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The ladies will all enjoy the game much more as they learn this Baseball Lingo-page2 and all the jargon being used to describe whats happening during the game.
Do not kid yourself into thinking the ladies do not have a keen interest in knowing all the technical and even subtle whats happenning dude.
The Garmin GPS system is must something you should consider for Mom. It will be a snap for her trying to find and get to the Ball Stadium on time.
Tell me you would not enjoy being able to tell folks around the world some of the lingo associated with your very own and personal experiences in life?
Matter of fact most gents would be amazed at how deeply the fairer sex interest and insight goes regarding the entire game of baseball so baseball lingo-page2 is here to help.
- Backstop: Sometimes the catcher is called the backstop. The term really is about the fenced area or fence back behind the catcher.
Speaking of backstop Baseball Lingo-page2 would be remiss if we did not tell you tell you that back tere in grrammar school playground ball playing we had no fenced backstop.
We may not have had the fenced backstop but we did have what we referred to as "A Pig Tail." Wat in the name of goodness is a pig tail? Remember the bigger boys in the class called the shots so a little youngster to small to really contribute out in the field of play was ordered to be the pig tail.
The job of the pig tail was to chase down any wild pitches or foul balls escaping back past the catcher. As a rule these little ones would do this job with gusto for you see they wanted to be accepted as part of the game.
- Bag: Any of the bases but not home plate. Home is called the plate. First, second and third bases are called bags in Baseball Lingo-page2.
- Balk: This is a strange little word and a strange action too. When a pitcher toes the pitching rubber with runners on the bases or without runners on base he has and obligation to pitch the ball in the same direction in which he makes his first motion.
He is not allowed to change his mind and change the direction of his throw once he makes a committment by body language to throw the ball to the hitter.
The actual act of body motion which indicates where he will throw the ball is so subtle and sometimes so deceiving even the umpire will not be able to detect this slight deception.
Once the ball is thrown we know full fell where he was throwing.
A runner on first base can take a lead off the base and try to steal to second base. There is a cat and mouse game between the pitcher and the runner. The pitcher would like to catch the runner off base and quickly throw to first to get the runner caught off the base and for the out.
Now for this thing we call a balk if the pitcher makes his motion to throw to the batter and whirls and instead throws to first base his body action indicated he was to throw to the batter then the umpire has the obligation to call a balk.
The runner is awarded a free pass to go to second base. The pitcher also may indicate by body motion he will throw to first to chase the runner back to the base. If the pitcher does not throw to first base again this is considered a balk and the runner is awarded a free pass to second base.
There are many more subtle actions involving the umpires call for a balk but I will leave some of the other details for your friends and other ball fans to enlighten you. A balk has many twists and turns.
Does this Baseball Lingo-page2 begin to make sense and help the novice baseball fan?
- Bandbox: A small ballpark that favors the hitters.
Take it from this baseball playing wannabe and Baseball Lingo-page2 all hitters were delighted when his team had a chance to play bandbox sized parks.
- Bang Bang Play: A play which the baserunners foot hits the bag a split-second before the ball arrives or vice versa.
The decision call of safe or out is such a finite quick flash look the call could go either way as to whether the runner is to be called safe or out. This quick as a wink decision play call is known as a bang bang play.
The same concept applies on the tag of a runner sliding into a base either ahead of the tag or a fraction of a second late. The umpire making the call must quickly decide was he safe or was he out and make the bang bang call.
- Basket Catch: Another way to describe "Willie Mays" patented catch. the fielder catches a ball with his glove near belt level.
No ladies baseball lingo-page2 did not send him to play outfield with a flower basket.
- Battery Mate: No it is not something which goes in a car to make it crank. Again it is not two Aussies talking about their bunk house pal.
Battery mate is the reference to the combination of a pitcher and a catcher.
We will refer to the pitcher and the catcher of a game as being battery mates. The origin of this usage for a pitcher and catcher being called battery mates is unknown by this writer.
- Brushback: A pitch deliberately thrown that nearly hits the batter. Good hitters that have hit well against a pitcher and the pitcher remembers them well he will throw close to that particular hitter to keep him a little unnerved and off balance.
We must remember there is always a constant battle between the pitcher and the hitters. There is a constant tuggle between pitchers and hitters going on out there on the diamond.
- Barn Burner: A game where both teams are red hot and scoring runs in bunches and the score is getting out of hand we will tell everyone we have a barn burner going on.
No way is baseball lingo-page2 going to tell you that Paul Newman was a barn burner even though it has been a hot summer.
- Base Path: The base path is an imaginary line from the center line (unmarked) between first to second to third base. The runner is not allowed to leave this imaginary line to avoid being tagged out.
The umpire’s decision makes the call when a runner veers to far from the center line to avoid a tag.
