Terminology D-H

Dinger: a home run.

Double Dip: slang terms for a doubleheader.

Double Switch: a move when the manager removes a pitcher, and in an effort to strategically move the new pitcher’s spot in the batting order, the manager moves another player into the game, and the position player hits in the old pitcher’s spot, and vice-versa.

Doubleheader: when two games are played between teams on the same day.

Down on the Farm: refers to a player who is playing for a team’s minor league affiliate.

Downtowner: a home run.

Ducks on the Pond: runners on base

Dying Quail: a weak bloop hit that drops just in front of the outfielder’s reach (also referred to as a Texas leaguer, a blooper or a bleeder.)

E

Early Shower: when a pitcher is pulled from the game early for ineffectiveness, he is said to be removed “for an early shower” or to “hit the showers.”

Eephus Pitch: a ball that is thrown with a very high trajectory at a very slow speed. The goal is to throw the hitter off balance by alternating between usually fast, straight pitches with the arching eephus pitch.

Emery Pitch: a pitch that is thrown after the pitcher surreptitiously shaves or cuts the ball with a foreign object. This changes the natural spherical shape of the ball, and thus alters the path of the pitch once thrown. This is now an illegal practice.

Excuse Me Swing: this occurs when a batter inadvertently makes contact with the ball when trying to check his swing.

Extra Base Hit: a double, triple or home run.

F

Fall Classic: the World Series.

Fence Buster. A heavy hitter.

Fielder's Choice: The act of a fielder who handles a fair grounder and, instead of throwing to first base to put out the batter runner, throws to another base to put out a preceding runner

Fireman: a team’s closer.

Five O’Clock Hitter: refers to a hitter who hits well in batting practice (which is held around 5:00 p.m. for night games) but not well in games.

Flash Some Leather: make a great defensive play.

Foot in the Bucket. When a batter steps away from home plate on his forward swing, ususally in response to the fear of getting hit in the head, he is said to be swinging with his "foot in the bucket."

Four Bagger: a term for a home run.

Frame: another term for an inning.

Free Pass: a base on balls.

Frozen Rope: a line drive hit so hard by the batsmen that its trajectory is almost completely straight, almost like a frozen theater rope.

Full House: a 3-2 count.

Fungo: a ball hit to a fielder during practice. It's usually hit by a coach using a "fungo bat," which is longer and thinner than a normal bat.

G

Gapper: a ball hit into the left or right field alley (or gap) that rolls to the wall, and usually affords the batter an extra base hit.

Golden Sombrero: 0 for 4 with 4 strikeouts. Example: Rafael Santana has been benched by Manager Davey Johnson because the shortstop hit for the Golden Sombrero on Tuesday night.

Goose Egg: refers to a Zero put up on the scoreboard after an inning.

Gopher Ball: a home run.

Guess Hitter: a hitter who (sometimes to often) tries to guess what pitch the pitcher is going to throw him given the situation.

H

Heat or Heater: a fastball.

High, Hard One: sounds a little dirty but it’s not. Refers to a fastball that is thrown high up, or even above the top of, the strike zone, with the hopes of getting the batter to swing and miss (also known as High Cheese).

Horsehide: refers to a baseball, which is now made from the material.

Hot Corner: Third Base.

Hot Stove League: is a term used to decribe the rumors, the gossip, the trade talks and the free agency action that accompany baseball's downtime during the winter months.

Baseball Lesson

A good friend of mine is interested in learning the basics of baseball. I started to type a bunch of different terms, but there are so many, that I decided today to just do A - C. I got this info from another site www.baseball101.com because I decided I didn't want to type every term out. Enjoy and happy learning! :)

A

Ace. A team’s best starting pitcher.

Alley. The spaces in the outfield between the right fielder and center fielder (right field alley), or the left fielder and cen terfielder (left field alleys). Alleys are also referred to “gaps”

Around the Horn. A double play that goes from third base to second base to first base. (This also refers to a particularly annoying and incomprehensible sportswriters roundtable show which airs on ESPN every day at 5:00).

B

Baltimore Chop. A manner of hitting by chopping the ball into the ground immediately in front of home plate with the design of making the ball “hop” into the air, either high enough to allow the batter to reach first base before the infielder can field the ball and throw it to first base. Another goal is to chop the ball hard enough to have it ricochet over the infielders’ heads.

The term is derived from the style of play of the 1894 Baltimore Orioles, who led the National league in batting by often using this style.

Bandbox. A baseball field whose dimensions are small and thus favor the hitter.

Beanball. A pitch that is aimed at the batter, often his head. The pitch is thrown to intimidate hitters or to obtain revenge when the opposing pitcher has already hit one of the thrower’s teammates. A dangerous practice that is less common than it was in baseball’s earlier years. Often, if a pitcher beans a hitter, both he and his team’s manager are thrown out of the game and face even longer suspension, depending on the severity and obviousness of the pitch.

Bench Clearer. These often follow a beanball. It's a fight or brawl on the field that results in both teams coming off their respective benches (and sometimes their bullpens if things get really out of hand).

Big Show. The Major Leagues (also, called just “the Show”)

Bronx Cheer. When the crowd boos (also known as a Philly Cheer).

Blue. Refers to the umpires (because of their blue uniforms)

Brushback. A ball thrown high and inside by a pitcher for the purpose of pushing him further away from the plate and also, putting the fear of god into him. (also called Chin Music or High and Tight).

