There are many different "languages" in the world. Doctors have their own language (STAT, EKG), lawyers have their own language (plaintiff, defendant). You may not know it, but baseball has a language of its own. This baseball "dictionary" will help you impress your friends and maybe ace a pop quiz! So here's your chance to learn all about meatballs, twin bills and mopping up.
Bullpen The place where the relief pitchers hang out during the game and, when the need arises, warm up. Here at Fifth Third Ballpark, the bullpens are down the foul lines in front of the lawn areas.
Bunt Lightly pushing or tapping a pitch with the bat. The idea is usually to move a runner from, say, first base to second base. This usually results in the batter getting thrown out at first (see Sacrifice).
Can of Corn A pop fly easily handled by an outfielder. Also, a Fifth Third Ballpark giveaway on "National Vegetable Day."
Catcher's Interference The act of a catcher physically disrupting a batter's swing. If a guy takes a swing and hits nothing but catchers mitt, it's usually catcher's interference. When this happens, the batter is awarded first base.
Changeup Thrown with the same motion used for a fastball, a changeup is deceptively slow.
Clean-up Hitter The fourth hitter in the batting order, usually the team's most powerful hitter. Also, if Mr. Tydee is used as a pinch hitter.
Closer A relief pitcher whose primary job is to "close out" tight games. He usually pitches just the ninth inning, but he'll see occasional duty in the eighth.
Curveball A pitch that swerves from its expected course. It goes left when thrown by righties and right when thrown by lefties (and goes down when thrown by either).
Cut-off Man Say a ball is hit to the outfield and a runner is trying to score. Instead of heaving the ball all the way to the catcher, an outfielder will throw it to a "cut-off man," who catches it and throws it home (see Relay). Also, the guy who announces there are no beer sales after the seventh inning at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Dancin' Dog A most unusual term for a home run coined by Whitecaps play-by-play announcer Rick Berkey. Watch for the Hush Puppy Dancin' Dog on top of the dugout tossing little doggies after a Whitecaps long ball.
Designated hitter The batter who hits in place of the pitcher. This concept is used only in the American League (The Midwest League, made up of both American League and National League affiliates, uses the DH in all games.)
Dinger Another word for home run.
Dish Another word for home plate.
Double Play A play in which two outs are made. Also, when a ŒCaps fan is munching on a jumbo dog and a pizza slice simultaneously.
Error A defensive misplay when a normal play would've resulted in an out or prevented an advance by a base runner - but doesn't. Also, flapping your arms too early during the Chicken Dance.
Fireman Another word for closer.
Fungo bat A long, narrow bat used to hit balls in practice.
Fungo circle The two circles on the field nearest home plate. This is where coaches typically stand with their fungo bats to hit practice fly balls to their outfielders or practice grounders to their infielders.
Frozen Rope A ball hit hard and on a line. Also, what can occasionally happen to your licorice during April games.
Gofer Ball A pitch that is hit for a home run. Not to be confused with golfer ball.
Grand Slam A home run hit while the bases are loaded. Also, a ball flying out of the park and slamming into the river.
Ground rule double A ball hit into fair territory that bounces out of play; the batter is awarded a two-base hit. For example, if a ball bounces off the outfield grass and over the wall, the hitter gets a ground-rule double.
Hit-and-Run A play in which the baserunner breaks for the next base while the pitch is being thrown. Also, Crash's favorite method of attacking opposing players.
Hitting for the cycle Collecting a single, double, triple and home run in the same game. This is one of baseball's rarest accomplishments.
In the Hole Describes the position of the batter who, in the batting order, is two places behind the current batter.
Junkballer A pitcher who primarily throws pitches that are slower but have more movement than fast pitches.
Knuckleball Very hard to throw, and just as unpredictable. A knuckleball is held with a grip that features (surprise!) the knuckles (or, more precisely, the fingertips). When it's thrown right, as Phil Neikro did quite often, it's a slow, fluttering pitch that looks deceptively easy to hit. It isn't. When it's thrown incorrectly, as Phil Neikro did on occasion, it's a slow, flat pitch that looks deceptively easy to hit. It is.
Meatball One of a variety of bad pitches. These usually come over the plate at a speed that even you could whack. The guy at the plate, being a professional, is supposed to hit these pitches very hard and very far. Also, a nickname Crash does not like to be called. If you try it on him, you'd better try the hit-and-run.
Middle of the Order The number three, four and five hitters in a team's lineup (also called the heart of the order). The #3 hitter is usually the team's best hitter; the #4 hitter is the most powerful; the #5 hitter is also a power-hitting type.
Mopping up Pitching in a game in which your team is hopelessly behind.
