが、これは投球が突然落とし戸を通ったかのように下へ動いたことを意味する。理想的には、投手はいつもと同じ腕のスピードとリリースポイントで投げ、最後の瞬間に「底が抜けて」、打者に何が起こったのかと不思議がらせることである。^[48]

• 投手マウンドの周辺。野球のアナウンサーは、打球が投手マウンドエリアを通って戻ってくることを「ボックスを通過した」と表現したり、投手が試合から退場することを「ボックスからノックアウトされた」と表現することがあります。野球が始まった当初はマウンドはなく、投手は地面に描かれたボックス内でボールを放たなければなりませんでした。マウンドがボックスにとって代わったにもかかわらず、この用語は今でも使用されています。
• また、バッターボックスとは、打者が打つときに立つ場所のことです。投手が投球するためには、打者はバッターボックス内にいなければなりません。

ゲームの統計的要約。ライン スコアは、フィールド スコアボードから複製されたボックス スコアの短縮版です。ボックス スコアの発明者は、ヘンリー チャドウィックです。

• バッティング練習。​​
• 野球研究の熱心なファンは、 Baseball ProspectusをBP と呼ぶこともあります。

右打者。選手の統計情報を説明するときに使用します。例: John Doe (TR、BR、6 フィート、172 ポンド)

チームが得点して同点になったとき、それは「まったく新しい試合」と言われる。このフレーズは、殿堂入りしたドジャースのアナウンサー、ビン・スカリーによって広められた。

投手が望む効果を得るために回転をかけることで、「ストレート」または予想される軌道から著しく外れた球種。カーブボール、スライダー、スクリューボールなどがその例です。

カーブボールを投げる。

チームが複数点のリードを獲得した場合、おそらく1回の反撃でリードを広げた場合、試合は「開いた」と言える。「パドレスは5回に5点を獲得し、試合を開いたが、これは14打数12安打を放ったカブスの3つのエラーによるものだった。 」 ^[49]

投球する。速球を投げるときによく使われる。「ガスを持って来い、熱を持って来い、持って来い」。

打者がボールに接触した際にバットを折ることから始まるプレーを指す形容詞。

打者にとって有利な球場でプレーする能力があるため、ニューヨーク・ヤンキースに付けられたニックネーム。

群衆からの皮肉な歓声。「ラズベリー」。

特に打者がバットをまったく動かさなかった場合に、見ながら三振する打者。この用語は主にスポーツ解説者によって使用されます。

打者を威嚇するために、すなわち「打者を本塁から押し戻す」ために意図的に打者の近くに投げられる球。また、目的球またはチンミュージックとも呼ばれる。古い用法：「a blowdown」。^[50]

打率が .100 から .199 の選手は「1 ドルと小銭」の打率と言われ、より具体的には、ドル (ドル) とセント (小銭) で換算した平均です。例: 打率が .190 の打者は「1 ドル 90」の打率と言われます。メジャー リーグの野手打率がこのくらい低い場合、経験値として AAA に降格するか、完全に解雇される可能性が非常に高くなります。メンドーサ ラインも参照してください。

1970年代にピッツバーグ・パイレーツのアナウンサー、ボブ・プリンスが作った造語。特に人工芝の上で、隙間をすり抜けて飛んでいくヒット。

チェンジアップの球種で、ホームベースに非常にゆっくりと到達するため、打者は一球で三度空振りする。空振り三振、三振で打者はアウト。これはアニメのキャラクターであるバッグス・バニーに由来しており、アニメ「ベースボール・バッグス」ではバッグス・バニーがこの球種を投げているところが描かれている。トレバー・ホフマンのチェンジアップが万能の武器に進化すると、彼のチームメイトの投手たちは、多くの打者と同様に、この球種に畏敬の念を抱いた。彼らはこの球種をとても気に入り、ニックネームをつけた。彼らはこの球種をバッグス・バニー・ピッチと呼んだ。「この球種は三度スイングしてもミットに入らないだろう」とアンディ・アシュビーは有名なアニメの画像を引用しながら語った。「本当に、彼はこの球種が来ると伝えても、打てなかったんだ」^[51]

• 試合が始まっているときに、投手と捕手がマウンドに上がる前にウォーミングアップするために使用するエリア。このエリアは通常、左または右のベースラインに沿った脇、または外野フェンスの後ろにあります。おそらく実戦の妨げになる恐れがあるため、フェア地域にあることはほとんどありません。まれな例外として、ニューヨークのポロ・グラウンドではブルペンが外野の壁の左と右のセンターフィールドの深い四分の一円に配置されていました。
• チームの救援投手陣（リリーフ投手は試合中にブルペンにいるためこのように呼ばれます）。

この用語の起源についてはさまざまな説があり、メインの記事で詳しく論じられています。

クラブがリリーフ投手を「クローザー」、「セットアップ」、「ロングリリーフ」などの特定の役割に割り当てず、代わりにいつでも任意のリリーフ投手を使用できる戦略。メジャーリーグレベルでは、この戦略はクラブのクローザーが使用できない場合によく使用されます。

チームが先発投手ではなくリリーフ投手を試合全体を通して起用する試合。

先発投手がシーズン中に定期的に行う活動。

あまり使われない戦略だが、1人の投手にほとんどのイニングを投げさせるのではなく、2イニング以内のスティントで複数のリリーフ投手（この戦略では、その一部は先発投手として使われることが多い投手である）を起用する。^[52]

投手陣がマウンドに上がる。「今日は誰がマウンドに立つんだ？」

• バットをほとんど動かさずに片方の手をスイートスポット（バットの項を参照）の後ろに置いてボールを打たせることにより、内野の特定の場所に意図的に弱くボールを打つこと。通常、バントは他の走者を進めるために使用され、犠牲、犠牲ヒット 、または犠牲バントと呼ばれます。正しく実行された場合、野手はせいぜい一塁で打者走者をアウトにする以外、プレーすることはありません。
• 内野手が守備を続けているとき、俊足のランナーはバントでヒットを打つこともあります。このような状況では、左打者はバントスイングを完了しながら一塁に向かって歩き出すドラッグバントを使うことがあります。偉大なスラッガーのミッキー・マントルでさえ、ホームから一塁まで 3.1 秒というスピードを活かして、時々ドラッグバントをしていました。現在、ナショナルズのライアン・ジマーマンは、ドラッグバントをうまく使う右打者として注目されています。

マイナーリーグまたはプロレベルではないレベルのプレーを指す俗語。「ブッシュ」または「スティック」は、マイナーリーグのチームが活動する小さな町です。「ブッシャー」は「ブッシュリーグ」出身の人を指します。リング・ラードナーの最初の著書「You Know Me Al: A Busher's Letters 」のサブタイトルを参照してください。

平日のデーゲーム。

打者の手に速球を投げる。また、キッチンで彼を縛る。

非常に下手な野手。

打者が最初にバントをするつもりであることを示し、投手が投球を開始するとバットを引き、投球に対して素早くスイングする戦略。通常、投手などの弱い打者が使用します。グレッグ・マダックスは、シカゴ・カブスとアトランタ・ブレーブスでのキャリアの初期にこの戦術を効果的に使用したことで知られています。

高めの速球を打者に向かって内角に投げること。通常は打者を本塁から遠ざけたり、アピールしたりする意図がある。ブラッシュバックと目的投球も参照。

サボテンが豊富に生育するアリゾナで、シーズン前の春季トレーニングのエキシビション ゲームを実施するチームのグループ。グレープフルーツ リーグも参照してください。

キャディーの唯一の役割は、一方的な試合の終盤に交代要員として登場し、年老いた強打者の守備の代役を務めたり、代走をしたりすることである。

メジャーリーグのチームは、シーズン中にマイナーリーグの選手を呼び戻したり昇格させたりして、チームのロースターに名を連ねることがある。これは、マイナーリーグに降格した選手や故障者リスト入りした選手の代わりとなることが多い。以前メジャーリーグにいた選手（そして降格した選手）は、呼び戻されたというよりは呼び戻されたと言える。8月31日以降は、マイナーリーグの選手数名が、拡大ロースターに名を連ねるために呼び戻される可能性がある。

• 強い腕。そして銃。
• 強く投げる。遊撃手がゴロを捕球し、一塁に強く投げたプレーの後のアナウンサー：「ギエンが大砲で打ってアウトになる。」

高くて捕りやすいフライボールが外野に飛んだ。このフレーズは19世紀に生まれたと言われており、昔の食料雑貨店主が高い棚から缶詰を取り出す方法に関連している。先端にフックの付いた棒を使って、食料雑貨店主は缶を傾けてエプロンに簡単にキャッチできるようにした。このフレーズで缶詰としてトウモロコシが使われている理由の1つは、トウモロコシは店で最も売れている野菜で、一番下の棚にたくさん並べられていたため、トウモロコシの缶が最も「キャッチ」しやすいと考えられていたためだという説である。もう1つの説は、トウモロコシは野球のごく初期の頃、外野を「トウモロコシ畑」と呼んでいた慣習を指しているというものである。特に、アマチュア野球の初期の頃は、外野が農場だった可能性がある。レッド・バーバーが頻繁に使用するこのフレーズのバリエーション「ゴールデンバンタムの8番缶」は、ピッツバーグ・パイレーツのアナウンサー、ボブ・プリンスが好んで使っていた。このフレーズは、ヤンキースのアナウンサーであるフィル・リズート、レッドソックスとホワイトソックスのアナウンサーであるケン・「ザ・ホーク」・ハレルソン、ブルージェイズのアナウンサーで元監督のバック・マルティネスも、人気のビデオゲーム「トリプルプレイ2000」でこのフレーズを声優として使っていました。また、挑戦的でないものを指すのにも使われるフレーズです。非公式には、can of corn は、軽い興奮、個人的な承認、または重要性の認識を表すフレーズとして使われることがあります。

問題が起こりそうな兆候が最初に現れたら、投手を試合から外すことが多い監督。スパーキー・アンダーソンは、おそらくメジャーリーグ レベルの「キャプテン フック」の最高の例です。フックを参照してください。

投手が3球か4球で素早く打者を倒し、打者が空振りを喫した場合、その投手はシェフが七面鳥を切り分けるように「打者を切り分けた」と言える。見出し：「バーリーはたった1球の時速90マイルでいかにタンパベイを切り分けたか」^[53]

すでに塁に出ている走者をホームインさせること。「その後、ローレン・ローレベックが左翼フェンスを越えるホームランを放ち、2イニングを残して7対7の同点に追いついた。」^[54]

望ましい、または縁起のよい状況。ブルックリン・ドジャースの長年のアナウンサー、レッド・バーバーによって広められました。ジェームズ・サーバーは同名の短編小説で次のように書いています。「キャットバードの席に座る」とは、3 つのボールがありストライクがない打者のように、きれいに座ることを意味します。キャットバードは、歌うために木の最も高い場所を探すと言われているので、キャットバードの席にいる人は高いところにいることになります。

打者が速球と競争しているかのように、彼の反応時間とバットのスピードがパワーピッチャーの速球を打つのに十分な速さであれば、彼は速球に「追いつく」と言われている。「我々のスカウトレポートによると、彼はまだ打つことができ、速球に追いつくことができます。速球に追いつくことができる限り、彼はお金を得るでしょう。」^[55]

キャッチャーが打者のスイングの機会を物理的に妨害した場合は、キャッチャーの妨害となります。プロ野球では、プレーは継続され、プレーの継続が停止した後、審判がタイムを宣告します。ペナルティとして、打者に一塁が与えられます。盗塁を試みた走者にはその塁が与えられ、他の走者は強制された場合のみ進塁します。攻撃側のチームの監督には、プレーの結果を保持するオプションがあります。審判からそのオプションは与えられず、塁を与えた後プレーが続行される前に明示的に宣言する必要があります。キャッチャーはエラーとして告発されます。これは、多くのタイプの妨害のコールのうちの 1 つです。

打者が投球を打とうとせずに3ストライクを宣告されたときに使われる用語。^[56]

守備側の選手の行動に注意を払っていなかったためにタグアウトになった走者は、「居眠り」している状態です。これには、内野手が走者の後ろに忍び寄り、投手またはまれに捕手からの送球を受けるピックオフ プレイが含まれることがよくあります。

最下位、順位表の最下位。特に何年にもわたって最下位に長く留まっているチームは、最下位という不名誉な称号を得る傾向がある。同義語: 最下位。

ストライクゾーンから抜け出すつもりで投げた野球ボールが、抜け出すことができず、ストライクゾーンに留まってしまう。固定軸で回転するセメントミキサーに似た、意図しないサイドスピンの遅い速球で、翻訳できない。

bronxpinstripes.com より: 肉屋用語で、牛肉の最高級部位を指します。野球用語では、真ん中に投げる速球のことです。

特に打者に関して: 塁に出たり打席に留まったりするのではなく、ベンチに座ること。「椅子を投げる」というように。この表現は、投手に打者を三振に打ち取らせ、ダッグアウトに送り返すことで「椅子を投げる」、つまり打者に座るよう強制することを意味します。

投手が積極的にストライクを投げるとき、おそらく最高の速球を投げるとき、彼は「打者に挑戦する」と言われる。これはストライクゾーンを強打したり、ストライクゾーンを攻撃するのと似ている。「ジャレッドは傑出した才能を持っている」とミーは言った。「私が彼に見たいのは、もっとストライクを投げて打者に挑戦することです。彼は多くの能力を持っており、カウントでリードしているときは、打つのが非常に難しい選手です。」^[57]

投手はストライクゾーン内で異なる高さに投球することで打者の「目の高さを変える」。これは打者のバランスを崩したり、打者に不快感を与えたりするのを意図している。「打者の目の高さを変えることは重要である。なぜなら、上達するにつれて、打者に打席内で足を動かすことが難しくなるからだ。たとえ内側に投げたとしても。そこで次の選択肢は打者の目を動かすことだ。」^[58]

チェンジアップまたはチェンジは、速球に似ているが速度が遅い球種で、チェンジ・オブ・ペースの略です。この球種のバリエーションにサークル・チェンジがあり、ボールの最後の3分の1で親指と人差し指を使って円を描きます。これにより、右利きのピッチャーの右利きのバッターに対してボールが内側に折れて下がり、ゴロになることがよくあります。また、ペドロ・マルティネスによって有名になったストレート・チェンジも使用できます。このグリップでは、ボールを握るのにすべての指を使用する必要があるため、摩擦が大きくなり、ボールの速度が大幅に低下します。

• 内野手がゴロが来るのを待たずにゴロに向かって走ること。
• 得点は、最初に得点した走者の出塁を許した投手に「課せられる」と言われています。

マウンドへの突撃とは、打者が投球を受けた後、または場合によっては打たれそうになった後に投手に襲いかかることを指す。プロがマウンドに突撃した最初の事件は特定されていないが、この行為は野球の初期の頃にまで遡ることは間違いない。マウンドへの突撃は、ベンチを空にする乱闘のきっかけとなることが多く、打者が退場させられる可能性が高い。

• 追いかける（または追いかける）とは、ストライクゾーンから大きく外れた球を打つことです。
• 失点が多すぎるという理由で監督から試合から外された投手は、相手打者によって「試合から追い出された」または「マウンドから追い出された」と言われる。「ペティットは、ウィリー・タベラスの1点適時打と松井稼頭央の2点適時三塁打の後、7回に試合から追い出された。」^[59]
• 審判員によって試合から退場させられた選手やコーチは、追いかけられたと言える。「マーティンは1976年のシリーズの第4試合で審判員リー・ウェイアーによって追いかけられたが、それはウィーバーが1969年の第4試合でシャグ・クロフォードに追いかけられてから7年後のことである。」 ^[60]

相手打者の気をそらすために言葉で挑発したり挑発したりすること。ファンも選手も同様におしゃべりに参加します。「ヘイバッタバッタバッタ」は野球でよくあるおしゃべりの例です。

ドジャースタジアムの愛称。この球場は、1950年代後半にチャベス・ラビンという名のかつての住宅街に建設されました。

運が良かったり、攻撃側の努力がほとんどなかったりして獲得した得点。見出し:「レイズの安易な得点」。ストーリー:「カール・クロフォードはライン上での失策で幸運に恵まれた。ジェイミー・モイヤーの投球は悪くなかった。」^[61]

投手または内野手が捕球時に塁上の走者の方向を見て、本来得られるはずのリードを大きく取れない状態。

打者は、バットがホームプレートの前を通過する前にスイングを止めてスイングをチェックする。もし間に合わなかった場合、打者は投球にスイングしたため、審判はストライクを宣告する。スイングの審判の視界は遮られることが多い。審判が投球をボールと宣告した場合、キャッチャーやピッチャーなどの守備側の選手は、ホームプレート審判に、打者が投球にスイングしたかどうかを別の審判に尋ねるよう求めることができる。このような場合、ホームプレート審判は常に別の審判の判定を受け入れる。「基本的に、タイガースは試合中ずっとレッドソックスを翻弄していた。そうでなければ、あれほど多くのスイングチェックはなかっただろう。あるいは、審判にボールだと売り込もうとしたストライクも、あれほど多くはなかっただろう。」^[62]

チーズを参照してください。

速球、特に打ちにくい速球。ストライクゾーンの高い速球はハイチーズとも呼ばれ、低い速球は膝のチーズとも呼ばれる。「イージーチーズ」とは、投手が非常に速い速度で速球を投げる際の、一見楽な動きを指す。^[63]

打者があごに当たらないようにホームベースから押し戻すことを目的とした、高めでタイトな、上向きのピッチ。ブラッシュバックまたは目的ピッチとも呼ばれます。

• 外野のホームランを指す古い用語で、高く飛んだボールが、本塁に最も近い位置にあるフェンスをかろうじて越えることを意味する。この用語は、ファウルラインが非常に短いことで有名なニューヨーク・ジャイアンツの旧本拠地、ポロ・グラウンズでのヒットを指すのによく使われていた。このスタジアムが取り壊されて以来、この用語の使用は減少しており、民族的に不快であると認識されてからは、さらに減少している。^[64]
• 2番目の意味は、ホームプレートから後ろ向きに飛ぶロングフライボールである。この用法はニューイングランドのサンドロットボールゲームに限定されているようで、この用語は「チェイニーのホームラン」から派生した可能性がある。チェイニーのホームランは、その名の通り、最後のボールが見つからなかったために、最終的に打席側のチームが勝利した後方ファウルである。審判は、相手チームが十分な数のボールを提供できなかったため、試合を没収したと判定した。^[64]

NG集、死にかけのウズラ、出血するウズラ。

チョッパーとは、打球がホームプレートの真正面の固まった土の部分にすぐに当たり、内野に高く跳ね返ることを指す。足の速い打者は、このようなチョッパーをヒットにすることができる。また、内野手が捕球するか外野に到達する前に数回バウンドする打球も指す。元ブレーブスのアナウンサー、スキップ・キャレイは、アトランタが守備につくときに、長年ブレーブスの三塁手を務めたチッパー・ジョーンズにちなんで、三塁へのバウンサーを「チッパーへのチョッパー」と気まぐれに呼ぶことがよくあった。

打者はバットのノブ側から手を上に滑らせて「チョークアップ」し、バットをよりコントロールします。これにより、パワーが減り、コントロールが増します。2001年のワールド シリーズで、ルイス ゴンザレスは、シリーズを勝ち越すヒットとなるフライ シングルを打つ前に、バットをチョークアップしました。^[要出典]こうして、彼は成功し、勝負どころで「チョークアップ」しませんでした。

投げる。投手はチャッカー、つまり本当にボールを投げる人と呼ばれることがある。サンフランシスコでは、ファンはバッテリーチャッカーと呼ばれることがある。これは、多くのファンがフィールドに電池を投げた事件がいくつかあったことによる。これらの事件はサンフランシスコでは少なくとも2000年代初頭にまで遡るが、それ以前にもフィリーズのファンが関与した事件が少なくとも1件あった。^[65]

オンデッキサークルは、正式には次のバッターボックスとして知られています。

見事なキャッチ。通常、野手が足を離したり、体をねじったりしてキャッチする必要があり、その過程はサーカスの曲芸師のようだ。

打者が内野手に触れずにボールを打った場合、それは「クリーンヒット」であると言える。同様に、打者が外野手の頭上を越えてボールを打った場合も「クリーンヒット」である。「トリスは打撃が本当に好きで、外野手の頭上を越えて「クリーン」なヒットを打つといつも興奮していた。」^[66]

ピッチャーがヒット、四球、失点を許さず、守備側がエラーを犯さなかったとき。「クリーンなイニングを見たい」とクーパーは語った。「今こそクリーンなイニングを見るべき時だ。しかし、バントをしようとしている選手を打ったり、4球で四球を出したりしている ...これは若い子がやっていることではない。馬鹿げている。誰がやろうと関係ない。こんなことは起きてはならない。クリーンアップしなければならない。遅かれ早かれクリーンなイニングを見たい。ストライク1、ストライク2を投げ、投球すべきだ。我々はあちこちに散らばっている。ストライクゾーンにさえ近づいていない。」^[67]

打順の 4 番目の打者で、通常はパワー ヒッターです。戦略としては、クリーンアップ ヒッターがホームインできるようにランナーを塁上に残すことです。理論上は、ゲームの最初の 3 人の打者が満塁にした場合、4 番目の打者がグランド スラムでベースを「クリーンアップ」するのが理想的です。

打者が塁上の走者全員をホームに送り、自らは得点しないという行為は「一塁クリア」と呼ばれる。「ディキートの三塁クリアの三塁打はファルコンズを応援する観客を熱狂させた。」^[68]

• 投手がストライクゾーン外の球を次々に高く投げ、打者に「目に見える」球でスイングさせようとする戦術。
• 野手が、高いライナーを捕るために、見えない梯子を登って捕球したかのように、異常に高いジャンプをしたとき

一人の選手またはチームによる圧倒的なパフォーマンス。「デビッド・プライスは、3者連続三振という素晴らしい活躍を見せた。」

最後のアウトを取って試合を「締める」、つまり終わらせるために常に使われるリリーフ投手。クローザーは最も圧倒的な投手であることが多く、時には最も不安定な投手でもあります。あるいは、スプリッターやカットファストボールなど、打ちにくい球種を専門とすることもあります。

交代した投手については、その投手の試合の統計が確定した時点で「記録を閉じる」ことができます。救援投手が 1 人以上のランナーを引き継いで試合に出場し、そのランナーが最終的に得点した場合、そのランナーは、そのランナーを塁に出させた投手の統計 (防御率など) に影響を及ぼします。特定の投手に任されたランナー全員が得点するかアウトになるか、そのイニングで 3 番目のアウトが取られると、その投手の統計は変更できなくなり (投手の記録上のステータスを除く)、「記録」は「閉じ」られます。

「物干し竿を投げる」を参照してください。

チームのロッカールーム。特に最高レベルのプロ選手の場合、食事、娯楽、トレーニング施設も含まれることがあります。「クラブハウス」という用語は、ゴルフやサラブレッド競馬などのスポーツでもよく使用されます。

良いパフォーマンスが本当に重要になるプレッシャーの下での良いパフォーマンス。そのような状況 (クラッチにいる) や選手 (良いクラッチ ヒッター、または「クラッチでヒットできる」選手)、または特定のヒット (「あれはクラッチ ヒットだった」) を指す場合があります。ほとんどの野球ファンはクラッチ ヒッターが存在すると信じているが、クラッチ ヒッターが特定のスキルなのか、それとも良い打者が一般的に行うものなのかについては、統計学者の間でも大きな意見の相違がある。クラッチの古い同義語は、クリスティー マシューソンの著書「Pitching in a Pinch」にあるように、ピンチである。

ベルトの高さで、打たれやすい速球で、通常はプレートの真ん中に投げられる。元レッドソックス投手コーチのボブ・マクルーアは次のように述べている。「ベルトのすぐ上、真ん中に強烈な速球を投げるときは、相手がスイングしないことを願う。多くの場合、それでは球場の外に出てしまう。」^[69]

試合でヒットを打てないことの象徴で、ゼロに似ていることから「窒息」の意味も含んでいる。カラーを着ける：「ライトがここでヒットを打てなければ、その日は5 打数無安打のカラーを着けることになる」。また、カラーを外す：「キャメロン・メイビンはメジャーリーグデビュー戦で2三振を喫し、カラーを外す」。^[70]また、 25年間（1972-97）メジャーリーグの野球アナウンサーを務めたボブ・スター（スポーツキャスター）は、「カラーを着ける」という用語の使用を、試合で4三振を喫した選手に限定していた。 

ピッチャーに直接打ち返されたライナーまたはゴロ。

投手が意図した場所に投球する高度なスキル。ストライクを投げるだけのコントロールとは対照的に、コマンドはストライクゾーン内または外の特定の場所を打つ能力です。ロケーションも参照してください。

完投（CG で表示）とは、リリーフ投手を使わずに投手が 1 試合すべてを投げることです。完投は勝ちでも負けでもかまいません。投手が 9 イニング未満（またはそれ以上）の投球でも、試合全体を投球すれば完投とみなされます。

完封試合 (CGSO) は、投手が完投し、相手チームに得点を許さなかった場合に発生します。

三振をあまり取らない打者。そのため、ボールにコンタクトしてプレーに持ち込むことがよくある。だからといって、必ずしも平手打ちの打者であるというわけではない。パワーヒッターではあるが、ホームランよりも二塁打や三塁打を打つことが多い。ピート・ローズ、トニー・グウィン、ウェイド・ボッグスはいずれもコンタクトヒッターの優れた例である。

連絡先についてはピッチを参照してください。

三塁ランナーが、バットが投球に接触した音を聞いたら、どのような接触があったか（フェアボールかファウルボールか、フライボールかゴロか）を知るまで待たずに、すぐに得点を狙うようにコーチから指示された場合。このような場合、ランナーは「接触したら走れ」と指示されます。このプレーは、試合が接戦か満塁のときによく行われます。より一般的には、「アウトが2つの場合、ベースランナーは「接触したら走れ」ます。ボールが捕られたり、打者がアウトになったりしても失うものが何もないからです。」^[71]

四球をほとんど与えない、または投球コントロールに優れた投手。コントロール投手とも呼ばれる。

打ちやすい球種。逆に、最初の球がストライクで2球目がボールだった場合、2球目は投手が狙いを外した結果である可能性があり、投手はコントロールを取り戻すためにクッキーを投げることで対応します。^[72]

ニューヨーク州クーパーズタウンにある、殿堂の隠喩。「クーパーズタウンへ向かう途中」の選手や監督は、殿堂入りが運命づけられていると考えられています。

木製の胴の芯にコルク（またはゴムなどの弾性材料）が挿入されたバット。このようにバットを改造すると、バットが軽くなり、バットのスピードやコントロールが向上する可能性があるが、一般に信じられているのとは反対に、打球にエネルギーが加わることはない。[ ^73]バットを絞ったり、短いバットを使用したりすることで、同様の効果を得ることができる。違法にバットを改造した選手は、出場停止などの罰則を受ける。メジャーリーグで最後にこのようなケースがあったのは、強打者のサミー・ソーサだった。^[74]

• ランナーが「コーナー」にいる場合、ランナーは野球場の一塁と三塁にいて、二塁にはランナーがいません。
• 「プレートのコーナー」とは、ホームプレートの内側と外側の端のことです。ピッチャーの中には、コーナーにこだわる人もいれば、コーナーをかじるだけの人もいます。また、「コーナーをペイント」することに長けている人もいます。

左翼手と右翼手は外野の隅の守備手です。

コーナー内野手、または三塁または一塁を守る内野手。

打者が現在の打席で投げたボールとストライクの数。通常は、たとえば「3-0」（「スリーアンドオー」と発音）のように、1 組の数字で発表され、最初の数字はボールの数、2 番目の数字はストライクの数です。3-2 カウント、つまり特定の打席でボールとストライクの数が最も多いカウントは、フル カウントと呼ばれます。1-1 または 2-2 のカウントはイーブンと呼ばれますが、2-2 の投球では投手が有利であると見なされます。これは、投手がさらにボールを投げても影響がないのに対し、もう 1 ストライクを投げると打者がアウトになるからです。カウントが 1-0、2-0、2-1、3-0、または 3-1 の場合、打者はカウントでリードしている（投手はカウントでバックアウト）と言われます。カウントが 0-1、0-2、または 1-2 の場合、打者はカウントで遅れている(投手はカウントで先行している) と言われます。

特定の打者にとって打ちやすい投手。^[要出典]

• 内野手の任務の 1 つはベースをカバーすることです。つまり、他の野手からボールを​​受け取ることを予想してベースの横に立ち、そのベースに近づいてくる走者に対してプレーを行います。フォース プレイまたはアピール プレイでは、ベースをカバーする野手はボールを捕球するときに、そのベースに片足を置いて立ちます。
• 野手が自分のポジションではないベースでプレイを行おうとするとき(通常、そのベースの野手は打球を捕るのに忙しく、そのベースでボールを捕球できないため)。よくある例としては、一塁手が打球を捕球したが、ランナーをアウトにするにはベースから遠すぎる場合が挙げられます。投手は一塁手からの送球を受けるために一塁ベースを「カバー」するために走ります(プレイは「3-1」と記録され、一塁手から投手へという意味になります)。

• バットがボールを打つ音。野球ではこの用語は「即座に、ためらうことなく」という意味で使われます。たとえば、走者はボールがどこに行くかを見るのを待つのではなく、「バットの音で」走り始めることがあります。
• 外野手は、バットがボールに当たる音を、ボールがどのくらい遠くに飛んだかの手がかりとしてよく使う。物理学者ロバート・アデアは次のように書いている。「野球ボールが外野手にまっすぐ当たった場合、外野手はボールの上昇角度と飛距離をすぐに判断することができない。軌道がはっきりするまで待つと、待ち時間が長すぎて、本来なら捕れるはずのボールに届かなくなる。素早くスタートしたが、最初のステップが間違っていて（ロングフライならイン、ショートフライならバック）、ターンアラウンド時間によって飛距離が急激に短くなり、また捕れるはずのボールを逃してしまう。経験豊かな外野手は、判断を助けるために、木製バットがボールに当たる音を聞く。『パキッ』という音が聞こえたら、外に走り、『ガチャン』という音が聞こえたら、内へ走り込む。」^[75]
• 同様に、金属バットの場合、外野手は「ピン」という音と「ドスン」という音を区別することを学ばなければなりません。

パワーヒッターには有利だが投手には不利とされる小さな野球場。バンドボックス。(参照:ベイカーボウル)

