no-hitter

Not many pitchers can say they threw two no-hitters in their career.

A record three of the no-hitters have come against Cleveland, with Zach Plesac having started all three games for the Indians.

2021 August 10, Benjamin Hoffman, “Brewers’ Combined No-Hitter Breaks Record for the Most in a Season”, in The New York Times:

It was the 18th no-hitter in franchise history, the 10th since the team moved to San Francisco and first since Chris Heston no-hit the New York Mets in 2015.

2024 March 8, C. Trent Rosecrans and Andrew Baggarly, “Giants’ Blake Snell throws first no-hitter of career in win over Reds”, in The New York Times:

(baseball) A game in which no batter on one of the teams got a hit.


perfect game

(baseball) A game in which every batter on one team is retired without reaching base.


dinger

The starting pitcher gave up three dingers.

He should know, he fanned 2597 times — far more than any other man — but made millions hitting 563 dingers.

1989 June, John Holway, “Strikeouts: The High Cost of Hitting Home Runs”, in Baseball Digest:

Then as you're taking his picture, say something about the thirty dingers he's going to hit this season. You get that little extra smile on his face.

1997, Hank Davis, Small-Town Heroes: Images of Minor League Baseball, University of Nebraska Press, published 2003, →ISBN, page 264:

For you youngsters out there, hitting 50 dingers in the pre-steroid craze days of the early 90s was an actual accomplishment; the only questionable substance Fielder was putting in his body were McRib sandwiches.

2008, Mike Stone, Art Regner, The Great Book of Detroit Sports Lists, Running Press, published 2008, →ISBN, page 209:


passed ball

Jones let a passed ball get behind him.

(baseball) A play where the catcher fails to stop a normally playable pitch and a runner advances.


back to back jack

en-noun

back to back jack (plural back to back jacks)

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Smith, Jones... back to back jacks in the sixth chasing the starter.

(baseball) Two home runs hit by consecutive batters


four-bagger

Jones popped a four-bagger into the upper-deck in the fifth.


pitch around

en-verb

pitch around (third-person singular simple present pitches around, present participle pitching around, simple past and past participle pitched around)

pitches around (present singular third-person)
pitching around (participle present)
pitched around (participle past)
pitched around (past)

Jones pitched around the slugger.

(transitive, baseball) To intentionally throw pitches which are slightly out of the strike zone, hoping that the batter will swing wildly at a pitch, but assuming that you will walk him


in-between hop

Errors are more frequent when the play happens on an in-between hop.

(baseball) A bounce larger than a short hop and smaller than a long hop, often difficult to field.


wild pitch

Jones uncorked a wild pitch, which went to the screen.

(baseball) A play where the pitcher throws a non-catchable pitch and a runner advances.


Red Sox

From red and sox (slang form of socks) - the footwear worn by the members of the team.

(US, baseball) The Boston Red Sox, an American baseball team.


strike zone

That umpire often compresses the strike zone late in the game.

(baseball) The area through which if a pitched ball passes, it will be called a strike, typically from the batter's knees to the belt and the width of home plate.


wheelhouse

From wheel + house. Sense 3 (“(baseball) a pitch location which is favourable to the hitter”) references the fact that a vessel is controlled from its wheelhouse (sense 1.2), and sense 4 (“a person’s area of authority or expertise”) is a figurative use of sense 3.

The pitch was right in his wheelhouse, and he hit a grand slam.

The ball was up in my wheelhouse, and I got round on it, got the meat of that Ritchie Ashburn bottle bat solidly on the ball. I'll never in my life hit a ball any better.

1997, Bryan L. Jones, “Baseball”, in Mark Twain Made Me Do It & Other Plains Adventures, Lincoln, Neb., London: University of Nebraska Press, →ISBN, page 74:

The next pitch was close to my wheelhouse so I just let 'er rip. I got ahold of it and shot it to left field on the line.

2007, Alan Schwarz, “Ken Griffey Jr.: On Going Deep with His Father”, in Once upon a Game: Baseball’s Greatest Memories, Boston, Mass., New York, N.Y.: Houghton Mifflin Company, →ISBN, page 60, column 1:

Here is the ball, in my wheelhouse. I slide my hips out of the way, put myself in place to hit the coldie of a lifetime.

2009, Andre Agassi, Open: An Autobiography (A Borzoi Book), New York, N.Y.: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, →ISBN, page 215:

(Canada, US, baseball, by extension from sense 1.2) A pitch location which is favourable to the hitter.


two-bagger

Jones got a two-bagger in the first.

(baseball, slang) A double (a two-base hit).


striker

lyöjä

someone or something that hits someone or something else


infield hit

Jones got an infield hit when the ball tipped off of the outstretched glove of the diving shortstop.

(baseball) When a batter reaches base with a ground ball that does not leave the infield or shallow outfield.


first baseman

First basemen are usually left-handed.

(baseball) The infield defensive player that stands near first base.


third baseman

The third baseman charged in to field the bunt.

(baseball) The infield defensive player that stands near third base.

kolmosvahti

baseball: defensive player near third base


ground ball

(baseball) A batted ball that bounces one or more times on the infield; a grounder.


at-bat

This is his third at-bat of the night.

He only had 220 at-bats this season because of injury.

(baseball) official at-bats. Batting opportunities minus walks, hit by pitches, and sacrifices


grounder

From Middle English grounder, grownder, equivalent to ground + -er.


pitch out

The pitch out enabled the catcher to throw out the runner.

(baseball) A pitch which was intentionally thrown outside to the catcher who stands up with the pitch for the purpose of enabling the catcher to throw out a runner.


pitch out

pitch out (third-person singular simple present pitches out, present participle pitching out, simple past and past participle pitched out)

pitches out (present singular third-person)
pitching out (participle present)
pitched out (participle past)
pitched out (past)

Jones pitched out twice to no avail.

(baseball, intransitive) To intentionally throw the ball outside to the catcher who stands up with the pitch for the purpose of enabling the catcher to throw out a runner


second baseman

The second baseman started the 4-6-3 double play.

(baseball) The infield defensive player that stands between the first baseman and the shortstop, normally on the right field side of second base.


pinch hitter

This year the Tigers are using pinch hitters 72 percent more often than the league average. They entered Thursday leading the league with 59 pinch-hit plate appearances. Tigers pinch hitters were batting .231, above the league average for pinch hitters of .217.

2023 May 26, Cody Stavenhagen, “A.J. Hinch is managing with confidence as the Tigers hang tight in the AL Central”, in The New York Times:

(baseball) A substitute batter; one who pinch-hits.


fly ball

(baseball, softball) A batted ball that has been hit into the air above the outfield; a fly.


front door

His front door slider is hard to handle.

(baseball) The path of a pitch which starts inside and then slides over the plate.


shortstop

The shortstop ranged deep into the hole to make the stop.

“Your father was the best baseball player anyone had ever seen.” Excited but halting, her voice ran on past all obstacles. “We watched him play shortstop, and my father said he was the best, and my brothers too. The Cardinals sent a man down to talk to him about one of their teams.” Like an ancient marineress, she would not let go. She meant the St. Louis Cardinals’ farm teams.

2016, Mike Westphal, Cloud of Expectation; Book One: The In America Series, Xlibris, →ISBN:

(baseball) The infield defensive player that stands between the second baseman and the third baseman.

interbase

baseball: defensive player between second and third baseman


late innings

He is at his best in the late innings.

(baseball) The seventh, eighth, and ninth innings of a game.


pinch hit

Jones drove in a run with a pinch hit for Smith in the sixth.

(baseball) A hit made by a pinch hitter.


fly out

fly out (third-person singular simple present flies out, present participle flying out, simple past flew out or (baseball) flied out, past participle flown out or (baseball) flied out)

flies out (present singular third-person)
flying out (participle present)
flew out (past)
flied out (past)
flown out (participle past)
flied out (participle past)

Jones flied out to right field.

(intransitive, baseball) To become out by hitting a fly ball which is caught.


fly out

A fly out was recorded on the scorecard.


oh for

Yesterday's oh for made him overly aggressive today at the plate.

(baseball) An instance in which a player did not get a hit in a game.


pine tar

en-noun

pine tar (usually uncountable, plural pine tars)

(baseball) This or a similar material used by batters to improve their grip.


pop-up

(baseball) A pop-up ball: a ball that has been hit to a considerable height above the infield or the shallow outfield; a pop fly.


ground out

en-verb

ground out (third-person singular simple present grounds out, present participle grounding out, simple past and past participle grounded out)

grounds out (present singular third-person)
grounding out (participle present)
grounded out (participle past)
grounded out (past)

Jones grounded out to lead off the third.

(baseball) To become out by hitting a ground ball which is fielded and leads to a force or tag of a runner.


ground out

A ground out was recorded on the scorecard.

(baseball) An instance of grounding out.


punch out

punch out (third-person singular simple present punches out, present participle punching out, simple past and past participle punched out)

punches out (present singular third-person)
punching out (participle present)
punched out (participle past)
punched out (past)

The ump punched out the batter with relish to close out the game.

(transitive, baseball) To rule (by an umpire) that a pitch is a called third strike, often done emphatically.

Jones punched out the batter to start in the sixth.

(transitive, baseball, of a pitcher) To throw a called third strike; to strike (someone) out.


punch out

(baseball) Nonstandard spelling of punchout.


back door

He has a nasty back door slider.

(US, baseball) The path of a pitch which starts outside and then slides over the plate.


horsehide

en-noun

horsehide (countable and uncountable, plural horsehides)


side out

(slang, baseball, dated, 19th c.) three outs.


break one off

en-verb

break one off (third-person singular simple present breaks one off, present participle breaking one off, simple past broke one off, past participle broken one off)

breaks one off (present singular third-person)
breaking one off (participle present)
broke one off (past)
broken one off (participle past)

(baseball, dated, slang, 1800s) To throw a curve ball.


sky ball

(baseball, slang, 1800s) A high fly ball


foul tick

The catcher held onto the foul tick for the out.

(baseball, slang, rare) A foul ball which just brushes by the bat, making a ticking sound.


foul tip

The foul tip hit the umpire in the shoulder.

(baseball) a foul ball which glances off the bat and continues back with only a moderate change in direction


sacrifice fly

Jones' sacrifice fly brought in the tying run.

(baseball) A fly ball that allowed a runner to advance after it was caught


sacrifice bunt

The sacrifice bunt was fielded cleanly, but the only play was to first.

The manager will likely call for a sacrifice bunt here.

(baseball) A play in which the batter intentionally hits the ball softly with a hands-spread batting stance at the cost of an out to advance one or more runners.

sacrifici

play in which the batter intentionally hits the ball softly at the cost of an out


stringer

(baseball, slang, 1800s) A hard-hit ball.


dead-red

The pitch was a dead-red.


fastball count

Batters will often sit dead-red when there is a fastball count.

