Descriptionary

scout a person who scouts schools and minor leagues for up-and-coming players.

scouting report a written evaluation of an up-and- coming player in school or in a minor league.

screwball a pitch that curves inside instead of out­side. Also known as a reverse curve.

scuffed ball an illegally doctored ball.

seventh-inning stretch the old custom of stadium fans standing and stretching their legs in the seventh inning.

shag flies to practice catching fly balls.

shake off a sign a pitcher's shake of the head in refus­ing to deliver a pitch suggested by the catcher's signals.

shoestring catch a catch of a fly ball at shoe level.

shortstop the infield player's position between sec­ond and third base.

shotgun slang for a powerful throwing arm.

shutout a game in which the losing team fails to score any runs.

sidearm a type of pitch delivered in a manner between underhanded and overhanded.

sign one of several types of secret signals conveyed by catchers and coaches to players on the field or up at bat.

sign stealing deciphering an opposing team's signals and using them to advantage.

sinker a pitch thrown with a roll of the wrist, caus­ing the ball to dip or sink suddenly at the plate.

sinking fastball a fastball that acts like a sinker.

6-4-3 a double play started by the shortstop (6), who throws the ball to the second baseman (4), who completes the play by throwing to the first baseman (3).

600 home run club an exclusive hitter's club with only three members, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Willie Mays.

six o'clock hitter a term describing a player who bats well in practice but performs poorly in a game.

slider a lightly spinning curveball that breaks sud­denly but with less curve than a standard curveball.

slump a period in which a player or team plays poorly.

smoker a fastball.

smoking of major velocity, as in a smoking fastball.

southpaw a left-handed player, but usually referring to a pitcher.

speed gun an electronic apparatus used to measure the speed of pitched balls.

spitball a ball illegally altered with spit or moisture in order to change its pitching dynamics.

split-fingered fastball a fastball pitched like a fork- ball and that sinks suddenly.

squibber a weakly hit ball that passes or drops in for a base hit.

standup double/triple a hit that allows a batter enough time to reach second or third base without having to slide.

steal to advance safely to the next base by a surprise run.

stopper a team's best starting or relief pitcher.

switch hitter a player adept at hitting either left- handed or right-handed.

Texas Leaguer a weakly hit ball that manages to get over the infielders' heads for a base hit.

3-6-3 a double play begun by the first baseman (3), who throws the ball to the shortstop (6), who throws back to the first baseman.

throw smoke to throw a fastball. Also known as to blow smoke.

triple play getting three outs in one play, a rarity.

unearned run a run scored but not charged to a pitcher's earned run average due to circumstances beyond his control, such as an error.

Vaseline ball a ball illegally doctored with Vaseline.

warning track the dirt track skirting the length of the outfield wall or fence; it acts as a warning to help prevent players from accidentally colliding with the wall when attempting to field a ball.

whiff to strikeout.

basketball

air ball a ball so poorly shot it misses hitting either the backboard or the rim.

alley-oop a shot in which the ball is caught in mid­air and slam-dunked before the player's feet touch the floor.

assist a pass by one player to another that results in a score.

backboard the board or fiberglass structure that holds the hoop and net, today referred to as the "glass." backcourt the defense's forecourt, a definition that changes with possession of the ball.

backcourt foul a foul committed by an offensive player while in his backcourt.

backcourt violation a violation levied on a team that fails to move the ball out of its backcourt within 10 seconds after gaining possession, resulting in loss of possession.

back door play when an offensive player under the basket darts behind a defender to receive a pass.

bank shot a shot caromed off the backboard and into the basket.

baselines the short boundary lines at the ends of the court behind the baskets.

blocking foul a defensive player moving illegally into the path of an offensive player.

body fake using body language to fake a defender into moving in the opposite direction to the way you wish to go with the ball.

bomb a shot taken from long range.