力と並外れたスキルを備えた選手またはチーム。

コントロールピッチャーの別名。グレッグ・マダックスは巧みな投手だった。

ボールを打って長打を打つこと。典型的にはホームラン。「ジーターは左にホームランを放ち、スコアを6対5にした。」^[76]また、世紀の変わり目（19世紀）の野球観客の婉曲表現で、球場に入るときに回転式改札口をクランキングする音を指す。

バントに対する守備方法。一塁手と三塁手が打者に向かって突進してボールを捕球し、二塁手が一塁をカバーし、遊撃手は先頭走者の進路に応じて二塁または三塁をカバーする。また、より一般的には、バント時に打者に向かって突進する内野手の動作を指す場合もあります。

0 または 1 以外の数字で、実際の数字の見た目を指します。1 イニングで 2 点以上を獲得できるチームは、スコアボードまたは投手に「曲がった数字を掛ける」と言われます。

打った瞬間にアウトになるのが明らかなホームラン。まるで生き物のように投手を悩ませることからこう呼ばれる。

• キャッチャーが投手に投げさせる球種（例えば速球）を指示したのに、投手が別の球種（例えばカーブ）を投げた場合、キャッチャーはクロスアップしていることになる。これによりパスボールが発生し、塁上の走者が進塁する可能性がある。「バレットのパスボールにより、レッズは5回に3点のうち最後の得点を許し、7対2とリードを広げた。ウィリアムズの投球は彼をクロスアップさせた。『シンカーを狙っていたが、ボールが私から遠ざかってしまった』とバレットは語った。『本塁でプレーしたが、すね当てが芝生に引っかかってしまった。フラストレーションのたまる一日だった」^[77]
• 打者が特定の種類の球種を予想していたにもかかわらず、異なる種類の球種を打たれた場合、打者はクロスアップされ、弱い打球や空振りにつながる可能性があります。

投手がプレートの内側に向かってボールを投げるとき、打者が腕を伸ばして投球をフルスイングすることを困難にすることで「打者を混雑させる」ことを試みている可能性があります。

打者が本塁に非常に近い位置に構え、ストライクゾーンの一部を覆ってしまうことがある。これは投手を怒らせ、何度も繰り返されると、本塁をクリアするためにブラッシュバックピッチやビーンボールが打者に投げられることになる。「本塁に詰め寄ると、ハイヒーターが打たれることは十分承知している。」^[78]

• 打者がボールを非常に強く遠くに打つと、​​ボールを破壊したか、少なくともその形を変えたかのように、ボールをクラッシュすると言われることがあります。関連する表現には、crunched the ballまたはmashed the ball があります。実際、スラッガーはmasherと表現されることがあります。例: 「25 歳の彼は 5 試合で 2 本塁打を放ち、印象を残していますが、彼は masher というよりは純粋な打者です。」
• 野球ボールのその他の破壊方法としては、ボールの詰め物を叩き落としたり、馬革（カバー）を叩き落したりすることが挙げられます。

ボールがバットの端で打たれた場合、打者は「ボールをキューした」と言える（ビリヤードのキューで打ったかのように）。「ケンドリックはバットの折れたゴロで三塁に進み、ライアン・シーリーの一塁へのキューゴロで得点した ...」^[79]

マイナーリーグの選手がメジャーリーグで過ごした短い期間。選手がそこにいたのはコーヒーを一杯飲むくらいの時間だけという意味です。メジャーリーグのチームでの非常に短い滞在（1 シーズン未満）を表すのにも使用できます。

ホームプレートに向かう直線または予想される飛行経路から曲がったり折れたりする投球。単に「カーブ」とも呼ばれます。

• バットのスイング。
• 名簿またはチームから削除される。

カット ファストボールまたはカッターは、横方向に動く速球です。「カット ファストボール」は、横方向の動きよりもスピードが際立つスライダーに似ています。

打者がバットを絞ったり、単に頭の後ろでスイングを開始したりしてスイングの振幅を小さくすると、「スイングを小さくする」ことになり、それによってバットをより速く回せるようになる。また、「スイングを短くする」こともできる。「ゲレーロは火曜日の5打数無安打の夜、あまりにも激しくスイングしたため、スパイクが抜けそうなほどだった。そこでハッチャーは水曜日、ゲレーロにスタンスを少し広げるよう提案した。この動きは打者にスイングを少し小さくさせるものだ。」^[80]

外野手の間の隙間にボールが打たれた場合、野手はフェンスに向かって走ってボールをキャッチまたは回収するか、ボールに向かって走ってボールがフェンスに届く前に捕球するかの選択を迫られることが多い。後者の場合、ボールの軌道を短くしようとしているため「ボールをカットオフする」と言われる。「グランダーソンがカルロス・ペーニャの5回表のライナーで左中間に流れたとき、捕球するためにその方向に向かっていたわけではなかった。彼はボールが跳ね返ったときに捕球する準備をしていた。『実はボールをカットオフする位置にいたんだ』とグランダーソンは月曜日の午後、タイガースがレイズに11対7で敗れた後に語った。『捕球できるチャンスがあるとは思わなかったんだ』」^[81]

打球を捕球した外野手とベースの間に野手が移動してプレイを行う守備戦術。この野手は送球を「カットオフ」するか、「カットオフマン」と呼ばれます。この戦術により、長距離での精度が向上し、ボールを特定の場所に運ぶのに必要な時間が短縮されます。また、カットオフマンは、ホームでプレイを行うのが不可能だと思った場合に、送球で進塁しようとしている後続のランナーをアウトにすることもできます。カットオフマンを逃すことは、ランナーが進塁したり得点したりする可能性があるため、外野手による失策とみなされます (ただし、エラーとしては記録されません)。

重要な目標へのロングスローを「カットオフ」する野手。多くの場合、遊撃手、二塁手、または一塁手が、外野から三塁または本塁へのロングスローの「カットオフマン」になります。「カットオフマンを打て」というのは、コーチからの一般的な訓戒です。

サイクルについてはヒットを参照してください。

グラウンドに生えているヒナギクの先端を理論的には切り落とすほど芝生に近い、強く打たれたグラウンドボールを指す昔ながらの用語。

うまく投げられたナックルボールの不規則な動き。「彼のナックルボールが踊らず、少し垂れ下がってくれればいいのだが。そうでないと困ったことになる。」

見るのが難しく、打つのも難しい球種。「暗い球を投げろ」は、通常、2 ストライクのときに、打者をかわしてストライクを投げるよう投手に促す言葉です。

普段は優秀で優れた投手が、いつものように速く投げられないように見える場合、その投手は「デッドアーム」であると言われる。「今月カルロス・ザンブラノが投げた時のレーダーガンを見たことがあるなら、何かがおかしいと分かるだろう。問題は、彼が「デッドアーム」段階を経験していることだ、とカブスの右投手は土曜日に語った。」^[82]

ファウルボールの後、およびファンや選手の妨害、審判員による捕手の妨害、その他の特定の状況が発生した場合、ボールは「デッド」（つまり、ゲームの動作が停止）になります。ボールがデッドになると、ランナーは権利のあるベースを超えて進むことはできず、ランナーをアウトにすることはできません。審判員がプレイを再開する合図をすると、ボールは再び「ライブ」になります。

1903 年から 1918 年までの期間、ライブ ボール時代の直前、野球のルールの構成によって攻撃が制限される傾向があり、主なバッティング戦略はインサイド ゲームでした。フェンスを越えるホームランを打つことは、注目すべき業績でした。

プルヒッターとは、一般的に打つ側と同じ側にボールを打つ打者のことである。つまり、打席の左側から打つ右利きの打者の場合、ボールは左翼に打たれる。打者がボールをプルする以外のことをほとんどしない場合、デッドプルと呼ばれることが多い。デッ​​ドプルヒッターの現代の例としては、ジェイソン・ジアンビが挙げられる。

打者が投球に対して「真っ赤になっている/真っ赤になっている」場合、これは打者が投球（通常は速球）を期待していて、それを受けてホームランやヒットを打ったことを意味します。

• 投球の言い方。投手がボールをリリースするときに実況アナウンサーが一般的に使用します。例: 「スミスがジョーンズにパスします。」
• 効果的なピッチング、例: 「スミスは今夜本当にいい投球をしている。」

チームの「最後の打席で勝敗が決まる」試合とは、勝利しているチームが最後の攻撃回で勝ち越し点または勝ち越し点を獲得する試合です。この場合、「打席」とは、チームが打席に立っている時間であり、3 アウトを構成します (個人の打席と混同しないでください)。ウォークオフも参照してください。

3球目が宣告されたときはいつでも（3-0、3-1、または3-2カウント）、状況は打者に有利である。「肘の手術後2か月間欠場した後の4回目の先発で、ロバートソンは…多くの打者を相手に長打を放ったが、5イニングでわずか5安打と2失点しか許さなかった。」^[83]

野手を参照。

セイバーメトリクスの概念：打球がチームの守備によってアウトに変わる割合。^[84]類似の概念は、バスケットボールやフットボールを含む他のチームスポーツの分析でも使用されています。野球では次のように計算されます：1-(((H+ROE)-HR)/(PA-(SO+HBP+HR)))ここで、H=被安打、ROE=相手チームのエラーによる出塁、HR=被本塁打、PA=相手チームの打席数、SO=チームの投球三振、HBP=投手の死球。

守備側が走者が1塁以上進塁することを許した場合。その走者は盗塁の記録は得られません。なぜなら、その塁は「奪われた」のではなく「与えられた」ものだからです。守備側は、9回に大差をつけているときにこれを許すことがあります。その場合、最後の打者をアウトにすることに重点が置かれます。

• 投球するとは投球することです。アナウンサー: 「コーファックス投球 …ストライク 3!!!」
• デリバリーとは、オーバーハンド デリバリー、サイドアーム デリバリーなど、投手の基本的な腕の角度のことです。これは、クリケットの「デリバリー」という用語が野球の投球タイプに似ていることとは対照的です。

チームの 40 人メンバーから選手を削除できるプロセス。

指名打者（DH）は、守備側の選手（通常は投手）の代わりに常に打つ選手であり、試合中の役割は打つことだけです。アメリカンリーグは1973年からDHを使用していますが、ナショナルリーグは2022年までこの役割を恒久的に採用しませんでした。

• カーブボールです。キャッチャーのサインは通常、人差し指と中指の2本を伸ばして行います。
• ダブルプレー。

トランプの「2」のカードは慣例的に「デュース」と呼ばれます。

スコアボードに「2」という数字が同時に大量に表示された場合は、 走者 2 人、アウト2 つ、ボール2 つ、打者2ストライクを意味します。ポーカーのフレーズ「デュースはワイルド」に由来しています。殿堂入りアナウンサーのビン・スカリーがよく使用します。   

指定割り当ての略語。

指名打者

ホームランを打つこと。見出し：「レッドソックスの強打者が長距離打者をダイヤル ―ラミレス、オルティスがそれぞれ2点ホームラン。」^[85]このフレーズは「 長距離打者には9をダイヤル」と表現されることもある。

速球について言及。「彼はあの球種を上げた。」

内野の4 つのベースの配置。実際には各辺が 90 フィート (27 m) の正方形ですが、スタンドからは平行四辺形または「ダイヤモンド」のように見えます。

風やその他の空気力学的要因により、フライボールがホームベースから当初予想されていた距離よりも短い距離を飛んだ場合、そのボールは「デッドボール」と呼ばれます。デッドボールと混同しないでください。

• 地面の上または地面近くでボールを捕球すること。通常は一塁手が他の内野手から低い球を捕球すること。「土の中からボールを​​掘り出す」こと。
• ゴロに近いプレーで、送球をかわすために一塁ベースを全力で走ること。

負傷。軽傷が持続する場合によく使用されます。

ホームラン。

外野またはベースパスでつまずいたり転んだりすること。セーブ失敗は「ダートナップ」とも呼ばれる。

メジャーリーグのチームが負傷した選手を一時的にアクティブ ロースターから外す手段。この間、別の選手を代わりの選手として呼び出すことができます。2019 年の MLB シーズンより、「故障者リスト」という用語は「負傷者リスト」に置き換えられました。

• 打者はホームプレートから離れて立ちます。
• ホームプレート。「キャッチャーはプレートの後ろに陣取る。」
• 投球、特に良い投球。「さあ、ディッシュ（投球）が来たよ」または「今夜は彼のディッシュ（投球が上手い）」。

打者がストライクゾーンの外側にあるボールを打つためにプレートに体を傾ける傾向がある場合、彼は「プレートを飛び越える」または「ピッチに飛び込む」と言われています。ストライクゾーンを守るために、投手はボールを内側に投げることでこれに対応する場合があります。おそらく「目的のピッチ」です。「今やグラビンはカッターでイコライザーを持っています。彼は右利きの選手の手にカッターを突き刺し、シンカーやチェンジアップで彼らが罰を受けずにプレートを飛び越えないようにすることができます。」^[86]

故障者リスト。「ウッドは昨日 DL になった」のように、動詞として使われることもあります。

ボールに異物を塗布したり、その他の方法でボールを改変して、投球に不自然な回転をかけること。例：ワセリンや唾液を塗布する（スピットボール）、サンドペーパーやエメリーボードで擦る（エメリーボール）、ボールに光沢のある部分を作るために激しくこする（シャインボール）。これらはすべて1920年のシーズンから違法となり、デッドボール時代の終焉につながった。（野球規則、規則8.02(a)）実際には、投手が合法的に行える行為については曖昧な点がある。^[87]

メジャーリーグでも、バットを改造した有名な事例が数多く発生しています。「コルクバット」を参照してください。

ホームラン。

投手が故意または偶然に、投球（ノックダウン ピッチ）で打者を打つことを指す俗語。選手が投手を「ショーアップ」した場合（ベースを一周するのに長い時間をかけたり、ホームランの後に過度に祝ったりする）、チームの重要な選手が投球で打たれた場合、または選手が野球の暗黙のルールの 1 つに違反した場合、その選手は、威嚇または認識された違反に対する矯正の形で、次の打席で「ドット」されることが予想されます。もう 1 つの「暗黙のルール」は、投手が打者の胸の高さより下に「ドット」を行うことです。これは、高めのピッチは手や頭にさえ怪我をするリスクがあるため、怪我のリスクを最小限に抑えるためです。高めにピッチングすることは「ヘッド ハンティング」または「バズ ザ タワー」として知られ、投手が相手チームから実際に暴力を受けるリスクがあります。

• ピッチャーがストライクゾーンの隅にストライクを投げるとき、彼はコーナーをドットしていると言われます。

打者がボールを内野に返す前に安全に二塁まで到達するヒット。ツーベースヒットとも呼ばれます。

野手（通常は内野手または捕手）が投球前に腕を 2 回後ろに引くことを「ダブル クラッチ」といいます。このためらいにより、投球が遅れたり、遅れたりして、走者が塁を進むことにつながることがよくあります。この用語は、自動車のギアをシフトする方法から借用したものです。

素早くアウトを多く取っているピッチャー。車を違法駐車していて、違反切符を切られないように車に戻ろうとしていることを意味し、そのために素早くアウトを取ることに熱心です。

• 連続した動作の結果、攻撃側の 2 人の選手がアウトになり、2 つのアウトになる守備側のプレー。典型的な例は、6-4-3 ダブルプレーです。
• チームのダブルプレーコンビネーション（または DP コンボ）は、遊撃手と二塁手で構成されます。これは、これらのプレーヤーが 6-4-3 または 4-6-3 ダブルプレーのキープレーヤーであるためです。彼らは二塁の両側でプレーするため、サックメイトと呼ばれることもあります（セカンドサックとも呼ばれます）。

「ロール・ア・バンプ」は、1-6-3 ダブルプレーまたは 1-4-3 ダブルプレーを意味する東海岸の俗語です。

三塁側へのヒットに備えて中堅内野手を配置する代わりに、ダブルプレーに備えて中堅内野手を配置する守備戦術。

2 人のランナーが同時に盗塁を試みます。これは通常、1 塁と 2 塁にいるランナーが 2 塁と 3 塁に盗塁を試みるときに見られます。もう 1 つの一般的な例は、1 塁にいるランナーが 2 塁を盗塁し、キャッチャーが 2 塁に投げさせて 3 塁にいるランナーがホームに盗塁できるようにする場合です。

ダブルスイッチは、投手交代と守備（守備）交代を同時に行い、同時にチームの攻撃（打撃）ラインナップを強化できるタイプの選手交代です。これは、チームが守備に回っているときに投手を交代する必要があり、チームの次の攻撃試行でその投手の打順が近づいている場合に最も効果的に使用されます。投手を別の投手と交代するのではなく、野手（チームの最後の攻撃試行で最近打席に立った選手）を新しい投手と交代し、交代する投手は、交代する野手と同じポジションをこなせる選手と交代します。その後、2 人の交代選手は本来の守備の役割を交代しますが、交代した選手の打順は維持されるため、チームが次に打席に立つとき、空いた投手の打順の間に新しく交代した野手が打席に入り、新しい投手は、交代する野手が再び打席に立つまで打席に立つ必要はありません。ダブルスイッチは、主に日本のセントラルリーグや、2022年以前のナショナルリーグなど、指名打者を採用していないリーグで採用される。

• ランナーがダブルプレーで2アウトになった場合、ダブルアップ（またはダブルオフ）されたと言えます。これは、ダブルプレーに打った打者、または野手がボールを捕球してランナーの後ろの野手に送球し、野手がベースに触れてダブルプレーが完成したときにランナーがベースから外れた場合（つまりランナーが「ダブルアップ」した場合）に当てはまります。
• ダブルヘッダーに勝ったチームは、対戦相手をダブルアップしたと表現されることがある。「ロイヤルズがブルージェイズをダブルアップ」。^[88]また、8対4や6対3など、対戦相手の得点のちょうど2倍で勝つことも指す。

同じ日に同じ 2 つのチームによって 2 つの試合が行われる場合。試合が午後遅くに行われる場合、それは「トワイライトナイト」または「トゥイナイト」ダブルヘッダーと呼ばれます。1 つの試合が午後に行われ、もう 1 つの試合が夕方に行われる場合 (通常は入場料が別々)、それは「デイナイト」ダブルヘッダーと呼ばれます。ダブルヘッダーはツインビルとも呼ばれます。マイナーリーグや大学野球では、ダブルヘッダーの試合は、通常の試合の標準の 9 イニングではなく、7 イニングでスケジュールされることがよくあります。

ディクソン辞書によれば、この用語は、非常に長い列車を牽引するために 2 台の連結された機関車 (「ダブル ヘッダー」) を使用する鉄道用語に由来すると考えられています。

ギャップヒッター。

アウト。「ワン ダウン」は、そのイニングで 1 つのアウトが出たことを意味します (そのイニングであと 2 つ)。「ワン アップ (および) ワン ダウン」は、そのイニングで最初の打者がアウトになったことを意味します。「ツー ダウン」は、そのイニングで 2 つのアウトが出たことを意味します (あと 1 つ)。「ツー アップ (および) ツー ダウン」: そのイニングの最初の 2 人の打者がアウトになりました (アウトになりました)。「スリー アップ、スリー ダウン」: サイドが順番にアウトになりました。

ファウルライン付近のフィールドでは、打球の位置を指すことが多い。

ホームプレートの中央部分より上は、投球位置を指すことが多い。ダウン・ザ・パイプ、ダウン・ザ・パイク、ダウン・メイン・ストリート、ダウン・ブロードウェイ、アトランタではダウン・ピーチツリーとも呼ばれる。アップ・ザ・ミドルとはまったく異なる。

チームが優勝やチャンピオンシップを目指してシーズン終盤に差し掛かると、最終戦に突入する。これはおそらく、競馬や自動車レースで、競技者がトラックの最終コーナーを抜けてゴールラインに向かってホームストレートを進む様子に由来している。「デトロイトはフィスターに十分以上の攻撃力を提供した。フィスターは7月31日の期限直前にシアトルとのトレードでタイガースに獲得されてから、最終戦で素晴らしい活躍を見せた。」^[89]

ダブルプレーを主に実行する遊撃手と二塁手の組み合わせを指す俗語。サックメイトと呼ばれることもあります。一般的に、最高の中堅内野手の組み合わせだけが DP コンボと呼ばれます。

左利きの打者が、ピッチャーの届かない内野の右側にバントをし、一塁に安全に到達できることを期待するバント。このようなバントは、打者のスピードと一塁手と二塁手がバックで守備しているという事実を利用する意外性があることが多い。打者はバントをする際に一塁に向かって一歩踏み出すこともあり、一塁に向かって走りながらボールを​​引きずっているように見える。

ボールを宣告された打者は、「ボールをドローした」または「四球をドローした」と言われることがある。「特別にマークされたボールをプレーするために短い休止の後、ボンズはボール1とボール2をドローし、ヴァンデンハークにブーイングが降り注いだ後、ファーストストライクが宣告された。その後、時速96マイルの速球は消えた。推定420フィートの飛距離だった。」^[90]

• 外野手が内野手とフライボールの間にボールが落ちるのを防ぐために内野に近づくことを「ドローイン」と言います。これは通常、最終回の接戦でアウトが 2 つ未満で、守備側が攻撃側が勝ち越し点になるようなヒットを打たれないようにしたいときに起こります (ただし、長いフライボールは外野で捕球されても得点になる可能性があることを認めます)。
• 2アウト未満で三塁に走者がいる場合、内野手がゴロを処理して本塁で走者をアウトにできるよう、内野が引き込まれることもあります。
• 打者が犠牲バントを試みることが予想される場合、通常は三塁手または一塁手である内野手 1 名が「内」でプレーすることもあります。

飛距離がほとんど伸びず、数回のホップで構成される、打撃が不十分なゴロ。タッパーと同義語として使用されることもある^[91]

死球を受けて、打たれた。

• ラインドライブ（名詞）。
• ライナーを打つ（動詞）。「マグリオはセンターにボールを打ち返した。」
• 打点を生むヒットを打つこと。「テハダが二塁からホームインさせた。」 「ラミレスが三塁打を打った。」

• 試合に負ける。「タイガースはブルージェイズに敗れ4連敗。」^[92]
• 他のチームに勝つということは、そのチームを倒すことでもある。見出し：「ドジャース、ナショナルズを倒しプレーオフ出場まであと1勝」^[93]
• バットドロップ。

• シンカーボール。ドロッパーまたはエル ドロッポとも呼ばれます。
• 極端な 12 対 6 カーブボールの中には、高くスタートして本塁に到達すると急降下するため、「ドロップボール」とも呼ばれるものがあります。

非常に急激にカーブする投球ボール。通常カーブボール。

ドロップサードストライクは、キャッチャーがサードストライクの投球をきれいに捕球できなかった場合に発生します（打者がスイングして空振りしたか、審判がそれを宣告したため）。ボールが捕球される前に地面に触れた場合、またはボールが捕球された後にドロップされた場合、投球はきれいに捕球されなかったとみなされます。ドロップサードストライクの場合、ストライクが宣告されます（投手は三振を記録します）が、審判はボールが捕球されなかったことを口頭で示し、打者をアウトにしません。その時点で一塁が占有されていない場合（または、2アウトで一塁が占有されていても）、打者はタグまたはアウトになる前に一塁に到達しようとすることができます。このルールでは、投手が1イニングで3つ以上の三振を記録する可能性があります。

軽く打たれたボールが内野手の頭上を越えて外野に落ち、ヒットとなる。元々は「アヒルの屁」と呼ばれていたが、^{[出典が必要]この用語は、ホワイトソックスのアナウンサー}、ホーク・ハレルソンによって、より家族向けに広められた。

ランナーが二塁か三塁にいるとき、特に満塁のとき。「池にアヒルがいるときの彼の打率は .350 です。」

打者が打撃不振に陥っているとき、打者は「ヒットが打てる時」と言われますが、通常、打率はまずまずかそれ以上です。例: 「ポール・コネルコは今日 3 打数無安打なので、ヒットが打てる時だ」これは、野球版のギャンブラーの誤謬です。

ダッグアウトは、チームのベンチが置かれている場所です。ブルペンにいるリリーフ投手を除き、フィールドにいない現役選手はダッグアウトから試合を観戦します。ダッグアウトは、プロ野球でよくあるように、フィールドレベルよりわずかに窪んだエリアです。通常、ダッグアウトの端には境界線があり、黄色に塗られていることが多く、審判が特定の判定を下すのに役立ちます。たとえば、投げられたボールが「ベンチ内」にあるとみなされるかどうかなどです。ルールブックでは、ベンチという用語が今でも使用されています。これは、「ダッグアウト」である必要も、フィールドレベルより下にある必要もないためです。元々のベンチは通常、フィールドレベルにあり、日陰を作るための小さな屋根が付いている場合と付いていない場合があります。球場の設計が進むにつれて、ボックス席はフィールドの近くに建てられ、スタンドの柵の高さが低くなり、ベンチの建設にダッグアウト方式が採用されるようになりました。

バントをするプレーヤーはバントをダンプすると言われることがあります。「ポランコは三塁線にバントをダンプした。」 レイダウンも参照してください。右利きの打者はバントを三塁にダンプし、バントを一塁に押し出します。左利きの打者はボールを一塁にドラッグし、バントを三塁に押し出します。

打者がそれを避けるために地面に倒れる（「ダストを打つ」）ほど、内側に投げ込まれた投球（多くの場合ブラッシュバック）。多少矛盾しているが、同じプレイで投手が打者を「ダストオフした」と言えることもある。

外野手の前に落ちてヒットとなる打球。多くの場合、予期せず（ショットバードのように）落ちる。ブルーパー、リトル ルーパー、チンカー、ブリーダー、ゴークとも呼ばれる。

防御率を参照してください。

規定の 9 イニング ゲームの最初の 3 イニング。

投手が責任を負った得点（つまり、守備エラーやパスボールのせいで得点にならなかった得点）。主に防御率の計算に使用されます。防御率の計算では、投手のエラーは他の野手のエラーとまったく同じように扱われます。エド・リンチなど一部の投手は、防御率を「アーニー」と呼んでいました。

野球の統計では、防御率は投手が投球した9イニングあたりに許した自責点の平均です。これは、許した自責点数を投球イニング数で割り、9を掛けて算出されます。守備エラーによって生じた得点は非自責点として記録され、防御率の計算から除外されます。

自責点。「不運な敗者はカーソン・ウィーラーで、1イニング以上の投球で6失点を喫した。」^[94]

守備側チームに、2 アウトのときはイニングを終わらせるのにあと 1 アウトだけ必要であり、したがってできるだけ簡単にアウトを取らなければならないことを思い出させる。「D に行こう、2 つ離れて、簡単にアウトを取ろう。」簡単にアウトになるのは、打撃の弱い打者で、通常は打順の下位にいる打者でもある。

打球を捕球（通常はきれいに、またはほぼきれいに）するが、ランナーをアウトにするためにベースに送球しようとせずに、打球をつかむ動作。これは通常、野手がランナーをアウトにできる可能性はほとんどなく、ランナーがさらにベースを進む可能性があるエラーを犯すリスクを冒すよりも、ランナーが1つのベースに妨害されずに到達できるようにすることが望ましいと考えているために行われます。このフレーズは通常、内野手、捕手、または投手の動作を説明するためにのみ使用されます。「そのスローローラーはダイビングするスクタロを通過できませんでしたが、彼は速く走るガードナーを挟むために送球するリスクを冒すよりも、ボールを食べることにしました。」過去形でもよく使用されます。「突進する三塁手カブレラは、フアンピエールの素晴らしいバントの後、ボールを食べました。」^[要出典]

軌道が弧を描く非常に遅い球種。1930年代にピッツバーグ・パイレーツの投手リップ・シーウェルが考案し、フィリーズの投手ホセ・コントレラスの投球レパートリーの一部となった。打者のタイミングを誤らせるために、ごくまれに投げられる。意表を突く要素がなく、打たれやすいため、控えめに使うのがベスト。テッド・ウィリアムズは、1946年のオールスターゲームでシーウェルから打った決勝ホームランが、野球人生で一番の感動だったと語った。

スポーツマンシップに反する行為により審判により失格とされた選手またはコーチ。同義語には、tossed、throwsed out、banished、chased、given the thumb、given the (ol') heave-ho、kidded out、booted、run、send to the clubhouse などがあります。

プレーヤーのポケットの裏地がポケットから飛び出している場合。

通常はボールのように見えるが、ストライクゾーンに遅れて入った投球に対して、遅れてぎこちなく守備をすること。

通常はリリーフ投手またはマイナーリーグの投手が、当初予定されていた先発投手が負傷または病気になったために、急遽試合に先発するよう呼ばれた場合。例：「朴賛浩が貧血と診断され無期限の戦線離脱となったため、マイク・トンプソンが緊急先発投手として再び呼ばれると予想されており、彼はポートランド経由で到着する。彼はここ10日間、トリプルAビーバーズで過ごしている。」^[95]

エメリーボードで傷つけられた野球ボール。投手がボールをいじる方法。1920 年以降は違法。スカッフ ボールとも呼ばれる。

すでに安全に塁上にいる走者は、アウトにされることで「消去」されます。

• エラーとは、野手のミスプレイで、打者または走者が 1 つ以上の塁に到達したが、公式記録員の判断では、その進塁は通常の努力で防ぐことができたはずのものである。また、通常の努力で捕球できたはずのファウル フライを野手が捕球し損ねた場合にも、エラーが課される。エラーという用語は、エラーが犯されたプレイを指すこともある。投手と捕手はボールを非常に多く扱うため、投手と捕手のミスプレイの一部は「ワイルド ピッチ」または「パス ボール」と呼ばれ、エラーとしてカウントされない。
• 同義語: ボブル、ブルーパー、マフ、ミスキュー、フラブ、キックまたはブート (「ロペスはグラウンドを蹴った」、「ジョンソンはそれをブートした」)。

1-1 または 2-2。カウントを参照してください。

• 数日おきにしか出場しない投手とは対照的に、野手です。優れた投手でありながらも優れた打者でもある有望な選手は、他のポジションに集中してプレーするよう奨励され、打撃力を最大限に生かすために毎日プレーする選手になることもあります。
• 実質的にすべての試合でスタメンにレギュラーとして名を連ねるポジションプレーヤー。以下のいずれかに該当しません。
  • 反対の投手とのみ対戦するプラトーンプレーヤー。
  • ほとんどの試合でベンチで出場するか、たまにそのポジションのレギュラースターティングプレーヤーの代わりとして試合に出場する控え選手。これらの選手は、ベンチプレーヤーまたはロールプレーヤーと呼ばれることもあります。また、代打や代走の任務を引き受けることもあります。