No-hitter When the pitcher completes a game without allowing a base hit. It's a "perfect game" when the pitcher completes a game without allowing a baserunner of any kind.
On deck Describes the position of the batter who, in the batting order, is up next. Also, a person enjoying a picnic just beyond the right field fence at Fifth Third Ballpark.
On-deck circle Either of the two circular areas, located adjacent to the dugouts, where a player stands to await his turn at bat. Not to be confused with the fungo circles, which are much closer to the plate.
1-2-3 inning Three batters up, three batters down.
Paint the corner Describes a pitch that cuts across either edge of the plate (also called paint it black). These pitches may look like balls, but they cross enough of the plate to qualify as strikes - unless your team is at bat, and then you were robbed.
Pea Another word for frozen rope.
Picket Fence When a team scores exactly one run in two or more consecutive innings, it's called a picket fence because the line score looks like a picket fence. Really.
Pickle A player getting caught in a rundown between the bases. Also, a favorite topping on cheeseburgers.
Pickoff A play in which a runner is put out with a quick throw from the pitcher or the catcher while a batter is at the plate. The typical scenario has a man on base taking too big a lead and getting nabbed by the pitcher. Also, what some kids do with pickles on their cheeseburgers.
Pill Another word for baseball.
Pinch-hitter A player who bats in the place of another player. The guy who's being hit for is done for the day.
Pinch-runner A player who runs in the place of another runner. See "pinch-hitter" for the possibilities.
Punch-and-Judy hitter A hitter with little, if any, power. Atlanta second baseman Mark Lemke, nice a guy as he is, is a Punch-and-Judy hitter.
Rally This is when a team is losing by many runs, then makes a comeback in a single inning. Crash will help the Whitecaps fans do their part in these.
Rally hat Players have been known to do some strange things when their team is rallying. One of the most common is wearing hats backwards, inside-out or both.
RBI Run(s) batted in. Simply put, a hitter gets an RBI when his hit results in a run being scored, unless there's an error on the play. You also get an RBI if you walk with the bases loaded. There are some other subtleties to this, but what we've written is enough to get you started.
Relay A play in which a fielder, usually an infielder, takes a throw from another fielder, usually an outfielder, before turning and throwing to a base. Some fans use this method to pass peanuts down the row to the person buying them.
Robbed Say an outfielder plants a foot on the wall, jumps up and catches a ball that looked like a home run - was, in fact, a home run until that outfielder caught it. The hitter can fairly say he was robbed.
Round-tripper Another phrase for a home run.
Rubber A rectangular slab located on the pitcher's mound. The idea is that at least one, and sometimes two, of the pitcher's feet touch the rubber as he begins to throw the ball.
Sacrifice The act of making an out for the sake of advancing baserunners.
Seed Another word for frozen rope.
Set-up man The pitcher who "sets up" the closer, usually by pitching the second-to-last inning in a close game. Also, what Crash becomes when the Famous Chicken visits Fifth Third Ballpark.
Slider A relatively fast pitch that breaks slightly in the same direction as a curve.
Slugfest A game in which many runs are scored.
Southpaw A left-handed pitcher.
Squeeze You have choices here. The first is the act of executing a play in which a runner on third starts running like mad for home plate as the ball is being pitched, hoping that the batter does something, like bunt the ball, to allow the runner to score. The second is the act of an umpire calling pitches in a tight strike zone (i.e., the umpire is squeezing the pitcher). The third is what a well-intended hug from Crash can feel like.
Steal To advance to the next base while the ball is not in play (i.e., not propelled by the hitter's bat, if you're a fan of over-written baseball phrases) simply by running and getting there before the throw from the catcher does. Also, what the price of a $4 lawn ticket is at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Stopper Another word for closer. Also, the guy directing traffic after the game.
Stretch The stance a pitcher takes when runners are on base. This speeds up the delivery process, giving a runner less time to steal a base.
Strike zone An area roughly between a batter's knees and armpits. If a ball is pitched over the plate in between those areas, it's supposed to be called a strike. There's a lot of leeway in this department, so just watch the game and let the umpire make the calls (see Paint the Corner).
Switch hitter A batter who can hit from either side of the plate. Usually he hits lefthanded against right-handed pitchers and right-handed against left-handed pitchers. Also, someone who likes both kinds - Pepsi and Diet Pepsi.
Tater Another word for home run.
Texas Leaguer A pop fly that falls too far out to be caught by an infielder and too close in to be caught by an outfielder.
Triple play A play in which three players are thrown out. Rare and exciting - unless it's your team that goes down. Then you were robbed.
Twinbill Another word for doubleheader. Also, what it will cost for caramel apple chips at the concession stand.