(baseball) A pitch count such that a fastball is likely to be thrown, usually 3-0 or 3-1.


swinging bunt

The catcher fielded Jones' swinging bunt and easily threw him out.

(baseball) A ball that travels a short distance as if it were bunted, but was produced by a full or checked swing.


sit dead-red

sit dead-red (third-person singular simple present sits dead-red, present participle sitting dead-red, simple past and past participle sat dead-red)

sits dead-red (present singular third-person)
sitting dead-red (participle present)
sat dead-red (participle past)
sat dead-red (past)

Popularized by broadcaster and former player Joe Morgan.

If I were him, I would sit dead-red on this 3 and 1 pitch and try to launch one.

(baseball) For a batter to look for a four-seam fastball.


feeder

From Middle English feedere, federe, fedare, equivalent to feed + -er.

(baseball, slang, archaic, 1800s) The pitcher.


hand out

(baseball, slang, 1800s) a player is out


drag bunt

Jones fielded the drag bunt, but the runner beat out his throw for a single.

(baseball) A ball that has been hit by a batter who started to run towards first base while holding the bat back over the plate, typically in an attempt to get a hit rather than to sacrifice

The drag bunt is a skill that few players perfect.

(baseball) The act of bunting while running towards first base


drag bunt

drag bunt (third-person singular simple present drag bunts, present participle drag bunting, simple past and past participle drag bunted)

drag bunts (present singular third-person)
drag bunting (participle present)
drag bunted (participle past)
drag bunted (past)

Jones drag bunted the pitch.

(baseball, transitive) to bunt while running towards first base

Smith often drag bunts if he sees the third baseman playing back.

(baseball, intransitive) to bunt while running towards first base


push bunt

The push bunt went between the pitcher and the first baseman who was charging too hard.

(baseball) A ball that has been hit with a bat which moves forward by a batter who is in an arms spread stance, usually in an attempt to bunt the ball past a charging infielder

The push bunt is only used in certain situations.

(baseball) The act of bunting with a bat that moves toward the ball


push bunt

push bunt (third-person singular simple present push bunts, present participle push bunting, simple past and past participle push bunted)

push bunts (present singular third-person)
push bunting (participle present)
push bunted (participle past)
push bunted (past)

Jones push bunted the pitch.

(transitive, baseball) to bunt while moving the bat towards the ball

Smith push bunts if an infielder charges too aggressively.

(intransitive, baseball) to bunt while moving the bat towards the ball


force out

force out (third-person singular simple present forces out, present participle forcing out, simple past and past participle forced out)

forces out (present singular third-person)
forcing out (participle present)
forced out (participle past)
forced out (past)

Jones forced out Smith to end the inning.

(baseball) To create an out by touching a base in advance of a runner who has no base to return to while in possession of a ball which has already touched the ground


force out

A force out was recorded on the scorecard.

(baseball) An instance of an out created by touching a base in advance of a runner who has no base to return to while in possession of a ball which has already touched the ground.


show a little ginger

show a little ginger (third-person singular simple present shows a little ginger, present participle showing a little ginger, simple past showed a little ginger, past participle showed a little ginger or shown a little ginger)

shows a little ginger (present singular third-person)
showing a little ginger (participle present)
showed a little ginger (past)
showed a little ginger (participle past)
shown a little ginger (participle past)

(baseball, slang, 1800s) To play harder or smarter.


banjo hit

(baseball) A weakly hit fly ball which goes just over the infielders.


plug the runner

plug the runner (third-person singular simple present plugs the runner, present participle plugging the runner, simple past and past participle plugged the runner)

plugs the runner (present singular third-person)
plugging the runner (participle present)
plugged the runner (participle past)
plugged the runner (past)

(baseball, slang, 1800s) Synonym of soak the runner


soak the runner

soak the runner (third-person singular simple present soaks the runner, present participle soaking the runner, simple past and past participle soaked the runner)

soaks the runner (present singular third-person)
soaking the runner (participle present)
soaked the runner (participle past)
soaked the runner (past)

(baseball, slang, 1800s) To throw the ball at the runner in order to "tag" him out (illegal after 1845).


baseman

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(baseball, softball) A player positioned at or near a base: first baseman, second baseman or third baseman.


muffin

→ Chinese: 瑪芬／玛芬 (mǎfēn)

→ Danish: muffin

→ Esperanto: mafino

→ Finnish: muffini, muffinssi, muffinsi

→ French: muffin

→ German: Muffin

→ Japanese: マフィン (mafin)

→ Korean: 머핀 (meopin)

→ Norwegian Bokmål: muffins

→ Polish: muffin

→ Portuguese: muffin

→ Russian: ма́ффин (máffin)

→ Swedish: muffins

→ Yiddish: מאָפֿין (mofin)

From earlier moofin, probably a diminutive of Low German Muffe ("small cake"; Muffen (plural)), from Middle Low German muffe (“small pastry”). An alternative, and phonologically less plausible theory suggests a connection to Old French (pain) moflet (“roll”, literally “soft (bread)”).

gl

"small cake"; <i class="Latn mention" lang="nds">Muffen</i> (plural)

ncog

(baseball, slang) A less talented player; one who muffs, or drops the ball.


daisy cutter

* From plowing through a field and flattening and mowing down hypothetical daisies.
* (explosive): From flattening vegetation in a round region creating a clearing reminiscent of a daisy flower

(baseball, slang, dated, 1800s) A well-struck ground ball.


boodler

(slang, baseball, dated, 19th century) A person displaying unsportsmanlike behavior.


blooper

Again the blooper wafted up to the plate. Ted waited and waited and then let loose. The ball rose in a high trajectory and sailed deep into the bullpen for a homer. The fans roared. The slugger had killed the blooper.

1949, Jimmy Powers, Baseball Personalities: The Most Colorful Figures of All Time, New York, N.Y.: R. Field, →OCLC, page 254:

The blooper, delivered with a shot-put motion, floated in an arc that reached twenty-five feet, then suddenly dropped across home plate in the strike zone.

2003, Richard F. Peterson, The Pirates Reader, Pittsburgh, Pa.: University of Pittsburgh Press, →ISBN, page 139:

(baseball, slang) A fly ball that is weakly hit just over the infielders.


submariner

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-submariner.wav

/sʌbˈmæɹɪnə/

/sʌbˈmæɹɪnɚ/

Jones was a submariner and could often confuse a batter with his unorthodox delivery.

(US, baseball) A pitcher that throws with an underhand motion.


lineup

More than any other batter in the lineup, he can keep the inning going with a a base hit, and over a season he'll have as many at-bats as teh lead-off man and thus hit hard and often for his team.

1993, Jerry Kindall, Baseball: Play the Winning Way, page 248:

For example, as before, the leadoff hitter for the visiting team in the top of the first inning fails to come to bat and the #2 batter in the lineup subsequently becomes the initial batter in the inning.

2015, Andres Wirkmaa, The Complete Baseball Scorekeeping Handbook, page 70:

That meant Howell moved from a weak-hitting lineup to a great-hitting lineup, and players generally said they hit better if they had better hitters around them.

2022, Paul Aron ·, The Lineup: Ten Books That Changed Baseball, page 96:


backstop

(baseball) A wall or fence behind home plate.

Bench may be the greatest catcher subjectively, but he's not statistically. Statwise, Yogi Berra is the all-time backstop, regardless of which measure you prefer. Berra's Total-Z is one-third of a standard deviation higher than Bench's, and his Core-Z average is a point better.

2002, James F. Vail, Outrageous Fortune: What's Wrong with Hall of Fame Voting and How to Make It Statistically Sound, Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, →ISBN, page 143:

(baseball, slang) A catcher; the position of catcher.


dead bird

Jones got on board with a dead bird to start the innning.

(baseball, slang) A ball which falls over the infielders’ heads for a hit, as if it were a bird shot by a hunter.


meatball

→ Japanese: ミートボール

→ Korean: 미트볼 (miteubol)

And then. A 98.4 fastball on the inside half of the plate, ring him up, Strike 3, game over. It wasn’t a meatball like Terrence Long watched to finish 2003 ALDS Game 5, but it felt the same.

2020, Alex Hall, “Oakland A’s faced all their nightmares in Game 3 and wrote a new ending”, in Athletics Nation:

(baseball) An easy pitch to hit, especially thrown right down the middle of the plate.


steals

He has 25 steals this year.

(baseball, informal) The number of stolen bases by a baserunner.


play ball

en-verb

play ball (third-person singular simple present plays ball, present participle playing ball, simple past and past participle played ball)

plays ball (present singular third-person)
playing ball (participle present)
played ball (participle past)
played ball (past)

(baseball, softball) An expression used at the beginning of a game of baseball or softball.

jugueu

if there's grass on the field, play ball

if there's grass on the pitch, play ball


SB

en-noun

SB (countable and uncountable, plural SBs)

(baseball) Abbreviation of stolen base.; The statistic reporting the number of stolen bases.


official at-bat

official at-bat (plural official at-bats)

A player's batting average is his hits divided by his official at-bats.

(baseball) A completed batting opportunity that did not result in a base on balls, hit-by-pitch, sacrifice fly, sacrifice bunt, or interference or obstruction.


ALDS

American League Division Series
w:American League Division Series

(baseball) Initialism of American League Division Series., a pair of best of five game series played annually by Major League Baseball teams to determine the opponents in the American League Championship Series (ALCS).


(baseball) triple, a baseball statistic indicating a runner has safely advanced to third base


NLCS

National League Championship Series
w:National League Championship Series

(baseball) Initialism of National League Championship Series. It is a best of seven game series played to determine the champion of the National League and win the NL pennant.


NLDS

National League Division Series
w:National League Division Series

(baseball) Initialism of National League Division Series., a pair of best of five game series played annually by Major League Baseball teams to determine the opponents in the National League Championship Series (NLCS).


OBP

OBP (countable and uncountable, plural OBPs)

on-base percentage
on-base percentage#English

(baseball) Initialism of on-base percentage.


(baseball) Double, a baseball statistic indicating a runner has safely advanced to second base.


ALCS

(baseball) The American League Championship Series, a best of seven game series played to determine the champion of the American League.


1B (countable and uncountable, plural 1Bs)

(baseball) The baseball statistic of one-base hits or singles.


reliever

The first reliever got the last two outs of the sixth.


Southsider

I'm no baby bear fan; I'm a Southsider.

(baseball) A player or fan of the Chicago White Sox baseball team, which plays its home games on Chicago's south side.


LCS

League Championship Series
w:League Championship Series

(US, baseball) Initialism of League Championship Series for each of the two leagues of Major League Baseball.


walk-off

Scott Podsednik hit the twelfth walk-off home run in World Series history on October 23rd, 2005.