ニューヨーク ヤンキースの一般的なニックネーム。その富と、圧倒的な優勝回数から、このニックネームが付けられています。このニックネームは、特にボストン レッドソックスのファンによって使用され、他のチームのファンも、それほど多くは使用していません。ヤンキースのファンの中には、名誉の印として、自分たちとチームを「悪の帝国」と呼ぶ人もいます。

打者がチェックスイング中に誤ってボールを打った場合。バントスイングとは対照的。

投手がカウントをリードすると、打者はストライクゾーンの端や外、あるいは打てない位置にある球にスイングする可能性が高くなるため、「ストライクゾーンを広げる」ことになる。「理想的には、投手はカウントをリードしようとするが、そうなると、打者は守備に回り、ストライクゾーン外の球を追いかける可能性が高くなるため、投手は事実上「ストライクゾーンを広げた」ことになる。」^[96]

ダブルヘッダーの日に選手を追加で獲得する場合や、9月1日にメジャーリーグの選手名簿が25人から最大40人に拡大される可能性がある以前の（2019年以前）物議を醸した慣行など、特定の状況下で使用できる、より大きな選手名簿を指すメジャーリーグ用語 。

打者が体から程よい距離にある球を打つことができるとき、彼は「腕を伸ばしている」と言われ、フルスイングしてボールをより強く打つことができる。「JDマルティネスは、デトロイトの自慢の打線の中軸を相手に2対1のリードを守ろうとしていたアレンから、通算3打席で2本のホームランを打っている。「私はただ投げすぎただけだった」とアレンは語った。「私は必要なときに投球しなかった。1球、JDマルティネスは速球で伸びてしまい、とても強く打たれた」」^[97]

ヒットにより打者が一塁を超えて獲得した塁。つまり、二塁打は「長打」1つ、三塁打は「長打」2つ、ホームランは「長打」3つとしてカウントされます。このようなヒットは「長打」と呼ばれ、打者の長打率を向上させます。

規定のイニング数（大学/プロレベルでは 9 回、高校レベルでは 7 回、リトル リーグでは 6 回）の後に試合が同点の場合、勝者を決定するために必要な追加イニング。有料の観客が通常よりも多くのアクションを目撃するため、ボーナス ベースボールまたはフリー ベースボールとも呼ばれます。他のチーム スポーツのプレーとして「オーバータイム」と呼ばれることもありますが、一般的ではありません。

延長イニングを参照してください。フレームも参照してください。

守備で簡単にアウトになるはずのプレーでチームがミスをした場合、そのチームは相手チームに「余分なアウト」を与えたと言われる。「『余分なアウトを与えたイニングが2、3回ありました』とウェッジは言った。『それらはエラーではないかもしれないが、我々はプレーをしていない』」^[98]

「偽りのハッスル」または「一生懸命働いているように見せるために一生懸命働く」という概念を表す野球の俗語。^[99]

ワールドシリーズ—メジャー リーグ ベースボールの優勝決定シリーズで、アメリカン リーグのチャンピオンとナショナル リーグのチャンピオンが対戦します。通常、このシリーズは 10 月に行われるため、10 月にプレーすることはどのメジャー リーグ チームにとっても目標です。レジー ジャクソンのあだ名「ミスター オクトーバー」は、彼がワールド シリーズでヤンキースで素晴らしい活躍をしたことを示しています。別のヤンキース選手、デレク ジーターは、 2001 年ワールド シリーズの第4戦で、現地時間11 月 1 日の真夜中過ぎにサヨナラ ホームランを打ったことから、「ミスター ノベンバー」というあだ名が付けられました。比較すると、ヤンキースのオーナー、ジョージ スタインブレナーが別の選手 (デーブ ウィンフィールド) を「ミスター メイ」と呼んだのは、その選手のフォール クラシックでの成績に対する失望を表したものでした。   

フォール クラシックが実際に夏に開催されたのは 1918 年のみで、第一次世界大戦によりシーズンが短縮され、シリーズは 9 月初旬に開催されました。

フォール・クラシックが11月まで延長されたのは2001年が初めてだった。ジーターのサヨナラホームランはMLB史上初の11月の打席だった。2001年シーズンは9/11の後に数日間延期され、最終的にワールドシリーズの開始は10月の最終週にずれ込み、シリーズの終了は11月になった。2009年、2010年、2015～2017年のワールドシリーズはその後11月に試合が行われることになった。

投球がストライクゾーンから始まるか、打者にとって打てるように見えて、低めか地面に落ちる場合、その投球は「台から落ちる」と言われます。この用語は主にチェンジアップやスプリットフィンガーファストボールに使用され、オーバーハンドカーブボールにも時々使用されます。

打者を「扇ぐ」ということは、特に空振り三振のときに打者を三振にすることです。

ファンまたはいずれかのチームに関係のない人物が、進行中のプレーを妨害した場合 (審判の判断による)、それはファンによる妨害となります。ボールはデッドとなり、審判は妨害がなければ発生したであろうと判断したベースやアウトを与えます。これは、野球における妨害のコールのうちの 1 つです。

観客がスタンドへのポップフライなどフィールド外のボールに触れた場合、守備側の選手が捕球に成功したとしても、ファンの妨害とはみなされません。したがって、NLCS 第6戦でシカゴ・カブスのファンであるスティーブ・バートマンがファウル地域でボールを捕ろうとし、カブスの左翼手モイセス・アルーのサーカスキャッチを妨害した可能性があるという悪名高い事件は、ファンの妨害とはみなされません。

観客の承認を得るために、プレー中に動きに余分な華を添える野手。^{[100] [101]} アル・ロペスがメジャーで捕手としてスタートしたとき、ウィルバート・ロビンソンが監督だった。ロビンソンはロペスのプレースタイルを見て、ついに「あのガキに、捕球するのに両手があると言ってやれ！ファンシー・ダンのことは気にするな」と叫んだ。ロペスは最終的にロビンソンの捕手としての試合記録を上回った。

ファーム チームとは、若い選手に経験とトレーニングを提供し、成功した選手がいずれメジャー リーグに移籍することを期待するチームまたはクラブです。各メジャー リーグ ベースボール チームの組織には、マイナー リーグのさまざまなレベルの系列ファーム チームのファーム システムがあります。

動きよりも高速化を目的として投げられるピッチ。最も一般的なタイプのピッチ。スモーク、弾丸、ヒーター (ボールによって発生する熱が感じられる)、エクスプレス (ローカルの反対で、オフスピード ピッチ)、またはハマー (ボールは見えず、音だけが聞こえる) とも呼ばれます。

3-1、3-2、2-1 など、通常は速球を投げると予想されるカウント。速球はストライク ゾーン内で最も見つけやすいのが普通です。時折、投手がオフ スピードの球を投げて、流れを引き寄せることがあります。

投手が速球に頼りすぎると、おそらくその試合で他の球種がうまく機能していないため、その投手は「速球に頼りすぎる」と言われる。打者が次の球が速球であると予想できる場合、投手は困った状況に陥る可能性がある。「アンディは変化球に頼り、相手を圧倒しようとしないときに最高のパフォーマンスを発揮する。速球に頼りすぎると、打ち負かされてしまう。」^[102]

打者が予想する場所に正確に投げられる投球。ボールは実際よりも大きく見え、打者はボールを遠くに飛ばす可能性があります。

アウトになるよう、他の野手にボールを慎重に投げること。ゴロを捕球したばかりの一塁手は、一塁でフォースアウトにするためにマウンドから走って来る投手にボールを「送球」します。ゴロを捕球した内野手は、二塁をカバーする選手にボールを渡し、二塁がベースに足を踏み入れて一塁に素早く送球し、ダブルプレーを完成させます。

強打者。

• 野球の試合が行われる野球場または野球ダイヤモンド。
• 野球場、球場、またはスタジアム (例:ドジャー スタジアム、リグレー フィールド、ヒューバート H. ハンフリー メトロドーム)。
• ボールを捕るということは、グラウンドボールを捕ったりプレーしたり、あるいはフライボールを捕球することです。
• フィールドに出るということは、相手チームが攻撃側または打席に立っている間に、守備側の選手が自分のポジションにつくことを意味する。「レッズはフィールドに出て、メッツの先頭打者はホセ・レイエスだ。」

守備側の選手（攻撃側は打者と走者）。守備側の選手は、投手と野手に分類されることが多い。野手はさらに、内野手と外野手に分けられる。

チームのヘッドコーチは、マネージャー（より正式にはフィールドマネージャー）と呼ばれます。彼はフィールドでのチーム戦略を管理します。彼は各試合の前にラインナップと先発投手を決め、試合中に交代を行います。現代の野球では、フィールドマネージャーは通常、チームのゼネラルマネージャー（またはGM）の部下であり、GMはフィールドマネージャーの雇用や解雇を含む人事決定の責任を負っています。ただし、限定なしで使用されるマネージャーという用語は、ほとんどの場合、フィールドマネージャーを指します。

野手の選択（FC）とは、野手が打球を処理する際に、走者をアウトにし、打者走者が一塁に進塁できるようにすることを選択することである。打者はボールを打った後、安全に一塁に到達したにもかかわらず、ヒットは記録されず、打席が課せられる。

「数字マニア」または「統計マニア」の古風で色彩豊かな言い方。ゲームの統計や「数字」に異常なほど興味を持つファンを指す。最初の真の「数字マニア」は、おそらくアーネスト・ラニガンだろう。彼は野球殿堂入りした最初の歴史家で、それ以前には1920年代に野球統計の百科事典を出版した最初の人物の1人だった。現代では、ビル・ジェームズが象徴的な「数字マニア」と言えるだろう。彼はまた、セイバーメトリクスと呼ばれる野球研究分野の創始者でもある。^[要出典]

打者が2ストライクで、きれいに打てない球を投げられた場合、ファウルすることで「投球をかわす」と言われることがある。「ランゲルハンスは3-2の投球をかわし、次の投球を左中間の隙間に打ち込み、同点と勝ち越し点をもたらした。」^[103]

ピッチャー、特に動きの激しい変化球を得意とするピッチャーに対する褒め言葉。また、特に三振に投げられた際、特に印象的な変化球に対しても使われる。「ひどい」の同義語。バート・ブリレベンは、非常にひどいカーブボールを投げるピッチャーの一例である。

内野手の間を打ってヒットを打つこと。「ザクリーが許した13番目のゴロは穴に落ちた。」^[104]

打者がおそらく明白な理由もなくスランプに陥っていたが、その後ヒットを出し始めたとき、彼は「バットを取り戻した」と言える。「タイガースは一晩バットを取り戻し、シリーズをリセットして、アメリカンリーグ中地区をほぼ制覇する位置についた。」^[105]

打者がスランプに陥ると、「自分のスイングを見つける」ために追加の練習や指導を受けることがあります。スイングにひっかかることがあったり、バッティングの姿勢が変わったりするかもしれません。「自分のスイングを失った」ので、今度は「それを見つける」必要があります。このフレーズはゴルフでも使われます。

バットから出たボールが着地する場所を探しているのと同じように、「観客席に着地した」ボールは、競技場を離れて観客席に到達したボールです。ホームランになるか、ファウルボール（野手の手の届かないところ）になるかのどちらかです。

時速 95 マイルを超える超高速の速球を投げる投手。火炎放射 器。

チームのトップリリーフ投手で、攻撃の反撃を終わらせて「火を消す」ためによく投入される。この用語は、ニューヨーク・デイリー・ニュースの漫画家ブルース・スタークが考案したもので、1970年代にニューヨーク・メッツとヤンキースのリリーフ投手を、チームを危険から救うために駆けつける消防士として初めて描いた。^[106]

体格が小さい選手だが、エネルギー、外向性、チームスピリットで知られ、時にはプレー能力以上にその才能が際立つこともある。「モーガンは誰よりも努力し、適度な運動能力を発揮することで、この型を破り、その時代で最も優れたオールラウンドプレーヤーの一人となった。彼はパワーヒッターであり、平均打率も高く、盗塁や得点も決め、野球史上最もタフで賢い守備の二塁手だった。彼は容赦ない火消し役で、対戦相手の選手からは尊敬され、対戦相手のファンからは嫌われていた。」^[107]

打席で初球を打つことを好む 打者。特に初球でヒットを打つことが多い打者。

打者が内角の球をスイングし、ボールが拳（手）の近くでバットに当たったとき。「1回表の後半、ブルズの攻撃陣は、1-0カウントでジュニア左翼手のジュニア・カーリンがセンターに球を打ち返し、早々に攻撃を開始した。」^[108]

5イニング以上投げられずに疲れ果ててしまう先発投手を指す蔑称。投球数が多い投手が怪我をするリスクを監督がますます意識するようになり、リリーフ投手が試合の重要な部分となっている現代では、先発投手が完投を達成することはますます少なくなっている。見出し：「バスケス、5イニング以上投げる投手というレッテルに異議を唱える」^[109]

打撃練習では非常に良い打撃を見せるが、試合ではそれほど良くない打者。ナイトゲームがなかった時代には、このような打者は「10時打者」または「2時打者」と呼ばれていました。

5ツールプレーヤーを参照してください。

1914年から1915年まで存在したメジャーリーグ、フェデラルリーグの略称。これは最後に誕生した「第3メジャーリーグ」となる。

疾走する列車を止めるかのように、ライナーを捕ったり打ち落としたりすること。「シングルヒットを打ってゴロで二塁に進んだコーディ・ロスは、ラミレスの焦げたライナーで立ち往生した...ダイビングしたジョーンズ によって止められた。」^[110]

ファイアボール使い。

フライボールが外野のすぐ近くに飛んだ。「パッジは遊撃手の届かないところにフレアを打ちました。」

優れた、または難しい守備プレーをする。難しい守備プレーを頻繁に行うプレーヤーは、「レザー フラッシャー」と呼ばれることがあります。レザーを参照してください。

• 野手がベースをカバーしているチームメイトにボールをそっと投げる行為。両者の距離が非常に近いため、通常のオーバーハンドスローでは時間の無駄になったり、不必要な不正確なスローになるリスクが生じたりする。
• リリーフ投手がブルペンで行うゲーム。複数のルールと戦略が考えられます。

ナックルボール。打者には打席に向かう途中で浮いたり上下に揺れたりするように見える球種。

弱い打球や奇妙なバウンドをとったボールによって生じる ヒット。

ナックルボール、フローター。

高く打たれたボール。ポップフライ、インフィールドフライ、ゴロも 参照。

ゴロよりもフライを誘発する傾向のある投手。このような投手は、他の投手よりもホームランを多く許してしまうという点で不利です。

• 外野手がフライボールを捕球したことによりアウトとなる。
• 打者のフライボールが外野で捕球された場合、それは「フライアウト」と呼ばれます。「ロドリゲスはセンターの鈴木にフライアウトしました。」(過去形の「flied」も使用できます。)

打者が走者となり、一塁に進まなければならないため、走者が別の塁に進まなければならない場合。この状況では、ボールを持った野手が走者が強制的に進塁させられている塁に触れると走者はアウトになります。これは「フォースアウト」と見なされます。フライボールが捕球され、走者がタグアップする前に野手が塁に触れた場合のプレイは、フォースプレイではなく、アピールプレイです。

指を可能な限り広げた スプリットフィンガーファストボールまたはスプリッターの一種。ボールは急激に落ち、通常はストライクゾーンから外れ、地面に落ちることもあります。

ファウル地域に落ちた打球。

フェア地域とファウル地域の境界を示すために、本塁から外野フェンスまで地面に引かれた2本の直線。これらはそれぞれ、左翼ファウルラインと右翼ファウルライン、または三塁ファウルラインと一塁ファウルラインと呼ばれる。外野の壁にあるファウルポールは、ファウルラインの垂直延長線である。

Despite their names, both the foul lines and the foul poles are in fair territory. Any fly ball that strikes the foul line (including the foul pole) beyond first or third base is a fair ball (and in the case of the foul pole, a home run).

Note that while the foul lines in baseball are in fair territory, just like the side- and end-lines of a tennis court, in basketball or American football the sidelines are considered out of bounds. In other words, hitting the ball "on the line" is good for the offensive player in baseball and tennis, but stepping on the line is bad for the offensive player in basketball and American football. The situation is slightly different in association football (soccer): the sideline and the goal line are inbounds, and the ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the side line (touch line) or the goal line, whether on the ground or in the air.

Purposely 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". Such a hitter might also be said to be battling or working the pitcher.

A pole located on each foul line on the outfield fence or wall. The left-field foul pole and right-field foul pole are used by umpires to determine whether a batted ball is a home run or a foul ball. The foul pole is a vertical extension of the foul line. The term "foul pole" is actually a misnomer, because the "foul pole" (like the foul line) is in fair territory and a fly ball that hits the foul pole is considered to be a fair ball (and a home run).

A batted ball that is hit sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher's mitt and legally caught by the catcher. It is not a foul tip, as most announcers and journalists mistakenly use the term, if the ball is not caught by the catcher. In this case, it is simply a foul ball. It is also not considered a foul tip if it rebounds off something, like the ground, catcher's mask, the batter, etc. after being struck by the bat but before touching the catcher's mitt. A foul tip is considered in play, not a foul ball, and also counts as a strike, including the third strike (and is also considered a strikeout for the pitcher). It is signalled by the umpire putting his right hand flat in the air and brushing his left hand against it (imitating the ball glancing off the bat) and then using his standard strike call. If the out is not the third out then the ball is alive and in play (unlike on a foul) and runners are in jeopardy if they are trying to advance.

A home run. Note that the 4th "bag" is actually a plate.

An intentional base on balls, from the manager's signal to direct the pitcher to issue one, or to direct the umpire to award the batter first base.

A standard fastball, which does not necessarily break though a good one will have movement as well as velocity and location that makes it difficult to hit. The batter sees the four parallel seams spin toward him. A four-seamer. See two-seamer.

• As a noun, a frame is half an inning (either the top or the bottom). Announcer: "Two hits, and two runs scored so far in this frame." Also a bowling term, as suggested by the resemblance of an inning-by-inning scoreboard to a bowling scoresheet.
• As a verb, framing [a pitch] refers to the positioning and/or movement of the catcher's mitt and body when he catches a pitch and the effect this has on the umpire calling a pitch a strike. The boundaries of the strike zone are clearly defined in the rules; however, with many major-league pitches traveling well in excess of 90 mph (140 km/h), or with "moving" pitches such as the curveball and the knuckleball, it is often difficult for an umpire to judge whether a ball went through the strike zone based solely on watching the ball, particularly at the boundaries of the strike zone. Consequently, umpires sometimes unofficially use the catcher's position and/or movement to help judge whether a pitch is a strike. Framing is a catcher's attempt to use this to his team's advantage. For example, on a pitch near the boundary of the strike zone, a catcher might move his mitt a short, subtle distance toward the strike zone within a split second after catching the ball, with the hope that the umpire will call a strike even if it did not go through the strike zone. Conversely, a pitch near the top of the strike zone might be called a ball if the catcher has to rise from his crouched position to catch it, even if it did go through the defined strike zone. Sabermetricians have developed metrics for how well catchers perform in framing pitches.^[111]

Slang for extra innings. The fans get to see extra innings "for free".

A base on balls. "Free" because the batter does not have to hit the ball to get on base. Also referred to as a "free ticket" and an Annie Oakley.

To throw a strike that is so unexpected or in such a location that the batter doesn't swing at it. "As Cashman spoke, Pettitte fired a strike on the corner, which froze the hitter."^[112] "But the right-hander reached in her bag of tricks and threw a tantalizing changeup that froze the hitter for the final out."^[113]

A nickname for Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.

A hard-hit line drive. Also a strong throw from the outfield.

A count of 3 balls and 2 strikes; another strike will result in a strikeout, while another ball will result in a walk. At that point, only a foul ball will extend the at-bat.

• Three of a kind (three balls), and two of a kind (two strikes): a full count. From the term used in poker. Sometimes called full boat. Instead of holding up fingers indicating the count, the umpire may hold up closed fists, implying "full".
• Capacity crowd; all seats filled in the stadium. From the theatrical term.

A fly ball hit for fielders to practice catching. It is not part of the game, but is accomplished by a batter tossing the ball a short distance up in the air and then batting it himself.

A lightweight bat with a long, skinny barrel used to hit fungoes. It is not a legal or safe bat to use in a game or even in practice with a live pitcher, because it is too light.

A player who plays particularly hard (especially with a willingness to sacrifice his body for the play) and is prone to making the right play at the right time, often in big games. Also used to refer to an excellent piece of equipment, such as a glove or mitt.

The space between outfielders. Also alley. A ball hit in the gap is sometimes called a flapper or a gapper. "He's swinging the bat right now better than he has all year, and I'm hoping now some of them turns into gappers", Leyland said.^[114]

Hits with power up the alleys and tends to get a lot of doubles. A doubles hitter.

A fastball. "Give him [the batter] the gas"; as in stepping on a car's gas pedal to accelerate.

A pitcher who gives up runs in bunches or in untimely situations. Named as such because he'd be pouring gas over a fire.

The gross ticket prices paid by all the customers who passed through the entrance gates for a game or a series. Also referred to simply as "the gate". "There's a big gate awaiting the champions ..."^[115]

Abbreviation for game ending double play.

The general manager (GM) runs the organization of a baseball team (personnel, finance, and operations). Normally distinct from the field manager and the club owner.

A very well pitched game, almost always a win, in which the pitcher allows few if any hits and at most a run or two. Headline: "Mulder Shakes Off Injury to Pitch Gem".^[116]

When swinging a round bat at a round ball, the batter hopes to hit the ball solidly in the center. When he does, he's said to "get a good piece of the ball". "'When you hit in the middle of the order, those are the situations you want', said Cabrera, who leads the major leagues with 116 RBIs. 'He threw me a fastball, and I got a good piece of it.'"^[117]

Getaway Day (or Getaway Game) refers to the last game of a regular season series (usually on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Sunday afternoon) that sees the visiting team leave town ("get away") after its conclusion, either for the next stop on their road trip or for home. May also refer to the last day of a team's home stand. "MLB's new labor deal requires earlier start times on getaway days."^[118]

A starting lineup for Getaway Day that features backup players. Usually assembled by a manager so that his regular starers can enjoy a day's rest (especially if they had played the night before), though considerations such as the team's standing in the pennant race may preclude him from making such moves. "The San Francisco Giants completed a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies, even with a getaway day lineup taking the field."^[119][120]

When a fielder (usually an outfielder) runs extremely fast towards a hard hit ball in an effort to catch it.

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.

To break a scoreless, 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 abbreviation for grounded into double play.

• A baseball glove or mitt is a large padded leather glove that players on the defensive team wear to assist them in catching and fielding. Different positions require different shapes and sizes of gloves. The term "mitt" is officially reserved to describe the catcher's mitt and the first-baseman's mitt. By rule, fielders other than the first-baseman and the catcher can wear only conventional gloves (with individual finger slots), not mitts. There is no rule requiring fielders to wear a glove or mitt, but the nature of the game makes it necessary. A fielder may have to catch a ball bare-handed, if he loses his glove in pursuit of a ball or finds himself at the wrong angle to use it.
• Most batters nowadays wear leather batting gloves to improve their grip and provide a small amount of padding. Base-stealing artists, especially those who practice the head-first hands-first slide, wear specialized sliding gloves.
• Players generally keep batting and sliding gloves in their pants pockets when not in use, and their fielding gloves in the dugout. At one time, players would leave their fielding gloves on the field; later they carried them in their pants pockets. This illustrates (1) how much larger and baggier uniforms were and (2) how much smaller the gloves were. The adage "two hands while you're learning" was a necessity in the early years, when gloves simply absorbed shock. The glove has since evolved into a much more effective "trap", and one-hand catches are now the norm.
• Jokes used in movies and cartoons notwithstanding, the rules forbid throwing the glove to "catch", slow down, or even touch a batted ball. When the umpire calls it, the batter is awarded an automatic triple (meaning all runners ahead of him are allowed to score freely); it is also a live ball, and the batter-runner can try for home. Similarly, it is against the rules to use one's cap as a glove, as "All the Way Mae" (Madonna) did in A League of Their Own. Note that it is only against the rules to actually touch the ball with a thrown glove or other equipment; there is no penalty if the ball is not touched.
• A player who is very skilled at defense is said to have a good glove.

An abbreviation for general manager.

The run which puts a team which was behind or tied into the lead. Used particularly with runners on base (e.g., "The Phillies have Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino on base down 4–2; Victorino represents the tying run and Chase Utley is the go-ahead run at the plate.").

• To hit a home run. "Richie Sexson and Kenji Johjima also went deep for the Mariners."^[121]
• A starting pitcher who pitches past the 6th inning is said to "go deep into the game". "Against the White Sox on Thursday, Morrow's command wasn't there. He walked six batters in 5+2⁄3 innings, and despite coming one out shy of recording a quality start, he didn't prove yet he's able to pitch deep into games."^[122]

• When the defending team allows no opponent on base in a half-inning, thereby retiring the side facing the minimum three batters, the batting team is said to have gone down in order, the defending team is said to have retired it in order.

• When a team fails to mount a strong offense, such as going 1–2–3 in an inning, it may be said to have "gone quietly". "Outside of a walk to Mantle after Tresh's clout and a ninth-inning single by Pepitone, the Yankees went quietly the rest of the way."^[123]
• A player who retires without a lot of fanfare or complaining may be said to "go quietly".

See go the route.

A pitcher who throws a complete game "goes the route".

To "go yard" is to hit a home run, i.e., to hit the ball the length of the baseball field or "ball yard".

One more way to say "hit a home run".

The major league player chosen as the best in his league at fielding his position is given a Gold Glove Award.

One who strikes out four times in one game is said to have gotten a "golden sombrero". Three strike outs is called the "hat trick", while the rare five strike outs is called the "platinum sombrero." Only eight times has a player struck out six times in a game; this is called the "horn" (named by Mike Flanagan after Sam Horn who did this in 1991), "double-platinum sombrero," or "titanium sombrero." If it ever happens, Flanagan said a seven-strikeout game shall be called "Horn-A-Plenty."

Swinging at an obviously low pitch, particularly one in the dirt. Also used to describe actual contact with a pitch low in the zone.

• A home run. Announcer: "That ball is gone."
• Conversely, a batter who has just been struck out, especially by a power pitcher, as in "He gone!"
• An announcer may simply announce "one gone" or "two gone" to indicate how many outs have been made in the inning; likewise "one away" and "two away".

A hitter who has excellent awareness of the strike zone, and is able to lay off pitches that are barely out of the strike zone, is said to have a "good eye", "Ortiz and Ramirez are a constant threat, whether it's swinging the bats or taking pitches", Cleveland third baseman Casey Blake said. "They have a couple of the best swings in the game and a couple of the best eyes in the game ..."^[124]

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.

A situation where a batter puts the ball in play in a way that maximizes the result for his team. "Good pieces of hitting" tend to result in runs scoring and draining several pitches out of an opposing pitcher, especially in situations where the pitcher's team was looking for a decent amount of length.

An accolade given to a batter who does not swing at a pitch that is close to, but not in, the strike zone; most often said to a batter with two strikes (who is naturally tempted).

Exclamation by a broadcaster when a batter hits a home run. First uttered by an unknown broadcaster in the film The Natural. Spalding is a major manufacturer of baseballs.

When a team has zero on the scoreboard.

A gopher ball (or gopher pitch) is a pitch that leads to a home run, one the batter will "go for". Illustration from an on-line chat: "He was always that guy who'd go in and throw the gopher pitch in the first inning and he'd be two down." A game in which several home runs are hit by both teams may also be described as "gopher ball".

When a batter hits a foul ball or foul tip, perhaps surviving a two strike count and remaining at bat, a broadcaster may say "He got a piece of it."

Short for "got him out".

When a team's batters gets several hits and runs off of the opposing starting pitcher in early innings the batters are said to "get to him early".

When a hitter swings slightly under the center of the pitched ball, thereby leading to a high fly ball out instead of a home run, he's said to "get under the ball".

Go sit on the bench, used as a taunt after a strikeout. Popularized by Giants sportscaster Mike Krukow.

Home run hit with the #bases loaded. A "grand salami" or a "grand ol' ding dong".

Showing off for the fans in the grandstands. Also called grandstanding. Not only players, but managers, owners, and politicians often play to the crowd to raise their public image. An example: "Tellem weighed in with a thoughtful back-page article in this Sunday's New York Times regarding the recent Congressional and mainstream media grandstanding over steroids."^[125]

A grand slam. "Torii Hunter's game-winning grand slam was his 10th career granny and third career walk-off homer."^[126]

The group of Major League teams that conduct Spring Training in Florida, where grapefruit trees grow in abundance.

A sarcastic term for seats high in the bleachers, a long way from the playing field. The phrase was popularized by Bob Uecker in a series of TV commercials.

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 to steal a base. An example: "Instead of the bunt sign, Tigers manager Jim Leyland gave Rodríguez the green light and he hit a three-run homer off Riske to give the Tigers a 3–2 win over Kansas City on Sunday."^[127]

• The Green Monster is a popular nickname for the 37.2 feet (11.3 m) high left field wall at Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team. The wall is 310 feet (94.5 m) from home plate and is a popular target for right-handed hitters. The seats on top of the Monster, installed for the 2003 season, are among the most coveted seats at Fenway.
• The Red Sox have spring training at JetBlue Park at Fenway South (informally, JetBlue Park) in Fort Myers, Florida. JetBlue is an exact copy of Fenway, including a full-sized Green Monster.
• The Red Sox' mascot is "Wally, the Green Monster".

When a pitcher throws a pitch down the middle of the plate ("the groove"). The result may be predictable. An example: "But in the third, with two out and a man at second and the Cards ahead 2–1, Verlander grooved a pitch that Pujols clobbered for a home run."^[128]

A hit that bounces in the infield. Also grounder. A bunt is not considered a ground ball.

A ground ball that barely gets between two infielders for a base hit, seeming to "see" the only spot where it would be unfieldable. Also seeing-eye grounder, or seeing-eye single.

A pitcher who tends to induce more ground balls than fly balls. Often a manager will bring a ground ball pitcher in as a relief pitcher when there are men on base and less than two outs, hoping the next batter hits a grounder into a double play.

Under standard ground rules, there are conditions under which a batter is awarded second base automatically. If a ball hit in fair territory bounces over a wall or fence (or gets caught in the ivy at Wrigley Field) without being touched by a fielder, it will likely be declared a double. If a ball hit into fair territory is touched by a fan, the batter is awarded an extra base.

Rules specific to a particular ballpark (or grounds) due to unique features of the park and where the standard baseball rules may be inadequate.^[129]

A hitter who primarily guesses what type of pitch is coming and where it will be located as their approach to hitting rather than just looking for a fastball and then reacting to off speed pitches.