Bush-Leaguer. A derogatory term used to identify a low quality, or second rate, ballplayer

C

Can of Corn. A high, easy-to-catch, fly ball hit to the outfield (also known as a Can of Peas).

Captain Hook. A manager who has a penchant for removing pitchers from the game very quickly.

Caught Looking. Striking out on a called third strike.

Choke Up. Where the hitter grips the bat two or three inches above the knob to shorten the bat and give the hitter greater control, although less power, over his swing. A player usually does this when he has two strikes in an effort to avoid striking out. (Example: With two strikes and a man on third, Felix Milan choked up on th bat in the hopes of making sufficient contact to drive home a run.)

Cup of Coffee. Refers to a brief stint in the major leagues. Example: “Catcher Crash Davis was in the majors with the Baltimore Orioles for a cup of coffee at the end of the 1983 season.”

Cycle. When a player gets at least one single, double, triple and home run in a game (also known as hitting for the cycle).

Spring Training Schedule!!

Date Time Opponent
Feb. 29 1:15 p.m. University of South Florida
March 1 1:05 p.m. Philadelphia Phillies
March 2 1:15 p.m. Philadelphia Phillies
March 3 1:05 p.m. Houston Astros
March 4 1:05 p.m. Toronto Blue Jays
March 5 1:15 p.m. Minnesota Twins
March 6 1:05 p.m. Cincinnati Reds
March 7 1:15 p.m. Houston Astros
March 8 1:15 p.m. Tampa Bay Rays
March 9 1:05 p.m. Minnesota Twins
arch 10 7:15 p.m. Cincinnati Reds
March 11 1:15 p.m. Toronto Blue Jays
March 12 1:05 p.m. Tampa Bay Rays
March 13 1:15 p.m. Pittsburgh Pirates
March 14 1:05 p.m. Cincinnati Reds
March 15 1:15 p.m. Tampa Bay Rays (ss)
March 15 1:05 p.m. Detroit Tigers (ss)
March 16 1:15 p.m. Cleveland Indians
March 17 1:15 p.m. Boston Red Sox
March 18 3 p.m. Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Va.
March 19 7:05 p.m. Pittsburgh Pirates
March 20 1:05 p.m. Toronto Blue Jays
March 21 7:15 p.m. Tampa Bay Rays
March 22 1:15 p.m. Toronto Blue Jays
March 23 1:05 p.m. Pittsburgh Pirates
March 24 7:15 p.m. Philadelphia Phillies
March 25 1:05 p.m. Cleveland Indians
March 26 1:05 p.m. Philadelphia Phillies
March 27 1:15 p.m. Pittsburgh Pirates
March 28 7:10 p.m. Florida Marlins
March 29 6:10 p.m. Florida Marlins

Spring Training Pics!

I must say...A-Rod is still lookin good!! :)

Andy pettitte deserves a second chance

Yes, he did HGH. No, I'm not proud of that, nor is that what the title of this blog post refers to. What I'm talking about is how he chose to handle this situation, as opposed to others in the same boat. He had a press conference yesterday, with some teammates and Joe Girardi there. He apologized, admitted he made a mistake and said he did it out of "desperation and stupidity". He also said that he didn't need the money and that the Yankees could terminate the contract if they wanted to. I didn't think he was being superficial with that statement one bit. I hate what he did and hate the fact he did it, but rather than go down the road one of his teammates is currently skipping down, he chose to be honest, come clean and not turn into the angry innocent victim. Which clearly isn't working for Clemens, if you haven't already figured that out. I've earned a new-found respect for him, for at least manning up and admitted he screwed up. It obviously would be better if he had not done it at all, and I'm sad that a player I've respected and admired for a long time would do something like that, but if you're willing to admit fault and ask people to forgive you, I can at least do my best to try. And I think we all should.

To lighten the mood a little..

SPRING TRAINING is just around the corner.

I am so excited!

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!

Spring is the best. I've got to get to a baseball stadium ASAP!

Enough already!

This Clemens/McNamee stuff really sucks. I'm so tired of all the back and forth, he said, he said. Everyday there is a new headline. Here are some headlines from the past 3 weeks:

Report: McNamee has physical evidence on Clemens Sports Network, Feb 6th

McNamee reportedly testifies he injected Debbie Clemens with HGH Boston Globe, Feb 8th

McNamee shows photos of Clemens' alleged drug use Newsday, Feb 8th

Radomski says he believes McNamee MLB.com, Feb 9th
(Radomski being the drug supplier)

Clemens' private meetings with Congress spell doom for McNamee CBSSports, Feb 11th

Canseco's affidavit backs Clemens SportingNews.com, Feb 12th
(Canseco says Clemens was NOT as his "steroid" party)

Lawyer: Clemens Wasn't at Canseco Party AP, Feb 9th

McNamee: Clemens was at Canseco's party Newsday, Feb 11th

Pettitte tells Congress Clemens revealed HGH use Toronto Star, Feb 12th

Clemens, McNamee stick to their stories; lawmakers doubt both Feb 14th


What a joke, right? Everyday there is a new headline like that. Yesterday was the congressional hearing, and let me tell you, it was some great reality tv. I didn't get to see the whole thing, but I saw the end and heard a lot on the radio. I honestly love Roger Clemens and the whole thing breaks my heart. I honestly believe he is lying. Especially with Pettitte's story syncing with McNamee's. This is crazy, but I HOPE Clemens is lying, because if he is NOT, I would feel terrible I didn't believe him.

Now that the hearings are over, I hope they let the whole issue rest for awhile. I'm so sick of it, and I want to focus more on the season coming up.