I've been around baseball my whole life. Its a game that takes a while to catch all the little nuances of.
In the Hole
No we aren’t talking the Shia LeBoeuf movie.
If a player’s “in the hole” he is third in line to bat.
Side Retired
No the side did not move to Florida.
Side retired means that that half inning is over.
Ribeye Steak
No we are not at Outback Steakhouse.
This is another way of saying RBI(run batted in), ‘cause they sound alike.
Knock
Who’s there?
Knock is another word for a hit.
Paint
Not Benjamin Moore.
When a pitcher hits the edges of the strike zone consistently for strikes, he is said to be “painting”.
Dealing
Not Cards. Or drugs.
When a pitcher’s dealing, he’s got all his pitches working, in control, and for strikes.
Oppo-taco
An opposite field home run.
Gun
Don’t worry, if a player has a gun, it just means that he has a strong throwing arm and is capable of “gunning down runners”(throwing them out).
Golden Sombrero
A player who strikes out 4 times in one game.
Mike Trout did this last week which is honestly shocking.
“GOT HEEM”
Declared after a player on the opposing team is called out in an exciting fashion(ie a nice throw or called 3rd strike)
Creds to Brian Wilson.
Going Yard
No we aren’t going to play outside.
Going yard is getting a home run.
Deuce
No this is not Chris Brown’s song, or a peace sign.
A deuce is another term for a curveball.
Boot.
No not as in shoe.
A boot is another way of saying a player misplayed a ball for an error. Ie- “He booted that one”
The Dish
No not your dinner plate.
The dish is another way to refer to Home plate.
Rake
No we aren’t talking leaves in the fall….
Raking in baseball is hitting dynamically to all parts of the field. This causes your spray chart to look like a rake.
Web Gem
No this is not a spider with a diamond.
A web gem is a beautiful, skillfully made, catch. The ball ends up securely in the webbing of a defender’s glove, and it’s a gem of a play.
Cut
Another word for a swing-ie “nice cut”.
Salami
Not a sandwich.
This is another word for a grand slam(a home run hit with the bases loaded)
Pepper
Not a condiment.
Pepper is a practice technique where one player hits soft ground balls to fielders standing close by. The fielders then field the ball and pitch it back to the hitter, in a continuous cycle.
Hot Corner
Third Base
The Hill
Another term for the pitcher’s mound
Whiff
Swinging strike or strikeout.
“Now you’ve seen it”
If a batter receives a called strike, his teammates will often say this to reassure him and encourage him that he can hit the ball next time the same pitch is thrown.
“WHADDYA SAY 1-4?”
“What do you say”…Used to encourage a player. In the above example the player would be #14. For players with 2 of the same number, such as #33, this becomes “WHADDYA SAY threes?”
Oftentimes an extra “whaddya say” is added after the number for emphasis.
Full House
When there is a 3-2 count, it’s referred to as a full house.
“HEYYWUDDAYASAYNAHKEEEDD?”
Ok. Let’s break it down. Hey. What. Do. You. Say. Now. Kid.
However, you must say this phrase in the slurry hot mess exhibited above. Why? ‘Cause baseball… that’s why. You typically use it when a member of your team is batting. Essentially, you’re asking him to get a hit. It is also sometimes used to encourage your pitcher to throw strikes.
“HUMBAYBAYY”
Originally, “Come on Babe”(as in Ruth). Over time it deteriorated into the slur above. It can be used to encourage any member of your team. Plus its really fun to say.
“If it’s in there let him know”
This phrase is used when a player from your team is batting. Essentially it translates as,
“If the opposing pitcher throws a hittable pitch that is right down Broadway, make him aware of his error by subsequently striking said ball for a hit”
“Right down Broadway”
If a pitch is right down Broadway it means that its straight over the middle of the plate, its usually a hittable pitch but its oftentimes missed for a strike.
The term is derived from New York City’s Broadway, one of the straightest and most central Manhattan streets.
Wheelhouse
A player’s wheelhouse is the sweet spot of their strikezone where they are most likely to hit for power.
This varies from person to person. Some players like the ball up and in, some like it low and center, but when the pitcher throws a pitch in their favored location, they are likely to hit it.
Can of Corn
A routine pop out, one that you know will be caught routinely right off the bat. Unless its BJ Upton circa 2 nights ago against the Mets.
Ducks on the Pond
This means the bases are loaded.
I think the players should make duckfaces whenever this happens so it can be a more accurate description. Ha.
There are A LOT more terms than what I’ve listed. And I may do another post covering some more of them later, but that’s all for now.
Deuces.
One of those nuances is the slang used both on and off the field.