• A strong arm. Also, a cannon.
• To throw hard. Announcer (following a grounder and throw to first): "Guillen guns and gets him."

To throw out a runner. "Valentin was erased when he tried to steal second, though, and Posada gunned him down."^[130]

A type of curveball with a severe break. Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is said to throw a gyroball. It was designed by a couple of Japanese scientists to reduce arm fatigue in pitchers. The result was a way to throw the ball with an extreme break. Whether such a special pitch really exists remains the subject of great controversy among experts of various pedigrees.^[131]

To swing awkwardly at the ball. "As his son stood in the batter's box and hacked away, Wolpert came up with the idea of opening his own batting cage in Manhattan."^[132] Sometimes said of an aggressive hitter who would swing at any pitch within reach, whether high, low, inside, or outside. "An unrepentant free swinger who hacked at anything in the same area code as the strike zone, Puckett drew just 23 walks that year."^[133]

The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Abbreviated HOF. In popular usage, the terms "Hall of Fame broadcaster" and "Hall of Fame writer" are often used to describe recipients of two annual awards, respectively the Ford C. Frick Award and J. G. Taylor Spink Award. Recipients of these awards are recognized in dedicated Hall exhibits, but are not considered actual Hall of Fame members.

A tongue-in-cheek expression used to refer to players who had successful careers, but whose stats and/or overall performance are not good enough to put them into consideration for the Hall of Fame. Example of players said to be in the "Hall of Very Good" are Chris Carpenter,^[134] Lee Smith (who eventually earned Hall of Fame induction), and Mark McGwire.^[135]

• To hit the ball hard, typically for extra bases. "Aaron hammered that pitch."
• The nickname of Henry Aaron—Hank "The Hammer" Aaron—second all-time in Major League career home runs.
• A curve ball, usually of the 12 to 6 variety.

• A hard-hit ground ball that bounces directly at an infielder is difficult for him to get his hands on – he appears to have been handcuffed.
• A pitch thrown high and inside "handcuffs" a batter because he can't get his hands far enough away from his body to swing the bat.

Often it's said of a player who has not fielded a batted ball cleanly that he "couldn't find the handle on it". This suggests the fanciful notion that a baseball would be easier to hold onto if it had a handle.

• A breaking ball that does not "break", or change direction, and so is easy to hit. A hanging curveball.
• A pitcher may be hung with a loss if he is responsible for his team falling behind in runs and the team never recovers the lead.
• A runner may be hung up if he is caught in a rundown.
• A runner may be hung out to dry if he gets picked off at first base, or if a hitter misses a hit-and-run sign and the runner is easily tagged out at second base. A player may be hung out to dry if his team treats him in an unexpected or disappointing way. (Story: "The Mets got what they needed from pitcher Al Leiter yesterday. Unfortunately, Leiter was hung out to dry again, done in by his team's anemic offense.")
• A team may hang a (number) on the opposing pitcher or his team by scoring that many runs. May use a literal number or an informal term such as a crooked number or a snowman.

When a pitcher uses a particular type of pitch so much that he becomes less effective, he's sometimes said to be "happy" with the pitch – fastball happy or curveball happy, for example. "This article is a response, in part, to a Boston Globe sports rumor asserting that Josh Beckett has become 'Curveball Happy' and has changed his release point."^[136]

A tendency to mishandle fielded balls. Also stone fingers. Contrast soft hands.

Baseball, as opposed to softball.

To strike out three times. Used jokingly, as the same term means to score three times in hockey and other sports. This term is also used to indicate someone who has hit three home runs in a game.

Hit By Pitch.

When a player breaks their bat after hitting the pitch, and the main portion of the bat (the barrel) lands within the infield, the broken portion can splinter into many pieces. (If the barrel lands either in foul territory or outside the established infield, the event is not a head of lettuce.) The term pays homage to other food-related baseball terms such as "can of corn", "high cheese", "in a pickle", etc. The original use of the term dates to 2006 when Joshua Githens first noted the likeness to striking a head of lettuce with the bat. "That bat exploded like a head of lettuce!"

A pitcher who has a reputation for throwing beanballs.

Middle of home plate. "Looking to go up the ladder, Hughes instead missed right over the heart of the plate just below belt high with a 95-mph fastball. As good hitters do, Vladimir Guerrero made him pay with a single up the middle."^[137]

Also heater. A fastball.

A power hitter. A player who hits a lot of home runs or other extra-base hits. A batter with a high slugging percentage. A slugger. A term shared with the sport of boxing, referring to a fighter who scores a large number of knockouts.

Said of a pitcher who knocks in runs as a hitter, thereby helping himself to earn credit for a win.

A pitcher with an unusual or awkward wind-up or motion, as if he's not in full control of his legs and arms, may be said to have a herky-jerky motion.

A pitcher who pauses in his wind-up, perhaps at the top of the wind-up, may be said to have a hesitation pitch. If this is part of his regular motion, it may be effective in throwing off the timing of the batter. If it's an occasional motion and used when there are runners on base, the pitcher is at risk of being called for a balk.

A very rare feat in which a fielder has the ball and hides it from a runner, tricking him into believing some other fielder has it or that it has gotten away from them. (There is no rule against such deception except that once the pitcher toes or stands astride the rubber, he must have the ball in his possession or else a balk will be called.) Any baserunner so victimized will be ribbed endlessly by his teammates for having been caught napping.

A location pitch thrown above the strike zone and close to the batter.

A fastball thrown high in the strike zone.

A fastball thrown high in, or above the strike zone.

A strike thrown high in the strike zone.

An adage about batting against a knuckleball pitcher. Fluttering knuckleballs are notoriously hard to hit, especially low in the strike zone.

The pitcher's mound.

• The act of safely reaching first base after batting the ball into fair territory. Abbreviated as H, this meaning is synonymous with base hit. See also 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
• The term sacrifice hit is used by scorekeepers to indicate a sacrifice bunt. It is typically an out, not a base hit (unless the batter beats the throw to first without benefit of an error).

To hit the ball very hard, typically a line drive.

An offensive tactic whereby a baserunner (usually on first base) starts running as if to steal and the batter is obligated to swing at the pitch to try to drive the ball behind the runner to right field. Contrast this to a run and hit, where the runner steals, and the batter (who would normally take on a straight steal) may swing at the pitch.

After a batter has attempted but failed to lay down a bunt, or in a situation in which he might ordinarily be expected to bunt, he may instead make a normal swing at the ball on the next pitch. In such a case he is said to "hit away" or "swing away". "Smoltz swung away, fouling it off for strike one. Knowing that the bunt had been given away on the first pitch, Braves manager Bobby Cox took off the bunt sign this time."^[138]

An offensive tactic where the batter intentionally puts the ball in play to the right side (the first base 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.

• When a pitch touches a batter in the batter's box, the batter advances to first base. If the pitch hits him while he is swinging (striking) he is not awarded a base, and if the umpire feels he made no effort to avoid getting hit he simply calls a ball.
• Colloquially, a batter who is hit by a pitch has been plunked, drilled, nailed, plugged, or beaned.

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.

Contrary to what might be literally implied, a player who "hits for average" is one who achieves a high batting average.

When a given player hits a single, double, triple and home run in the same game. To accomplish this feat in order is termed a "natural cycle". Hitting for the cycle is a rare enough occurrence that Major League Baseball keeps special statistics on it.^[139]

Hit the ball into the stands for a home run.

When a player seems to have a natural aptitude to get hits in all situations. "Magglio can hit Christmas Day", Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "It's an old saying, and he's one of those guys who can. There's nothing fancy. He sees it, hits it and does it pretty damned good."^[140]

A rapid succession of hits within the same inning or a high total of hits throughout a game.

To hit the ball even center with measured force, often resulting in a loud crack of the bat. A slumping batter might be comforted by "hitting the ball on the screws" when not getting a hit. The phrase derives from golf, referring to a well executed shot. Back when "woods" were actually made of wood, manufacturers screwed a plastic insert into the club face as a safeguard against premature wear. When a golfer hit a good shot he would say, "I hit it on the screws."^[141] Another source is the fact that early baseball bats usually cracked lengthwise into two pieces; many were repaired using glue and two screws. (Such repairs are now illegal.)

When a batter drops or dives to the ground to avoid being hit by a pitch. "The third kind of pitch is the one that is coming right at your head. This one you don't even have time to think about. Some part of you sees the ball as it leaves the pitcher's hand, and something about the fact that the ball is coming straight toward your eye makes it almost disappear into a blind spot. You hit the deck before you even know you've done it."^[142]

To slide. Sometimes used also as equivalent to hit the deck.

When a batter does not swing the bat in a single motion – perhaps he lifts the bat or moves his hands or hesitates before swinging – he may be said to have a "hitch in his swing". Having a hitch may slow down how quickly or powerfully he swings at the pitch. "All winter, Green worked on eliminating a hitch from his swing. He did it by setting up a video camera at a batting cage near his home in Irvine, California, taping swing after swing, and comparing it with video from his days with the Los Angeles Dodgers."^[143]

Batter.

a person who hits a ball with a bat in baseball.

When a batter is way ahead in the count (3–0, 3–1, 2–0) he's likely to anticipate that the next pitch will be thrown down Broadway—in the middle of the plate. See count.

• A baseball park in which hitters tend to perform better than average. This may be a result of several factors, including the dimensions of the park (distance to the outfield fences, size of foul territory behind the plate and down the lines), prevailing winds, temperature and relative humidity, and altitude. Whether a park is a hitter's park or a pitcher's park (in which hitters perform worse than average) is determined statistically by measuring Park Factors, which involves comparing how well hitters perform in a given park compared with how they perform in all other parks. This measure is regularly reported and updated for Major League Baseball parks by ESPN.com.^[144] Baseball Reference ^[145] and other baseball research organizations also report park factors for major league parks. Baseball Prospectus ^[146] and other baseball researchers calculate park factors for minor league parks to help in adjusting the statistics of baseball prospects.
• Whether a park is a hitter's park or pitcher's park may change from day to day. For example, when the wind is blowing "out" at Wrigley Field, it is typically rendered a "hitter's park", and a double-digit score for one or both teams is not unusual.
• On the other hand, some are hitter's parks, any and all other factors notwithstanding. Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Braves home field from 1966 to 1996, was known as The Launching Pad.

A physical and/or mental state where a player is seeing pitches well and his timing is on, so that observers or the player himself feel he has a good chance at getting a hit. Often used by players and sportscasters. "It's like Charley Lau used to tell us, used to tell me: 'You look very hitterish up there. You look hitterish, you look like you're going to hit the ball hard'", Brett said in camp.^[147]

• A hold (abbreviated as H) is awarded to a relief pitcher if he enters in a save situation, records at least one out, and leaves the game without having relinquished that lead. To receive a hold, the pitcher must not finish the game (thus becoming the closing pitcher) or be the winning pitcher.
• Unlike saves, more than one pitcher can earn a hold in a game. It is also not necessary for the pitcher's team to win the game in order to achieve a hold; they merely have to be in the lead at the time the pitcher exits.
• The hold was invented in 1986 to give credit to non-closer relief pitchers. Holds are most often accredited to setup pitchers, as they usually pitch between the starter and the closer. Holds are not an official Major League Baseball statistic, but are recognized by the MLB in its rules.

When a runner is on first base, the first baseman might choose to stand very close to first base rather than assume a position behind first base and more part-way toward second base (a position better suited to field ground balls hit to the right side of the diamond). When he does this he's said to "hold the runner on (first)" because he's in a position to take a throw from the pitcher and thereby discourage the runner from taking a big lead-off.

When a batter begins to swing the bat at a pitch but stops swinging before the bat makes contact with the ball or the bat passes the front of the plate, he may be said to "hold up on his swing".

• One of the nine places in the batting lineup. The leadoff hitter in the first inning is the player in the "one hole". In the four hole, the cleanup hitter is hoping to get to the plate in that inning.
• Also see #in the hole.

A tendency to drop fly balls, usually after they hit (and seem to go through) the fielder's glove.

A scouting report phrase describing a batter who can't hit strikes in a particular location. "Howard became a star after fixing a hole in his swing."^[148]

A team that has one or more weak hitters in its 9-person batting order has a "hole in the lineup" that opposition teams can take advantage of. "There are no holes in that lineup, so to say you're going to pitch around one batter might not be the best thing."^[149] "If the team that Shapiro has constructed is going to overtake the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees or any of the other contenders in the American League, it can't afford another season with a hole in the middle of the lineup that Hafner was from May through the playoffs last season."^[150]

Home plate. For a runner to reach home safely is to score a run. Getting a runner who is on base home is the goal of any batter.

• When a player for the home team gets a favorable or generous call from the official scorer, the players may refer to the scorer's call as "home cooking". For example, the scorer may credit a batter for a base hit on a batted ball that a fielder bobbled briefly and then failed to make a putout.
• "Home cooking" is sometimes used synonymously with home field advantage. The reference may be to the home team having the advantage of living at home, not just to being able to play in its own stadium.

Teams playing home games have a small advantage over visiting teams. In recent decades, home teams have tended to win about 53.5% of their games.^[151] Because teams play the same number of games at home as they do away during the regular season, this advantage tends to even out. In play-off series, however, teams hope to gain from home-field advantage by having the first game of the series played in their home stadium.

A game played at the home stadium or ballpark of a baseball club. When the Yankees play in Yankee Stadium, they're playing a home game. The team hosting the game is referred to as the home team. In rare instances, the home team plays in a stadium not their own. In 2005, the Houston Astros played a "home" series against the Chicago Cubs at Miller Park in Milwaukee, home of the Brewers, because their home stadium, Minute Maid Park, was rendered temporarily unusable because of Hurricane Rita. In 2010, the Toronto Blue Jays played a "home" series against the Philadelphia Phillies at the Phillies' home park, Citizens Bank Park, because of security concerns due to the G-20 summit being held in Toronto. Despite being in Philadelphia, the Blue Jays wore their home white uniforms and batted last. Also, despite Citizens Bank Park being a National League field, the designated hitter was used in the series.

The second (bottom) half of an inning, in which the home team is at bat.

See also plate.

A home run (or homer) is a base hit in which the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring a run himself.

A batting competition in which the object is to hit the most home runs.^[152] The 1960 television series Home Run Derby featured such a competition.^[153] The term can also be used to refer to a game during which many home runs are hit.^[154] The term was first used in the 1920s to refer to the race ("derby") between batters to lead their league in home runs for the season.^[155]

Since 1985, Major League Baseball has hosted an annual Home Run Derby,^[156] and the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) has done so since 1992. At least one minor league, the Southern League, has also held a home run derby.^[157] In 2007, the Israel Baseball League played seven-inning games, and if the teams were tied at the end of the seventh inning the tie was broken by use of a home run derby.^[158] A number of amusement parks, entertainment centers and batting cages offer a home run derby type competition.^[152]

• When a batter, realizing the ball he just hit is about become a home run, slows from a run to a celebratory trot. "Well, I've been saying it all year, and it finally happened tonight: David Ortiz became the first player in the 2010 season to take more than 30-seconds to trot around the bases after a home run. With four of the top five slowest home run trots of the year already - all four of which were clocked in at 28.95 seconds or slower - it seemed inevitable that he would be the first to break the half-minute barrier."^[159]
• Sometimes a player mistakenly slows down, however, when the wind or a superb play by an outfielder, turns a home run into a double or single off the outfield wall, or to a long out, or to another odd outcome, as the following case illustrates:

Unfortunately for his personal power totals, Milledge was bamboozled into believing his liner in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night had cleared the left-field fence at PNC Park for his first career grand slam. Dead certain he had gone deep, Milledge raised his fist rounding first base, put his head down and went into a trot. Cool. Double-dog certain because the fireworks guy at PNC set off the pyrotechnics that explode every time a Bucs player goes deep. Music also began to blare. What a glorious moment for the Bucs! ... only, the ball had not cleared the fence. It hit the top and stayed in the field of play. As Bucs announcer Bob Walk said, "Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh oh—we got a problem here." Milledge was not quite midway between second and third base when he realized the Cubs had him in a rundown. And, yeah, um, he was tagged out. Score that a two-run double and a big ol' base-running blunder.^[160]

A series of home games. See also road trip.

The "home team" is the one in whose stadium the game is played against the "visiting team". The home team has the advantage of batting in the second or bottom half of the inning. In case a game is played at a neutral site, the "home" team is usually determined by coin toss.

• A home run.
• A derisive term for a dedicated, almost delusional, fan. Especially used for a broadcaster, in any sport, whose team "can do no wrong"; for example, they might argue a bad strike call, but say nothing about one against the opponent. Johnny Most of the Boston Celtics and Hawk Harrelson of the Chicago White Sox were notorious "homers." In a somewhat more humorous example, Bert Wilson used to say, "I don't care who wins, as long as it's the Cubs!" A common "homer" saying is, "My two favorite teams are (my team) and whoever's playing (my team's rival)."

• When a manager leaves the dugout with the obvious intention of replacing the pitcher with a reliever, he may be said to be carrying a hook. "Here comes Sparky, and he's got the hook." Such a usage may have come from the large hooks that were sometimes used in Vaudeville to yank unsuccessful acts off the stage if they were reluctant to leave on their own. When he was manager of the Cincinnati Reds, Sparky Anderson's heavy reliance on relief pitching earned him the nickname "Captain Hook", a reference both to the standard usage and to the Peter Pan villain.
• A pitcher is said to be "on the hook" when he leaves the game with his team behind because of runs that he gave up—a hook on which he may be hung with the loss.
• A curveball.

When the batter pulls the ball down the line, starting fair but ending foul, resulting in a foul ball. See also slice foul.

A batted ball that takes several bounces in the infield, or a single "high hop" after it hits the ground just in front of home plate. Also see "short hop".

• The ball (a baseball) used in the game of baseball.
• The leather cover on the baseball (which is now usually made of cowhide, not horsehide). A slugger may be said to "knock the horsehide off the ball". Horsehide was the cover of choice for decades, as it was less prone to stretching than cowhide. This was necessary in part because in the early days, they tried to play the entire game with a single ball, or as few as possible. That became moot in the 1920s, but horsehide continued to be used until the 1980s or so, when horsehide became prohibitively expensive and cowhide was finally adopted as the standard cover for a baseball.

A strong arm, said typically of an outfielder. To "be hosed" is to be thrown out on the bases, typically from the outfield.

A batter who is having a hitting streak or a team having a winning streak is said to be "hot". "'Today was pretty impressive', Scioscia said. 'Hitters, they have their times. When they're hot, they're hot. You can't do anything about it.'"^[161]

The area between two fielders during a rundown.

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. The third baseman is sometimes called a "cornerman".

An old fashioned term for a "Winter league" with no games, just speculation, gossip, and story-telling during the months between the end of the World Series and the beginning of Spring training, presumably conducted while sitting around a hot stove. One of Norman Rockwell's well-known baseball paintings is a literal illustration of this term.

A batter who strikes out looking. The term was made popular by legendary Detroit Tigers radio broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who would often say, "He stood there like the house by the side of the road, and watched the ball go by."^[162] The phrase originates from the title of a poem by Sam Walter Foss.

A very strong arm. A cannon. A gun. Usually applied to an outfielder. Named after the Howitzer artillery piece. Headline: "Roberto Clemente: A Howitzer for an Arm, An Ocean for a Heart".^[163]

A human rain delay is a derisive term for a player who is very deliberate in his play, such as a pitcher who takes a long time between pitches or a batter who constantly steps out of the batter's box. "The Seattle Mariners will announce a new manager today—Mike Hargrove. Hargrove bears a great nickname—'The Human Rain Delay'. The name stems from the fact that, as a player, Hargrove would take about 15 minutes for every plate appearance. He would step out of the batter's box, fidget with his gloves, his helmet, his pants. He drove the pitcher nuts, but that was his plan."^[164]

A ball hit deep in the infield on a trajectory between those of fly balls and line drives.

A pitcher.

See: snow cone.

A fielding play, usually where a lofty fly ball is to land equidistant between two fielders. Both are unsure who should catch it, usually resulting in last-second leaps or dives. Often neither does, in which case the one who had the better chance is charged with an error.

A half-inning in which the pitcher strikes out all three batters he faces with exactly nine pitches.

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.

• The umpire calls the batter out when (a) there are less than two outs in the inning, and (b) the batter hits a fly ball that can be caught with ordinary effort by an infielder in fair territory, and (c) there are runners on first and second (third base can optionally be occupied too).
• The batter is automatically called out in this situation whether or not a fielder attempts to catch the fly ball, assuming it stays fair. The rule states that the umpire is supposed to announce, "Infield fly, if fair." If the ball will be almost certainly fair, the umpire will likely yell, "Infield fly, batter's out!" or just "Batter's out!"
• This rule is intended to prevent the fielder from intentionally dropping the ball and getting force outs on the runners on base. The rule is a little mystifying to casual fans of the game, but it has been a fundamental rule since 1895, allegedly to prevent the notoriously tricky Baltimore Orioles from intentionally dropping the ball.

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 typically not considered infielders, but instead as the battery. However, for purposes of implementing the Infield Fly Rule, the catcher, pitcher, and any player stationed in the infield when the pitch is delivered are included as infielders.

Inherited runners or inherited baserunners are the runners on base when a relief pitcher enters the game. Since a previous pitcher has allowed these runners to reach base (or was simply pitching when the runners reached base, such as in the case of a fielding error), any inherited runners who score when the relief pitcher is pitching are charged to the previous pitcher's runs allowed and/or earned runs allowed total, depending on how each runner reached base. Modern box scores list how many runners each relief pitcher inherits (if any), and how many of those inherited runners the relief pitcher allows to score, called inherited runs allowed (IRA).

In general, a baserunner is in jeopardy at any time the ball is live and the baserunner is not touching a base, except in the cases of overrunning first base on a fair ball or advancing to an awarded base, e.g., on a base on balls or hit by pitch. A baserunner who is in jeopardy may be putout by a fielder at any time.^[165]

Major league teams may remove injured players from their active roster temporarily by placing them on the injured list. Another player can then be called up as a replacement during this time.

An inning consists of two halves. In each half, one team bats until three outs are made. A full inning consists of six outs, three for each team; and a regulation game consists of nine innings. The first half-inning is called the top half of the inning; the second half-inning, the bottom half. The break between the top and bottom halves is called the middle of the inning. The visiting team is on offense during the top half of the inning, the home team is on offense during the bottom half. Sometimes the bottom half is also referred to as the home half.

A pitcher who may or may not be a starter or a closer but who can be relied on to pitch several innings either to keep his team in contention or sometimes when the game is no longer close, is an "innings eater". Headline: "Appetites never diminish for 'innings-eating' pitchers".

The success of most pitchers is based on statistics such as won-loss record, ERA or saves, but the unsung "innings eater" is judged by how many innings he pitches and the impact his work has on the rest of the staff. "I don't have a whole lot of goals going into the season. I don't shoot for a certain ERA or a certain strikeout number or certain number of wins," says Blanton, entering his second full season. "I try to go out and get a quality start every time, six innings or more, and not miss any starts. I feel if I can do that, I'll get my 200 innings in a year and everything else falls into place with that."^[166]

The inside baseball is 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 background machinations. The equivalent modern term is small ball.

Proper mechanics of a baseball swing, in which the hitter rotates his body while keeping his hands and the bat close to his body, with the bat coming across the plate after the body has almost fully rotated 90 degrees from his initial stance. Sometimes the phrase used is that the hitter "keeps his hands inside the baseball", and sometimes that the hitter himself "keeps inside the ball" – never mind the connotation of a player's literally being inside a baseball. "He's staying inside the ball so good, man", Dunn said. "For big guys like us, that's a hard thing to do. You always want to get the head [of the bat] out. His right hand is staying inside, so good. That's why he's able to hit the ball to left, to center, to right. He's in a good place right now."^[167]

When the batter swings at a pitch with his hands ahead of the end of the bat. For a right-handed hitter, this often leads to balls being hit toward the right side of the diamond. One of the most famous "inside-out" hitters is Derek Jeter: "While Jeter became known over his two decades for rising to the occasion and delighting fans with his heroics, he was above all a technician, slashing at pitches with his trademark inside-out swing."^[168]

A play where a hitter scores a home run without hitting the ball out of play.

A run scored by a team already in the lead. These surplus runs do not affect the game outcome but serve as "insurance" against the team giving up runs later.

Additional terms for the intentional base on balls.

Interference is an infraction where a person illegally changes the course of play from what is expected. Interference might be committed by players on the offense, players not currently in the game, catchers, umpires, or fans; each type of interference is covered differently by the rules.

Regular-season games between teams in different major leagues, which allow natural rivals and crosstown rivals to play each other more often, not just in play-offs.

While Major League Baseball calls on the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWA) to name the most valuable player, rookie of the year, and Cy Young Award winner each year, since 1997 Baseball Prospectus has conducted an on-line poll to make Internet Baseball Awards in those categories as well as manager of the year.^[169]

A batting average below .200. A player with a batting average of .195 is said to be on I-95, a reference to the numbering on the Interstate Highway System. See also the Mendoza Line.

The game is over. Long-time New York Mets radio broadcaster Howie Rose (first on WFAN, now on WOR) ends every Mets win with the catchphrase, "Put it in the books!" (Rose's memoir is entitled Put It In The Book!)

• The spaces between the first baseman and second baseman and between the shortstop and the third baseman, one of the usual places where a ground ball must go for a hit. "Ozzie went deep in the hole" but, despite Ozzie's best effort, the ball "found a hole" through the infield and into the outfield. See also up the middle and down the line.
• Due up to bat after the on-deck batter. Probably derived from boating, where it was originally "in the hold",^{[citation needed]} the place prior to being "on deck". "In the hole" is a corruption of the original nautical term (a mondegreen or eggcorn) made popular by people who did not understand the original origin. Today, the corruption has become universal.
• An unfavorable count. A pitcher would be "in the hole" 3-0 and a batter would be "in the hole" 0-2.

Pitching in on the hitter's hands.

• A game is in play when the umpire declares "play ball" at the beginning of the game or after a time-out.
• Any batted ball is "in play" until either the play ends, the umpire calls the ball foul, or there is fan interference or some other event that leads to a dead ball. A ball hit into foul territory but in the air is in play (a fielder may attempt to catch it for an out and runners may attempt to advance after such a catch), but only before it hits the ground or the fence.
• In sabermetrics, a special definition of "ball in play" is the calculation of "batting average on balls in play" (BABIP), which excludes home runs even though they are fair balls.
• Also see play.

Infield and outfield practice. "Everyone take your positions for a quick IO"

The run the pitcher takes from the mound to first base in order to cover for the first baseman who has just fielded the ball.^{[citation needed]}

A home run or to hit a home run. "Hitting a jack" or "Jacking one out of here".

Half-hearted or lazy effort by a player, i.e. "He jaked that play."

• To pitch far enough inside that the batter is unable to extend while swinging. "The pitcher jammed the batter." The batter was "handcuffed" or "shackled" by the pitch.
• When runners are in scoring position with less than two outs and good hitters coming up. "The pitcher is in a jam."
• The "bases are jammed" (or loaded or full) when there are runners on all three.

When an outfielder, 'cleaning' a pitcher's mess by throwing a runner out, spins or falls down after a strong throw.

A batter's legs are "made out of jelly" when he departs from a good stance. "His curve ball ... it jelly-legs you." - Phillies First Baseman Jim Thome, referring to Barry Zito's curve.^[170]

To "pull" the ball towards left field if you bat right handed or "pull" the ball towards right field if you're batting left handed. Opposite of jerk would be push or hitting an "oppo", meaning going towards the opposite field.

To hit the ball hard, typically used to refer to pulling the ball over the fence for a home run. "Derrek Lee jerked one of his patented doubles into the left-field corner to lead off the fourth against Minnesota lefty Johan Santana, the reigning Cy Young winner."^[171]

A Punch and Judy hitter who hits with little power.

• "Bases juiced" means #bases loaded.
• A player who is said to be juiced is thought to be taking performance-enhancing drugs. "It is now assumed, of course, that Bonds may well have been juiced on steroids at the time; the previous year he had set the all-time single-season record of 73 home runs, and his musculature was almost freakishly swollen."^[172]
• A baseball that is juiced has been modified in some way that makes it travel farther when hit. "Spectacular increases in home runs have often raised the question: Has the ball been juiced up to travel farther, in order to increase the number of home runs?"^[173]

• A fielder is said to get a good jump on the ball when he anticipates or reacts quickly to a batted ball and is thereby able to make a good play by fielding or catching it.^[174] Also see crack of the bat.
• A baserunner gets a good jump when he is able to leave the base well before the pitch reaches the plate. "Upsetting the timing of the baserunner can effectively prevent him from getting a good jump ... Base runners often read a pitcher's look and get their jump, or start, based on the pattern the pitcher establishes."^[175]
• To move to another team or league despite existing contractual obligations.^[176]

The American League, so-called because it is the younger of the two major leagues. The American League was founded in 1901, while the National League – the Senior Circuit – was founded in 1876.

breaking balls and knuckleballs, pitches that are hard to hit due to movement rather than velocity. "I couldn't believe he threw me a fastball because he had me down 1-2", Thames said. "He's usually a junk pitcher and he tried to sneak a fastball past me, and he left it up."^[177] See also: Eephus pitch

A pitcher who throws predominantly junk, usually due to a weak (or slow) fastball. A junkballer or a junk artist: "Like all junk artists, Trujillo will have to prove himself at the higher levels before getting a shot at a major league job."^[178] See also: Eephus pitch

The traditional abbreviation for a strikeout. A backwards K is often used to denote a called strikeout. Invented by Henry Chadwick by taking the "most prominent" letter and reinforcing it with an inferred knockout, the connotation still exists when an announcer says the pitcher "punched out" the batter, a play on words that also refers to punching a time clock and to the motion a home plate umpire usually makes on a called third strike.

Also singular, "keep off the board". Keep a team from scoring, and hence off the scoreboard. "Wainwright has kept runs off the board at a better rate than Lester."^[179] "After loading the bases with one down in the fourth, the Gators were kept off the board by Barham."^[180]

A pitcher needs to mix up his pitches and thereby "keep the hitter honest" by making it difficult for the hitter to anticipate the type, speed, and location of the next pitch. Sometimes this means throwing a brushback pitch to keep the batter from leaning over the plate to reach a pitch on the outer part of the plate. "Partially with Boston in mind, Wang focused this spring on expanding his repertoire to keep hitters honest and move them off the plate."^[181]

A reference to a series of batters getting on base safely and advancing runners on base, alluding to an assembly line. "Beltran's popout tore apart a rally that had shaken the Hall of Fame-bound Rivera, molding a game out of what moments before had been a five-run rout. Instead, Beltran couldn't keep the line moving, leaving an eager David Wright awaiting on deck."^[182] The 2015 Kansas City Royals were one of the most notable examples of "keeping the line moving" during their postseason run, which led to a World Series title.^[183][184]

• Second base.
• Together the shortstop and second baseman – the fielders nearest second base, often combining on double plays – are sometimes referred to as the keystone combination.

