You Can Quote Me on That
Familiarize yourself with popular baseball slang
Baseball has always been a game full of phrases and sayings that stand the test of time. Some you might know; others might make you think: what did they say? SIP uncovers some of baseball’s best when it comes to talking the talk.
WHAT THEY SAY: “He’s got a nasty hook.”
WHAT IT MEANS: ‘Hook’ is another word for curveball. Several other terms are used to describe the intense breaking pitch that has been known to baffle hitters, including ‘yellow hammer’ and ‘yacker’.
WHAT THEY SAY: “He’s a Punch and Judy hitter.”
WHAT IT MEANS: This description is usually reserved for light-hitting middle infielders who don’t have much power but can find holes with well-placed base hits.
WHAT THEY SAY: “He’s right around the Mendoza Line.”
WHAT IT MEANS: Named after light-hitting shortstop, Mario Mendoza. Hitting below the Mendoza line means you’re batting average is under .200.
WHAT THEY SAY: “That one’s a can of corn.”
WHAT IT MEANS: A can of corn refers to an easy pop fly. As to how it relates to a can of corn? The world may never know.
WHAT THEY SAY: “The pitcher’s a southpaw.”
WHAT IT MEANS: A southpaw refers to a left-handed pitcher. There’s no nickname given to right-handed pitchers.
WHAT THEY SAY: “He brushed him back on that pitch.”
WHAT IT MEANS: To brush back a hitter means to come inside with a pitch and “brush” the hitter off of the plate. Sometimes a brush back pitch can lead to a “rhubarb” or “donnybrook”, which sometimes leads to a player getting “tossed.”
WHAT THEY SAY: “That ball had eyes.” “That was a seeing-eye single.”
WHAT IT MEANS: Both phrases refer to a batted ball that somehow, found its way past the infielders into the outfield for a hit.
WHAT THEY SAY: “He ran out of gas.”
WHAT IT MEANS: When a pitcher has lost his effectiveness.
WHAT THEY SAY: “They went around the horn on that double play.”
WHAT IT MEANS: When a double play is recorded third base to second base to first base. ‘Around the horn’ is also used when a catcher throws to ball to third base after a strike out and the third baseman throws the ball to the second baseman, who throws to the shortstop and back to the third baseman.
WHAT THEY SAY: “He plays at the hot corner.”
WHAT IT MEANS: The hot corner is a phrase used to describe the third base position. Third base is one of the more active positions on the field and its proximity to home plate makes most of the balls hit to that spot ‘hot’ when they come off the bat.