Descriptionary

chop a quick, downward swing that usually results in a grounder.

chopper a hit ball that strikes the ground then bounces high.

circus catch a spectacular or acrobatic catch.

clean the bases to get a hit that drives all men on

base safely home.

cleanup position in a batting lineup, the fourth bat­ter, who is usually the best batter. The fourth batting position is the one most likely to produce runs.

closer the closing relieving pitcher; the pitcher intended to end the game.

clothesline a line drive to the outfield.

clubhouse collective term for a team's locker room, showers, lounge, and manager's office.

clutch a critical situation.

clutch hitter a player who can be counted on for pro­ducing a hit in clutches. A player who doesn't choke.

coaches' boxes the 5-foot by 20-foot rectangles where the coaches stand, to the right of first base and to the left of third base.

corked bat a bat whose barrel has been illegally hollowed out and filled with cork or rubber to facili­tate hitting the ball further.

curveball a ball pitched with a high degree of spin, causing it to drop or curve suddenly as it nears the plate.

cut ball a ball that has been deeply scratched or nicked, giving it unusual dynamics when pitched.

daisy clipper/daisy cutter a sharply hit ground ball that skims over the grass.

deer slang term for a fast base runner.

designated hitter a 10th player designated to hit in place of the pitcher, but only in the American

League. In the National League, the pitchers hit for themselves.

doctor to alter illegally a baseball with nicks, scratches, abrasions, or moisture or to alter illegally a baseball bat by filling it with cork or rubber.

donut the heavy, doughnutlike weight slipped over a bat to aid a batter in warming up.

doping taking illegal substances, such as steroids, to boost performance.

double play two outs produced by fielders during one play.

down the alley a fastball pitched through the mid­dle of the strike zone.

downtown a home run's destination, particularly an out-of-the-park home run.

draft the drawing of players from high schools, col­leges, minor leagues, and free agents.

drag bunt a slow-rolling bunt hit down the first- base line.

dribbler a slow-moving ground ball.

dugout the enclosed bench area of either team.

earned run average the average number of runs a pitcher gives up per nine innings, a statistic of his overall performance.

emery ball a baseball that has been illegally scuffed by an emery board or other abrasive object.

English the spin imparted on some pitched balls.

error a fielding misplay that allows the offensive team to advance to a base.

fan to strike out or to strike someone out.

farm system the network of minor leagues from which the major leagues draw players.

fastball a very fast pitched ball with a straight tra­jectory.

finesse pitcher a pitcher who utilizes a variety of clever pitches rather than speed to strike out batters.

fingering the proper placement of the fingers on the ball (especially in relation to the seams) to exe­cute such pitches as curveballs, knuckleballs, and sliders.

fireballer a pitcher particularly adept at throwing fastballs.

$5 ride in a Yellow Cab slang phrase for a home run, especially one hit out of the ball park.

flat-footed slang term for caught off-guard or unprepared.

forkball a downward-breaking pitch thrown with the index finger and middle finger spread far apart.

foul ball a ball hit out of play.

four-bagger slang for a home run.

free agent a professional player who is not under contract and is free to negotiate with any team.

fungo bazooka an apparatus that automatically shoots balls into the air for fielding practice.

goat nickname for a player who makes a game-los­ing mistake.

goat's beard the small, protective flap hang­ing down from the chin of a catcher's or umpire's mask.

go down looking to strike out on a called third strike.

go down swinging to strike out by swinging the bat and missing.

go downtown to hit a home run.

go signal a signal given from a coach to a player to steal a base, to continue advancing around the bases, or to swing at the next pitch. Also known as the green light.

grand slam a home run hit with the bases loaded.

greaseball a baseball illegally altered with Vase­line, hair tonic, lard, or other substance to change its dynamics when pitched.

ground rule double an automatic two-base hit awarded whenever a hit ball lands in fair territory and then bounces out of play into the stands.

gun a powerful throwing arm.

gun down to throw out a base runner.