(baseball, of a hit) That drives in a run that ends a game.


walk-off

It was the Brewers' first walk-off walk since May 4, 2005, when Damien Miller drew a walk to win the game, 4-3, at home over the Cubs.

2010 May 27, “Brewers overcome errors in walk-off win”, in MLB.com:

(baseball) Any event or action in the bottom of the last inning of a game that scores a run and thereby ends the game with a victory to the team at bat.


BB

BB (countable and uncountable, plural BBs)

(baseball) A walk; the statistic reporting the number of "bases on balls".


Oriole

He became an Oriole as the result of a pre-season trade.

(baseball) A player on the team Baltimore Orioles.


Jints

Eye dialect for popular New York City pronunciation of giants

1914 May 17, “The Old-Time Fan Refers To the Jints' Little Napoleon As a...”, in Atlanta Constitution:

The folks were quite happy about Sunday's thrilling reprieve in Philadelphia and happily confident that "d' Bums'll moider dem Jints"

1951 October 2, “VOICE OF FLATBUSH GOES UP AND DOWN; Loud Shouts of Morning Fall to...”, in New York Times:

He did about as well as could be expected with the Jints, though the halo he gained lastseason was knocked slightly askew in the process.

1952 September 4, “Sports of the Times; Wait Till Next Year”, in New York Times:

The faithful cheered loudly for their beloved Bums; they jeered loudly at the others teams, especially if they were the hated "Jints" from the Polo Grounds.

2000, G. Richard McKelvey, The MacPhails: Baseball's First Family of the Front Office, page 38:

The Polo Grounds, which had been the site of many fierce battles between the "Jints" and the "Bums," was not friendly to the home team.

2001, G. Richard McKelvey, The Bounce: Baseball Teams' Great Falls and Comebacks, page 100:

To his credit, Allen could not imagine the Jints or Bums unabiding on New York's behalf. "New York is fully capable of supporting three clubs."

2007, Curt Smith, The Voice: Mel Allen's Untold Story, page 111:

(baseball, informal) Nickname for the New York Giants, subsequently the San Francisco Giants.


gapper

Bob's gapper cleared the bags.

(baseball) A ball hit through the regions between the outfielders.


Bums

1951 October 2, “VOICE OF FLATBUSH GOES UP AND DOWN; Loud Shouts of Morning Fall to …”, in New York Times:

(baseball) Nickname of the Brooklyn Dodgers, later the Los Angeles Dodgers.


Cardinals

(baseball) The team St. Louis Cardinals.


Astro

Jones became an Astro as the result of a pre-season trade.

(baseball) A player for the Houston Astros.


dugout

Spurs, who were without boss Harry Redknapp after his heart surgery, failed to create a clear-cut chance. Redknapp is expected to be back in the dugout when Spurs play Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday but it was left to his assistant Kevin Bond to take a young team to Russia looking for the win that would put them through to the last 32.

2011 November 3, Chris Bevan, “Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport:

(baseball, soccer, cricket) A sunken shelter at the side of a sports field where non-playing team members and staff sit during a game.

Spielerbank

where non-playing teammembers and staff sit during a game


Astros

The Astros lead the division through half the season.


World Series

(US, baseball) The best-of-seven game series played annually in late October-early November to determine the year's championship of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, played between two teams, one each in the National League and the American League.


go yard

en-verb

go yard (third-person singular simple present goes yard, present participle going yard, simple past went yard, past participle gone yard)

goes yard (present singular third-person)
going yard (participle present)
went yard (past)
gone yard (participle past)

Question 162: To follow-up on the aforementioned Phillies slugger, in 1980 he set a career high and established a Major League record for home runs by a third baseman when he went yard 48 times.

2010, Major League Baseball IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom:


League Championship Series

(baseball) The best-of-seven series of games to determine the winner of each of the National League and the American League.


earned run

(baseball) A run that was recorded without the benefit of an error.


fall classic

The White Sox swept the 2005 fall classic.


National League

(baseball) The older of the two professional baseball leagues within Major League Baseball.


American League

(baseball) The younger of the two professional baseball leagues within Major League Baseball.


MLB

There was no repeat rainbow rebellion during last Saturday’s Pride Night at Tropicana Field after MLB introduced a policy this season forbidding teams from changing their uniforms to mark local themed events.

2023 June 12, Tom Dart, “US culture wars come to baseball as MLB celebrates Pride month”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Major League Baseball
w:Major League Baseball

(US, Canada, baseball) Initialism of Major League Baseball.


AAAA

(slang, baseball) A baseball player who is too good for Minor League Baseball, but not good enough for Major League Baseball.


strike rate

(baseball) The number of runs of a batter divided by the number of balls faced.


pop out

pop out (third-person singular simple present pops out, present participle popping out, simple past and past participle popped out)

pops out (present singular third-person)
popping out (participle present)
popped out (participle past)
popped out (past)

(baseball, softball) To be retired after three strikes, including a popout (pop fly) on the third strike.


hit and run

en-noun

hit and run (countable and uncountable, plural hit and runs)

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(baseball) A play where the baserunners leave their base before the batter hits the ball, assuming that the batter will in fact hit the ball and this will give them an advantage.


hit and run

en-verb

hit and run (third-person singular simple present hits and runs, present participle hitting and running, simple past hit and ran, past participle hit and run)

hits and runs (present singular third-person)
hitting and running (participle present)
hit and ran (past)
hit and run (participle past)

This manager, in keeping with all other famous managers, believed that batting was the thing which won games. He developed a hard-hitting team. He kept everlastingly at them to hit and run, hit and run.

1920, Zane Grey, “The Manager of Madden's Hill”, in The Redheaded Outfield:

(baseball) To leave the base before the batter hits the ball.


flamethrower

/ˈfleɪmˌθɹəʊ.ə/

From flame + thrower, calque of German Flammenwerfer.

"We allowed him to kind of orchestrate the whole offense, and he got comfortable early," George said. "He's a flamethrower. Once he gets hot, it's over."

2017 April 11, “Mike Conley Rewards Grizzlies’ Faith With a Career Season”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2018-01-27:

So when we see guys like that open, we gotta give them the ball. Especially Bryn [Forbes], he's a flamethrower. The guy is one of the best shooters I've been around, so to have him going in the game, it's much needed for us. We need him to get going. We need him to hit shots.

2021 June 15, Eric Nehm, quoting Khris Middleton, “How Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton manipulated the Nets' defense in Game 4”, in The Athletic, archived from the original on 2023-07-04:

Unlike steroids, these supposedly illegal substances were not used in secret. There was an understanding that it was in everyone's best interest — pitchers and hitters alike — for today's flamethrowers to have a good grip on the ball.

2021 June 15, Jesse Campigotto, “Baseball has a sticky situation on its hands”, in CBC News, archived from the original on 2023-07-04:

(basketball, baseball, slang) Someone who is extremely good at throwing or shooting balls.


check-swing

(baseball) A swing in which a batter starts to swing for a ball but stops the swing shortly before the ball reaches home plate.


diamond cutter

(baseball) A ball hit up the middle of the diamond over the pitching mound reaching the outfield.


on the fly

Jones caught the ball on the fly.

(baseball, of the ball) While in the air, without having touched the ground.


wind-up

He's into his wind-up. Here comes the pitch. Strike on the inside corner!

1975: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (movie)

(baseball) The phase of making a pitch where the pitcher moves his or her arm backwards before throwing the ball.


beaner

From bean + -er; see bean (“(slang) head”).

(baseball) A pitch deliberately thrown at the head (the bean) of the batter.


hippodrome

hippodrome (third-person singular simple present hippodromes, present participle hippodroming, simple past and past participle hippodromed)

hippodromes (present singular third-person)
hippodroming (participle present)
hippodromed (participle past)
hippodromed (past)

/ˈhɪpəˌdɹəʊm/

Borrowed from French hippodrome, from Latin hippodromos, from Ancient Greek ἱππόδρομος (hippódromos), from ἵππος (híppos, “horse”) + δρόμος (drómos, “course”). By surface analysis, hippo- + -drome.

(US, slang, sports, especially baseball) To stage a sporting contest to suit gamblers.


inside-the-park homer

en-noun

inside-the-park homer (plural inside-the-park homers)

(baseball) A home run that does not leave the stadium.


chin music

(folk music): The name jokingly refers to "playing" the mouth as if it were an instrument.

Jones backed Smith off the plate with a little chin music.

(baseball, informal) A fastball thrown near the batter's chin, often to set up a subsequent pitch thrown low and outside.


right fielder

The right fielder nailed the runner at the plate with a perfect throw.

(baseball) The outfield defensive player that stands to the right of the field as viewed from home plate.


left fielder

The left fielder made a fine running catch.

(baseball) The outfield defensive player that stands to the left of the center fielder as viewed from home plate.


center fielder

The center fielder made a spectacular sliding catch.

(baseball) the outfield defensive player who stands in the middle of the field


gopher ball

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(baseball) A pitched ball hit for a home run.


platoon

en-verb

platoon (third-person singular simple present platoons, present participle platooning, simple past and past participle platooned)

platoons (present singular third-person)
platooning (participle present)
platooned (participle past)
platooned (past)

From obsolete French plauton, variant of peloton, from Middle French pelote + -on. Doublet of peloton. Compare pellet.

Taylor has been hitting poorly against left-handers, and Morgan has been hitting poorly against right-handers, so they will platoon.

(baseball) To alternate starts with a teammate of opposite handedness, depending on the handedness of the opposing pitcher


slugger

That will bring up the slugger, Jones.

(baseball) A batter who has a high percentage of extra base hits.


twirl

twirl (third-person singular simple present twirls, present participle twirling, simple past and past participle twirled)

twirls (present singular third-person)
twirling (participle present)
twirled (participle past)
twirled (past)

Of Scandinavian origin, akin to Norwegian Nynorsk tvirla, Old High German dweran (German zwirlen, quirlen), Dutch dwarrelen and Icelandic þyrill; all from Proto-Germanic *þwirilaz (“stirring-stick, whisk”), *þweraną (“to stir”). Or, an alteration of tirl (“to twist”), with influence from whirl.

der

When the batteries were announced, however, and Herb Pennock of the Boston Red Sox, probably the best pitcher in all baseballdom, was named to twirl for the invading team, we felt we had been tricked.

1949, Mark Raymond Murnane, Ground Swells: Of Sailors, Ships, and Shellac, page 302:


headhunter

→ German: Headhunter m

Thankfully, there aren't many headhunters in the modern game.

(baseball) A pitcher who throws at the batter's head.


laser beam

Ramirez hit a laser beam home run into the right center field seats leading the 10th inning off Boston closer Ken Ryan

1995, Russell Schneider, Glorious Indian Summer of 1995: Season of Dreams...Cleveland, →ISBN, page 44:

The batter hit a laser-beam to right field. A run for Cincinnati! Now the score was five to three.

