Baseball Terms & Phrases

The game of baseball presents a lot of terminology. FanSided is here to help you define and learn the most popular phrases in baseball today.

What is a perfect game in baseball?

A perfect game in baseball is the greatest single achievement a pitcher can have on the field. It is called perfect for a reason and not an adjective handed out loosely. A perfect game means a pitcher has retired all 27 batters he has faced. The opposing team can’t reach base at all in order for it to qualify as a perfect game. That means no hits, walks, or errors by pitcher’s team. They also have to score at least a run to prevent the game from carrying over into extra innings.

Perfect games are incredibly rare and much tougher to achieve than a no-hitter. While some pitchers have thrown more than one no-hitter in their career, none have ever pitched more than a single perfect game. It’s such a hard accomplishment that after Charlie Robertson’s perfect game on April 30, 1922, nobody threw another until Don Larsen’s on October 8, 1956 in the World Series.

Were hitters just that good or were pitchers much less perfect?

What is OPS in baseball?

OPS in baseball stands for on-base plus slugging. It measures a player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage combined to give a better overall picture of their production. Are they just hitting home runs and never getting on base otherwise or is the player a little better-rounded than his social media haters believe him to be?

On-base percentage (OBP) is calculated by measuring how many times a player reaches base using the formula (Hits + Walks + Hit by Pitch) / (At Bats + Walks + Hit by Pitch + Sacrifice Flies). Slugging percentage is found with the formula (1B + 2Bx2 + 3Bx3 + HRx4)/AB. It weighs home runs heaviest because slugging is, above all else, how much power a player is expected to have.

What is a balk in baseball?

A balk in baseball is the loneliest feeling a pitcher can experience. He has no one to blame but himself for the mistake that allows all runners to advance a base.

A balk is called by the umpires when the pitcher makes any motion that may mimic their delivery and they don’t deliver a pitch. It takes a lot of discretion by the umpires to call. They are looking for whether or not the pitcher is trying to be deceitful in trying to make a base runner think they’re going to throw a pitch when they actually had no intention of doing so. Umpires use their best lie detecting skills when calling a balk.

Often, balks occur when a pitcher does something as simple as flinch the wrong way or even if they end up stumbling during their delivery. Once a pitcher comes set on the mound, they must remove their foot from the rubber to scratch any itches.

In those moments when a balk is called, pitchers contemplate if they might want to put their college degree to use instead.

What is WHIP in baseball?

WHIP in baseball is an abbreviation for walks and hits per innings pitched. It’s not as painful as it may sound although if a pitcher’s WHIP gets too high they may receive some tongue lashings from the fans who notice the number inflate.

WHIP is an easy way to get a sample of how many base runners a pitcher allows via a walk or a hit. Their walks and hits allowed are added together and then divided by the number of innings they have pitched. A WHIP below 1.00 is phenomenal. A WHIP of 1.50 or higher will generally have the pitching coach cracking a whip as he chases the player down to the minor leagues.

What is a no-hitter in baseball?

A no-hitter in baseball occurs when any pitcher or combination of pitchers on a particular team doesn’t allow a single hit to the opponent. A no-hitter differs from a perfect game because it allows for a few more mistakes. No-hitters stay intact even when the opponent reaches base via anything but a hit such as a walk, hit by pitch, or error.

Nolan Ryan has the individual player record with seven no-hitters. On April 23, 1964, Ken Johnson of the Houston Colt .45s became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter and lose. Two errors in the top of the ninth in a 0-0 game allowed the Cincinnati Reds to take the lead and the game by a score of 1-0 despite not getting a single hit.

One of the strangest no-hitters with a win for the man who threw it occurred in 2001 when Florida Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett walked 9 batters but didn’t allow a single hit. The Marlins won the game 3-0 over the San Diego Padres in a poorly pitched historical performance.

How many players on a baseball team?

A baseball team needs nine players at any given point but an MLB roster typically consists of 26 players. The other 17 will be found in the dugout or bullpen. Only nine players can participate at a given time with the exception of the DH taking over for the pitcher in the starting lineup.

Previously, MLB was known for the 25-man roster with expansion in September to 40. This changed to expanding to only 28 in the final month of the season but allowing teams to carry an extra 26th player all year. There were a couple of reasons for the change. One was because the game was managed differently with more available players for very specialized roles. Another reason may have been because fitting 40 guys in a dugout made for about 25 made things a little too crowded for comfort.

Major League Baseball regularly experiments with roster sizes. Throughout a typical season, far more than 26 guys will play due to injuries, demotions, promotions, trades, and other factors that will pop up.

What does RBI mean in baseball?

An RBI in baseball means runs batted in. It is the simplest way to calculate a player’s contributions to scoring runs while at bat. If a player is at the plate and is responsible for getting a runner home without the fault of a position player making an error, an RBI is credited to them. An exception to this rule is when a player grounds into a double play. They are not rewarded with an RBI in this instance as a sort of punishment even though their team did score.