Baseball has a language of its own, used by players and fans alike.
Below is a list of some of the phrases with definitions. Enjoy :)
No we aren’t talking the Shia LeBoeuf movie.
If a player’s “in the hole” he is third in line to bat.
Side Retired
No the side did not move to Florida.
Side retired means that that half inning is over.
Ribeye Steak
No we are not at Outback Steakhouse.
This is another way of saying RBI(run batted in), ‘cause they sound alike.
Knock
Who’s there?
Knock is another word for a hit.
Paint
Not Benjamin Moore.
When a pitcher hits the edges of the strike zone consistently for strikes, he is said to be “painting”.
Dealing
Not Cards. Or drugs.
When a pitcher’s dealing, he’s got all his pitches working, in control, and for strikes.
Oppo-taco
An opposite field home run.
Gun
Don’t worry, if a player has a gun, it just means that he has a strong throwing arm and is capable of “gunning down runners”(throwing them out).
Golden Sombrero
A player who strikes out 4 times in one game.
Mike Trout did this last week which is honestly shocking.
“GOT HEEM”
Declared after a player on the opposing team is called out in an exciting fashion(ie a nice throw or called 3rd strike)
Creds to Brian Wilson.
Going Yard
No we aren’t going to play outside.
Going yard is getting a home run.
Deuce
No this is not Chris Brown’s song, or a peace sign.
A deuce is another term for a curveball.
Boot.
No not as in shoe.
A boot is another way of saying a player misplayed a ball for an error. Ie- “He booted that one”
The Dish
No not your dinner plate.
The dish is another way to refer to Home plate.
Rake
No we aren’t talking leaves in the fall….
Raking in baseball is hitting dynamically to all parts of the field. This causes your spray chart to look like a rake.
Web Gem
No this is not a spider with a diamond.
A web gem is a beautiful, skillfully made, catch. The ball ends up securely in the webbing of a defender’s glove, and it’s a gem of a play.
Cut
Another word for a swing-ie “nice cut”.
Salami
Not a sandwich.
This is another word for a grand slam(a home run hit with the bases loaded)
Pepper
Not a condiment.
Pepper is a practice technique where one player hits soft ground balls to fielders standing close by. The fielders then field the ball and pitch it back to the hitter, in a continuous cycle.
Hot Corner
Third Base
The Hill
Another term for the pitcher’s mound
Whiff
Swinging strike or strikeout.
“Now you’ve seen it”
If a batter receives a called strike, his teammates will often say this to reassure him and encourage him that he can hit the ball next time the same pitch is thrown.
“WHADDYA SAY 1-4?”
“What do you say”…Used to encourage a player. In the above example the player would be #14. For players with 2 of the same number, such as #33, this becomes “WHADDYA SAY threes?”
Oftentimes an extra “whaddya say” is added after the number for emphasis.
Full House
When there is a 3-2 count, it’s referred to as a full house.
“HEYYWUDDAYASAYNAHKEEEDD?”
Ok. Let’s break it down. Hey. What. Do. You. Say. Now. Kid.
However, you must say this phrase in the slurry hot mess exhibited above. Why? ‘Cause baseball… that’s why. You typically use it when a member of your team is batting. Essentially, you’re asking him to get a hit. It is also sometimes used to encourage your pitcher to throw strikes.
“HUMBAYBAYY”
Originally, “Come on Babe”(as in Ruth). Over time it deteriorated into the slur above. It can be used to encourage any member of your team. Plus its really fun to say.
“If it’s in there let him know”
This phrase is used when a player from your team is batting. Essentially it translates as,
“If the opposing pitcher throws a hittable pitch that is right down Broadway, make him aware of his error by subsequently striking said ball for a hit”
“Right down Broadway”
If a pitch is right down Broadway it means that its straight over the middle of the plate, its usually a hittable pitch but its oftentimes missed for a strike.
The term is derived from New York City’s Broadway, one of the straightest and most central Manhattan streets.
Wheelhouse
A player’s wheelhouse is the sweet spot of their strikezone where they are most likely to hit for power.
This varies from person to person. Some players like the ball up and in, some like it low and center, but when the pitcher throws a pitch in their favored location, they are likely to hit it.
Can of Corn
A routine pop out, one that you know will be caught routinely right off the bat. Unless its BJ Upton circa 2 nights ago against the Mets.
Ducks on the Pond
This means the bases are loaded.
I think the players should make duckfaces whenever this happens so it can be a more accurate description. Ha.
There are A LOT more terms than what I’ve listed. And I may do another post covering some more of them later, but that’s all for now.
Deuces.