2005, Dallas Woodburn, 3 A.m.: A Collection of Short Stories, iUniverse, →ISBN:

When in doubt, so I threw my best fastball. Mantle hit a laser beam past my right knee.

2009, P.J. Dragseth, Eye for Talent: Interviews with Veteran Baseball Scouts, McFarland, →ISBN, page 37:

The way he warmed up his famous arm by throwing laser beams out of a sleepy, feline half-windup to some bullpen lackey armed with the added protection of a catcher's mitt.

2010, Josh Wilker, Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards, Seven Footer Press, →ISBN:

Just as he finished that sentence, Evan Longoria hit a laser beam over the left field fence. The Red Sox season was over in a flash.

2012, Paul Kocak, Baseball's Starry Night: Reliving Major League Baseball's 2011 Wild Card Night of Shock and Awe, Digitature, →ISBN, page 152:

One reason the rookies weren't catching too many was that Bradshaw was throwing laser beams.

2013, Roy Blount Jr., About Three Bricks Shy...And the Load Filled Up, Ballantine Books, →ISBN:

The Bloomer Girls played a respectable brand of baseball, to be sure, but they didn't throw 350-foot laser beams from deep center, or chew Red Man during ballgames.

2014, Scott Simkus, Outsider Baseball: The Weird World of Hardball on the Fringe, 1876–1950, Chicago Review Press, →ISBN, page 116:

(baseball) A low, hard-hit or -thrown ball.


leadoff

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The leadoff batter began the inning with a double, setting a good example for the following players.

(chiefly baseball) Beginning something by leading the way.


steal

en-verb

steal (third-person singular simple present steals, present participle stealing, simple past stole, past participle stolen or (nonstandard, colloquial) stole)

steals (present singular third-person)
stealing (participle present)
stole (past)
stolen (participle past)
stole (colloquial nonstandard participle past)

From Middle English stelen, from Old English stelan, from Proto-West Germanic *stelan, from Proto-Germanic *stelaną.
Compare West Frisian stelle, Low German stehlen, Dutch stelen, German stehlen, Danish stjæle, Swedish stjäla, Norwegian Bokmål stjele, Norwegian Nynorsk stela, Sanskrit स्तेय (steya); see below for more.
For the meaning development compare with Russian красть (krastʹ, “to steal”) and Russian кра́сться (krástʹsja, “to stalk, to prowl, to slink”).
etymology notes
Proposed etymologies beyond Germanic are numerous and include
* Proto-Indo-European *ster-: compare Welsh herw (“theft, raid”), Ancient Greek στερέω (steréō, “to deprive of”)
* Proto-Indo-European *stel(H)- (“to stretch”): compare Albanian pë/mbështjell (“I confuse, mess up, mix, wrap up”), Old Church Slavonic стєлѭ (steljǫ, “I spread out (bed, roof)”), Ancient Greek τηλία (tēlía, “playing table”)
* Proto-Indo-European *tsel- (“to sneak”): compare Sanskrit त्सरति (tsárati, “creep, sneak up on”) and other forms under Pokorny 5. *sel- "schleichen, kriechen"

cog

close the stable door after the horse has been stolen

don't teach your grandmother to steal sheep

lock the stable door after the horse has been stolen

(transitive, baseball) To advance safely to (another base) during the delivery of a pitch, without the aid of a hit, walk, passed ball, wild pitch, or defensive indifference.

偷垒

baseball: to advance safely during the pitch


batboy

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(baseball, softball) A boy employed to watch over the bats, and assist the players in retrieving them during play.


screamer

His screamer into the right field bleachers in the sixth with Scarborough and Viau on base put Hickory out in front 9 to 8 and the lead held for the rest of the game.

2006, R. G. Utley, Tim Peeler, Aaron Peeler, Outlaw Ballplayers: interviews and profiles from the Independent Carolina Baseball League:


up to bat

(baseball) Preparing to have or having one's turn to attempt to hit the ball.


designated hitter

en-noun

designated hitter (plural designated hitters)

(baseball) A batter who is permitted to substitute for a pitcher in the batting rotation for the duration of a baseball game.


DH

designated hitter
designated hitter#English

(baseball) Initialism of designated hitter.


hitter

From hit + -er (agent noun suffix) or -er (measurement suffix).

He struck out six of the last seven batters, striking out the side in the eighth and fanning two hitters in the ninth.

1994 June 24, The Associated Press, “BASEBALL; A's Witt, Nearly Perfect, Says It's Ump Who Wasn't”, in The New York Times:

Mike Flanagan (1-2) hurled a four-hitter in 50-degree weather made colder by wind gusting up to 25 miles an hour. […] Ross Baumgarten (2-1) combined with Lamarr Hoyt on a seven-hitter to hand Detroit its sixth straight loss.

1981 April 26, UPI, “Royals Top Brewers on Gura's 3-Hitter, 4-2”, in The New York Times:

Witt, who had thrown three two-hitters in his career, was in control throughout and showed no signs of fatigue.

You’ve never pitched a no-hitter or a one-hitter or a two-hitter or a three-hitter, because you’ve never pitched nine innings.

2021 May 5, Tyler Kepner, “With No-Hitter, John Means Opens Up a World of Possibilities”, in The New York Times:

(baseball, in combination) A game with a team making a specified number of hits.


PECOTA

(baseball) Initialism of Player Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm, a system for forecasting player performance.


cream puff

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So instead of lobbing a cream puff, I kicked up my leg and brought the Ruttlemyer Express.

2000, W. P. Kinsella, Baseball Fantastic: Stories:

Joseph “Stretch” Suba, a batting-practice pitcher, served up “big, fat, medium fast cream puffs for the All-Star hitters […]

2011, Paul Dickson, Skip McAfee, The Dickson Baseball Dictionary (Third Edition), page 225:


spitball

(baseball) A pitch of a baseball that has been partly covered with saliva, illegal at most levels.


spitball

en-verb

spitball (third-person singular simple present spitballs, present participle spitballing, simple past and past participle spitballed)

spitballs (present singular third-person)
spitballing (participle present)
spitballed (participle past)
spitballed (past)

(baseball) To moisten the ball with saliva before pitching it.


ownage

Smith is just 1-27 lifetime against Jones. Jones has real ownage over him.

On August 23, 1993, the Braves came into San Francisco trailing the Giants by 7.5 games. The Braves swept the Giants in that pivotal series, and starting with that series, the Giants have won just 13 out of 51 games against the Braves. As Mike Krukow likes to say, "That's some serious ownage."

1998 August 9, Jack K, “Mesa = GAS CAN”, in alt.sports.baseball.sf-giants (Usenet), retrieved 2016-09-24, message-ID <35CE80E1.B14B2A97@pacbell.net>:

(baseball) The situation where one player has a history of domination over another player.


right field

(baseball) The part of a baseball field which is beyond the infield and to your right if you stand on home plate and face the pitcher.

He's got a cannon out in right field.

(baseball) The defensive position in the outfield to the right, typically played by a player who can throw well.


center field

(baseball) The part of a baseball field which is beyond the infield and straight ahead left if you stand on home plate and face the pitcher.

(baseball) The defensive position in the outfield in the middle, typically played by a player that can run fast.


catcher's mitt

en-noun

catcher's mitt (plural catcher's mitts or catchers' mitts)

catcher's mitts (plural)
catchers' mitts (plural)

(baseball) A large protective glove used by a catcher when playing baseball.


Cubs

Abbreviation of "Cub Scouts" or "Chicago Cubs".


retire the side

en-verb

retire the side (third-person singular simple present retires the side, present participle retiring the side, simple past and past participle retired the side)

retires the side (present singular third-person)
retiring the side (participle present)
retired the side (participle past)
retired the side (past)

[…] and that will retire the side [sportscaster patter]

Jones steps on first to retire the side.

(baseball) To get the third out of an inning, thus ending the turn of one team (side) for batting and signaling the next turn of the other team (side).


bat around

bat around (third-person singular simple present bats around, present participle batting around, simple past and past participle batted around)

bats around (present singular third-person)
batting around (participle present)
batted around (participle past)
batted around (past)

If the teams do not have the same number of players, the team with the greater number of players bats around once per inning, and the team with the smaller number of players will bat an equal number of times as the opposing team,[…].

1965, Recreation, National Recreation Association, page 498:

[…]the Braves knocked Bunning out, batting around and scoring six runs in the fourth inning. They then scored four more runs the next inning, batting around once again against Dallas Green[…].

2005, John P. Rossi, The 1964 Phillies: The Story of Baseball's Most Memorable Collapse, McFarland, →ISBN, page 128:

The Phillies thus batted around the lineup without a hit for the first time since July 17, 1992, a run that lasted more than 24 years, per ESPN Stats & Info. If not for the inning-ending double play, the Phillies might have even sent 10 or 11 batters to the plate without recording a single hit.

2016 July 31, Bleacher Report Milestones, “Phillies Bat Around in 8th Inning Without Recording a Hit”, in Bleacher Report:

(intransitive, baseball) To have each of a team's batting line-up positions complete an at-bat in the same half-inning.

To have a team's first batter of the inning come to bat for a second time (after all of the others in the batting line-up have batted). (See the usage note below.)


Ruthian

en-adj

Ruthian (comparative more Ruthian, superlative most Ruthian)

more Ruthian (comparative)
most Ruthian (superlative)

From "Babe" Ruth, holder of the record for number of home runs in a season from 1919 to 1961, and for home runs in a career from 1921 to 1974.

Jones launches a Ruthian blast; it lands high in the upper deck.

(baseball) Prodigiously accomplished with respect to batting, typically describing the flight of a long home run.


pinch runner

(baseball) A substitute runner, usually brought in to replace a slow runner to increase the chance of that runner scoring.


send down

en-verb

send down (third-person singular simple present sends down, present participle sending down, simple past and past participle sent down)

sends down (present singular third-person)
sending down (participle present)
sent down (participle past)
sent down (past)

After performing poorly for the first month of the season, he was sent down to the minor leagues.

(baseball) To demote a player within the levels of professional baseball.


quick pitch

Following some confusion the pitcher immediately attempted a quick pitch but was called for a balk.

(baseball) A pitch thrown without any of the normal setup routine to try and catch a batter off guard.


Mendoza line

After shortstop Mario Mendoza, whose lifetime batting average is taken to define the threshold of minimally competent hitting.

His recent slump has put him perilously close to the Mendoza line; he may be headed to AAA soon.

(baseball) A .200 batting average, which is around the minimum batting average a player with strong defensive skills can have and still stay in the major leagues. Named for Mario Mendoza.


pay-off

The bases are loaded, so he'd better make the pay-off count.


on deck circle

Jones warms up in the on deck circle.