You see this base path being imaginary but it's still real comes more alive by listening to baseball lingo-page2 definition huh?
A runner is not allowed to interfere with a fielder being able to make an unobstructed play either fielding or throwing of the "in play" ball.
A runner leaving homeplate going down the first baseline is obligated to remain in foul territory and not interfere with a catcher’s ability to field and throw a short fair ball roller going down the first base line.
If the runner interferes in the throw he is automatically called out.
Now as baseball lingo-page2 has cleared the base path mystery we are ready to move on to more exciting baseball vocabulary or terminology.
- Baseball Jersey: No the shirt or blouse of the uniform is not the jersey.
The baseball jersey is worn under the uniform shirt and normally has a tight fitting three-quarters length sleeve. Jersy, shirt or blouse baseball lingo-page2 telling all this just like it is.
For the fashion clothes buff the body of the jersey is in most cases your basic white while the exposed sleeve is part of the uniform color coordination. Maybe I should say, "Fashion statement".
- Baseball Scout: Major league teams throughout professional baseball have a network of coaches, managers, former ball players and on salary people who know the value and skill of ball players.
These baseball people are all over the country looking for young talented ball players.
These scouts or hunters of good ball playing talent will travel all over the farm system looking and watching, just like a farmer watching his crop.
When those 15 to 20 year old players grow and ripen into professional quality baseball players the scout gathers his crop.
When the time is right (ripe) they let major league team owners know here is a kid we must have for our team.
Someone other than baseball lingo-page2 might try to have you think scouts were only used by the Cleveland Indians or the Atlanta Braves.
- Bat Boy: Someone is responsible before during and after every batter enters or leaves the batters box to account for or retrieve the bat. A batter leaves that batters box running.
The bat boy will dutifully trot out, pick up that left behind bat, bring it back and place it back into the bat rack.
There are baseball playing teenagers who would fight to have this honor.
Baseball lingo-page2 give you the baseball term for bat boy but in the British Royal Marines each officer has at his beck and call a bat man or bat boy to be his personal runner or errand boy.
- Batters Box: The batters box is a rectangular (white lime marked) box to the right side and the left side of home plate.
The batters box is measured exactly 4 feet by 6 feet. Each box is 6 inches from the nearest edge of homeplate and 29 inches from each other parallel to the edge of home plate.
The front or leading edge of home plate is exactly 17 inches wide. Baseball lingo-page2 will do the math for you if the plate is 17" wide and each edge of the batters box for (left handed hitters and right handed hitters) being 6" from the plate. Add this 6" each side equals 12." Add this 12" to the 17" wide home plate then that means the batters box are 29" apart.
Ladies and gentlemen, a pitcher has only a 17 inch wide window in which to slip that 90 mph hosshide past those sluggers.
The last thing the pre-game grounds keeper does just prior to the umpires coming to home plate and pow-wowing with the managers is to mark off the batters boxes.
- Batting Cage: A huge tubular frame structure mounted on wheels with heavy cord mesh covering.
The batting cage is rolled into place and surrounds home plate for batting practice prior to a game. The cage is moved from home plate before the start of infield practice and is removed from the field before the start of the game.
- Batting Glove: The use of a batting glove is an optional additional piece of apparel/equipment. Technically, it provides for a better grip of the bat thereby improving bat control.
It is one of those nice to have items, not a necessity.
Baseball lingo-page2 might mention to you modern day players that early on in lthe history of baseball the use of a batting glove would have been akin to calling a boy a sissy.
The use of a batting glove does help to eliminate a hitter from rubbing pine tar up and down the bat handle for a better gripping surface.
One George Brett Hall of Fame Player of the Kansas City Royals got into hot water for using too much pine tar. His old tar baby bat is probably in the Baseball Hall of Fame museum.
- Batting Helmet: Protective head gear required to be worn by all players at bat. The use of this safety measure was initiated by Little League rules.
Now this wearing of a batting helmet is a requirement for all organized baseball leagues. The only exception these days is those pick-up games still being played out there in the cow pastures.
- Battle Royal or Brawl: Baseball has been known far and wide by its spirited disagreements which erupt during a game.
When the action reaches the point that a fight erupts between two players and the bench empties and all players from both teams get into the fray.
We are witnessing a real donnybrook and a battle royal or brawl and it really gets climatic when the fans decide they too want part of the action.
Baseball lingo-page2 adds this footnote for all real baseball fans "Do Not Leave The Stands and Join The Action."
- Baseball Rules Pinch Hitter: Baseball game rules allows the use of substituting one player for another player during the course of a game.
In the case of substituting one hitter into the line up to replace a hitter due to come to bat is permitted. This is called the use of a "Pinch Hitter."