A player who makes an error fielding a ground ball may be said to have "kicked the ball" or "kicked it".

• A batter who hits the ball very far may be said to have "killed the ball".
• A pitcher who stifles a rally by the opposing team may be said to have "killed the rally".

A breaking ball (usually a curveball) that breaks very sharply, so much so that it freezes the hitter. It starts out directly at the batter (knees buckling out of fear) and then drops into the strike zone.

• Knock in: To score an RBI. "Kenny Lofton knocked in the go-ahead run with a 10th-inning single Thursday afternoon as the Cleveland Indians beat Detroit, 3-1."^[185]
• A hit: as in "a two-base knock".
• Knocks: Hard hits or extra-base hits, not necessarily producing RBIs or referring to a specific type of hit. "Curtis had some solid knocks today."
• Knocked around: A pitcher who gives up a lot of hits and gets removed from the game is said to have been knocked around or knocked out of the box or knocked out of the game. Example headline: "Toronto 7, Detroit 4: Phil Coke knocked around; Tigers' bats don't respond".^[186]
• Knock down: an infielder who stops a line drive from getting through the infield "knocks it down", perhaps then picking up the ball and throwing the runner out.
• Knock off: to knock off an opponent is to win the game. "Hawai'i knocks off Santa Clara."^[187]
• Knock the cover off the ball: to hit a baseball extremely hard. See also tore the cover off the ball.

A pitch thrown with no spin, traditionally thrown with the knuckles, but also with the fingertips. It tends to flutter and move suddenly and erratically on its way to the plate. Also refers to a batted ball that flutters "like a knuckleball". SYNONYMS: knuckler, flutterball, butterfly ball, floater, bug.

To reach base by hitting a ball between infielders. "McCann laced it through the shift on the right side of the infield."

A pitch delivered with nothing on it. A nod to the legend of Lady Godiva riding naked on horseback.^[188]

An acronym for League Average Inning Muncher. A LAIM is generally a starting pitcher who can provide around 200 innings over the course of a season with an ERA (Earned Run Average) near the league average. A LAIM is counted on to consume innings, keeping his team in the game but not necessarily shutting down the opposition. The term was coined by baseball blogger Travis Nelson, but is used by other writers as well.^[189]

A slang term for a grand slam home run. It is a takeoff from the term "grand salami" which some people use to refer to a grand slam.

A batting performance with a high number of base hits, particularly line drives. Also, the nickname of Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

The seventh, eighth and ninth innings of a regulation nine-inning game.

A game in which one team gets a large lead, perhaps early in the game, and it appears the other team has no chance at all of catching up. With nothing to worry about, the manager and team can relax. An easy win; a romp; a blowout.

• To hit a long fly ball, as if launching a rocket. "Orso, who recently signed with Alabama Southern to play college baseball next season, launched several rocket shots and by far hit the furthest home runs of anyone in the competition ..."^[190]
• It is also said that a pitcher "launches" the ball when he throws a wild pitch that gets away from the catcher, and that a fielder "launches" the ball when he throws it wildly out-of-reach of the intended receiver.

The angle, with respect to the ground at home plate, at which a batted ball leaves the bat.^[191]

A term for a ballpark in which many home runs are hit.

A (rare) 1-2-3 double play ("... an a one, an a two, an a ...").

A player who bunts the ball is said to lay down a bunt. Also see dump.

If a batter decides not to swing at a pitch, especially if he deliberately avoids swinging at certain types of pitches, he may be said to "lay off" a pitch. Pitchers tempt hitters to swing at pitches they cannot hit; batters try to lay off such pitches. "Batters can't seem to lay off his slider, just as his parents can't seem to lay off his carrot cake—they're nearly addicted to it."^[192]

• When a baserunner steps off a base before a pitch is thrown in order to reduce the distance to the next base he takes a lead.
• The player who is first in the batting order for a given team in any given inning is said to lead off the inning.

• The first batter listed on a team's lineup card (in the 1-hole or the "leadoff spot" on the line-up card). When the announcers read the starting line-up they might say, "Leading off, and playing short-stop, is Sammy Speedyrunner. Batting second, playing second base, Carlos Contacthitter. Batting third, in the pitcher's spot, is designated hitter Burt "Biggie" Brokenleg. Batting clean-up, playing left field, Thor Thunderbat ..."
• The first batter in an inning (who could be in any hole on a team's line-up card). If that batter gets a single, or a home run, or a walk, the announcer would say he has a "leadoff single", a "leadoff home run", or a "leadoff walk" respectively.

A baserunner is said to be "caught leaning" or "leaning the wrong way" when he is picked off a base while shifting his weight toward the next base.

• Referring to a fielder's glove, a player with good leather is a good defensive player (typically an infielder).
• Flashing the leather means making an outstanding defensive play.
• A leather player refers to a player who is outstanding on defense but only average or even less on offense. Ron Karkovice is one example of a "leather player".

Although baseball bats are symmetrical in shape, and thus there is no such thing as a left-handed baseball bat (or a right-handed baseball bat), in colloquial language a hitter who bats left-handed may be referred to as a "left-handed bat" or "left-hand bat". Headline: "Giants look to acquire left-handed bat".^[193]

Also "left-hand hitter". A batter who, paradoxically, bats from the right-side of the plate. Typically, an individual who is left-handed in most activities, including throwing a baseball, stands in the right-hand batter's box, the one closest to first base.

A left-handed relief pitcher specializing in getting one out, often in critical situations. See also LOOGY.

A baserunner is said to have been left on base (abbreviated LOB) or stranded when the half-inning ends and he has not scored or been put out. This includes a batter-runner who has hit into a fielder's choice, causing another runner to be put out as the third out.^[194] It also includes runners on base at the end of a game, as when the home team scores a winning run in the ninth or a subsequent inning. Thus a batter who hits a single in the home half of the tenth inning in a tied game with the bases loaded drives in one run and leaves three on base (runners who were at first and second, and himself).

• Team LOB totals are commonly reported in a baseball box score. It counts only those left standing on the bases when the third out of each inning occurs. Team LOB is used in "proving" a box score. The number of a team's plate appearances is to equal the sum of that team's runs, that team's LOB, and the opposing team's putouts. In other words, every batter who completes a plate appearance is accounted for as a run scored, putout, or LOB.
• Individual LOB totals are sometimes reported in baseball box scores. This is a more recent statistic that is computed for each player who is at bat at least once in a game and is calculated on how many baserunners were "left on base" when the player was at-bat and caused an out, no matter how many outs there were at the time. Note that "at bat" does not include other plate appearances such as sacrifice bunts or flies made by the batter, third outs caused by pickoffs or caught stealing, or games ended with the winning run scoring on a successful steal, etc. Two common misconceptions of the individual LOB are that the individual LOB is the number of times the player was left on base as a baserunner (this is a "runner's LOB" and is not usually recorded), or that the individual LOB applies only when the at-bat player caused the third out. Note that the total of the individual LOBs for all players on a team will usually exceed the team LOB.
• A related statistic is "left on base in scoring position", which includes only those LOB where the runner was occupying second or third base. Yet another related statistic is "left on base in scoring position with less than two out". The intent of these statistics is to measure the tendency of a team or player to waste opportunities to score.

To run hard to get safely on base or to advance a base: "Podsednik legged out an infield hit, stole second and scored when Everett legged out a double."^[195]

A letter-high pitch is one that crosses the plate at the height of the letters on the batter's chest. Also see at the letters. Equivalent term: "chest high". "Dietrich fouled off a couple of pitches before Porcello put him away with a letter-high fastball at 94."^[196]

To remove a player from the lineup in the middle of a game. "Casey was lifted for a pinch runner."

A pitcher who so dominates the hitters that the game is effectively over once he takes the mound—so they can turn out the lights and go home. The pitcher retires the batters in order without allowing a single run. "Putz pitched lights-out baseball once he took over the job for good from Guardado."^[197]

A fastball the pitcher delivers with such velocity that the hitter has no time to respond—it "blew by you." A pun on the song title "Blue Bayou," originally recorded in 1961 by Roy Orbison but popularized through Linda Ronstadt's 1977 cover version.^[188]

• Also known as a liner, a line drive is a batted ball that is hit hard in the air and has a low arc. See also rope.
• A line drive may also be said to be "hit on a line".
• A batter may be said to have "lined out" if the liner was caught by a fielder.
• Line drives can be dangerous to baseball players and spectators. For example, on July 22, 2007, Tulsa Drillers first base coach Mike Coolbaugh was killed in a line drive accident at an away game with the Arkansas Travelers. Though the ball hit his neck, his death was the impetus for base coaches to start wearing helmets.^[198] In a 2021 minor league game, pitcher Tyler Zombro was hit in the head by a 104-mile-per-hour (167 km/h) line drive, fracturing his skull and causing him to have a seizure.^[199]

The batting order, which also lists each player's defensive position. An announcer reading the starting lineup for a game will typically begin something like this: "Batting first, playing second base ..."

A form kept by each manager listing the starting players and all other players who are on the active roster and available to play in the game. Typically this form will be taped to the wall inside the dugout for the manager and coaches to consult when they need to make substitutions during a game. Before the game starts the manager hands a lineup card to the home plate umpire. This lineup will change throughout the game as starting players are removed and substitutes inserted.

A fair ball in which the batter is able to circle the bases and score due to the defense committing one or more errors on the play. Such a play is not officially scored as a home run due to the errors, but the effect on the score is the same.

A strong arm, usually describing a pitcher who has a great deal of velocity on his pitches. "That pitcher has a live arm."

The time since 1919 or 1920 when several rule changes moved teams to adopt offensive strategies that favored power hitting over the inside game that was common in the Dead Ball Era.

A pitcher who "lives on the corners" throws most of his pitches on the inside or outside edges of home plate. He's not inclined to try to overwhelm the hitter with hard pitches down the center of the plate. Many of his pitches will appear to barely nibble the plate.

A fastball that seems to be not just fast but also hard to hit because it may have some movement on it or it may appear to speed up as it gets closer to the plate. "'His fastball has got more life to it', Jays catcher Rod Barajas said. 'It's finishing. What I mean by that is the last 10 feet [to home plate], it seems that it picks up speed.' According to Barajas, that has particularly helped Ryan against right-handed hitters. "They end up being late, because that last 10 feet, it seems like it picks up a couple miles per hour," Barajas said.^[200]

A succession of plays that results in having runners on all three bases. See also bases loaded or bases full.

Abbreviation for left on base.

A pitcher's command is reflected in his ability to locate the ball—to throw it to an intended spot. A pitcher with "good location" not only has command but makes the right choices about where to throw the ball against particular batters.

• To sign a player to a long-term contract, thereby keeping him off the free-agent market. "Come on Uncle Drayton, you have to lock this guy up for a few years. He is one of the best in the league and along with Berkman, is the new face of the Astros."^[201]
• To throw a pitch that keeps the hitter from making any effective swing. For example, when a left-handed pitcher throws a roundhouse curve or an inside fastball to a left-handed hitter, the hitter may appear to freeze in place. "We had him 0-2. We were trying to go in with a fastball, hopefully lock him up."^[202] Also see "freeze the hitter".

A soft, straight pitch with a lot of arc.

A home run. A team is said to "win by the long ball" after a walk-off home run or the team hits several home runs to win. Headline: "Phillies Use the Longball To Take Game 1 from the Dodgers".^[203]

Home runs. "He ravaged Pacific Coast League pitching for seven more long ones before being recalled by the Reds later the same month."^[204]

A ball that is hit deep into the outfield (and caught) is a "long out".

A type of relief pitcher. Long relievers enter early in a game (generally before the 5th inning) when the starting pitcher cannot continue, whether due to ineffective pitching, lack of endurance, rain delay, or injury.

A foul ball which finishes particularly close to being fair, often where a fair ball would have been a home run. So named as despite the good effort of the hitter, the result is a strike against him if the count before the pitch was less than two strikes.

A mildly derogatory nickname for a left-handed specialist. An acronym for "Lefty One Out GuY", a left-handed pitcher who may be brought into the game to pitch against just one or two left-handed batters to take extreme advantage of platoon effects. An example is Javier Lopez, who was a key component of the Giants' World Series winning bullpen in the 2010s. Starting in 2020, MLB instituted a new rule that any pitcher who enters the game in the middle of an inning must face at least three batters or finish the inning before he can be replaced, unless he is injured. This rule intends to reduce the length of a game by limiting pitching changes, but also reduces the benefit of a LOOGY on the roster, since most of the time he would also have to face a right-handed hitter, who is much more likely to get a hit off him.

• When there is a runner on first base, a pitcher who has already gone into the stretch may step off the rubber and either threaten a throw toward first base or just stare at the runner to encourage him to step back toward first. In either case he's said to "look the runner back" to first (rather than throwing over to first in an effort to pick the runner off).
• When there is a runner on second or third base (but not first) with fewer than two outs, an infielder fielding a sharp ground ball briefly stares at the runner to discourage him from trying to advance. The fielder then throws to first to force out the batter.

A softly hit Texas leaguer that drops in between the infielders and outfielders. Also blooper. A fielder may make a superior defensive play, however, and turn a looper into an out. "Sacramento's Lloyd Turner ended the fourth with a sprinting, sliding snag of Alvin Colina's looping liner to left that sent the stands into a frenzy."^[205]

A slang term for a "12-to-6" curveball. Similar to Uncle Charlie.

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".

During the regular season, the team lost more games than it won. For a modern Major League team, this means a team lost at least 82 games out of 162 games played in what is called the losing season.

A series of consecutive losses.

See Win–loss record (pitching).

See find his swing.

When a player attempting to catch a fly ball is temporarily blinded by the glare of the sun in his eyes, he may "lose the flyball in the sun".

When a batter hits a long fly ball that is caught in the outfield, perhaps when a crowd reacts loudly thinking it will be a homer, the announcer may say the batter made a "loud out". "Home runs are already overrated. A home run in one park is a loud out in another."^[206] "Long, loud out as Garciaparra takes Green to the warning track. But the former Dodger makes the catch easily and we're in the bottom of the third."^[207]

A fastball thrown with such high speed that it goes right by you (pun on bayou). A term often used by Phillies radio play-by-play broadcaster Scott Frantzke.

A baseball bat. Sometimes used in reference to a powerful offensive showing, "The Yankees busted out the lumber tonight with a 10–0 victory." Also timber.

Colloquial term for a game in which the pitcher throws a complete game shutout, on 99 or fewer pitches. Named after Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, who threw 13 such shutouts in his career.

A number that indicates how close a front-running team is to clinching a division or season title. It represents the total of additional wins by the front-running team or additional losses by the rival team after which it is mathematically impossible for the rival team to capture the title.^[208]

Specific words directed towards an umpire that are almost certain to cause immediate ejection from the game.

When a player does something to catch the attention or make an impression on the other team, he may be said to "make a statement". Perhaps he makes a spectacular fielding play, hits a home run, slides hard into second base, or throws a brushback pitch. This phrase is also used in other sports when a team seeks to show up or to demonstrate its power against an opponent. "There were a lot of times where we could have given up, but no one gave up. We made a statement here tonight".^[209]

When an offensive team tries to make the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches and tire them out by working the count, or taking pitches or fouling off pitches, it is said to be making the pitcher work. "We've got a lot of good hitters up and down this lineup, but the key is to make the pitchers work", Laird said. "Tonight we made Saunders work. Then we got to their bullpen and were able to string some key hits together."^[210]

When an umpire makes a bad call on a pitch, he may implicitly acknowledge it on a later pitch by making another bad call to "make up" for the first. For example, say an umpire mistakenly calls a strike on a pitch that is out of the strike zone; he may later call a ball on a pitch that is in the strike zone so the hitter gets back what was initially taken away. Umpires typically, and understandably, deny there is any such thing as a "make-up call".

When a game is canceled because of a rainout or some other reason, a make-up game is usually scheduled later in the season. Late in the regular season if the outcome of that game would not affect which teams would reach the play-offs, then the game might not be made up.

See field manager. Different from the general manager.

The runner placed on second base to start all extra innings beginning in the 2020 season. The rule change was put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to prevent marathon games. The name is a reference to Rob Manfred, the Commissioner of Baseball at the time the rule was implemented.

Producing runs one at a time, piece by piece, component by component by means of patience at the plate, contact hitting, advancing runners, taking advantage of errors, alert baserunning including stealing a base or advancing on an out or a mistake by a fielder. In other words: small ball.^[211]

A home run hitter. See crush the ball.

A string of ones on the scoreboard, indicating successive innings in which exactly one run was scored. Also referred to as a picket fence.

• On the barrel (fat end) of the bat, but not the very end, is the "meat" of the bat where a hitter tries to make contact with the ball.
• The "meat (of the order)" is the middle of the lineup, usually the strongest hitters.
• A rookie, popularized by the baseball movie, Bull Durham; implies more brawn than brain.
• An easy out, typically evident during a strikeout.
• A baserunner easily thrown out at a base.
• Throwing hand, typically meaning a pitcher's. "Glavine started to reach for the ball with his meat hand but then thought better of it."

An easy pitch to hit—down the middle of the plate.^[212]

A batting average of .200. Named (most likely) for Mario Mendoza, a notoriously poor hitter but decent shortstop who managed to have a 9-year major league career from 1974 to 1982 with a life-time batting average of .215.^[213]

The umpires.

See run rule.

A long swing that does not protect the inside part of the plate. Generally used to describe college players adjusting to professional ball and wooden bats.

The second baseman and shortstop.

The fourth, fifth and sixth innings of a regulation nine-inning game.

The time between the top half and bottom half of an inning when the visiting team takes the field and the home team prepares to bat. No gameplay occurs during this period and television and radio broadcasts typically run advertisements. See also seventh-inning stretch.

A batter who hits with power, and who thus may be suited to be in the third, fourth, or fifth slot in the batting order. "I think Brett Jackson looks a lot more like a top of the order guy right now than a middle of the order guy, and he seems like a viable leadoff hitter based on his performance as a professional".^{[citation needed]}

A relief pitcher who is brought in typically during the middle-innings (4, 5, and 6). Since they are typically in the game because the starting pitcher allowed the opponents a lot of runs, the middle reliever is expected to hold down the opponents' scoring for an inning or two in hopes that their own team can close the gap.

Used during the early days of racial integration to refer to any African-American player.

An error. A word from billiards, when the cue stick slips or just brushes the cue ball thereby leading to a missed shot.^[214]

A pitcher who excels at getting batters to swing but miss is said to "miss some bats". A relief pitcher who is good at missing bats may be brought into a game when the other team already has runners in scoring position.

A pitcher who does not have good command of their pitches and is not able to throw the ball where they intend to is said to "miss some spots". "Angels Manager Mike Scioscia agreed. 'He missed some spots on a couple of hitters', Scioscia said, 'and they didn't miss their pitches'."^[215]

• A "mistake" is poor execution, as distinguished from an error. It could be throwing to the wrong base, missing the cut-off, running into an obvious out, or throwing a pitch into the batter's "hot zone" instead of where the catcher set up for it.
• There may be such a thing as a mistake hitter (a mediocre hitter who occasionally gets a pitch he can drive), but a "mistake pitcher" does not last long in the big leagues.
• When asked how the mighty Yankees lost the 1960 World Series, Yogi Berra remarked, "We made too many wrong mistakes."

"Mitt" (derived from "mitten") can refer to any type of baseball glove, though the term is officially reserved to describe the catcher's mitt and the first-baseman's mitt. Those mitts (like a mitten) have a slot for the thumb and a single sheath covering all the fingers, rather than the individual finger slots that gloves have. By rule, mitts are allowed to be worn only by the catcher and the first baseman. See the entry on glove.

To be successful, most pitchers have to use a variety of pitches, and to mix them up tactically (not randomly) to keep hitters off balance. "Jackson was overwhelming. 'I was just trying to come out and be aggressive and mix my pitches up', he said. 'I've seen them in the past and I know what they can do. You have to mix it up to keep them honest'."^[216]

Commonly-used abbreviation for Major League Baseball, the organization that operates the two North American major professional baseball leagues, the American League and the National League.

A pitcher's best pitch, or the one he throws at the most critical time. They are said to earn their pay – their money – with that pitch. Headline: "The Outlawed Spitball Was My Money Pitch".^[217]

A man who is good in the clutch. Someone you can count on (or bet on) when it really matters. Sometimes the term used is simply "money", as in "Alex has really been money these last few games".

An often misused term. It refers to Michael Lewis's 2002 book. "Moneyball player" most often refers to one who has a high on-base percentage, and does not steal a lot of bases. However, the essence 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.

A home run that is hit very high. When the Brooklyn Dodgers relocated to Los Angeles and played in the L.A. Coliseum, Wally Moon took advantage of the short distance to the left-field fence—251 feet (77 m) from home plate down the left-field line, compared to 440 feet (130 m) to the right-field fence^[218]—to hit high home runs.^[219][220] The ball had to be hit high in order to clear the 42-foot-high (13 m) fence. For comparison, Fenway Park's famous Green Monster is 37 feet (11 m) tall. Dodgers broadcaster Jerry Doggett seems to have coined the phrase in 1959,^[221] and the rest of the media picked it up.^[219]

A mop-up pitcher or "mop-up man" is usually the bullpen's least effective reliever who comes in after the outcome of the game is almost certain. Sometimes other position players also come in to mop up in the last inning in order to gain playing experience as well as give the regulars a rest. "La Russa said Hancock's final outing was typical of a reliever whose role frequently called for mop-up duty."^[222] See also: long reliever.

A bat made from low-quality wood, its effectiveness similar to hitting the ball with a rolled-up morning newspaper.^[223]

• A player who gets an extra-base hit, or who is on base when a teammate gets one, is sometimes said to "motor" for an additional base – to continue running without hesitation. "This allowed Loehrke to score, and then a miscue by Ranger right fielder Drew Orbergfell allowed Lounsbury to motor to third base".^[224]
• "Pinch runner Brandon Varnell used his blazing speed to motor down the third base line on the fielding error by Memorial reliever Garrett Hill and slide head first into home plate to tie the game at 5-5".^[225]

The pitcher's mound is a raised section in the middle of the diamond where the pitcher stands when throwing the pitch. In Major League Baseball, a regulation mound is 18 feet (5.5 m) in diameter, with the center 59 feet (18 m) from the rear point of home plate, on the line between home plate and second base. The front edge of the pitcher's plate or rubber is 18 inches (46 cm) behind the center of the mound, making it 60 feet 6 inches (18.44 m) from the rear point of home plate. Six inches (15.2 cm) in front of the pitcher's rubber the mound begins to slope downward. The top of the rubber is to be no higher than 10 inches (25 cm) above home plate. From 1903 through 1968 this height limit was set at 15 inches, but was often slightly higher, especially for teams that emphasized pitching, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were reputed to have the highest mound in the majors.

Mound visits or mound meetings occur when the pitching team's coaches, manager or players (most often the catcher) go out to the mound between pitches to consult with the pitcher, generally to discuss strategy. Each team is limited to one mound visit per inning (excluding visits to attend to an injury); a pitching change must be made on any subsequent visit. In 2016, Major League Baseball limited the amount of time allowed for individual mound visits to 30 seconds. In 2018, MLB limited the number of mound visits per team to six per nine-inning game, with one additional mound visit for each extra inning. This was reduced to five per nine-inning game in 2020.^[226]

A pitcher.

Deviations from the expected flight of a pitch that make the ball harder to hit. Can be used to refer to both fastballs and breaking balls.

A pitcher who dominates the opposing hitters, allowing few if any to get on base, is said to have "mowed them down" as if they were just so much hay being cut down by a mower.

To fail to field a ball cleanly, often resulting in an error or only one out on a double play, typically on an easy play. "He muffed it. The ball went right through his legs." Also, to bobble.

Murderers' Row was the nickname given to the New York Yankees of the late 1920s, in particular the 1927 team. The term was actually coined in 1918 by a sportswriter to describe the pre-Babe Ruth lineup, with quality hitters such as Frank "Home Run" Baker and Wally Pipp who led the A.L. in home runs. In subsequent years, any lineup with a series of power hitters who represent a daunting challenge to pitchers might be dubbed by the press as a "murderer's row".

Refers to a high amount of velocity on a throw or pitch. A player may be exhorted to "put some (extra) mustard on it", with "it" usually referring to a pitcher's fastball or fielder's throw.

Abbreviation for Most Valuable Player. At the end of every season, the Baseball Writers' Association of America chooses an MVP from each Major League. Typically an MVP is also chosen for each major play-off series, the World Series, and the All-Star Game.

• (NABBP) - the 1857-1870 first governing body of baseball, the National Association of Base Ball Players
• (NA) - the 1871-1875 first professional league (in any sport), the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
• (NAPBL) - the 1901–2021 trade association of minor leagues, the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues—officially renamed Minor League Baseball in 1999.^[227] Replaced in 2021.

A close game. Nervous fans may be biting their nails.

• Hit by a pitch, drilled, plunked.
• The last pitches or last play of a winning game nail down the win or put the nails in the coffin of the opposing team.
• To throw a runner out. "Laureano nailed him at the plate."

A relief pitcher who is as "tough as nails" or very effective at nailing down a win is sometimes said to be "nails". "As the season has progressed, you can see that he looks forward to that 9th inning and he has been nails lately."^[228] "This guy has been nails for us," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.^[229] Phillies and Mets center fielder Lenny Dykstra was known as "Nails" for his all-out style of play.

An informal rule that used to apply to double plays. As long as the defensive player covering second base was in the "neighborhood" of second base when he caught the ball and threw it on to first base, the runner would be called out. The rule was designed to compensate for runners who slid into second too hard, making it dangerous for the defensive player. In recent years, umpires have required the defensive player to have a foot actually on second base, not just in the neighborhood, and have penalized runners who slide toward the defensive players too aggressively, so neighborhood plays are rarely seen today.

The official name of either of the two on-deck circles. Each team has its own circular area, five feet (1.5 m) in diameter, which is designated for unencumbered use by the on-deck batter (the next batter due to bat after the current batter); the on-deck batter may wish to stretch, run in place, or take practice swings immediately prior to taking his turn in the batter's box (which actually is rectangular in shape). Especially during finals and semifinals, each circle is typically painted with the corresponding team logo. The location of the next batter's box is specifically defined in MLB rules, and the most common method to locate it was granted a patent.^[230]

When a pitcher focuses on pitching just at the left or right edges of home plate rather than throwing a pitch over the heart of the plate where a batter can get the meat of the bat on the ball, he's said to nibble at the edges. Tigers manager Jim Leyland praised Scherzer for his aggressiveness against such a powerful lineup: "The one thing you can't do against the Yankees is get behind in the count. If you do, they'll just sit on pitches and hit a lot of them hard. Max went after them. He understood he couldn't nibble around the edges of the plate, and he did a heckuva job."^[231]

A slider. Also used to mean an average or possibly "hanging" slider. Hitters look at the spin on a ball when it is released by the pitcher, so the "dot" (circle which is created from the pitcher's rotation on the ball that the batter sees to identify a pitch as a slider out of the pitcher's hand) is said to be "nickel sized". Also, it could be used to mean a pitch with more lateral movement (closer to a slurve than to a slider) rather than velocity.

The second game of a doubleheader.

Abbreviation for National League, the older of the two major leagues.

Abbreviation for National League Championship Series: the final, best 4 out of 7, playoff series to determine the National League champion. The winners of the National League Division Series play in this series. The winner of the NLCS is the winner of the National League pennant and advances to the World Series against the pennant winner from the American League.

Abbreviation for National League Division Series: the first round of the league playoffs, to determine which two teams advance to the National League Championship Series (NLCS). This round pits the winners of each of the three league divisions plus the winner of the wild-card slot (the team that wins the most games in the regular season without winning a division) in two pairings, each of which plays a best three out of five series to determine who advances to the NLCS.

Acronym for "No outs, bases loaded ending (with) team incapable of getting easy run". This situation occurs when the batting team loads the bases with nobody out but does not score a run in the inning. The unofficial statistic was first tracked on Reddit, where it was named in honor of the Detroit Tigers.^[232][233]

Any starting pitcher who earns neither a win (W) nor a loss (L) is said to have a "no decision", which has no special meaning in official baseball statistics; however, it has become conventional to note whether he made a quality start.

A home run whose landing destination in the stands is in no doubt from the moment it leaves the barrel of the bat. A no-doubter will be seen/heard to "leap" off the bat, usually having a launch angle between 20 and 40 degrees and high exit velocity.

• A game in which one team does not get any hits, a rare feat for a pitcher, especially at the major league level. Also colloquially called a "no-no". If no batter reaches base safely by any means (walk, error, etc.) the pitcher is said to have pitched a perfect game, which is much rarer than a "normal" no-hitter.
• It is a superstition that when a pitcher is working on a no-hitter (or perfect game), his teammates stay far away from him (sometimes even a whole bench length) and will not say anything to anyone about the no-hitter. Some play-by-play on-air announcers will also avoid mentioning the no-hitter until either an opposing batter gets a hit or the no-hitter is completed; others however will mention one in progress and are sometimes blamed for jinxing no-hitters.^[234]

• The area of the outfield between the middle infielders and outfielders, where a fly ball can fall for a hit (a Texas leaguer).
• A baserunner caught in a pickle is said to be in "no man's land".
• The portion of a ballpark's spectator area, usually the front row of seats, where a fielder may legally reach into to catch a fly ball, while a spectator or other personnel may legally touch same fly ball even if it interferes with the fielder's attempt to catch it. A ball touched by a spectator in this manner is not spectator interference.

Sometimes said by a play-by-play announcer when the bases are loaded, i.e., there is no open base. Usually means that intentionally walking and pitching around the batter are poor strategies for the fielding team, as a walk will score a run for the batting team. Also "no place/nowhere to put [the batter]".

A no-hitter and a shut-out. Thus no hits, no runs. Headline: "Start of something good: Verlander's no-no may foreshadow future greatness".^[235]

A right-handed pitcher. See southpaw.