(baseball) The circle drawn or painted on the field where the next batter to hit waits.


short stop

(baseball) Alternative spelling of shortstop


bat speed

Good hip speed leads to good bat speed.

(baseball) The speed of the bat during a swing.


backside throw

Good backside throw leads to good hip speed which leads to good bat speed.

(baseball) The rotation of the knee and lower body of the side of the batter away from the pitcher during a swing.


hip speed

en-noun

hip speed (countable and uncountable, plural hip speeds)

Good hip speed leads to good bat speed.

(baseball) The speed of rotation of the hips of a batter during a swing.


hit parade

That’s going to do it for Smith as Jones joins the hit parade off him.

(baseball) Many hits in a row scored by one team.


on deck

Jones is the on-deck batter.

(baseball) Being the batter who will be up next, typically when that player is waiting on the field.


golden sombrero

golden sombrero (plural golden sombreros)

Jones got a golden sombrero last night; he had a hat trick (three strikeouts) going into the ninth inning, then struck out for the fourth time.

(baseball) A humorous verbal "award" given to a batter who has struck out four times in a single game.


platinum sombrero

platinum sombrero (plural platinum sombreros)

Mike had to witness his dad achieve a platinum sombrero last night.

(baseball) A humorous verbal "award" given to a batter who has struck out five times in a single game.


four fingers

Four fingers are up for Jones because the weak-hitting Smith will follow.

(baseball) The sign made by the manager directing the pitcher to issue an intentional walk.


keystone corner

keystone corner (plural keystone corners)

Jones takes the toss at the keystone corner, on to first... double play.

(baseball) Second base, because it is often the key to scoring and defense.


tools of ignorance

Jones straps on the tools of ignorance.


worm burner

From the humorous notion that any worms on the ground might be burned by the rapid passage of the ball.

Jones smashes a worm burner to mid on.

Jones smashes a worm burner between third and short.

(baseball, cricket) A hard-hit ground ball.


double play depth

The infield is at double play depth with one out and a man at first.

(baseball) A shift in the defensive alignment of the infielders towards home plate when there is a baserunner on first base, to increase the possibility of getting a double play.


bare hand

en-verb

bare hand (third-person singular simple present bare hands, present participle bare handing, simple past and past participle bare handed)

bare hands (present singular third-person)
bare handing (participle present)
bare handed (participle past)
bare handed (past)

Jones bare hands the bunt and throws to first... out!

(transitive, baseball) To field the ball without one's glove in one's hand.


duster

desc

→ Cebuano: daster (“type of loose dress worn at home”)

→ Indonesian: daster (“type of loose dress worn at home”)

→ Tagalog: daster (“type of loose dress worn at home”)

(baseball) A high pitch toward the batter.


nub

en-verb

nub (third-person singular simple present nubs, present participle nubbing, simple past and past participle nubbed)

nubs (present singular third-person)
nubbing (participle present)
nubbed (participle past)
nubbed (past)

Either directly from Middle Low German, or from knub, from a Middle Low German word (compare Low German Knubbel, Knobbel (“knot; lump”)). Compare knob.


plunk

en-verb

plunk (third-person singular simple present plunks, present participle plunking, simple past and past participle plunked)

plunks (present singular third-person)
plunking (participle present)
plunked (participle past)
plunked (past)

The Braves retaliated by plunking Harper in the next inning.

(transitive, baseball) To intentionally hit the batter with a pitch.


rover

From Middle English roven (“to wander, to shoot an arrow randomly”) + -er.

inh

(baseball) The tenth defensive player in slow-pitch softball.


circuit slugger

en-noun

circuit slugger (plural circuit sluggers)

Gil Hodges became the greatest circuit slugger ever to wear Dodger flannels.

(baseball, idiomatic) A talented baseball batter who hits home runs.


rough up the bullpen

en-verb

rough up the bullpen (third-person singular simple present roughs up the bullpen, present participle roughing up the bullpen, simple past and past participle roughed up the bullpen)

roughs up the bullpen (present singular third-person)
roughing up the bullpen (participle present)
roughed up the bullpen (participle past)
roughed up the bullpen (past)

The strong baseball team really roughed up the bullpen in their 34-0 rout against their foes; the coach used nine relievers and they still couldn't get anybody out.

(baseball, of the offensive team) To manage easily to hit pitching by the starting and relief pitchers of the opposing team, despite the types of pitches thrown or the skill of the pitchers.


tee off

tee off (third-person singular simple present tees off, present participle teeing off, simple past and past participle teed off)

tees off (present singular third-person)
teeing off (participle present)
teed off (participle past)
teed off (past)

Reyes teed off on a hanging curve to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.

(baseball, by extension) To hit the ball very hard, especially for a home run.


rainmaker

esőcsináló

someone or something that causes or attempts to cause rain to fall

The slugger is known for hitting rainmakers.

His #Boomstick helped [Nelson] Cruz earn a spot as the second-longest Statcast™-rated homer of the 2016 season, coming up just shy of Giancarlo Stanton's 504-foot rainmaker in August.

2016 September 24, Adrian Garro, “Nelson Cruz’s 493-foot monster homer in Minnesota is Statcast’s second-longest of 2016”, in Cut4, MLB.com, Major League Baseball, archived from the original on 2018-09-09:

(baseball, informal) A batted ball that is hit very high into the air.


switch-hitter

The average ball player can become an effective switch hitter only if he has switched hit from the time he commenced playing.

1961, National Association of Basketball Coaches of the United States, American Football Coaches Association, Athletic Journal, volume 46, page 23:

(baseball) A person who can bat either as a right-hander or a left-hander; an ambidextrous batter.


hot stove

the hot stove report

(baseball, attributive) The baseball off-season where trades take place and teams look to sign free agents.


switch-hit

switch-hit (third-person singular simple present switch-hits, present participle switch-hitting, simple past and past participle switch-hit)

switch-hits (present singular third-person)
switch-hitting (participle present)
switch-hit (participle past)
switch-hit (past)

His ability to switch-hit left the manager with a tough decision whether to bring in a left-handed or a right-handed relief pitcher.

(baseball, softball) To bat both left and right-handed.


backfield

(sports) The rear part of the field of play, particularly


warning track

Fly ball to deep center. Shelby goes back and makes the catch on the warning track.

(softball, baseball) The dirt or other material on the edge of a baseball or softball field that warns a player that he or she is approaching the fence, especially the portion in the outfield.


sailer

From Middle English sailer, sayler, saylere, equivalent to sail + -er.

(baseball) A fastball that skims through the air.


off base

The hippo heard us, and, like a baseball player caught off base, tried to get back to the river.

1907, Richard Harding Davis, chapter 5, in The Congo and Coasts of Africa:

(not comparable, baseball, of a baserunner) Positioned somewhere between the bases, and hence vulnerable to being caught out.


the bigs

He played AA ball for years, but never made it to the bigs.


bench jockey

As verbal jousting is frequently called "riding", the "rider" sitting on a bench came to be known as the "bench jockey".

(US, idiomatic, slang, baseball) A player, coach or manager who verbally annoys and distracts opposition players and umpires from his team's dugout bench.


Junior Circuit

(baseball) The American League, the younger of Major League Baseball's two leagues.


Senior Circuit

(baseball) The National League, the older of Major League Baseball's two leagues.


time of pitch

(baseball) The moment when the pitcher begins the motion of pitching the ball and, by the rules of the game, has committed himself to throwing the pitch.


baserunner

(baseball, softball) A player who is on base and is thus trying to advance to the next base.


shoestring catch

en-noun

shoestring catch (plural shoestring catches)

Jones races in... and makes a fine shoestring catch in shallow center.

(baseball) A fielding play, typically made by an outfielder, who catches a ball near his shoes, often after a long run.


seeing eye ball

seeing eye ball (plural seeing eye balls)

Jones hit a seeing eye ball between third and short for a single his last time up.

(baseball) A batted ball that gets between several fielders.


fungo bat

The fielding coach used his fungo bat to help Jones work on his first step.

(baseball) A specially designed small-diameter bat used to hit fly balls for fielding practice.


squeeze play

The squeeze play is on! Jones bunts, and Smith scores from third.

(baseball) The tactic of bunting the ball to help a runner at third base score.


utility man

(baseball) Alternative form of utilityman


dewdrop

From Middle English deu drop, dew droppe, dewe droppe, equivalent to dew + drop. Compare Dutch dauwdruppel (“dewdrop”), German Tautropfen (“dewdrop”), Danish dugdråbe (“dewdrop”), Swedish daggdroppe (“dewdrop”), Faroese døggdropi (“dewdrop”).

(baseball, slang, dated, 1800s) A slow pitch.


ring up

en-verb

ring up (third-person singular simple present rings up, present participle ringing up, simple past rang up, past participle rung up)

rings up (present singular third-person)
ringing up (participle present)
rang up (past)
rung up (participle past)

(baseball) To strikeout a batter and thereby send him or her back to the dugout.


nightcap

(US, sports, baseball) The final match of a sporting contest, especially the second game of a baseball doubleheader.


forkball

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From fork + ball, since it is held between the first two fingers.

(baseball) A baseball pitch, much like the sinker.


take sign

(baseball) A sign from the third base coach, or whoever the batter receives signals from, telling the batter that no matter what he will not swing at the next pitch.


suicide squeeze

en-noun

suicide squeeze (plural suicide squeezes)

(baseball) A play by the team at-bat where with a runner at third base, the batter puts down a sacrifice bunt with the aim of allowing the runner to score. In contrast to a safety squeeze, the runner sets off from third as soon as the pitch is made, allowing him or her to start running much earlier than on a safety squeeze.


stolen base

The catcher caught the wild pitch and threw the ball to second, just in time, preventing another stolen base.

(baseball, softball) A play where a runner on any base runs to the next base, usually while the pitcher pitches to a batter. Such a runner is liable to be put out if tagged with the ball while not in contact with any base.

when a runner is unsuccessful and is thrown out

when the runner is not credited with a stolen base because the team playing the field did not try to stop the steal


SV

SV (countable and uncountable, plural SVs)


sabermetrician

You could count on one hand the number of “sabermetricians” inside of baseball, and none of them appears to have had much effect.