The hitter whose has been replaced must now leave the game he has been replaced by the pinch hitter. Even though the new hitter replaces the due up hitter the new hitter normally would take that players position on the defence. The pinch hitter rule has further meaning applied in that by rule the pinch hitter could if needed also be replaced with another player being substituted into the defensive playing position when the team goes on the defence.
Baseball rules pinch hitter has more ramifications than basic rules of baseball as you can now see rules for baseball can get a little complicated.
The use of a pinch hitter is a situational part of the game calling for a manager or coach to employ some thoughtful strategy with his batting order trying to provide the winning margin for his team.
- Bean Ball: When a pitcher throws a pitch high above the shoulders and in too close to the hitter, it is called a bean ball.
If the pitch is really too close and knocks the batters helmet loose and rattles his noggin then by golly it's a bean ball for sure.
The umpire is to pay close attention and if he determines the pitcher deliberately meant to throw high and tight at the head he is obliged to warn the pitcher.
After a warning, if a pitcher throws too close for comfort, then the umpire lets the pitcher take an early shower.
An inadvertent wild pitch is one thing but throwing that rock at a hitters head is a no-no. The price a hitter must pay by getting hit in the ole bean is much too high.
- Belt High: Generally refers to a fast ball pitched in the strike zone and in the middle of the plate.
- BESR: Ball Exit Speed Ratio-the use of a non-wood bat by high schools requires a certification mark be on every bat. This certification mark signifies the bat has been tested to ensure it is safe piece of equipment for a maximum of 97 mile per hour exit of the ball leaving the bat.
- Bloop Hit: That little poop of a hit which acts like a dying quail drops just over the scrambling out stretched glove or dive of the infielder.
- Blue Darter: Ole Pardner Dizzy Dean would use this term on a blazing line drive traveling near but so fast the infielder had no prayer of getting his glove on it.
I think another description would be countamount to the ball traveling so vicious it was as if Mighty Mouse in his blue cape was leaving a vapor trail.
- Bottom of the Inning: Home team is at bat. The home team bats in the bottom (or ending) of an inning.
Therefore the home team always bats last to end the game.
Exception – if home team is ahead at the bottom of the ninth inning they do not bat--the game has been won.
This baseball jargon jazz could get a little confusing couldn't it? Nope! it becomes routine and second nature real soon that is why we bring you baseball lingo-page2.
- Box Seats: The special reserved seats for dignitaries and season ticket holders. These seats are normally right behind the respective visiting and home team dugouts.
Politicians and Socialite dignitaries have reserved privileged seating so they can have up close and personal contact with the players.
In the early years of baseball these reserved box seats were strictly for the moneyed and well placed muckety mucks.
- Break out a New Can: Razzing a pitcher after he has thrown a wild pitch or two.
- Bring Down the Rain: When a hitter hits a fly ball so high up into sky, we can barely see it. We jokingly say it is going to bring down the rain.
When coaches during practice hit fly balls with a fungo bat for the outfielders, we will razz him conjoling that he cannot bring down the rain. We are saying, "Come on coach, you are hitting cream puffs. Come on bring down the rain".
- Brush off Pitch: This is one weapon a pitcher has, to protect his trade as a nifty twirler, when facing a hitter who routinely knocks the stuffing out of the ball.
The brush off is a pitch thrown hard and fast close to the hitters body, not up high near the head.
Hopefully baseball lingo-page2 has enlightened some with the difference between the "Bean Ball" and the "Brush Off Pitch."
It is a controlled pitch and is designed to add just a little fright into the hitter. After all, a baseball whizzing up there at upwards of 90 mph can put a knot as big as a coconut on your head.
One might wonder which knot was his noggin and the old bean doesn't feel so good after such an encounter.
- Bull Pen: The arm of a baseball player is not designed to take the stress and strain we place on it throwing a baseball. We combat this frailty to the best of our knowledge and ability.
Before any game the starting pitchers start pitching or throwing well prior to the game to get their arms warm and flexed to throw hard at game time.
During the course of the game the pitching coach has his relief pitchers warming up in the "Bull Pen" area.
The area of the field in foul territory or out behind the outfield wall where these relief pitchers are getting ready is the bull pen.
Baseball lingo-page2 might be talking bull but we hope it is straight shooting good information for our baseball fans.
I suppose it is so named because a lot of bull goes on out there to while away the time during the wait.
Bush: Also "bush League." An amateur play or behavior.
Hopefully Baseball-Vocabulary-page2 has given you a better understanding for some of the baseball lingo used constantly and so freely at the ball parks.
You are at Baseball Lingo-page2 click here and you will continuing to Baseball Lingo-page3 of this baseball lingo.
Batter Up----Let's Play Ball....
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