A Non-Roster Invitee (NRI) is a player invited to Spring training who is not yet on a Major League team's 40-man roster. He may be a young prospect, a veteran who has been released from or retired from a previous contract with a team, perhaps someone who left baseball after an injury. If he performs well, he has a chance to be placed on the roster and assigned to a minor league team or even join the major league team.

A batted ball that travels slowly and not very far, typically because the ball is hit with the very end of the bat.

When a fielder illegally hinders a baserunner. He does not need to "get out of the way" while he is fielding the ball or actually has it (and can tag).

See on-base percentage.

A batter who goes hitless in a game, as in 0 for 4 (spoken as oh fur). Also wears the collar or "takes the collar."

A game that can be considered complete. If more than half the game has been played before being ended, or "called", by an umpire, it is considered official and all records from the game are computed in the players' and teams' statistics. For a nine-inning game, five innings need to be played, or 4+1⁄2 if the home team is winning. An incomplete game can be either suspended or replayed from the first inning.

The official scorer is a person appointed by the league to record the events on the field and to send this official record to the league offices.^[236] The official scorer never goes on the field during a game (but typically watches from the press box). The official scorer's judgments do not affect the progress or outcome of the game but they do affect game and player statistics. For example, only umpires call balls and strikes, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a hit is a home run, and whether runners are safe or out. But it is the official scorer who determines whether a pitch that got by the catcher is a wild pitch or a passed ball, and whether a batted ball is a hit or an error (or a combination of the two); likewise whose errors, put-outs and assists are whose.

• A day when a player performs below his normal level, whether due to illness, bad luck, or other factors. "Bonderman had an off-day and didn't have good command of his breaking pitches."
• A day when a team does not have a game scheduled. During the regular season, Major League Baseball teams almost always have games scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and they may need to travel between series. Off-days tend to occur on Mondays and Thursdays.

A pitch that is significantly slower than a given pitcher's fastball. Typically, a curveball or a change-up.

When a team that is behind ties the game or takes the lead, the pitcher who would otherwise have been credited with the loss is said to be "off the hook".

When a player hits the ball off the middle of the bat, where the manufacturer's trademark is usually placed, resulting in a weakly hit ball. Usually the result of a pitcher jamming the hitter.

Overall Future Potential (OFP) is a scouting assessment of a young player's potential as a future major leaguer, scored from 20 to 80. The criteria are different for pitchers and position players. See also 5-tool player.^{[citation needed]}

A fastball. From the sign the catcher gives for that pitch.

When a batter strikes out five times in a game. This same dubious achievement is also called a platinum sombrero.^{[citation needed]}

When an outfielder throws the ball directly to an infielder or the catcher without relaying it or bouncing it, he's said to "throw the ball on a line". Usually used when a strong throw beats the runner and gets him out. "Jack Barry, however, made a running stab to grab the ball and threw on a line to McInnis for an out."^[237]

Percentage of plate appearances where a batter reaches base for any reason other than an error or a fielder's choice.

The next batter due to bat after the current batter. The area designated for the on-deck batter is a circle five 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 stands in the on-deck circle.

Running at full speed, especially in reference to an outfielder tracking down a fly ball.

• The edge of home plate, derived from its black border, which is buried if the plate is properly installed.
• A pitch that just nicks the edge of the zone for a called strike.

A team is "on the board" (the scoreboard) when it has scored one or more runs. "After being shut out for six innings, the Sox are finally on the board." White Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson also uses the phrase as part of his home run call: "You can put it on the booooard ... YES!"

When a player is playing in the minor leagues, he is said to be spending time "on the farm". It refers to a team's farm system.

A player batting between .100 and .199 is said to be "on the interstate". The term refers to the fact that a batting average in the .100s can resemble an interstate name (e.g., .195 looks like I-95, especially on older scoreboards). A hit to put an average above .199 gets a batter "off the interstate." A batter whose average is below .100 is sometimes said to be "off the map". See also Mendoza line. Players in the majors who spend too much time "on the interstate" will most likely be demoted to Triple-A.

When a pitcher appears to be tired or lost command of his pitches, he may be said to be "on the ropes" and about to be replaced by another pitcher. The term likely derives from the sport of boxing, in which a fighter who is being beaten up or dominated by his opponent may lean against the ropes to keep from falling to the mat.

A player is said to be "on the rug" while playing a ball in the outfield on artificial turf.

• A defensive attempt to put out a baserunner attempting to reach more bases than the type of hit would typically allow, such as a runner on first attempting to advance to third on a single.
• Also refers to the successful advance of a baserunner while such a play is being attempted on his teammate. See also: fielder's choice.
• A batter who safely reaches first base but is tagged out attempting to reach a subsequent base on the same play is credited with a hit for the number of bases he safely reached, but is said to be out on the throw.
• Example: With Abel on first base, Baker hits a base hit to center field. Abel easily reaches second and tries to advance to third, but the throw from the outfield is in time and he is tagged out by the third baseman. Meanwhile, Baker has safely reached second base. Abel is out at third base on the throw. Baker has a single and advanced to second on the throw. The next batter, Charlie, hits a double to the center field wall, allowing Baker to score from second. Charlie safely rounds first and second base and attempts for third, but the throw from center field is in time and Charlie is tagged out at third base. Charlie is credited with an RBI double, but is out at third base on the throw.

A player who appears in just one major league game, plays respectably, and then is demoted either to the bench or back to the minors.

A game in which one team was limited to one hit, a great feat for a pitcher. Batters may have reached base via walks, errors, or being hit by a pitch. See also no-hitter and perfect game.

Side retired in order. Three up, three down.

A traditional relief pitcher who starts a game for strategic reasons and is replaced early in the game, usually after the first inning, by a pitcher who is expected to last as many innings as a true starter.^[52]

The first day of regular-season play in Major League Baseball and other professional leagues.

A hit to the "opposite" side of the field from the direction of a player's natural swing, i.e., a left-handed batter who hits to left field or a right-handed batter who hits to right field. Also known as going the other way. See pull hitter.

A term recently invented by statheads to measure of a batter's ability to produce runs. Obtained by adding slugging percentage and on-base percentage.

Defined in MLB Rule 2 as "the effort that a fielder of average skill at a position in that league or classification of leagues should exhibit on a play, with due consideration given to the condition of the field and weather conditions." A defensive player's ordinary effort is considered by the official scorer in making certain judgment calls, such as hit vs. error or wild pitch vs. passed ball.

The type of pitch that a pitcher relies on to get an out, often his best pitch. Headline: "Rodriguez embraces change as out pitch".^[238]

An outfielder is a player whose position is either left field, center field, or right field. See position.

The location of a strike that travels over the far edge of home plate from the batter.

To throw a pitch that is so fast the batter cannot catch up to it with his swing. "And eight runs were more than enough offense to back Wolfe, as he continually overpowered hitters with his blazing fastball. Santa Clara hitters just couldn't catch up to it."^[239]

A baseball vernacular term synonymous with "shift", either an infield or outfield shift. The fielders shift to occupy the areas a particular batter is thought to typically hit.

• When a fielder throws the ball so high that it sails over the head and out of reach of his target. "Sean Halton struck out, but the catcher couldn't hold onto the pitch, and then overthrew first base, which allowed both Martin and Greene to score."^[240]
• If a thrown ball goes over the head or wide of the infielder and sails off the field of play into the dugout or the stands, the umpire will rule an overthrow and allow the runner to advance one base.
• A pitcher who throws the ball too hard to control it well is said to be "overthrowing the ball". "Gardenhire said Crain, demoted to Class AAA Rochester earlier this season, is pitching with more confidence and, most importantly, he's not trying to overthrow the ball."^[241]

To throw pitches at the edges of the strike zone. A pitcher who can "paint" consistently may be said to paint the black or paint the corner.

A batter who strikes out looking. "He was left standing there like nothing but a pair of shoes."

A hard hit line drive that is hit so "square" and powerfully, that it has little or no spin. (Like a knuckleball) This results in the ball suddenly and sharply cutting left or right as it speeds past defenders. It is said that if such a hit were to strike a defensive player or runner, they would be left "cutting paper dolls" for the rest of their lives.

A fly ball, perhaps driven into a strong wind, that appears to drop straight down into the fielder's glove.

To hit (a home run) "out of the park"; reference to the parking lot may be inferred.

See hitter's park.

A catcher is charged with a passed ball (abbreviated PB) when he fails to hold or control a legally pitched ball which, in the opinion of the official scorer, should have been held or controlled with ordinary effort, and which permits a runner or runners to advance at least one base; and/or permits the batter to advance to first base, if it's a third strike (with first base unoccupied and/or two outs). A run that scores because of a passed ball is not scored as an earned run. Neither a passed ball nor a wild pitch is charged as an error. It is a separately kept statistic.

To hit the ball hard. Often used in the past tense: "He pasted the ball."

Doesn't do a lot of first-pitch swinging, swinging at pitches out of the strike zone, or even swinging at strikes he can't hit because of their location and/or type. Generally gets a lot of walks.

• An outfielder may be said to be "patrolling the outfield" (like a good soldier or police officer patrolling his assigned territory),
• A catcher who keeps runners from stealing bases is said to be good at "patrolling the basepaths".

If after the pitcher from one team tries to bean or otherwise hit a batter, the opposing pitcher retaliates by trying to hit a batter from the first pitcher's team, it's a "payback". Such retaliation often happens when it is one of a team's stars who is the initial target; in such a case the opposing pitcher is likely to target the star player on the other team when he gets his first opportunity. Umpires may issue a warning if they think a pitch is intentionally thrown at a batter, and if such an attempt happens again by either team's pitcher, the pitcher is likely to be ejected from the game.

The decisive one in a series, e.g. the third of five (if one team has already won two) or the fifth (if both have won two).

A pitch thrown with a full count. 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 (a strikeout) or the batter (a hit or a walk). However, a foul ball can extend the at-bat. The term is most often used when a hit will score a run and a strikeout will end the inning.

A AAA minor league that formerly had "open" classification (between AAA and major league) from 1952 to 1957, now operating as under Triple-A classification in the Western United States

A pitched ball thrown at high speed. "Clem can really fling that pea."^{[citation needed]}

A brand new baseball that has been rubbed down with ball mud, causing the ball to no longer be bright white and instead is a pearl white color.

A hard line drive batted back at the pitcher.^{[citation needed]}

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.

When the batter tries to see the catcher's signals to the pitcher.

To throw the ball to one of the bases. "The fielder pegged the ball to first."

The bullpen.

The competition to win the regular season championship in a baseball league. To win the pennant or flag, a major league baseball team must first win enough of the 162 games in the regular season to reach the playoffs. Then it must win the league division series (LDS) and the league championship series (LCS). See American League Division Series (ALDS), American League Championship Series (ALCS), National League Division Series (NLDS), and National League Championship Series (NLCS).

A common pre-game exercise, where one player bunts to a nearby group of fielders; they throw it back as quickly as possible.

If Team A is in first place by less than half a game over Team B, Team B is said to be "within percentage points" of Team A.

A special type of no-hitter where each batter is retired consecutively, allowing no baserunners via walks, errors, or any other means. In short, "27 up, 27 down". A "perfect game" could involve multiple pitchers with one pitcher relieving another, but in the major league they are defined as being thrown by a single pitcher.

An inning in which a pitcher allows no runners to reach base.

Major League Baseball's designation for someone who is banned from MLB or affiliated minor league clubs, for misconduct. Permanently ineligible players are also ineligible for induction into the Hall of Fame. Banned individuals may be reinstated at the discretion of the Commissioner of Baseball.

A commonly used acronym for Pitchers' Fielding Practice. A session in which pitchers practice fielding bunts and other ground balls, throwing to a base, and covering first base and home plate.

Someone who is incorrectly listed in source materials as playing in a Major League Baseball game, although they did not actually play.

an erroneous call by an umpire in which a baserunner is ruled as having been tagged out when in fact the fielder never legally tagged the runner.

To field a sharply hit ground ball without bobbling it.

Having made a mistake or failed an attempt, a player may ask a teammate, "Pick me up." Said in praise by a pitcher, "The guys picked me up with a lot of runs today."

A batter's ability to detect what kind of pitch is being thrown.

A series of 1's on the scoreboard, resembling a picket fence.

A rundown.

A quick throw from the pitcher (or sometimes the catcher) to a fielder covering a base when the ball has not been hit into play.

The baseball.

Acting ostentatiously or showboating to gain the attention or approval of the fans. See grandstand play.

A substitute batter, brought in during a critical situation ("a pinch").

A substitute baserunner, brought in during a critical situation ("a pinch").

Pine tar, which is notoriously sticky, improves a batter's grip on the bat. See Pine Tar Incident.

A fan of a team who is perceived to be merely "jumping on the bandwagon" as opposed to a more loyal, knowledgeable fan (of either gender).^{[citation needed]}

A pitcher who is able to throw the ball to a precise spot in the strike zone has "pinpoint control". See control pitcher.

A baseball delivered by the pitcher from the pitcher's mound to the batter as defined by the Official Rules of Baseball, Rule 2.00 (Pitch) and Rule 8.01.

To repeatedly miss the strike zone hoping the batter will "chase one". Also, deliberately walking him.

How many times a pitcher has thrown thus far (this game).

The opposite of pitching around, i.e. throwing every pitch into the strike zone.

A pitcher who doesn't try to strike out batters but instead tries to get them to hit the ball weakly, especially on the ground, is said to pitch to contact.

The use of technology and analytics to evaluate pitching, including information such as pitch velocity, spin rate, and break (curve).^[242]

The fielder responsible for pitching the ball. Prior to 1884, the rules specified that the ball was to be "pitched, not thrown to the bat", i.e. underhand.

See Win–loss record (pitching)

Nickname for a double play.

A very low-scoring game in which both starting pitchers allow few batters to reach base.

The mound, or colloquially the hill or the bump.

A park in which pitchers tend to perform better than they perform on average in all other parks; inverse of hitter's park. See park factor.

• When the wind is blowing "in" at Wrigley Field, it is typically rendered a "pitcher's park", and a low score for one or both teams is not unusual. Under those circumstances, no-hitters also become possible at a park many fans normally think of as a "hitter's park".
• Because of its large foul area (recently shrunk to add more seating), symmetrical outfield walls, and small "corners" near the foul poles, Dodger Stadium is traditionally known as a pitcher's park, especially at night, when fly balls tend to die more quickly than they do during the day.

The pitch the pitcher wants hit because he knows it will still most likely result in an out.^[243]

In games where the designated hitter rule is not in effect, or in DH rule games where a team has forfeited its DH, this term refers to the pitcher's turn in the batting order; its usage usually implies there is some possibility that the pitcher will not actually take his turn batting and instead will be replaced by a pinch hitter and by rule a relief pitcher.

When a pitcher frequently falls behind in the count, he finds himself pitching from behind.

A defensive tactic used to pick off a baserunner, typically employed when the defense thinks a stolen base play is planned. The pitch is thrown outside and the catcher catches it while standing, and can quickly throw to a base.

Generally refers to the second baseman. A second baseman often has to turn or pivot on one foot in order to complete a double play. A short-stop also sometimes pivots to complete such a play.

Abbreviation for Players' League, a one-year (1890) major league.

A batter who has skill in controlling where he hits the ball.

• As a noun, plate usually connotes home plate. There is also a pitcher's plate, but it is more commonly referred to as the rubber.
• As a verb, plate means to score a run. "In the fourth our defense continued to hold and we managed to plate a couple runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 3."^[244]

Any turn at bat is considered a plate appearance for computing stats such as on-base percentage, and for determining whether a batter has enough of them (minimum 3.1 X number of scheduled games) to qualify for the batting average championship. Plate appearances consist of standard at-bats plus situations where there is no at-bat charged, such as a base on balls or a sacrifice. However, if the batter is standing in the batter's box and the third out is made elsewhere (for example, by a caught-stealing or by an appeal play), then it does not count as an appearance, because that same batter will lead off the next inning.

A batter shows "plate discipline" by not swinging at pitches that are out of the strike zone, nor at pitches that are in the strike zone but not where he knows he can hit it. Such a batter might be described as a patient hitter.

When a batter strikes out five times in one game. Also called Olympic Rings.

• The practice of assigning two players to the same defensive position during a season, normally to complement a batter who hits well against left-handed pitchers with one who hits well against righties. Individual players may also find themselves marked as a platoon player, based on their hitting against righties vs. against lefties. Casey Stengel brought some attention to the system by using it frequently during his New York Yankees' run of five consecutive World Series champions during 1949–1953.
• "Platooning" sometimes refers to the in-game strategic replacement of batters in the line-up based on the handedness of a newly inserted relief pitcher, or conversely the strategic insertion of a relief pitcher to face a batter of the same hand. This is the logic behind having a LOOGY on the roster, for example. The LOOGY is to pitching what a pinch-hitter is to batting: put into the line-up for short-term strategic advantage.

Home plate.

• Any small sequence of events during a game, never lasting long enough to contain more than one pitch, during which at least one offensive player could advance, or score a run, or tag up, etc., or could be put out. This includes, for example, a pop foul, during which it is possible for the batter to be put out, but advancing is not possible and neither is scoring. This term, "play", is mentioned (appears) in the article about the definition of an error.
• Where the action is focused at a given time, in particular where a runner is about to reach a base or reach home, and the defense is attempting to get him out. An announcer might declare "There's a play at home", for example, if a runner is attempting to score and the catcher is about to receive a throw and attempt to tag the runner out.
• Also see in play.

To follow the conventional wisdom in game strategy and player use. For example, when to bunt or when to bring in the closer.

A "player to be named later" (PTBNL) is a mystery player in a baseball trade. The teams agree on a future date to decide who the PTBNL will be. This can be a minor leaguer, a cash payment, or even someone already on the trading team's roster.

A manager who is close to his players and whom the players consider a peer and a friend. The knock on players' managers is that they tend to not be disciplinarians and find it hard to make a tough decision in the team's best interest. Thus the term is not always complimentary, and many managers find they must maintain some aloofness in order to be effective. Joe Torre is often referred to as a player's manager; his approach can be effective with mature players who take their responsibilities seriously. Casey Stengel used to say the secret to managing was "to keep the guys who are neutral about you away from the guys that hate your guts."

The usual position depth taken by infielders when they're not anticipating a bunt or setting up for a double play.

When the infield is shallower than normal in order to attempt to throw out a runner on third-base on a ground ball. This does not allow the infielders to cover as much ground however, and can turn a routine ground ball into a base hit.

• All the series played after the end of the 162-game regular season. This includes the American League Division Series, National League Division Series, American League Championship Series, National League Championship Series, and the World Series.
• Any short set or series of games played after the regular season to determine a division or league champion. Also called the "post-season". Technically speaking, if a one-game playoff is required to determine who wins the regular season or the wild card (and thereby qualifies for the post-season) is counted as part of the regular season.

Hit by a pitch.

The plus sign (+) is an indicator that a starting pitcher began an inning and faced at least one hitter without recording an out. In the box score, the pitcher is said to have pitched x+ innings, where x is the number of innings completed in the game. For example, if the starter gives up two walks to lead off the sixth inning and is pulled for a reliever, "5+" innings is recorded in the box score.

A pitch that is better than above average when compared to the rest of the league. Often the strikeout pitch.

A pitch that is among the best of its type in the league and is essentially unhittable when thrown well. Often a breaking pitch.

A player with above-average major league skills. A term from baseball scouting and player evaluation. See also 5-tool player.

A hit. Referring to an extra-base hit or home run, a fan or announcer might exclaim, "That was quite a poke." A reporter might record a line drive as "Cameron pokes a shot into left field."^[245]

• A batter with "pop" has exceptional bat speed and power. "Reggie popped one" implies that Reggie hit a home run. Example in baseball writing: "Ian Kinsler Proves He Has Pop to Center".^[246]
• A pop-up is a batted ball that is hit very high and stays in the infield. Called a pop-foul when it falls or is caught in foul territory. Example: "Rondini popped it foul out of play" implies that Rondini hit a pop-up or pop-foul that went into the stands where a defender couldn't reach it.
• Brendan C. Boyd and Fred C. Harris, in their impish commentary in The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book, discussed a player who was known for hitting sky-high popups and said that "he could have played his career in a stovepipe".^[247]

A left-handed pitcher, so named because "port" refers to the left side of a ship. Synonym: southpaw

• One of the nine defensive positions on a baseball team, consisting of (in scorekeepers' numerical order): (1) pitcher, (2) catcher, (3) first baseman, (4) second baseman, (5) third baseman, (6) shortstop, (7) left fielder, (8) center fielder, (9) right fielder. Positions 3 through 6 are called infield positions. Positions 7, 8, and 9 are outfield positions. The pitcher and catcher are the battery. For purposes of the infield fly rule the pitcher and catcher are counted as infielders, and such a broader definition of infielders is commonly used, if only to differentiate them from outfielders. Players in positions 2 through 9—all positions except the pitcher—are position players.
• A defensive player also positions himself differently—sets up in a different location on the field while playing his position—depending on who is pitching, who is at bat, whether runners are on base, the number of outs, and the score of the game.

Any defensive player other than the pitcher.

The playoffs.

To pitch the ball over the inside of the plate, in on his hands, typically with a fastball.

See attack the strike zone.

A fastball with extreme velocity.^{[citation needed]}

Either of the two areas in the outfield between the outfielders, i.e. left-center field and right-center field. The furthest dimensions may not be marked on the wall.

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. Dave Kingman is perhaps the best example of an "all power, low batting average" slugger. See slugger and slugging percentage.

When a batter with a high slugging average suddenly appears to have lost that ability, he is "having a power outage".

A pitcher who relies heavily on his fastball. Control pitchers and contact pitchers rely more on variety and location than velocity.

A hitter with a good power stroke is one who typically gets extra bases.

When a batter with a low slugging average suddenly appears to have gained that ability, he is "having a power surge".

A meeting on the mound between a coach and players to discuss strategy. See tea party.

A prep player is a draft prospect who is still in high school, e.g. "Nationals select prep right-hander Lucas Giolito 16th overall."^[248]

Used to refer to both major and minor leagues, especially on trading cards. For example, "Complete Professional Record" would include major and minor league seasons while "Complete Major League Record" would not. (Minor league players consider it an insult if asked when they'll "get to the pros".)

A pitcher who is scheduled to start the next game or one of the next few games is often described as a "probable pitcher".

When a batter makes an out but advances one or more runners in the process, he has made a productive out. In contrast, a strikeout or other out in which no runners advance is unproductive.

A scouting term for a young player with excellent tools who appears likely to develop into a productive or more powerful player in the future.

A manager may protest a game if he believes an umpire's decision is in violation of the official rules. An umpire's judgment call (i.e., balls and strikes, safe or out, fair or foul) may not be protested.

• To pull the ball is to hit it toward the side of the field usually associated with a full swing: a right-handed hitter pulls it left and a left-handed hitter pulls it right.
• To pull a hitter is to substitute a pinch hitter.
• To pull a pitcher is to relieve him. See hook.
• A pitcher has "pulled the string" (think marionette) if the batter swung where the pitch was going instead of where it went.

A "Punch and Judy hitter" has very little power.

A strikeout. Named such because the umpire will typically make a punching-like signal on the third strike, especially if the batter does not swing at the pitch.

A brushback, intended to make the batter move away from home plate. A batter targeted by such a pitch is sometimes said to get a close shave. 1950s pitcher Sal Maglie was called "the Barber" due to his frequent use of such pitches. A sportswriting wag once stated that its "purpose" was "to separate the head from the shoulders".

• A right-handed batter who hits the ball toward right field, ditto left, has "pushed" it.
• The best situation for a "push bunt" is runners at first and third with one out (or no outs); if successful, the result will be a run scored, a runner on second, and two outs (or one).

To hit the ball very hard, typically for a home run.

• To hit the ball extremely hard.
• To beat another team, especially by a decisive score.

• A fielder who catches a fly ball, or who tags a runner may be said to "put away" his opponent. Similarly, a pitcher may "put away" a batter by striking him out.
• A team may "put away" its opponent by making a decisive play or out, or by breaking open the game and gaining a substantial lead.

A qualifier is a batter or pitcher that has played enough to be eligible for a percentage-based league leaderboard. In Major League Baseball (MLB), batters become eligible for the league leaderboards in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and on-base plus slugging percentage once they've taken at least 3.1 plate appearances per game played by their team, extrapolated to a total of 502 plate appearances for a standard 162-game season. MLB pitchers become eligible for league leaderboards in earned run average (ERA), walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP), and batting average against once their innings pitched is greater than or equal to the number of games their team has played, setting a minimum of 162 innings pitched for a 162-game season. Players must be qualifiers in order to win a batting title or an ERA title.^[249]

An at bat in which the batter is productive, whether that involves advancing a runner with a sacrifice bunt (or even a ground ball out), getting on base, or just making the pitcher throw a lot. Thus a quality at bat is not measured simply by the standard batting statistics such as batting average, on-base percentage, or slugging average. Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer: "Seeing a lot of pitches, fighting bad pitches off – basically, just waiting for a pitch you can handle. Whether you're a power guy, or more of a slap hitter guy, if you find a pitch you're comfortable in handling, that's a quality at-bat. If you get on base or drive a ball up the gap, you pretty much know you had a good plate appearance. But it's mostly about making sure you get your pitch."^[250]

When a starter pitches at least six complete innings and allows three or fewer earned runs – even in a loss. A pitcher can perform well yet not be involved in the win–loss "decision". This statistic was developed by sportswriter John Lowe to capture an aspect of pitcher performance that is not part of the standard statistics collected by Major League Baseball.^[251] It is catching on among baseball players and management, but also has some skeptics. Former Houston Astros manager Jimy Williams was said to hate this statistic. "Quality start?" he would harumph. "Quality means you win."^[252]

An illegal pitch where the ball is thrown before the batter is set in the batter's box. (Official Rules of Baseball, Rule 8.05(e))^[253] If there is no one on base, the pitch is called a ball, but if there are any number of runners on base, it is ruled a balk. The ruling of a quick pitch is always up to the umpire.

When a pitcher prevents the opposing hitters from getting a lot of hits, or big hits, he's said to have "quieted some bats". "Iowa's starting pitcher, Jarred Hippen, was able to quiet the Spartans' bats the rest of the way to seal the victory."^[254] Headline: "Miscues, Quiet Bats, Cost D-Backs".^[255]

A batter who holds his head, hands, and bat very still while awaiting the pitch may be said to have a quiet swing. "Hideki Matsui's quiet swing and stance are a big part of the reason why he is able to hit for both power and average."^[256]

Indicates a participant in the game who hears things perhaps too well for their own good. A player who becomes nervous or chokes when opposing players or fans yell at or razz them is said to have rabbit ears. Also, an umpire who picks up on every complaint hurled at them from the dugouts is described this way.

A player, typically a pitcher, with a weak arm. "I hope the Cubs did not give up an actual Major League player for this rag-arm home-run machine."

To run into and knock over the catcher when running home from third base, or to run into a first-baseman when running from home to first. In either case, neither the catcher nor the first baseman may be able to duck out of the way because he must play the ball and stay in position in order to make an out.^[257]

Rain delay refers to situations when a game starts late due to rain or is temporarily suspended due to rain. A game that is suspended after it has begun may be resumed either the same day or at a later date. A game that never begins, or that is canceled after it begins, due to rain is a rainout and in most cases will be rescheduled for a later date – a make-up date. In the event of a non-tie game past the 5th inning with heavy inclement weather, the game may be called with the winner being the team that was ahead at the end of the last completed inning (except during the MLB postseason).

A curveball with a high arc in its path to the plate.

A rainout refers to a game that is canceled or stopped in progress due to rain. Generally, Major League Baseball teams will continue play in light to moderate rain but will suspend play if it is raining heavily or if there is standing water on the field. Games can also be delayed or canceled for other forms of inclement weather, or if the field is found to be unfit for play. If a game is rained out before play begins, a make-up game is rescheduled for a later date. If a game is called after play begins but before 4½ innings have been completed (if the home team is ahead) or five innings have been completed (if the visitors are ahead or the game is tied), the game is not an official game. The umpire declares "No Game", the game is played in its entirety at a later date, and statistics compiled during the game are not counted. Games that are stopped after they become official games count in the standings (unless the game is tied, in which case it is replayed from the beginning), and statistics compiled during the game are counted. In the MLB postseason, however, games that are called before 4+1⁄2 innings have been completed are treated as suspended games, and fans are usually given a rain check to attend another game.

To hit the ball really hard, and all over the park. When you're raking, you're hitting very well. "Mike Gosling allowed one run on five hits over 6+1⁄3 innings and Alex Terry raked Pawtucket pitching for 14 hits as the Bats defeated the Red Sox, 7–1, in an International League game Wednesday."^[258]

To come back from a deficit. This typically occurs in the final innings of a game.

A cap worn backwards, sideways, or inside-out by fans or players to bring a rally. Said to have originated by fans of the New York Mets during the 1985 baseball season, when the Mets captured several dramatic come-from-behind victories, and spread to the players themselves some time during the 1986 season. It rose to national awareness during the 1986 World Series. The Mets were down three games to two and losing the deciding game to the Red Sox, when in the seventh inning, television cameras showed some of the New York Mets players in the dugout wearing their caps inside-out. The team rallied to win the game and the series.

A fielder's ability to move from his position to field a ball in play.

A batter becoming a baserunner by attaining first base without becoming out.

• An RBI or "run batted in" is a run scored as a result of a hit; a bases-filled walk or hit-by-pitch or awarding of first base due to interference; a sacrifice; or a single-out fielder's choice (not a double play).
• Official credit to a batter for driving in a run.

Runners in scoring position.

Another term for catcher. Also backstop, signal caller.

• The 162-game schedule that all Major League Baseball teams usually complete. However, if a special one-game playoff is required to determine which team goes to the league division championship series (the ALDS or the NLDS), this 163rd game is also counted as part of the regular season. All team and player statistics from this game are also counted as regular season statistics. For example, if a pitcher wins his 20th game in the 163rd game played in the one-game playoff, he would be a "20 game winner" for the season. Similarly, a batter's performance in that extra game might determine whether he wins the title for best batting average or most home runs in the season.
• On occasion, teams do not complete every game of the regular season, as when playing a make-up game and the outcome of that game could not possibly help either team reach the playoffs.

A standard baseball game lasts nine innings, although some leagues (such as high school baseball) use seven-inning games. The team with the most runs at the end of the game wins. If the home team is ahead after eight-and-a-half innings have been played, it is declared the winner, and the last half-inning is not played. If the home team is trailing or tied in the last inning and they score to take the lead, the game ends as soon as the winning run touches home plate; however, if the last batter hits a home run to win the game, he and any runners on base are all permitted to score.