2003, Michael Lewis, Moneyball, Thorndike Press, →ISBN, page 164:

(US, baseball) A baseball statistician; one who studies sabermetrics.


headhunt

en-verb

headhunt (third-person singular simple present headhunts, present participle headhunting, simple past and past participle headhunted)

headhunts (present singular third-person)
headhunting (participle present)
headhunted (participle past)
headhunted (past)

There's a brawl on the field because the pitcher has been headhunting throughout the game.


tapper

(baseball slang) A weakly hit ground ball.


give someone the heave-ho

give someone the heave-ho (third-person singular simple present gives someone the heave-ho, present participle giving someone the heave-ho, simple past gave someone the heave-ho, past participle given someone the heave-ho)

gives someone the heave-ho (present singular third-person)
giving someone the heave-ho (participle present)
gave someone the heave-ho (past)
given someone the heave-ho (participle past)

(baseball) To eject a player or manager from the game.


pinch-hit

pinch-hit (third-person singular simple present pinch-hits, present participle pinch-hitting, simple past and past participle pinch-hit)

pinch-hits (present singular third-person)
pinch-hitting (participle present)
pinch-hit (participle past)
pinch-hit (past)

Jones pinch-hit for Smith in the sixth.

“Some people think that pitchers aren't complete athletes and some of them maybe weren't, but others were, so I think you'd remember Red Ruffing who used to pinch‐hit all the time, sometimes for outfielders, even though he was as complete a pitcher there was. […]” If he is wrong, however, and designated hitting does turn out to be a good thing, pinch‐hitting as now understood will become a thing of the past.

1973 January 4, Wells Twombly, “Now the 10th man”, in The New York Times:

(intransitive, baseball) To bat in place of another player


putout

(baseball) A play in which a batter is retired.

Jones recorded 15 putouts in the first half of the season.

(baseball) The statistic of the number of outs a defensive player directly caused.


line-out

(baseball) an out produced by catching a line drive


ducks on the pond

* (coded warning): Originally used in shearing sheds; later extended to other normally all-male environments, such as some pubs.

There are two ducks on the pond for the cleanup hitter.

(baseball) Members of a batting order who are on base; baserunners.


two for two

He's two for two tonight.

(idiomatic, baseball) In baseball, meeting two out of two attempts at-bat. Specifically, it means the batter has reached base safely two out of two times.


inside baseball

baseballin hienoudet

technical matters usually only of interest to or noticed by baseball insiders

There always has been a tendency to overlook the catcher, possibly because so much of him is covered up during the game, but more because the greatest part of his work is inside baseball and of the kind which the general public can neither see nor appreciate.

1914, Paul Withington, Lothrop Withington, The Book of Athletics, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard:

Here, the game is marked by the "little things" that have come to be defined as "inside baseball".

1993, Michael A. Katovich, “Humor in Baseball: Functions and Dysfunctions”, in The Journal of American Culture, volume 16, number 2, pages 7–16:

(US, idiomatic, baseball) Technical matters concerning baseball generally not apparent or of interest to spectators.


ahead in the count

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(baseball, of a pitcher) Having more strikes than balls against a batter in an at-bat.

(baseball, of a batter) Having fewer strikes than balls against a pitcher in an at-bat.


behind in the count

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(baseball, of a pitcher) Having fewer strikes than balls against a batter in an at-bat.

(baseball, of a batter) Having more strikes than balls against a pitcher in an at-bat.


pick off

pick off (third-person singular simple present picks off, present participle picking off, simple past and past participle picked off)

picks off (present singular third-person)
picking off (participle present)
picked off (participle past)
picked off (past)

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The pitcher attempted to pick off the runner at first, but he was safe.

(baseball) To throw out a runner by tagging them whilst they are not in contact with any of the three bases or home plate.


pick off

The final out of the game was determined by a pick off.

(baseball) An instance of throwing out a batter leading off base.


WBC

World Baseball Classic
w:World Baseball Classic

(baseball) Initialism of World Baseball Classic, a tournament for national teams jointly organized by the International Baseball Federation and Major League Baseball.


bingle

(baseball, slang) A base hit in which the batter stops safely at first base.


bingle

bingle (third-person singular simple present bingles, present participle bingling, simple past and past participle bingled)

bingles (present singular third-person)
bingling (participle present)
bingled (participle past)
bingled (past)

(baseball, slang) To achieve a base hit in which the batter stops safely at first base.


bat a thousand

bat a thousand (third-person singular simple present bats a thousand, present participle batting a thousand, simple past and past participle batted a thousand)

bats a thousand (present singular third-person)
batting a thousand (participle present)
batted a thousand (participle past)
batted a thousand (past)

From a baseball batting average, often stated as the number of hits per 1000 at bats- 1000 would be 100 percent.

(baseball, literal) To reach first base on every at-bat.


hit a home run

hit a home run (third-person singular simple present hits a home run, present participle hitting a home run, simple past and past participle hit a home run)

hits a home run (present singular third-person)
hitting a home run (participle present)
hit a home run (participle past)
hit a home run (past)

He was the first pinch hitter to hit a home run on the first pitch of his career.

2016, Jonathan Fraser Light, The Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball, 2d ed., McFarland, →ISBN, page 437:

(baseball) To hit a ball during an at-bat that results in all runners on base and the hitter scoring runs; the best result of an at-bat.


spitter

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Coach says no throwing any spitters.


Reds

In reference to the ancient Roman and medieval Byzantine racing faction, a calque of Latin russātī (“Reddish-Brown-Clads”) or factio russata (“the reddish-brown-clad faction”) and Byzantine Greek Ῥούσιοι (Rhoúsioi, “Reds”).

bor

(informal, sports) Any of several sports teams whose uniform is predominantly red, particularly


bunny hop

The first baseman misplays the bunny hop, so all runners are safe.

(baseball) A ground ball that hops along the field instead of rolling.


batter up

(baseball) Used by an umpire to invite the next batter to the batter's box, especially at the beginning of a half-inning.


CF

en-noun

CF (countable and uncountable, plural CFs)

(baseball) Abbreviation of center field.

(baseball) Abbreviation of center fielder.


fielding position

fielding position (plural fielding positions)

(cricket, baseball) Any of many named parts of the field of play at which fielders traditionally stand


knuckleballer

(baseball) A baseball pitcher known for throwing knuckleballs.


sac fly

(baseball) A sacrifice fly, a fly out which allows a runner to advance a base.


battery mate

(baseball) One who plays in the same battery, either the pitcher or the catcher.


slugging average

slugging average (plural slugging averages)

(baseball) A statistic which compares the total number of bases achieved by a batter over that batter's number of at bats.


slugging percentage

slugging percentage (plural slugging percentages)


hung up

en-adj

hung up (comparative more hung up, superlative most hung up)

more hung up (comparative)
most hung up (superlative)

Snap throw to first, and they’ve got Sanchez hung up.

(baseball, of a runner, not comparable) In a position such that the path to the desired base is blocked by a fielder holding the ball; caught in a rundown.


flutterball

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(baseball) A type of pitch; knuckleball.


organized baseball

(baseball) Major League Baseball and its associated minor leagues. This does not include amateur leagues, most professional international leagues, the former Negro Leagues, and independent leagues.


knucklecurve

(baseball) A type of pitch with characteristics of both a curveball and a knuckleball.


ghostball

(baseball) A type of pitch; the knuckleball.


pull the string

en-verb

pull the string (third-person singular simple present pulls the string, present participle pulling the string, simple past and past participle pulled the string)

pulls the string (present singular third-person)
pulling the string (participle present)
pulled the string (participle past)
pulled the string (past)

(baseball) To throw an off-speed pitch, a change up, to cause the hitter to swing early and miss.


hit one out of the ballpark

hit one out of the ballpark (third-person singular simple present hits one out of the ballpark, present participle hitting one out of the ballpark, simple past and past participle hit one out of the ballpark)

hits one out of the ballpark (present singular third-person)
hitting one out of the ballpark (participle present)
hit one out of the ballpark (participle past)
hit one out of the ballpark (past)

(baseball) To hit a fair ball so well that the ball flies over all of the spectators' seats and lands outside the stadium.


swing for the fences

swing for the fences (third-person singular simple present swings for the fences, present participle swinging for the fences, simple past and past participle swung for the fences)

swings for the fences (present singular third-person)
swinging for the fences (participle present)
swung for the fences (participle past)
swung for the fences (past)

Don't swing for the fences unless it's an easy ball; be content with running part way.

(US, baseball, softball) To swing at the ball as hard as possible, with the aim of getting a home run.


bat away

bat away (third-person singular simple present bats away, present participle batting away, simple past and past participle batted away)

bats away (present singular third-person)
batting away (participle present)
batted away (participle past)
batted away (past)

(US, baseball, of a batter) To use one's own judgment to aggressively swing at pitches, rather than following a coaches instructions.


change up

change up (third-person singular simple present changes up, present participle changing up, simple past and past participle changed up)

changes up (present singular third-person)
changing up (participle present)
changed up (participle past)
changed up (past)

He changed up on Wilson after three fastballs and struck him out.

(intransitive, baseball) To throw a pitch at a much slower than expected speed.


ribeye

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Watson had a 3-run homer and a 2-run double for a total of five ribeyes on the night.


homestand

Two Sarasota pitchers proved easy picking for the St. Petersburg Saints at Waterfront park this afternoon and the locals walked off with the first game of their homestand, 8 to 1.

1926 June 4, “Locals Score Five Runs in One Inning, While Hewitt Holds Invaders Safe”, in Evening Independent, page 8:

(baseball) A series of games played at a team's home field


run batted in

(baseball) A run that a given player has caused to be scored by a hit, walk, or sacrifice.


earned run average

en-noun

earned run average (plural earned run averages)

We can give you passing yardage if you want to talk quarterbacks, or earned-run average if you want to talk pitchers, or goals and assists if you want to talk hockey players, but, alas, professional football linemen, especially on the offensive side of the table, are not easily statisticized.

1992 October, Steve Buckley, “Boss Hog: Jim Lachey is the best offensive lineman in football playing on the best team in football”, in Sport, volume 83, number 10, →ISSN, page 63:

(baseball) A statistic in baseball which equals the number of earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched.


MLBer

(baseball) Someone who plays in MLB (Major League Baseball).


bat in

en-verb

bat in (third-person singular simple present bats in, present participle batting in, simple past and past participle batted in)

bats in (present singular third-person)
batting in (participle present)
batted in (participle past)
batted in (past)

a. 2001, William Harrington, Elliott Roosevelt's Murder at the President's Door: An Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery, 2003 edition, →ISBN, page 55,
In 1927, when Ruth hit sixty home runs, Gehrig had a better batting average and batted in more runs.

(baseball, transitive) To bat so that a runner on base effects (a run).


foul line

(baseball, softball) One of the two lines on the edge of a field marking the area inside which a fair ball may be hit.


hitless

Jones is hitless in the last four games.

(baseball, of a batter) Having failed to make any base hits over a period of time, usually one game.

The team is hitless since the third inning.