On an average baseball team, the RBI leaders will bat in the middle of the order. Power hitters have more RBI than others because every time they hit a home run they are credited with driving themselves around the bases. Hack Wilson owns the single-season record of 191 RBI which has held strong since 1930. He also has perhaps the best nickname for an RBI King. His given name, Lewis Wilson, just wouldn’t feel the same.

What is WAR in baseball?

WAR in baseball is good for absolutely something. It stands for Wins Above Replacement. It is a statistic often referenced in today’s heavy analytical world to measure a player’s full abilities. WAR is meant to include everything possible to measure a player’s abilities compared to the average or replacement level person.

WAR is calculated differently depending on the source. If a player put up the exact same numbers in back-to-back years, they might have a much different WAR because it takes into account how the rest of the league is performing. A replacement-level player will have a WAR of 0 which means they neither contribute positively nor negatively to the team. This can lead to some wondering why they even showed up.

What is ERA in baseball?

ERA in baseball is an abbreviation for earned run average. It is a calculation of the number of runs a pitcher has allowed per nine innings of work—the length of a full baseball game. This is calculated with the formula 9 x earned runs / innings pitched.

Depending on the time period, an average pitcher’s ERA will differ. During the Dead-ball era more than 100 years ago, it wasn’t uncommon for many pitchers to have an ERA below 2.00. Generally, an ERA of 2.99 or lower is considered great, 3.00-3.99 is good, 4.00-4.99 is starting to get rough, and 5.00 or higher is panic-inducing. Because a pitcher’s main goal is to prevent runs from scoring, it is the simplest way to show good they are at their jobs.

What does BB mean in baseball?

BB in baseball means base on balls. It’s another way to refer to a walk. A walk happens when a batter is at the plate and receives 4 balls called by the umpire. He is then given a golden ticket to head down to first base and advance any runners that may be in his path. It’s a free base courtesy of balls.

Further popularized in the film Moneyball, Oakland Athletics executive Billy Beane preached the philosophy that “a walk is as good as a hit.” He often looked for players willing to accept a base on balls rather than try to do all of the work on their own with their bat. It never won the Athletics a championship but Brad Pitt got to play him in a movie.

What is a walk off in baseball?

A walk off in baseball is the most exciting way to end a game other than the public address announcer coming on the loudspeaker to announce there is free beer. Walk offs occur when the home team takes the lead in their final at bat. However they score, if it happens in the last opportunity with no chance for the visiting team to come up to bat again, it is considered a walk off. This can only happen in the bottom of the ninth inning or the bottom of extra innings. Only home teams can ever win with a walk off.

Several World Series ended with walk off hits. Bill Mazeroski hit a walk off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series to help the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the mighty New York Yankees. In 2001, Luis Gonzalez of the Arizona Diamondbacks repeated history when a bloop single in Game 7 of the World Series also took down the Yankees.

The walk off win brings as much joy to the home team as it gives grief to the visitors.

What does PO mean in baseball?

PO in baseball means putout. This is a defensive statistic to measure how many outs a player has directly secured for his team. Every time the first baseman catches the ball and tags the bag (usually with their foot) or the runner before they touch first base, he is awarded a putout. Every time a center fielder catches a fly ball, the same thing happens. The same is true for all positions. On strikeouts, catchers are credited with the putout.

In a 9-inning game, there are only 27 PO opportunities available. It’s not a statistic that measures anything more than a player’s chances of making an error. The more POs a player has, the better they can increase their fielding percentage and mask the times when they make an error.

What is a grand slam in baseball?

A grand slam in baseball is the touchdown with the two-point conversion after. It’s the most number of runs a team can score on a given play. There is only one way a grand slam can occur. It requires the bases to be loaded and the batter needs to hit a home run. It’s a slam that is, if nothing else, grand.

On July 25, 1956, Roberto Clemente upped the ante on grand slams when he became the first player to hit an inside-the-park one. Grand slams are hard enough. Inside-the-park home runs are rarer. For them to occur together means that moment was a special one. Thankfully, not a single fan in attendance was distracted by a cell phone. They all got to see it live.

What is a strike zone in baseball?

A strike zone in baseball is the area in which a pitch is considered a strike. All pitches are a strike or a ball. If the batter lets the ball pass them without swinging, the umpire will use their discretion to declare which one it is.

Strike zones are supposed to be the imaginary square between home plate and the space between the batter’s armpits (or the letter as it is sometimes called) down to the top of the knees. With technology, a strike zone is a little more universal and can be tracked for accuracy in the moment on television. Some umpires have notoriously inconsistent strike zones and they’re probably all of the umpires whose names you have heard before. Their job should be to go unnoticed. Some, instead, use a strike zone on a sliding scale. This should never be the case. The best umpires have a consistent strike zone for every batter.