If both teams have scored the same number of runs at the end of a regular-length game, a tie is avoided by the addition of extra innings.^[259] As many innings as necessary are played until one team has the lead at the end of an inning. Thus, the home team always has a chance to respond if the visiting team scores in the top half of the inning; this gives the home team a small tactical advantage. In theory, a baseball game could go on forever; in practice, however, they eventually end (although see Longest professional baseball game).

When a Major League player recovering from injury or illness plays a short stint with one of the team's minor-league affiliates before coming off the disabled list. The particular affiliate may be chosen based on its proximity to the club's home town rather than the level of play. A rehab assignment does not carry the same stigma as being sent down to the minors for poor performance.

A defensive technique where the ball is thrown by an outfielder to an infielder who then throws to the final target. This is done because accurate throws are more difficult over long distances and the ball loses a considerable amount of speed the farther it must be thrown. Also cut-off. Also the second throw during a double play. As in "They were only able to get the lead runner because the relay was not in time."

A relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher brought in the game as a substitute for (i.e., "to relieve") another pitcher.

A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, ejection from the game or fatigue.

A player of common skills available for minimum cost to a Major League Baseball team. A team of replacement-level players would be expected to win a baseline minimum number of games, typically 40–50, per 162-game season.

A player who is not a member of the Major League Baseball Players Association but plays during strikes or lockouts.

A roster designation for players who are not available, either because of a player's own action (such as declining to play or getting arrested)^[260] or when "unusual circumstances exist."^[261] Placing a player on the restricted list allows a team to remove the player from both their roster and their payroll indefinitely, while retaining their rights to the player.^[261]

To get the batter out.

To throw the runner out at a base.

See side retired.

An argument or fight in a baseball game. Hence, Rhubarb, a novel by H. Allen Smith. The term was popularized by famed baseball broadcaster Red Barber.

Slang for a run batted in (RBI).

• A very strong arm. A cannon, a bazooka, a gun. Also used as a verb, "He rifled the ball home to catch the runner."
• A batter can also be said to rifle a ball when he hits a hard line drive. "Griffey rifles the ball ... foul, just outside first base."

A baseball bat is symmetrical, thus there is no such thing as a right-handed or left-handed one. A player who bats right-handed may be referred to as a "right-handed bat" or "right-hand bat". Headline: "Can That Right Handed Bat Play Third Base?"^[262]

Also "right-hand hitter". A batter who, paradoxically, bats from the left-side of home plate.

A strikeout. The phrase is drawn by analogy from cashiers, and from the "cha-ching" motion of a plate umpire. "Outside corner, ring him up, strike three called!"

• To hit a hard line drive, as in "He ripped a single through the right side."
• A hard swing that misses the ball: "Reyes took a good rip at that pitch."

Acronym for Runners In Scoring Position. See Runner In Scoring Position.

Acronym for Runners Left in Scoring Position, typically seen in the box score of a game. This is the sum of the number of runners left occupying second and third bases (scoring position) when the batting side has been retired.

A game played away from a baseball club's home stadium. When a team plays away from home, it's on a "road trip" and is the "visiting team" at the home stadium of another team.

A series of road games or away games occurs on a road trip, a term derived from the days when teams indeed traveled from one town to another by roadway or railroad.

• When a fielder makes a spectacular play that denies a hit or a home run, the batter may be said to have "been robbed" by him. Headline: "A-Rod robbed of HR, Joba will join rotation".^[263]
• If an umpire has made a questionable call, the losing team or fans may complain they "were robbed". "Braves Robbed of a Win ... was Beltran Out at 3rd in the 9th?"^[264]

The position occupied by the third base umpire, likely because the third base umpire does not generally have to make as many calls as the other umpires. For example, "Jim Joyce is in the rocking chair at third base."^{[citation needed]}

A slightly derogatory acronym for a right-handed relief specialist. "Righty One Out GuY".

Conventionally, rookie is a term for athletes in their first year of play in their sport. In Major League Baseball, special rules apply for eligibility for the Rookie of the Year award in each league. To be eligible, a player must have accumulated:

• Fewer than 130 at bats (for hitters) and 50 innings (for pitchers) during the MLB regular season, or
• Fewer than 45 days on the active rosters of MLB clubs (excluding time on the disabled list or any time after rosters are expanded on September 1).

Reference to someone's saying the next play will be a double play. Also, "roll it".

A ball hit directly to a fielder such that he hardly has to move to get it, or a pitch that is easy to hit.^[265]

A ball rolling on wet grass, kicking up water behind it.^{[citation needed]}

A hard line drive. Also see frozen rope. Sometimes used as a verb, "He roped one up the middle."

The official list of players who are eligible to play in a given game and to be included on the lineup card for that game. Major League Baseball limits the regular-season active roster to 25 players during most of the season, but additional players may be on the disabled list, and the roster can be expanded to as many as 40 active players after August 31st by bringing up players on the 40-man roster.

A starting pitcher in professional baseball usually rests three or four days after pitching a game before pitching another. Therefore, most professional baseball teams have four or five starting pitchers on their roster. These pitchers, and the sequence in which they pitch, are known as "the rotation" or "starting rotation". In modern baseball, a five-man rotation is most common.

Often a manager identifies pitchers by their order in the rotation, "number 1", "number 2", etc. "Discussions over whether Jason Schmidt or Brad Penny is more deserving to occupy the No. 2 spot in the starting rotation behind Derek Lowe can cease, as least temporarily."^[266]

An offense has "roughed up" the opposing pitcher when it hits his pitches hard and scores several runs. Headline: "Hill Roughed Up in Loss to Pirates."^[267]

A curveball that instead of breaking sharply makes a more gradual loop. "One Boston writer in the late-'40s summed up Joe Dobson's roundhouse curveball this way: 'It started out somewhere around the dugout and would end up clipping the outside corner of the plate. There are curveballs, and there are curveballs.'"^[268]

A home run. The analogy is to a commuter who buys a round-trip ticket from home plate to second base and back.

The rubber, formally 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.

A pitcher is said to have a "rubber arm" if he can throw many pitches without tiring. Relief pitchers who have the ability to pitch consecutive days with the same effectiveness tend to be known as "rubber arms". Examples of these include Justin Verlander and Aroldis Chapman.

Also referred to as a "rubber match", a term used for the last game of a series or match when the two teams have evenly split the previous games. See also rubber bridge / best-of-three playoff.

• A player who advances around all the bases to score is credited with a run; the team with the most runs wins the game.
• A manager "runs his players" when he calls on them to steal bases and to be generally aggressive in trying to advance extra bases when the ball is in play.
• A player or coach may be "run" by an umpire by being ejected from a game.

See contact play.

Also known as a mercy rule or run-ahead rule, a run rule is a rule used in some leagues that automatically concludes a game in which one team is ahead by a certain number of runs after a certain number of innings.

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. Also called a hotbox or a pickle. Sometimes used as a baserunning strategy by a trailing runner, to distract the fielders and allow a leading runner to advance.

Being ejected from the game. Also, slang for having struck out looking.

runners on 1st and 3rd, with 2nd base open.

Runners on 2nd or 3rd base are said to be in scoring position, i.e., a typical base hit should allow them to reach home. Batting average with runners in scoring position (RISP) is used as an approximation of clutch hitting. Game announcers are apt to put up and comment on the latter statistic during a broadcast to set the stage for an at bat.

Having the qualities of Babe Ruth, typically describing the flight of a long home run.

Sabermetrics is the analysis of baseball through objective evidence, especially baseball statistics. The term is derived from the SABR – the Society for American Baseball Research. The term was coined by Bill James, an enthusiastic proponent and its most notable figure.

• Synonymous with bag—1st, 2nd, or 3rd base.
• A player who plays a particular base might be called a sacker. Most often this is the second sacker (second baseman). Together the second sacker and the short-stop may be referred to as sackmates because they often coordinate or share the coverage or play at second base. See double play.

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 an SAC or S or SH.

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 is credited with an RBI and is not charged with an at bat. Also referred to as "sac fly", abbreviated as SF.

A base hit or "base knock". Getting "safely on (first) base" after hitting the ball without the interposition of a fielding error.

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.

An easily handled pitch.

A grand slam.

The South Atlantic League ("SAL"), a Class A minor baseball league with teams located mainly in the southeastern United States.

A round of drafts that occurs between the first and second rounds, and again between the second and the third, comprising solely compensatory drafts granted to teams that failed to sign their first or second round draft picks of the year before.

In baseball statistics, save (abbreviated SV, or sometimes, S) is the successful maintenance of a lead by a relief pitcher, usually the closer, until the end of the game. A save is credited to a pitcher who fulfills the following three conditions:

1. The pitcher is the last pitcher in a game won by his team;
2. The pitcher is not the winning pitcher (For instance, if a starting pitcher throws a complete game win or, alternatively, if the pitcher gets a blown save and then his team scores a winning run while he is the pitcher of record, sometimes known as a "vulture win".);
3. The pitcher fulfills at least one of the following three conditions:
   1. He comes into the game with a lead of no more than three runs.
   2. He comes into the game with the potential tying run being either on base, at bat, or on deck.
   3. He pitches effectively for at least three innings after entering the game with a lead and finishes the game.

• If the pitcher surrenders the lead at any point, he cannot get a save, even if his team comes back to win. No more than one save may be credited in each game.
• If a relief pitcher satisfies all the criteria for a save, except he does not finish the game, he will often be credited with a hold.
• The third rule can be contentious, as it is subject to the judgment of the official scorer.
• The last criterion in that rule can lead to ludicrous results. On August 22, 2007, the Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 30 to 3. The winning pitcher, Kason Gabbard, pitched six innings, and left the game with a 14–3 lead. The Rangers' relief pitcher, Wes Littleton, pitched three scoreless innings, while his team went on to score another 16 runs, including six runs in the 9th inning. In return for protecting his team's lead for the last three innings, Littleton was awarded a "save".^[269]
• Generally, a save situation is when a pitcher enters the game in the seventh inning or later with a lead of three runs or fewer, or with the potential tying run in the on-deck circle. Most of the time, the saving pitcher pitches one or more innings. Also called a save opportunity.

When a pitcher gets a batter to hit the ball on the handle, and the batter hits the ball weakly or even breaks his bat, the pitcher may be said to have sawed off the bat. "If the bat handles are getting "sawed off" in players' hands or shattering into splinters, it's because players are ordering bats too thin to withstand the impact of a 90 mile-per-hour fast ball."^[270]

A runner on 2nd or 3rd base is in scoring position, as he is presumed to have a good chance to score on a base hit to the outfield.

A weakly hit ground ball that eludes the infielders and leads to a base hit. A bleeder.

Also a screamer. A line drive that is hit extremely hard, perhaps hard enough to knock the glove out of the hand of a fielder or to be so hard that the pitcher cannot get out of the way before he is hit by the ball. "I distinctly remember watching the game where Jon Matlack was hit in the head by a screaming line drive off the bat of Marty Perez and it bounced off his head. I also remember watching the night Cal Ripken hit a screamer right into Andy Pettitte's mouth. Both were a nauseating sight but this one must have been much worse. Baseball can be a dangerous game for the players and also the spectators."^[271]

A pitch that curves to the same side as the side from which it was thrown. For a right-hand pitcher, the ball would break to the pitcher's right—it would break "in" to a right-hand hitter. SYNONYMS: reverse curve, fadeaway, fader, screwgie, scroogie, reverse curveball.

To finish off the opposing team and end the game. "Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon nearly blew the game with a walk and an error, so he had plenty to celebrate when he then whiffed the dangerous Tampa Bay trio of Carlos Peña, B. J. Upton and Carl Crawford to seal the win".^[272] See also nailed and shuts the door.

• two-seamer – a "two seam fastball" where the ball is held by the pitcher such that, when thrown, its rotation shows only two seams per revolution
• four-seamer – like a two-seamer, but the rotation shows four seams per revolution.

The period from the first to the last scheduled game of a year. Typically, the major league baseball season runs from about April 1 until the end of October, including the "regular season" 162 games that each team plays and the play-offs, including the World Series. Baseball team and player records are also kept on a "seasonal" basis. "Sandy Koufax ended his career with four of the best seasons in history".^[273]

The post-season, including divisional and league series plus the World Series, is sometimes called the "Second Season."

The time-period when a struggling major-league player is temporarily sent down to the minors (most likely AAA) in the hope that the player can improve his skills enough to return to the major-league club. This can also refer more broadly to the time that a team keeps a young up-and-coming player in the minor-leagues, so as to give the player time to continue to develop their skills, before they are brought up to the major leagues.

Any non-fastball pitch type.

Any hit that is hit so hard it barely has an arc on it. See rip. Also refers to any thrown ball with the same characteristic, typically in the infield.

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. Sometimes called a seeing-eye single. See ground ball with eyes.

If a coach signals for a runner to attempt to steal a base, he is "sending" a runner. Similarly, a third-base coach who signals to a runner who is approaching third base that he should turn toward home plate and attempt to score, the coach is "sending" the runner home.^[274]

The National League, so-called because it is the older of the two major leagues, founded in 1876. As opposed to the Junior Circuit, the American League, which was founded in 1901.

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.

When a pitcher is removed from the lineup, he is sometimes said to be "sent to the showers" because his work for the day is done. Theoretically it is possible for him to be removed as pitcher and kept in the lineup as a designated hitter or even as a position player. But this is a very rare occurrence in the professional game, and is more frequent in the amateur game, especially in NCAA competition.

• A set of games between two teams. During the regular season, teams typically play 3- or 4-game series against one another, with all the games in each series played in the same park. The set of all games played between two teams during the regular season is referred to as the season series. For games played between teams in a single league, the regular season series includes an equal number of games in the home parks of each team. Its purpose is to minimize travel costs and disruptions in the very long major league baseball season.
• In the playoffs, series involve games played in the home stadiums of both teams. Teams hope to gain from having a home field advantage by playing the first game(s) in their own ballpark.

To throw a pitch that gets hit hard, typically for a home run (as if the pitcher had intentionally "served up" an easy one).

The posture a pitcher takes immediately before pitching. His hands are together in front of him and he is holding the ball in his pitching hand. His rear foot is on the rubber.

To get runners on base ahead of the power hitters in the lineup.

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 4, 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, while Boston fans sing "Sweet Caroline" and Baltimore fans sing along to "Thank God I'm a Country Boy". At Kaufmann Stadium, Royals fans sing "Friends in Low Places". "OK Blue Jays" is sung at Toronto Blue Jays home games.

A player (usually an outfielder) who positions himself slightly away from his normal spot in the field based on a prediction of where the batter might hit the ball he is said to "shade" toward right or left.

Catching fly balls in the outfield when not involved in actual baseball games. "While the other pitchers looked bored just shagging flies, he was busting a few dance moves to the music coming over the loudspeakers."^[275]

• A player, typically a pitcher, who has a bad game or series, may be said to be trying to shake off the experience and regain his usual performance level. Detroit News headline: "Miner Tries to Shake Off Poor Start".
• A pitcher who disagrees with the catcher's call for the next pitch may shake off the sign by shaking his head "no", thereby telling the catcher to call for a different pitch. If the pitcher shakes off several signs in a row, the catcher may call time out and walk to the mound to talk to the pitcher.

A pitcher who is giving up numerous hits, especially extra-base hits, is said to be getting shelled – as if under siege by enemy artillery.

Where all infielders and/or outfielders 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 with left-handed batters and the bases empty, managers have been known to shift fielders from the left side to the right side of the diamond. The most extreme case was the famous "Ted Williams shift" (also once called the "Lou Boudreau shift"). Cleveland Indians manager Boudreau moved six of seven 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.

One way for a pitcher to doctor the ball is to rub one area of the ball hard to affect the ball's flight toward the plate.

When a fielder, usually an outfielder, catches a ball just before it hits the ground ("off his shoetops"), and remains running while doing so.

A ball that bounces immediately in front of an infielder. If the batter is a fast runner, an infielder may intentionally "short hop the ball" (take the ball on the short hop) to hasten his throw to first base. Balls may be short-hopped to turn a double play, but it may backfire sometimes. For example, Carlos Guillén had a ground ball that bounced to him, and he short hopped it; however, it went off his glove and went high in the air.

When one of the outfield walls is closer to home plate than normal, the stadium may be said to have a short porch. For example, Yankee Stadium has long had a short porch in right field.

When a pitcher starts games with just a three- or four-day break, instead of the typical five between starts, he is said to have had a short rest. "The big story Tuesday night, by a long shot, was Dallas Keuchel pitching six shutout innings. In the Bronx. On short rest".^[276]

See "cut down on his swing".

A team that has a strong staff of relief pitchers is sometimes said to have the ability to shorten games: "The Tigers will be fearsome postseason opponents because of their bullpen's ability to shorten games."^[277] If the team gets ahead in the first six innings, its bullpen can be counted on to hold the lead; thus the opponent needs to grab an early lead to still have a chance in the last few innings to win the game.

• A home run, as in "Ryan Howard's 2-run shot gives him 39 home runs for the year."

The major leagues. Particularly "in the Show". Or in "the Bigs" (big leagues, major leagues).

When a batter changes his stance so that he appears ready to bunt the ball, he's said to "show bunt". Sometimes this move is intended to make the infielders creep in toward home plate, but the hitter swings away instead. And sometimes it's intended to cause the pitcher to change his pitch. See also butcher boy.

• An easy-to-hit ball thrown by a pitcher to a batter who has fouled off many balls in that particular at-bat, so risking an excessive pitch count. While the likelihood of an extra-base hit is high, there is also a chance that the batter will strike out or put the ball in play where it can be fielded. Either way, a show-me pitch usually finishes the at-bat quickly.
• Also used to describe a specific pitch in a pitcher's repertoire that is weaker than their other offerings, particularly one that is rarely thrown. "Mahle's slider has always been more show-me pitch than put-away weapon."^[278]

According to the Dickson dictionary, the term derives from horseracing, in which a bettor arrives at the window too late to place a bet, due to the race already having started, so the bettor is said to be "shut out" (this specific usage was referenced in the film The Sting).

• A team shuts out its opponent when it prevents them from scoring any runs in a given game.
• "Santana shut out the Royals with a 3-hitter" means that the Royals went scoreless as Santana pitched a complete-game shutout. The pitcher or pitchers on the winning team thus get statistical credit for an individual shutout or a combined-to-pitch-shutout, respectively.

When a pitcher, generally the closer, finishes the ballgame with a save or makes the last out (or fails to do so): "No one from the Brandeis bullpen was able to shut the door in the top of the ninth in Tuesday's game." Also used more generally to refer to a victory: "Thomas, Halladay slam door shut on Dodgers."^[279]

When the third out of an inning is called, the "side is retired" and the other team takes its turn at bat. A pitcher or a defensive team can be said to have "retired the side". The goal of any pitcher is to face just three batters and make three outs: to "retire the side in order", have a "one-two-three inning", or have "three up, three down".

A pitcher who throws with a sidearm motion, i.e., not a standard overhanded delivery.

Non-verbal gestures used by catchers and coaches to communicate team strategy:

• A catcher is said to call the game by sending signs to the pitcher calling for a particular pitch. After he moves into his crouch, the catcher gives the sign by placing his non-glove hand between his legs and using his fist, fingers, wags, or taps against his inner thigh to tell the pitcher what type of pitch to throw (fastball, curve, etc.) as well as the location. A pitcher may shake off (shake his head "no" to) the initial sign or nod in agreement when he receives the sign that he wants before going into his windup. If there is a runner on second base, a catcher may change the location of his glove (from his knee to the ground, for example) to signal the pitcher that he is using an alternate set of signs so that the runner won't be able to steal the sign.
• A coach sends signs to players on the field, typically using a sequence of hand movements. He may send signs to offensive players, including batters and runners, about what to do on the next pitch—for example, to sacrifice bunt, to take or to swing away at the next pitch; to steal a base; or to execute a hit-and-run. He may send signs to the catcher to call for a pitchout or to intentionally walk the batter.

A one-base hit.

A pitch, typically a fastball, that breaks sharply downward as it crosses the plate. Also see drop ball.

A batter who is waiting for a particular type of pitch before swinging at it. He may be sitting in wait for, say, a curveball or a change-up, or a pitch thrown in a certain location, and he won't swing at anything else even if it's down the middle of the plate. Sometimes hitters who know a pitcher's pattern of pitches, or what type of pitch he likes to throw in a given count, sit on that particular pitch. This approach stems from the advice Rogers Hornsby gave to Ted Williams, telling him that the secret to hitting was simply to "wait for a good pitch to hit".

When a batter changes his strategy depending on the game situation: the inning, number of outs, number of men on base, or the score. He may not swing for the fences or even try to get a base hit, but instead make a sacrifice bunt or try to get a sacrifice fly or make contact with the ball in some other way.

A team that is on the skids is having a losing streak, perhaps a severe one that threatens to ruin their chances at the playoffs or to drop them into the cellar. Headline: "Yankees Remain on the Skids".^[280] Also used in the singular, skid, for a losing streak or hitless streak: "Peralta's single in the fourth ended an 0-for-26 skid."^[281]

A manager. Taken from the boating term skipper, the captain or commanding officer of a ship.

Used as a verb: to hit a fly ball. "Sizemore skies one. . . .Caught by the right fielder."

A very high fly ball. Sometimes referred to as a "rainmaker" because it is so high it may touch the clouds.

A hitter who sacrifices power for batting average, trying to make contact with the ball and "hit it where they ain't". Prime examples: Willie Keeler, Ty Cobb, Tony Gwynn, Pete Rose, Rod Carew, and Ichiro Suzuki.

A representation of multiple baseball statistics separated by the slash, for example .330/.420/.505. The typical data represented are batting average (AVG) / on-base percentage (OBP) / slugging percentage (SLG).^[282] Also known as a triple slash. Slash is used as a verb meaning to effect a given slash line. Less commonly, a slash line may contain four statistics ("quad slash line"); the first three being as noted and the fourth being on-base plus slugging (OPS).^[283]

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 (i.e.: it curves to the right for a right-handed batter and to the left for a left-handed batter).

• When a runner drops to the ground when running toward a base to avoid a tag. Players also sometimes slide head-first into first base. If former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean had seen something like that, he'd probably have said the player never should have "slud into first".
• A team having a losing streak is in a slide or on the skids.

A relatively fast pitch with a slight curve in the opposite direction of the throwing arm.

• A slugger maintains a high slugging average. Just as a "perfect" batting average would be 1.000 (a thousand), a "perfect" slugging average would be 4.000 (four thousand).
• A slugfest is an exceptionally high scoring game, perhaps with double digits for both teams; the opposite of a slugfest is a pitchers' duel.

An extended period when player or team is not performing well or up to expectations; a dry spell or drought.

A cross between a slider and a curveball.

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 runs; close kin to inside baseball. "It's important for us to think small ball and hit behind runners, and also score with base hits, doubles, sacrifices—there are many ways to score", Alex Rodriguez said. "Later on, when it counts the most, it's hard only to score by home runs".^[284]

• To smoke a batter is to throw a smoker (an inside fastball) for a called strike.
• A pitcher who throws smoke throws the ball so hard the batter sees only its (imaginary) vapor trail.

A throw made by the catcher to either first or third base after a pitch in an attempt to pick off the runner.

A type of foul ball in which the batter grazes ("snicks") the ball with the bat. The ball continues toward the catcher, with a slightly modified trajectory, making it a difficult catch.^{[citation needed]}

A catch made with the ball barely caught in the tip of a glove's webbing. Sometimes referred to as an "ice cream cone".

An 8-run inning as it appears on the scoreboard, like two large balls of snow stacked on top of one another.

A fielder's ability to cradle the ball well in his glove. Contrast hard hands. "I was teaching the players to field the ball out front and 'give in' with the ball and bring it up to a throwing position. The analogy I used was to pretend the ball is an egg and give in with it. I consider this to be 'soft' hands."^[285]

When a coach or teammate from a position adjacent the hitter throws a ball under-hand to allow the hitter to practice hitting into a net or fence.

A pitcher who doesn't have a really fast fastball. "Jones, a soft tosser when compared to the Tigers' other hard throwers, struck out Posada, retired Cano on a soft fly, and got Damon to fly out."^[286]

A home run hit when there are no runners on base, so the batter circles the bases solo.

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".

• To hit the ball, typically a line drive to the opposite field.
• To win a game handily or decisively. Headline: "Tigers Spank KC 13-1. Did the Royals Wave the White Flag?"^[287]

A fireplug. A player known for his aggressive, never-say-die attitude (though perhaps modest ability) who may help to spark his team into a rally or a win. "Versalles was the sparkplug that led the 1965 Twins to their first World Series."^[288]

A sticky paste product designed for strongman competitions that has been illegally used by some pitchers to enhance their grip on the ball. Illegal grip enhancers have been used by spitball pitchers before, but Spider Tack specifically made headlines during the 2021 pitch doctoring controversy.^[289]

A fast player, often collecting stolen bases, bunt singles and/or infield hits.

A runner can "spike" an infielder by sliding into him and causing an injury with the spikes of his shoes.

A spitball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of spit, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance.

A fastball that breaks sharply toward the ground just before reaching the plate due to the pitcher's grip; his first two fingers are spread apart to put a downward spin on the ball. Also called a forkball, splitter or Mr. Splitee.

A player's splits are his performance statistics broken down or split into categories such as batting average against right-handed vs. left-handed pitchers, in home games vs. away games, or in day games vs. night games. When statistics are split in such a way they may reveal patterns that allow a manager to use (perhaps to platoon) a player strategically where he can be most effective. Sabermetricians may use such splits to investigate patterns that explain overall performance, including topics such as whether a pitcher may have doctored the ball during home games.^[290]

When a pitcher throws a strike over the plate that at first seems good enough to strike the batter out but the batter fouls it off, the batter may be said to "spoil the pitch". The usage is similar to that of "fighting off a pitch".

• A pitcher who starts an occasional game (perhaps only one game) who is not a regular starter in the rotation. This is a pitcher who is already on a team's roster and usually works as a relief pitcher. In contrast to a spot starter, who is already on the roster, an emergency starter is typically a player who is brought up from the minor leagues on very short notice because a regular starter is injured. Sometimes, however, even a player who is already on the roster may be referred to as an emergency starter if his starting role arises because the regularly scheduled starter has been injured.
• In recent years, the term "spot starter" has more commonly been used to describe a pitcher called up from the minors specifically to make one start before being optioned back down to the minors immediately following the game, particularly when the pitcher in question is the extra player added to the active roster for a scheduled doubleheader.

A batter who hits line drives to all fields. Not a pull hitter.

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.

When a batter turns his stance from being sideways to the pitcher's mound to facing the pitcher's mound. This is typically done when a batter prepares to bunt a ball, in particular when he intends to do a sacrifice bunt. "Whether you square around or pivot, you want to make sure you are in a comfortable and athletic position to bunt the ball. Your knees should be bent and your bat should be held out in front of your body. The barrel of the bat should be at the same height as your eyes and at the top of the strike zone".^[291]

To get a good swing at the ball and hit it hard near the center of the ball. "It makes a big difference because you work hard to square a ball up, but they catch it or make a good play", Pierre said. "It takes the wind out of you a little bit and it makes him (Verlander) probably feel better, too".^[292]

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. In a suicide squeeze, the runner takes off towards home plate as soon as the pitcher begins his throw toward home plate. In a safety squeeze, the runner waits until the batter makes contact with the ball before committing himself to try to reach home.

When an umpire calls balls and strikes as if the strike zone is smaller than usual, he's said to "squeeze the zone".

A nubber. A batted ball that is either off the end of the bat or from a very late swing, which puts side spin on it as it rolls (typically toward the first or third baseman).

The pitching staff of a given team.

An extra-base hit in which the runner reaches base easily without needing to slide, i.e. remains standing up as he touches the bag. Also referred to simply as "standing" i.e. "the runner from 3rd base scores standing (up)."

• When a hitter steps into the batter's box, he typically stands a few inches from home plate with one shoulder facing the pitcher's mound. His particular manner of bending his knees or holding his bat is referred to as the batter's stance or hitting stance.^[293]
• A catcher typically crouches or squats behind home plate, holding his glove up as a target for the pitcher. This is referred to as a catcher's stance.^[294]
• A pitcher's stance or pitching position involves how and where he stands on the mound, how his back foot toes the rubber, his windup, and his delivery.

An inning. "In that stanza, however, the Tigers . . . clawed their way back into the ballgame."^[295]

The "starter" is the first pitcher in the game for each team. (For a less frequently used strategy to start the game, see opener.)

Another term for rotation (the planned order of a team's starting pitchers).

A player's assigned defensive position.

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 maximise the number of runs scored on a homer.

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.

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.

When a batter who already has two strikes swings at but fouls off a pitch, he may be said to have "stayed alive". He (or his at bat) will live to see another pitch. Similarly, when a team that is facing elimination from the playoffs wins a game, it may be said to have "stayed alive" to play another game.^[296]

When a batter shows that it is easier to get him out with a certain type of pitch, he may receive a "steady diet" of that type of pitch thrown. Headline: "Phillies' Howard Gets a Steady Diet of Curveballs".^[297]

RBIs. Derived from the common pronunciation of RBI as "ribbie", which was apparently once pronounced as Rib-eye.

See stolen base.

• When a team that is at bat tries to see the sign the catcher is giving to the pitcher (indicating what type of pitch to throw), the team is said to be stealing signs. This may be done by a runner who is on base (typically second base) watching the catcher's signs to the pitcher and giving a signal of some kind to the batter. (To prevent this, the pitcher and catcher may change their signs when there is a runner on second base.) Sometimes a first-base or third-base coach might see a catcher's signs if the catcher isn't careful. In unusual cases, the signs may be read through binoculars by somebody sitting in the stands, perhaps in center field, and sending a signal to the hitter in some way.
• When a hitter is suspected of peeking to see how a catcher is setting up behind the plate as a clue to what pitch might be coming or what the intended location is, then the pitcher will usually send the hitter a message: stick it in his ear.

A phrase for an "open" batting stance, in which the hitter's leading foot is aligned away from the plate (toward left field for a right-handed batter). The stance reduces power in the swing and slows the hitter's exit toward first base; however, many players believe it allows them to see the pitch better, and more naturally drive the ball to the opposite field.

"Stick it in his ear!" is a cry that may come from fans in the stands, appealing to the home team pitcher to be aggressive (throw the ball at the opposing batter). The line is attributed originally, however, to Leo Durocher.