(baseball, of a team) Having no hits over a period of time, usually part of one game.


base hit

(baseball) A successful hit in which the batter safely reaches base


outpitch

outpitch (third-person singular simple present outpitches, present participle outpitching, simple past and past participle outpitched)

outpitches (present singular third-person)
outpitching (participle present)
outpitched (participle past)
outpitched (past)

He beat the Yankees, 4-2, at Yankee Stadium in Game 2, outpitched Whitey Ford in a 1-0 victory in Game 5 in Milwaukee, and then, pitching on two days’ rest because Spahn had the flu, threw a 5-0 shutout at Yankee Stadium in Game 7.

2007 February 7, Richard Goldstein, “Lew Burdette, Masterful Pitcher, Dies at 80”, in New York Times:

(baseball) To pitch better than an opposing pitcher.


basepath

Jackson broke up a potential double play in the 1978 World Series when he froze on the basepaths and turned his hip into a throw.

2007 June 2, Tyler Kepner, “Reconsidering, Torre Admonishes Rodriguez”, in New York Times:

(baseball) The grassless ways around the baseball diamond on which runners advance.


pickoff

Zobrist broke for third during Pettitte’s pickoff move, stealing the base when Pettitte threw behind the runner.

2007 April 6, Tyler Kepner, “Pettitte’s Return Lost Amid Sloppy Play”, in New York Times:

(baseball) A play in which a pitcher throws a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder can tag out a baserunner who has moved away from the base


flyout

Sosa got Clark to chase a changeup, then retired Stephen Drew on a flyout to the right-field fence.

2007 May 6, Ben Shpigel, “Mets’ Gamble on Sosa Pays Off for One Night”, in New York Times:


homerless

(baseball) Without having scored a homer (home run).


ballclub

“I got hurt trying to help the ballclub win ballgames.”

2007 July 4, Todd Jones, “The Links Between Bonds and Griffey End When the Fans React”, in New York Times:


multihomer

BREWERS 3, PHILLIES 2 Ben Sheets (4-2) struck out eight in seven and two-thirds innings, and Gabe Gross hit two bases-empty home runs for the first multihomer game of his career to help visiting Milwaukee end a four-game losing streak.

2007 May 18, The Associated Press, “Red Sox Save Their Bullpen as Tavárez Beats the Tigers”, in New York Times:

(baseball) Having more than one home run in a single game.


pitchout

The only thing that had kept the bases from being loaded was that Zimmer (or someone, but let's give him the credit because it was a tough weekend for him) caught the Dodgers stealing with a pitchout on a hit-and-run.

1988 July 22, Ted Cox, “The Sports Section”, in Chicago Reader:

(baseball) A pitch that is intentionally thrown high and outside of the strike zone in order to prevent a stolen base


sinkerballer

With Putz and closer Francisco Rodríguez aboard, that pitcher — the bridge to the bridge, if you will — assumes extra responsibility, and the Mets are optimistic that Green, a 6-foot-6 sinkerballer, will fill that role.

2009 February 17, Ben Shpigel, “Acquired in J. J. Putz Trade, Sean Green Also Seen as Valuable to Mets”, in New York Times:

(baseball) A pitcher who throws a lot of sinkers (sinking fastballs).


popout

And Ambiorix Burgos loaded the bases […] before inducing a popout in foul territory to end the game.

2007 April 24, David Picker, “Maine Has Last Word in Solving Rockies”, in New York Times:

(baseball) A pop fly that is caught in flight, resulting in an out.


nonpitcher

Sheffield was the only Tigers nonpitcher who did not play in Sunday’s game.

2007 April 23, The Associated Press, “With Only Hitting to Focus on, Sheffield Has Found Himself in an Early Slump”, in New York Times:

(baseball) A player who is not a pitcher and therefore is required to bat


utilityman

Franco, a 48-year-old utilityman, signed with Atlanta on Wednesday, rejoining the Braves a week after he was cut by the Mets .

2007 July 19, The Associated Press, “Franco Is Back With the Braves”, in New York Times:

(baseball) A player who can play in several different positions


fireballing

Injuries […] will likely keep fireballing prospect Phillippe Aumont from suiting up as well.

2009 January 19, “Canada's hoping to draw on pair of aces for Classic”, in Toronto Star:


comebacker

It's a comebacker past second base for a single.

The pitcher fields the comebacker and throws it to first for the out.

Hendricks was only able to throw 52 pitches, surrendering two runs in 3.2 innings before being forced out of action when Angel Pagan's comebacker hit his right forearm.

The next hitter, Jayson Werth, reached on a broken-bat infield single, and Greg Dobbs walked to load the bases, but Heilman induced a comebacker from Chris Coste to end the rally.

2007 August 29, Ben Shpigel, “Two Hits, One Short and One Far, Beat the Mets”, in New York Times:

(baseball) A batted ball that travels toward the pitcher.


baserunning

Zimmer's comment on Martinez's baserunning was that he was "timid" and wouldn't run on the green light.

(baseball) The act of running bases, or a player's skill in doing so


beanball

From bean + ball, from the slang bean (“head”).

(baseball) A pitch deliberately thrown at the head of the batter.


foul territory

en-noun

foul territory (usually uncountable, plural foul territories)

(baseball) The area outside the playing field beyond the first base and third base lines, including the grandstand.


extra base hit

(baseball) A double, triple, or home run.


batter's box

batter's box (plural batters' boxes or batter's boxes)

batters' boxes (plural)
batter's boxes (plural)

(baseball) One of two areas beside home plate in which a batter is required to stand during an at bat.


at bat

catcher interference
catcher interference

(baseball) A final resolution to a batter's turn at the plate which does not result in a walk, a hit by pitch, a sacrifice hit or sacrifice fly, or catcher interference


force play

(baseball) A play in which a baserunner on first base is required to advance to second base because the batter has become a runner, or a runner on second or third base is required to advance because a runner on a preceding base is so forced.


infield fly

(baseball) A batted ball which is in play and subject to the infield fly rule.


fielder's choice

fielder's choice (countable and uncountable, plural fielders' choices or fielder's choices)

fielders' choices (plural)
fielder's choices (plural)

(baseball) A play in which a fielder puts out a baserunner, instead putting out the hitter at first base.


infield fly rule

infield fly rule (plural infield fly rules)

(baseball) A rule providing that a fair fly ball hit with a force play at third base, which is deemed catchable by an umpire, be ruled an out irrespective of the fielder's play, eliminating the force play at all bases.


hit batsman

(baseball) A batter who is hit by a pitched ball, and is awarded first base as a result.


game score

(baseball) A metric used to evaluate the value of a pitcher's performance in one game. In a nine-inning game, an average score is 50, and the maximum achievable score is 114.


Texas leaguer

(baseball) A weakly hit fly ball that drops between the infielders and outfielders for a hit; a blooper, a flare.


spring training

Spring training for the Cactus League begins tomorrow.

The spring training schedule has been released.

(baseball) A set of practice and exhibition games for each Major League Baseball team, preceding the start of the regular season, which are used by a manager to determine the roster for the regular season.


three up, three down

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(baseball) The recording of three outs in an inning without allowing a batter to reach first base.


Grapefruit League

Compound of grapefruit + league; grapefruit trees are cultivated in Florida. Compare Cactus League.

(baseball) The set of Major League Baseball teams that play spring training games in Florida.


Cactus League

Compound of cactus + league. Compare Grapefruit League.

(baseball) The set of Major League Baseball teams which play spring training games in Arizona.


hit-by-pitch

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(baseball) An official scoring play in which a batter is hit by a pitched ball, and is awarded first base as a result, and where the batter is referred to as a hit batsman.


inside-the-parker

(baseball, informal) A home run in which the ball does not leave the field of play; an inside-the-park home run.


plate appearance

plate appearance (plural plate appearances)

catcher's interference
catcher's interference

(baseball) A batter's completed turn in the batter's box. It usually results in an at-bat or walk, but may also result in a hit-by-pitch, sacrifice fly, sacrifice hit, or catcher's interference. If the third out of an inning is recorded prior to completion of the batter's turn, no plate appearance is credited to the batter, and he will lead off his team's next turn at bat.


catcher's interference

(baseball) A form of interference in which a catcher intentionally or inadvertently physically hinders a batter from the opportunity to legally swing at a pitched ball, and for which the catcher is charged an error.


no decision

Jones had three straight no decisions, but the bullpen eventually won all three games.

(baseball) A game for which the starting pitcher does not record a win or a loss.


starting pitcher

starting pitcher (plural starting pitchers)

That team has the best starting pitchers in the league.

(baseball) A pitcher who is usually used to start a game; a member of a team's rotation. Compare relief pitcher.

The starting pitcher for today's game has not been announced yet.

(baseball) A pitcher who is recorded to begin the game.


three true outcomes

Me three. I never have quite understood all the "three true outcomes" fetish around here. I mean, I know that building an offense around walks and 3-run jacks embodies the Sabermetric Virtues, and especially in today's conditions that's the way to win, but man, it sure leads to some slow, boring games.

2002 April 18, Perry, “Re: To all you Oakland A's fans...”, in rec.sport.baseball (Usenet):

(baseball) The three results of a plate appearance that do not involve the fielders: home runs, walks, and strikeouts.


relief pitcher

The team's relief pitchers have not allowed a run in the past six games.

(baseball) A pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher or another relief pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, ejection from the game or fatigue.


nubber

(baseball) A batted ball that travels slowly and not very far.


bases loaded

He's had four hits this week with the bases loaded.

(baseball) Having a baserunner on first base, second base, and third base at the same time.


no room at the inn

From the Biblical story of the birth of Jesus (Luke 2).

The pitcher is struggling to throw strikes but there's no room at the inn.

(baseball, used by play-by-play announcers) A situation in which an ineffective pitcher is pitching with the bases loaded.


station-to-station

A strategy in which a team attempts to score runs by stealing bases, bunting, sacrificing, hitting singles and adopting hit-and-run plays; inside baseball or small ball.

A strategy in which a team attempts to score runs by eschewing the stolen base and small ball, instead allowing baserunners to advance only on hits or other balls in play.


DIPS

(baseball) Initialism of defense-independent pitching statistics.


infield shift

From infield and shift.
Originally called the Williams shift or Boudreau shift, respectively named for Ted Williams and Lou Boudreau, and first used during the 1946 World Series by St. Louis Cardinals manager Eddie Dyer as a defensive gimmick. In the late 1990s, the strategy was revived, using the more generic infield shift, which has been used exclusively since then.

(baseball) A defensive alignment in which the third baseman, shortstop and second baseman positionally shift to their left when a left-handed batter is in the batter's box. Used primarily when the batter is an extreme pull hitter.


double steal

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The team is known to try the double steal because it has so many speedsters.

(baseball) A situation in which two baserunners attempt to steal a base simultaneously. This is usually called by the manager when there are runners on first base and second base.

This pair have seven double steals this season.

(baseball) The successful completion of a double steal.


extra inning

We'll have to play another extra inning in this game.