Said of an infielder who secures a batted or thrown ball, but chooses to hold the ball rather than throwing to try for an out. For example, a shortstop might range in the hole to field a ground ball, but then elect to "stick it in his pocket" rather than attempting to throw to first base to put out the batter-runner, whether to avoid the possibility of a throwing error or to prevent another runner on base from advancing on the throw. Often happens on a ball hit so slowly that, by the time it's fielded, the runner(s) have already advanced so far that a throw and catch for a force out is unlikely or impossible.

Layman's term for illegal grip-enhancing substances used by pitchers such as pine tar, petroleum jelly, human saliva, and some resin-based products.

In baseball, a stolen base (or "steal") 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.

A batter who reaches first base following an uncaught third strike has (unofficially) "stolen" it.

A fielder who misplays easy ground balls. Also see hard hands and tin glove.

• A team's best starting pitcher, called upon to stop a losing streak^[298]
• A team's closer (pre-2000)^[298]
• An unusually effective relief pitcher^[299]

Another term for left on base.

• A series of consecutive wins (a winning streak) or losses (a losing streak). Also, a string, especially if referring to a series of wins.
• A series of games in which a batter gets a hit (hitting streak) or fails to get a hit (hitless streak), or accomplishes some other feat of interest (e.g., gets a stolen base or hits a home run).

• A stretch in baseball pitching means starting sideways, raising your arms high, then throwing the ball. Pitchers often do this with runners on base to keep an eye on them.
• For other uses of the word "stretch", see stretch a hit, stretch run, down the stretch, and seventh inning stretch.

To stretch a hit is to take an additional base on a hit, typically by aggressive running.

• To stretch the lineup is to have strong hitters after the 3rd, 4th, and 5th places in the batting order, which are normally where the power hitters are found. "Victor goes out there every day and shows you why he is a professional hitter – he's never afraid to just take a base hit when that's what there for him", Leyland said. "Carlos lets us stretch our lineup with another professional hitter, and also a switch-hitter".^[300]

The last part of the regular baseball season when teams are competing to reach the playoffs or championship. Perhaps derived from the term "home stretch" in horse racing or car racing when the horse (or car) comes out of the final turn and is racing toward the finish line. Headline: "Tigers eyeing help for stretch run"^[301] (The Tigers are seeking additional players as they approach the end of the season).

• When a batter swings at a pitch, but fails to hit it, when a batter does not swing at a pitch that is thrown within the strike zone, 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), when a ball is bunted foul, regardless of the strike count, when the ball touches the batter as he swings at it, when the ball touches the batter in the strike zone, or when the ball is a foul tip.
• A particularly hard, accurate throw by a fielder attempting to put out a baserunner (or a particularly hard, accurate pickoff attempt by the pitcher) is sometimes referred to as throwing a strike.

• Of a pitcher, the throwing of three strikes in one plate appearance. This normally retires the batter, and counts as one out. However, it is possible for the hitter to strike out and still reach base, if the catcher drops the strikeout pitch.
• Of a hitter, with a count of two strikes, to make a third strike by swinging at and missing a pitch, swinging at a pitch and tipping a foul ball directly into the catcher's mitt which is subsequently caught, taking a called strike, or bunting a ball foul.

• The last pitch of a strikeout; the third strike.
• The type of pitch (specific to each pitcher) that he or she prefers to use as the last pitch of a strikeout. This is almost always a breaking pitch – a pitch that moves out of the strike zone, increasing the chance that the batter will swing and miss.^[302]

A pitcher who strikes out hitters a lot.

A double play in which a batter strikes out and the catcher then immediately throws out a baserunner trying to steal. Sometimes this is called strikeout/double-play. Usually scored 2-6 or 2-4 for an out at second.

• A pitcher is said to have "struck out the side" when he retires all three batters in one inning by striking them out.
• "All three" may mean that only three batters came to the plate (and struck out), but the phrase could refer to the three batters who made outs (regardless what happened to the others).

The imaginary prism over home plate used to "call" balls and strikes.

• A series of consecutive wins. A winning streak.
• Any other series of consecutive events, such as strike-outs or scoreless innings.

"Struck out looking" means the batter didn't swing at a pitch the umpire judged a strike, resulting in an out. Some scorecards show it with a backwards "K". Sports commentators have also been known to use the slang term "just browsing" when showing a batter that's "struck out looking" on SportsCenter or other related shows.

A batter called out on strikes when swinging at the third strike is said to have "struck out swinging". Usually labeled with the traditional forward "K" on scorecards.

A batter called out on strikes when the third strike resulted from a bunted ball that came to rest in foul territory.

A pitcher's "stuff" is how hard their pitches are to hit, combining movement (breaking balls) or speed (fastballs). This is separate from location, another key aspect of pitching.

A pitcher who throws with such a severe sidearm motion that the pitch comes from below his waist, sometimes near the ground. (A submariner does not throw underhanded, as in fastpitch softball.) See submarine.

When two teams from the same city or metropolitan area play a series of games, they are presumed to be so near to one another that they could take the subway to play at their opponent's stadium. Mets vs. Yankees would be (and is) called a subway series; a Cubs vs. White Sox series would be an "L" series; and a series between the Oakland A's and the San Francisco Giants would be (and was) the "BART" series. However, a series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels would not be a subway series, because there is no subway or other rail service between Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium of Anaheim (not even the fabled but fanciful line between "Anaheim, Azusa and Cuc ... amonga").^[303] Instead such a series is referred to as a freeway series.

After winning a weekend series in college baseball, the team will party Sunday night. This is because college teams play five nights a week and have no free time to party except on Sundays, because they can rest on their required Monday off day.

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.

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the Midsummer Classic. These annual games, typically played in July, pit the all-stars of the National League against the all-stars of the American League, a concept designed to acknowledge and showcase the achievements of the best players in each league.

To win all the games in a series between two teams, whether during the regular 162-game season or during the league championships or World Series. During the regular season, pairs of teams typically square off in several 3- or 4-game series at the home parks of each team. It is also thus possible for one team to sweep a 3- or 4-game series, the "home series" (all the games a team plays at its home field against another given team), the "road series", or the "season series" between two teams. ("Sweep" was also used to mean winning both games of a doubleheader. Sweeps are also used for a college baseball team who wins all three games of a weekend series.)

A pitch very similar to a slider, but with more horizontal movement.

The meat of the bat.^[304] "Batters know from experience that there is a sweet spot on the bat, about 17 centimetres (6.7 in) from the end of the barrel, where the shock of the impact, felt by the hands, is reduced to such an extent that the batter is almost unaware of the collision. At other impact points, the impact is usually felt as a sting or jarring of the hands and forearm, particularly if the impact occurs at a point well removed from the sweet spot".^[305][306] " 'I was ready for a fastball early in the count, because I knew he would go to his other stuff later", Santiago said. "I got one, and I just wanted to hit it on the sweet spot' ".^[307]

• When a batter is following his coach's advice to not bunt (never mind those runners), he is said to "swing away".
• "Swing for the downs" means swing mightily – all or nothing.
• Attempting a home run is to "swing for the fences".
• "Swing from the heels" means swinging very hard, hoping for an extra base hit.
• A "swingman" is a pitcher with relatively good stamina who can function as either a long reliever or a starter, e.g. Justin Masterson during his time with the Red Sox.^[308]

A switch hitter can hit from either side of the plate, i.e. bats both left-handed and right-handed.

• a player placed high in the batting order for his tendency to hit for average and steal bases is said to "set the table" for the power hitters behind him in the lineup.
• an unexpected event early in a ball game, such as a defensive error or a hit batsmen, can be called a "tablesetter" for the outcome of the game.

• A tag out. A runner is out if, while in jeopardy, a fielder touches him with a live ball or the hand or glove holding a live ball.
• To hit the ball hard, typically for an extra-base hit.

When a batter hits a ball that is caught before touching the ground (he is out) every runner must retreat back to the base he just left. Once he has touched that base (tagged up), he may legally advance again. If he fails to tag up he can be called out on appeal.

A catcher's butt. In the phrase "he didn't keep his tailgate down" an announcer means a pitched ball was very low or even hit the dirt and went between the catcher's legs.

When a batter decides not to swing at a pitch, he "takes the pitch." He may do this following the instruction of a coach who has given him a take sign.

The signal from a coach for the batter to not swing at the next pitch—to "take" it. Sometimes when a new pitcher or a 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.

To throw an off-speed pitch or to throw a given pitch slower than the pitcher usually throws it.

To issue an intentional walk. By doing so, a pitcher reduces the potential damage from allowing the batter to swing at and hit a pitch. "Buck Showalter took the bat out of Barry Bonds' hands with an unheard-of strategy – a bases-loaded intentional walk. Amazingly, the Arizona Diamondbacks manager got away with it."^[309]

To win the championship, i.e. remove the current champions from the throne.

When the defensive players arrive at their positions at the beginning of a half-inning, they have "taken the field". (The pitcher "takes the hill".)

A slide performed for the purpose of hampering the play of the defense. A runner from first to second base will often try to "take out" the fielder at the base to disrupt his throw to first base and "break up the double play". Although the runner is supposed to stay within the base-paths, as long as he touches second base he has a lot of leeway to use his body. Runners in this situation usually need to slide in order to avoid being hit by the throw from second to first; but whether they do a "take-out slide" or come into the base with their spikes high in the air depends as much on their personal disposition as it does the situation. The title of a biography of Ty Cobb—"The Tiger Wore Spikes"—says something about how he ran the basepaths.^[310]

Before the 2015 season, "runners were given a good deal of leeway when sliding into a base in an attempt to break up a double play." After some infielders were injured on rough plays during that season, notably when Chase Utley slid into Ruben Tejada during the National League Divisional playoffs and broke his leg, Major League Baseball instituted the "bona-fide slide" rule.^[311] The runner must make contact with the ground before reaching the base, he must be able to reach the base with a hand or foot, he must be able to remain on the base at the completion of the slide (except at home plate) and he must not change his path for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder.

To hit a slow or easy ground ball, typically to the pitcher: "Martinez tapped it back to the mound." A ball hit in this way is a tapper.

An especially long home run. The term originated from a 1953 game in which Mickey Mantle hit a ball out of Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. The distance the ball flew was measured and the next day a picture of Mantle with a tape measure was published in the newspaper. A play-by-play announcer may also call a long home run a tape measure job. Although fans have always been interested in how far home runs may travel and in comparing the great home runs of the great and not-so-great home run hitters, the science of measuring home runs remains inexact.^[312][313]

A home run. The term started to appear in the 1970s, specifically as "long tater". (The ball itself has been known as a "potato" or "tater" for generations.)

To hit the ball very hard, figuratively to put a tattoo from the bat's trademark on the ball.

A deep fly ball which has a chance to become a base hit or home run. Said of Brett Lawrie's inside-the-park home run on 25 June 2016 when the ball was still in the air with its fate not yet certain.

Total bases.

Conference on the mound, involving more players than just the pitcher and catcher, and sometimes coaches and managers. Also a pow wow.

Easily hittable pitches are likened to stationary baseballs sitting on batting tees (or possibly golf tees, since this term is also part of the lexicon of golf), and therefore batters hitting such pitches are said to be 'teeing off'.

To tip one's pitches.

A pitcher's "out pitch" (usually his best pitch); the one upon which he relies. Made famous by the movie Major League II.

• A Texas Leaguer (or Texas League single) is a weakly hit fly ball that drops in for a single between an infielder and an outfielder. This is now more commonly referred to as a flare, blooper, or "bloop single". It is most colorfully called a 'gork shot' or a 'duck snort.' See blooper.
• Outfielder Ollie Pickering is credited with giving baseball the term "Texas Leaguer," a pejorative slang for a weak pop fly that lands unimpressively between an infielder and an outfielder for a base hit. According to the April 21, 1906, edition of The Sporting Life,^[314] John McCloskey, founder of the Texas League and then-manager of the Houston Mudcats – who would later go onto manage the St. Louis Cardinals – signed 22-year-old Pickering to play center field on the morning of May 21, 1892. That afternoon, Pickering turned in one of the most remarkable performances in the history of the Texas League, stringing together seven consecutive singles in one game, each a soft, looping fly ball that fell in no-man's land between either the first baseman and right fielder or the third baseman and left fielder. News of Pickering's feat spread quickly throughout the nation and the term "Texas Leaguer" became ingrained in the baseball lexicon. Pickering's seven consecutive singles in a game still stands as a Texas League record.^[315] Pickering would go on to play and manage for 30 years, with major league stops as an outfielder for the Louisville Colonels, Philadelphia A's, Cleveland Blues (now Guardians), St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators.

A concept in statistics to account for when a pitcher retires only one or two of the [at least] three batters in a full inning, e.g. 3.1 and 5.2 (for convenience in print; those represent 3+1⁄3 and 5+2⁄3 respectively).

A triple.

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. The statistical result of the three true outcomes on a player's slash line is a low batting average, as well as an unusually high on-base percentage relative to the batting average. Traditionally, players with a high percentage of their plate appearances ending in one of the three true outcomes are underrated,^{[citation needed]} as general managers often overestimate the harm in striking out, and underestimate the value of a walk.

To face just three batters in an inning. Having a "three up, three down inning" is the goal of any pitcher. Unlike in a 1-2-3 inning, batters are permitted to reach base so long as only three batters are faced by the pitcher. For instance, a single, then a strikeout, then a double play is a three up three down inning, but not a 1-2-3 inning. See also: side retired, 1-2-3 inning.

When a batted ball passes through the legs of a player on the field (most commonly an infielder) it's often said, "That one went right through the wickets." The term refers to the metal arches (called wickets) used in the game of croquet through which balls are hit. Letting the ball through his legs makes a baseball player look (and feel) inept, and the official scorekeeper typically records the play as an error.

When a fielder throws the ball so hard it appears to hardly arc at all, he has "thrown a clothesline". Akin to a line drive being described as a rope or frozen rope.

Striking out a batter, causing him to sit down in the dugout.^{[citation needed]}

A pitcher who throws the ball hard in the direction of home plate but without much accuracy or command. Distinguished from a "pitcher", who may or may not throw the ball as hard but who has command and is likely to be more successful in getting batters out.

When a pitcher's fastball is so good it seems as though the baseball is the size of a seed (or pill or BB), and just about as hittable.

Getting a pitch in on the hitter's hands, making it impossible for him to swing.

A game. A face-off between competitors, as in a joust. Headline: "Myers, Phillies beat Mets in key NL East tilt".^[316]

A run can be scored on the same play as the third out, but only if the third out is not a force out, and is not made by the batter before reaching first base. In order for the run to count, the runner must reach home plate before the third out is made elsewhere on the field, so the play is known as a "time play".^[317]

A poor fielding (defensive) player is often said to have a "tin glove", as if his baseball mitt was made of inflexible metal. This is a sarcastic reference to the gold glove awarded for defensive excellence.^{[citation needed]}

• When a pitcher inadvertently signals what type pitch is next, he is said to be "tipping" or "telegraphing" them. It may be something in his position on the rubber, his body lean, how he holds or moves his glove when going into the stretch, whether he moves his index finger outside his glove, or some aspect of his pitching motion. Akin to what is called a tell in poker: a habit, behavior, or physical reaction that gives other players more information about your hand.
• Coaches as well as players on the bench make a habit of watching everything an opposing pitcher is doing, looking for information that will allow them to forecast what kind of pitch is coming. When pitchers go through a bad spell, they may become paranoid that they're tipping their pitches to the opposing batters. A pitcher and coaches are likely to spend a lot of time studying film of the games to learn what the pitcher might be doing that tips his pitches.
• Pitchers will try to hide their grip even while delivering the ball. Rick Sutcliffe used to wind up in such a way that his body concealed the ball from the batter almost until the moment of release. In contrast, relief ace Dennis Eckersley, playing a psychological game, would hold the ball up in such a way that he purposely showed off the type of grip he had on it, essentially "daring" the batter to hit it.

To take the mound; to pitch. Sometimes expressed as "toe the rubber". Literally, to put the toe of his shoe on the rubber.

When a batter swings a bit late, perhaps hitting the ball to the opposite field, a broadcaster may say he "took the ball out of the catcher's glove" (just before the catcher was able to catch it).

Went hitless. See collar.

To hit a high pitch, perhaps one that's out of the strike zone, so that the batter may appear to be swinging downwards as if his bat is a tomahawk. "Things started well for the Blue Jays in their first at-bat when Stairs tomahawked a Matsuzaka pitch on one bounce into the stands behind Fenway Park's famed Pesky's Pole for a ground-rule double."^[318]

Kirby Puckett when asked by broadcaster Jim Kaat about his walk-off home run which won Game Six of the 1991 World Series, "I just tomahawked that ball, Kitty!"

A type of reconstructive elbow surgery with estimated recovery time 14-18 months. Pitcher Tommy John was the first professional athlete to successfully undergo it.

See 5-tool player.

A catcher's gear.

Different sources have credited Muddy Ruel and Bill Dickey with coining the phrase.

A player with many tools who hasn't matured yet.

A tongue-in-cheek term for when a baserunner commits a blunder that leads to him being tagged or forced out. It stands for "Thrown Out On The Basepaths Like A Nincompoop".^[319] It was created as part of an effort to determine what impact on-base outs had on a batter's on-base percentage.^[320]

The first half of an inning during which the visiting team bats; derived from its position in the line score.

A batter who has speed and a propensity to get on base, and who thus may be suited to be the lead-off or second hitter in the line-up. "I think Brett Jackson looks a lot more like a top of the order guy right now than a middle of the order guy, and he seems like a viable leadoff hitter based on his performance as a professional."^{[citation needed]}

When a pitcher has reached a point where he's at risk of being pulled and replaced by another pitcher, the manager may be standing at the "top step" of the dugout, ready to go immediately to the mound after the next pitch.

Hit the ball so hard that the batter figuratively tore the cover off the ball. Also used in Ernest Thayer's famous "Casey at the Bat":

"But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,

And Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball ..."^[321]

When a player or manager is ordered by an umpire to leave a game, that player or manager is said to have been "tossed". Usually, this is the result of arguing with an umpire. Similar to being "red carded" in soccer. See ejected.

The sum of the number of bases advanced by a batter/runner on his own safe hits over a specified period of time, where a single = 1, a double = 2, a triple = 3, and a home run = 4. The quotient of total bases divided by at-bats is slugging average, a measure of hitting power. (It can be argued that total bases would include walks and steals.)

To "touch all the bases" or "touch 'em all" is to hit a home run. (If a player fails to literally "touch 'em all" – if he misses a base during his home run trot – he can be called out on appeal).

A pitcher who gives up several hits may be said to have been "touched up".

A seven-run difference, derived from six points for a touchdown plus the extra point in American football. For example, a team ahead 10–3 is said to be "up by a touchdown".

Throws right; used in describing a player's statistics, e.g. John Doe (TR, BR, 6', 172 lbs.)

To field a ball, typically a ground ball that a fielder has to travel some distance to stop or a fly ball that an outfielder has to run far to catch. "Mike Cameron, Milwaukee Brewers, can track down flies with the best centerfielders in baseball today."^[322]

When a fielder attempts to catch a batted baseball in the air but the ball hits the ground just before it enters the fielder's glove, the fielder is said to have "trapped the ball". Sometimes it is difficult for the umpire to tell whether the ball was caught for an out or instead trapped. "Any outfielder worth his salt always makes the catch of the sinking line drive by rolling over and raising his glove triumphantly. It does not matter if he trapped the ball. It does not matter that the replay shows he trapped the ball. What is important is the success of the deception at that moment so that the umpire calls the batter out."^[323]

A three-base hit.

• A batter who (at season's end) leads the league in three major categories: home runs, runs batted in, and batting average.
• A pitcher who (at season's end) leads the league in three major categories: earned run average, wins, and strikeouts.

When three outs are made on one play. This is rare. While a typical game may have several double plays, a typical season has only a few triple plays. This is primarily because the circumstances are rather specific—that there be at least two runners, and no outs, and that typically one of these circumstances occurs: (1) the batter hits a sharp grounder to the third baseman, who touches the base, throws to second base to get the second out, and the second baseman or shortstop relays the ball to first quickly enough to get the batter-runner for the third out (also called a 5-4-3 or 5-6-3 triple play, respectively); OR (2) the runners are off on the pitch, in a hit-and-run play, but an infielder catches the ball on a line-drive out, and relays to the appropriate bases in time to get two other runners before they can retreat to their bases. The latter situation can also yield an extremely rare unassisted triple play, of which 14 have occurred in the entire history of major league baseball. A second baseman or shortstop will catch the ball, his momentum will carry him to second base to make the second out, and he will run and touch the runner from first before the runner can fully regain his momentum and turn around back to first.

To execute a double play.

• A doubleheader.

• A double play.
• Winning both ends of a doubleheader.

An old fashioned term for a pitcher. In the early years, pitchers would often twirl their arms in a circle one or more times before delivering the ball, literally using a "windup", in the belief it would reduce stress on their arms. The terms "twirler" and "twirling" faded along with that motion. The modern term "hurler" is effectively the substitute term.

When there are two outs in the inning.

A double.

A fastball held in such a way that it breaks slightly downward, and most often away from the pitcher's arm, as it crosses the plate. A sinker. A two-seamer. Due to the grip, generally with or along the two straight seams, as opposed to a four seamer, which is gripped across the horseshoe, the batter sees only one pair of seams spinning instead of two.

Many college athletes play two sports, but it is rare for someone to play two major league professional sports well or simultaneously. Sometimes players have brief major league trial periods in two professional sports but quickly drop one of them. Some "two-sport" players who played multiple major league baseball seasons have been Jim Thorpe, Brian Jordan, Gene Conley, Bo Jackson, Danny Ainge, Ron Reed, Deion Sanders and Mark Hendrickson. Although Michael Jordan tried to become a major league baseball player after his first retirement from the National Basketball Association, he didn't make the big leagues and did not try to play both baseball and basketball at the same time.

• A term borrowed from American football to describe either a player who can pitch and hit well, or a player who can pitch and play another defensive position well. The most famous Major League ballplayer who was truly a two-way player was Babe Ruth. He started his career as an outstanding pitcher and later played in the outfield—and was one of the greatest home run hitters of all time.
• The term is sometimes used to describe a player who is good at both offense and defense: "Manager Jim Leyland said during the season that he believes Inge has the potential to become one of the league's best two-way players."

Abbreviation for Union Association, a one-year (1884) major league.

Spectator seating offering a very poor view of the playing field, usually located in a stadium's upper decks. Named for longtime Milwaukee Brewers announcer Bob Uecker, in reference to one of his Miller Lite TV ads from the 1980s in which he is removed from the box seats and, after musing that he "must be in the front row," learns that his tickets actually put him in the back row of the right field upper deck.

A foul ball hit into a dugout, presumably to "find" someone who is ugly or to render him that way if he fails to dodge the ball.

A weak hitter – banjo hitter, Punch and Judy hitter. "Wolff: Ukulele Hitter Makes Hall of Fame as Broadcaster".^[324]

A grand slam by a member of the home team when they are exactly three runs behind in the bottom of the final inning, thus overcoming a 3-run deficit and winning the game with one swing. See also walk-off home run.

"The ump" is in charge of a game, as are members of his crew ("refs" in most other sports).

When a fielder single-handedly executes a play which 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. Unassisted double plays are rare, and unassisted triple plays are extremely rare.

A curveball.

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 or undefended steal. In the game's statistics, the runner would not be credited with a stolen base. Also called defensive indifference. See also stolen base, fielder's choice.

• The player at bat or on his way there.
• "Batter up!": Start the inning (says an umpire).
• Three up, three down: Three batters came to the plate and all three are out.
• A team in the lead is "up" by some number of runs.
• Called up, a player has been promoted from the minors to the majors.

Same as high and tight.

A pitch to the upper part of the strike zone. "When Miller throws his fastball up in the zone, opponents are hitting .079 (6-for-76) and have missed on 36 percent of swings (league average is .232). When his fastball is down or in the middle of the strike zone, opponents hit .270 with a miss rate of 15 percent."^[325]

(adverb) Said of a ball batted through the middle of the infield, i.e. over or near second base and toward or into the outfield.

• A home run that lands in the stadium's upper deck.
• A dip of tobacco placed in the upper lip.

When a batter's swing moves upward as the bat moves forward. "The looping or uppercut swing is most common when the hitter 'loads up his swing' in order to hit with more power."^[326]

A high pitch, usually above the strike zone.

A high pop-up directly over the batter.

The area near an imaginary line from home plate through the pitcher's mound and second base into center field. General managers typically build teams "up the middle", i.e. strength at catcher, second base, shortstop, and center field.

A player (usually a bench player) who can play several different positions.

• A team (and their fans) in another team's home stadium are "visiting" as "the visitors".
• A conference with a pitcher is referred to as a "visit to the mound".

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.^[327]

A reliever who records wins in late innings by being the pitcher of record in the midst of a comeback.^[328]

A batter caught looking at an off-speed pitch for strike three, when the game situation called for (or the batter was expecting) a fastball.

A home run. Also used as a verb: "Albert Pujols walloped that pitch."

A base on balls.

A home team immediately wins the game when they score a run to take the lead in the bottom of the last inning.

The dirt and finely-ground gravel area along the fence, intended to help prevent fielders from running into it.

The lack of "home run power" when a batter can only hit a fly ball that is caught at the warning track, just missing a home run.

• When a pitcher gets ahead in the count he may deliberately throw the ball outside the strike zone, hoping the batter will chase it. "Waste a pitch", the opposite of attack the strike zone, is the counterpart to a batter's "taking" a 3-0 pitch.
• The phrase is sometimes applied also to hitters who deliberately foul off a strike to get good wood.

• To swing and miss a pitch, usually with a tentative swing.
• 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.
• 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.
• "Doing the wave" in the stands.

• When a batter allows a pitch to hit them, or knowingly drops their elbow or shoulder into the pitch to be awarded first base.
• Sometimes if a player jumps out of the way of a pitch you may hear his teammates telling him to, "wear it!" from the dugout.

An outstanding defensive play. Refers to the webbing of a glove. Popularized by Baseball Tonight on ESPN.

Hit a home run. See go deep.

When a batter reaches across the plate trying to hit an outside pitch (and misses) he "went fishing" for it.

A hitter's power zone. Usually a pitch waist-high and over the heart of the plate. "Clem threw that one right into Ruben's wheelhouse. End of story."^[329][330]

Upon a bunt to the left side of the infield, the third-baseman runs toward home to field the bunt, and the shortstop runs to third base to cover. The infielders thus rotate like a wheel. "Lohse's bunt was a bad one, in the air over the head of Beltré, but it required Andrus to make an outstanding pick, stopping in his tracks as he was headed to cover third on the wheel play and then throwing to first."^[331]

Legs. A player who runs the bases fast "has wheels".

A swinging strike (referring to the bat whiffing through the air without contacting the ball).

A swinging third strike.

• A curveball.
• See Walks plus hits per inning pitched.

A shutout.^{[citation needed]}

A pitcher who throws strikes but without sufficient control over their location is "wild in the strike zone". Headline: "Zambrano Is Too Wild in Strike Zone".^[332]

A wild pitch (abbreviated WP) is charged to a pitcher when, in the opinion of the official scorer, a pitch is too high, too low, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to catch the ball with ordinary effort, and which allows one or more runners to advance; or allows the batter to advance to first base, if it is a third strike with first base unoccupied. Neither a passed ball nor a wild pitch is charged as an error. It is a separate statistic.

See Win–loss record (pitching)

Caught looking for strike three.

In baseball, there are two legal pitching positions: the windup, and the set. The choice of pitching position may be tactical, as the windup has a generally slower execution than the set and is thus at greater risk of allowing a stolen base. However, some pitchers, particularly relief pitchers, are more comfortable pitching from the set position, and thus use it regardless of the situation.

A team that has won 82 games this year is having a winning season, because now they can lose the rest and still not have a total of that many losses.

A series of consecutive wins.

Leagues with their seasons held during the off-season of Major League Baseball include: Arizona Fall League, Australian Baseball League, Dominican Winter Baseball League, Mexican Pacific League, Panamanian Professional Baseball League, Puerto Rico Baseball League, Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League, and Colombian Professional Baseball League. Defunct winter leagues include the Cuban League and California Winter League.

A phrase borrowed from horse racing. It refers to a team's leading a game from the first inning to the end of the game, or leading their division (or league) from the first two or three weeks of the season to the end of the season. Also sometimes used to refer to a pitcher's throwing a complete game, especially a shut-out.

The bat. See get good wood.

When a batter is patient and tries to get ahead in the count, or to get a pitch that he can hit hard, he's said to "work the count" or to "work the pitcher". Tigers Manager Jim Leyland: "We tell our hitters to be aggressive all the time, and at the same time we tell them, 'Work the pitcher.'"

A hard hit ground ball that "burns" the ground. A daisy cutter.

A pitch, usually an off speed or breaking ball, that hits the ground before it reaches home plate.

When a batted ball that goes for a home run passes just inside the foul pole while curving toward foul territory, it is sometimes described as having "wrapped around" the pole. (The ball may actually land in foul territory, but if it passed inside the pole it is still fair. This however was not the case before 1931.)

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.

A big home run, usually hit by a hoss player. The term was made colloquially popular in the mid-2010s by electric sports personality, Dan Katz aka "Barstool Bigcat", host of the popular "Pardon My Take" podcast.

A curveball with a big break.

To pull a fair ball down the foul line. "Damian Miller then yanked a double just inside the third-base bag and down the line, scoring both runners."^[333]

The baseball field. A home run has "left the yard", and whoever hit it went yard. "Doing yardwork" is hitting many home runs or otherwise exhibiting power.

A sharp-breaking curveball. Named after the yellowhammer, a bird that dives steeply to catch prey.

A condition in which a player, usually a pitcher, loses control over the direction of his throws. "Rick Ankiel was transitioned to a position player due to developing a case of the yips on the mound."

A no-hitter or perfect game, so called because the line score shown on the scoreboard is 0–0–0, though it is subjective when referring to a no-hitter and perfect games, because the opposing team can make errors. However, it will normally show as 0–0–0 (no runs, no hits, no errors) on the scoreboard.

A hard-hit line drive base hit

Speed. A pitcher with a good fastball is said to have zip on the ball.

• The strike zone.
• A pitcher is said to be "in the zone" not only by throwing strikes but by maintaining his focus and throwing pitches that get batters out. "You hear about pitchers being in the zone and stuff like that, and that's what I was doing. I was zoned in. I was throwing the right pitch every time, and until the kid got the hit, I honestly didn't even realize."^[334]

• Baseball statistics
• "Baseball" Category in the Wiktionary

• Paul Dickson, The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, 3rd edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 2009. ISBN 9780393066814