(baseball, usually in the plural) An additional inning of play required to break a tie.


defense-independent pitching statistics

defense-independent pitching statistics pl (plural only)

(baseball) A measure of a pitcher's effectiveness based only on plays that do not involve fielders. Originally included only hit-by-pitch, walks, strikeouts, and home runs allowed, but more recently incorporates fly ball percentage, ground ball percentage, and line drive percentage.


throw smoke

en-verb

throw smoke (third-person singular simple present throws smoke, present participle throwing smoke, simple past threw smoke, past participle thrown smoke)

throws smoke (present singular third-person)
throwing smoke (participle present)
threw smoke (past)
thrown smoke (participle past)

He has been throwing smoke all game.

(baseball, slang, intransitive) To consistently pitch fastballs that are difficult to hit.


lead off

Jones has been the team's lead off hitter for three years.

(baseball) The first batter in the batting order.

The lead off hitter for the sixth inning is Jones.

(baseball) The first batter of an inning.

(baseball) The short distance that a player stands away from their current base.


lead off

lead off (third-person singular simple present leads off, present participle leading off, simple past and past participle led off)

leads off (present singular third-person)
leading off (participle present)
led off (participle past)
led off (past)

Jones led off the inning with a home run.

Jones is leading off an inning for the third time in the game.

(baseball) To be the first batter of an inning.


OPS

on-base plus slugging
on-base plus slugging#English

(baseball) Initialism of on-base plus slugging.


on-base plus slugging

(baseball) A metric used to evaluate the effectiveness of a hitter; the sum of on-base percentage and slugging percentage.


on-base percentage

en-noun

on-base percentage (plural on-base percentages)

(baseball) The frequency with which a hitter successfully reaches first base.


hitter's count

The runners will be going on the hitter's count.

(baseball) A count favourable to the batter, in which there are more balls than strikes, especially a 3-0, 3-1, or 2-0 count.


sidearmer

Like other sidearmers, O’Day found salvation out of desperation.

2009 March 19, Ben rShpigel, “Medicine’s Loss Could Be the Mets’ Gain”, in New York Times:

(baseball) One who throws with arm roughly parallel to the ground.


outslug

en-verb

outslug (third-person singular simple present outslugs, present participle outslugging, simple past and past participle outslugged)

outslugs (present singular third-person)
outslugging (participle present)
outslugged (participle past)
outslugged (past)

(transitive, baseball) To score more runs than.


left-handed specialist

en-noun

left-handed specialist (plural left-handed specialists)

(baseball) A left-handed relief pitcher who specializes in getting left-handed or poor right-handed switch batters out .


yakker

Said to be from the flight path of the yawker bird.https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/05/23/curveball-clayton-kershaw-lance-mccullers

(baseball, slang) A curveball or slider.


beat out

en-verb

beat out (third-person singular simple present beats out, present participle beating out, simple past beat out, past participle beaten out or beat out)

beats out (present singular third-person)
beating out (participle present)
beat out (past)
beaten out (participle past)
beat out (participle past)

I then made another ſign that I wanted Drink. They found by my eating, that a ſmall Quantity would not ſuffice me, and being a moſt ingenious People, they flung up with great dexterity one of their largeſt Hogſheads, then rolled it towards my Hand, and beat out the top; I drank it off at a Draught, which I might well do, for it did not hold half a pint, and taſted like a ſmall Wine of Burgundy, but much more delicious.

1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Gives Some Account of Himself and Family, His First Inducements to Travel. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 13:

(baseball, of a runner) To reach base after a bunt or groundball.


corner infielder

en-noun

corner infielder (plural corner infielders)

(baseball) A player whose fielding position is in the corner infield (first base or third base).


corner infield

(baseball) The portion of the infield consisting of first base and third base.


middle infielder

middle infielder (plural middle infielders)

(baseball) A player whose fielding position is in the middle infield (the second baseman and shortstop).


middle infield

(baseball) The fielders near second base: the second baseman and shortstop.

(baseball) The portion of the infield consisting of second base and home plate, including the catcher, second baseman, and shortstop.


pitcher's count

pitcher's count (plural pitcher's counts)

The infield defence has moved to double play depth on the pitcher's count.

(baseball) A count favourable to the pitcher, usually with two strikes; a 1-2, 0-2, or 0-1 count.


Blue Jay

He is the only Blue Jay at the All-Star game this year.

(baseball) A player for the Toronto Blue Jays.


Blue Jays

The Blue Jays lead the game going into the ninth inning.

(baseball) The team Philadelphia Blue Jays, a short-lived and disused name for the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1940s.


Orioles

The Orioles have rallied to tie the game.


long ball

In the 1970s Seaver knew that batters could connect for a long ball at almost any time, so he had to be able to reach back and strike a hitter out if necessary.

2007, Gary Gillette, Pete Palmer, The 2007 Espn Baseball Encyclopedia, 4th edition, Sterling Publishing Company, →ISBN, page 1038:


slurve

Of the 90 pitches he threw, Igawa, who relies on a slurve, fastball and changeup, never unleashed one that traveled faster than 91 miles per hour.

2008 June 20, Rainer Sabin, “Igawa Searching for a Way Back to New York”, in New York Times:

(baseball) A pitch in which the pitcher throws a slider as if he or she were throwing a curve ball.


sinkerballing

The Mets, a day after scoring 9 runs on 12 hits, managed four singles against Aaron Cook, the Rockies’ sinkerballing right-hander, who pitched a complete game.

2008 May 26, Ben Shpigel, “Mets Lose Again; Wilpon Is Up Next”, in New York Times:

(baseball) The pitching of sinkerballs (sinkers)


VORP

value over replacement player
value over replacement player#English

(baseball) Acronym of value over replacement player.


power hitter

(baseball) a batter with a high slugging percentage


value over replacement player

(baseball) A statistical measure which evaluates the relative performance of a batter or pitcher compared to a hypothetical replacement player of average fielding skill and below average hitting or pitching.


cleanup hitter

(baseball) the fourth batter in the batting order, usually a power hitter


leadoff hitter

(baseball) The first hitter in the batting order, who faces the first pitch of the game.

(baseball) The first hitter of any given inning.


beanbrawl

(baseball, informal) A fight between teams at a baseball game, typically caused by a beanball.


ballhawk

They documented Waveland Avenue's ballhawk culture, where Moe Mullins, who's recovered more than 3,500, is king, and followed him home to gape at his bounty: 1,000 major-league balls hoarded like dinosaur eggs.

2001 October 5, Deanna Isaacs, “Oddballs and True Believers/Film Center's New Marquee Player”, in Chicago Reader:

Last season, when the Giants came to town, a noted ballhawk named Wes Wagner scored tickets in the first row of the bleacher boxes in right field.

2007 July 18, Lee Jenkins, “At Wrigley, Fans Debate What to Do With a Ball”, in New York Times:

(baseball) A fielder who is particularly good at catching fly balls.


fireballer

From the beginning, Clemens was a fireballer, Wells more of a junkballer.

2007 June 14, Lee Jenkins, “At 44, Wells Is the Anti-Clemens”, in New York Times:

(baseball) A pitcher who throws very fast balls.


squibber

Kimi Pohlman raced home on a squibber back to the circle that Florida pitcher Stacey Nelson could not handle, giving Washington the decisive run in a 3-2 victory for its first N.C.A.A. softball championship Tuesday night.

2009 June 3, The Associated Press, “Washington Takes N.C.A.A. Softball Crown”, in New York Times:

(baseball) A fly ball that becomes a base hit


five-tool player

five-tool player (plural five-tool players)

Five-tool player who hits for avg., power, runs, throws, fields.

1993 March, “1993 American League Rookie Scouting Reports”, in Baseball Digest, page 57:

Griffey is the complete player, one who is known as a five-tool player.

2000, Jeff Savage, Sports Great: Ken Griffey, Jr., Enslow Publishers, →ISBN, page 11:

The original five-tool player, Ewing is widely considered the greatest ballplayer of the nineteenth century.

2010, Dan Fost, Giants Past & Present, MBI Publishing Company, →ISBN, page 70:

(baseball) A player who can hit for a high batting average, hit for power, run the bases well, throw well and field well.


short-stop

en-verb

short-stop (third-person singular simple present short-stops, present participle short-stopping, simple past and past participle short-stopped)

short-stops (present singular third-person)
short-stopping (participle present)
short-stopped (participle past)
short-stopped (past)

In The Spirit of the Times, the most reliable sporting paper of the Coast, we find the following encouraging criticism on our baseball nine: " Koshland (a tower of strength to this league) short topped and ran bases as brilliantly as the best of professionals."

1886, California Occident - Volumes 11-12, page 88:

Baird, '12, has been catching, short-stopping, second-basing and left-fielding with varying good nature, but impartial ability and with commendable attention to such trifling details as hitting and base running, matters apparently beneath the notice of most of the team.

1909, The Phi Gamma Delta - Volume 32, page 742:

I have never known her to follow with any degree of avidity the fortunes of the Kansas City Monarchs, for whom Robinson short-stopped last season.

1979, Mark Harris, Short Work of it: Selected Writing, page 4:

(baseball) To play the position of shortstop.


base runner

(baseball) Alternative spelling of baserunner


baseperson

The baseperson may not interfere with the runner and must stay inside the cones.

1992, California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, CAHPERD Journal Times, volume 55, page 3, rules of Crazy Baseball

The ready position for the second baseperson is generally located slightly more than halfway to second from first and 10 to 15 feet behind the base path (see Figure 4-34 ).

1993, Michael A. Clark, Youth Baseball: A Complete Handbook:

(baseball, softball) A fielder (of any gender) positioned near a base.


basewoman

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-basewoman.wav

(baseball, softball) A female fielder positioned near a base


on base

One run, two hits, one walk, no errors; two left on base.

(baseball) Having reached a base in an inning.


slash line

His slash line since being traded is .262/.344/.427.

(baseball) The batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging average of a batter or team when expressed together, separated by slashes.

The opponent slash line against Jones this season is a weak .195/.232/.367.

(baseball) The batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging average of batters that have had plate appearances against a pitcher or team.


subway series

(baseball, US) a cross-town playoff battle between the New York Mets and New York Yankees

(baseball, US, dated) a crosstown baseball series playoff between two New York City baseball clubs; the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, and New York Yankees.


Bronx Bombers

(US, baseball) nickname of the New York Yankees


White Sox

From white + sox, the footwear worn by the members of the team.

(US, baseball) The Chicago White Sox, an American baseball club.


Triple Crown

(baseball) The feat of leading one's league in three key statistical categories—batting average, home runs, and RBI for hitters; wins, strikeouts, and ERA for pitchers


off-speed

(baseball) Being a pitch thrown at a slower speed than a fastball, such as a change-up.


walkless

It was a walkless inning.