How many innings are in college baseball?

College baseball games are 9 innings long just like they are in the major leagues and minor leagues. At times, when there is a rare doubleheader, there might be only 7 innings scheduled to save from the potential of injury and to help the concession stand from running out of soft pretzels.

The way college baseball is played closely resembles the professional ranks with the main difference being the bat. Players can use a wooden or a metal bat. Metal bats tend to launch balls further and harder for all 9 innings of the game. Wooden bats aren’t quite as powerful.

College baseball players would be wise to get their homework and studying finished before a game. They have a 9 inning grind ahead of them each time.

How many bases are in baseball?

There are four bases in baseball. As advertised, the first stop is first base which sits along the right side of the field. Following this is second base, the one behind the pitcher. Next is third base which is across from first base with the pitcher in between. Finally, there is home plate. Although it doesn’t have base in its name, it is considered a base and the most important of them. Every time a runner reaches home plate, they get a run for their team.

Runners must advance in the order of first to second to third to home. Contrary to popular belief, Jimmy Piersall did run the bases in the correct order when he hit his 100th home run—he just did it while facing the wrong way yet touching each base in the correct order.

What does DFA mean in baseball?

DFA in baseball stands for designated for assignment. This commonly occurs when a team wants to remove a player from their 40-man roster which is the maximum limit they are allowed to carry. Only players on the 40-man roster can ever play at the major league level. Throughout the course of a season, injuries, poor performances, trades, and other events will change which players are on the 40-man roster.

When a player is designated for assignment, they become available to the rest of the league on the waiver wire before the next action is taken. Players on waivers can be claimed by other clubs and taken away from their current team. If a player clears waivers, they will often be sent to the minor leagues or released. It will depend on the player’s contract situation and occasionally their stubbornness to go back to the minor leagues because of their hatred of bus trips.

What is a cycle in baseball?

A cycle in baseball occurs when an individual player has a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in a single game. They can occur in any order. If they occur in that order, though, it is considered a “natural cycle” because of the way it progressed one base at a time. The reason this is called a cycle is because a player will cycle through all four options of the possible hits.

Although difficult, it’s not completely rare. In fact, Christian Yelich hit for the cycle twice in 2018 against the Cincinnati Reds. He did it for a third time in his career during the 2022 season. The opponent was, yet again, the Reds.

What does TB mean in baseball?

TB in baseball is an abbreviation for total bases. Every base a batter advances themselves with a clean hit, they are credited with one total base. A single is worth one. A double is worth two. A triple is worth three. Finally, a home run is worth four.

Total bases can help reflect how powerful a hitter is by measuring home runs heavily but there are instances when a guy who has a lot of triples can benefit, too. Pure singles hitters would prefer you look at their batting average instead of their TB.

The MLB record for most TB in a single season belongs to Babe Ruth. He had 457 total bases in 1921. Post-1950, Sammy Sosa’s 425 total bases in 2001 came the closest. That total ranks seventh.

What is arbitration in baseball?

Arbitration in baseball can occur when a player has more than three years of MLB service time but less than six. Most players will have three years of arbitration eligibility but there are cases when there are fewer or even an extra year depending on service time. Not all players have to actually go through arbitration. It’s the means to solving salary disputes before a player is free agent eligible.

Arbitration-eligible players will exchange figures with the organization at a certain point in the offseason. If the two sides cannot come to an agreement, an unbiased arbitrator will hear from both sides during a hearing. It is kind of like a divorce except the relationship is continuing.

Teams will want to pay the player one figure while the player and his agent are hoping for something higher. It’s not always a sign of a stranded relationship but can lead to some bitterness as the team’s role in this event is to basically tell the player they’re not worth what they think they are. Meanwhile, the player’s agent must hype up his client as much as possible.

What is a bock (balk) in baseball?

If you know what a bock in baseball is, you would be the first to know. It’s actually called a balk although such a strange word could easily be misunderstood in the heat of a moment during a baseball game.

A balk occurs when a pitcher makes any sort of movement that the umpires deem is meant to be deceptive and they don’t deliver a pitch to the batter. Sometimes, balks are completely unintentional. Things like starting your pitching motion and then scratching an itch without stepping off of the rubber of the mound would be considered a balk. When this happens, all runners on base move up one spot.

What is a dinger in baseball?

A dinger in baseball is slang for home run. Why dinger? If you’ve seen enough home runs clank against an outfield seat or railing, you might have an idea.

The exact origin of it is unknown but it is believed to be an abbreviation for the word “humdinger.” One of those words we really need to bring back into our vernacular, a humdinger was someone who was remarkable. So, the shortened version of dinger might be meant to describe the most remarkable of hits possible, the home run.

Plus, as previously mentioned, many home runs can leave seats, foreheads, and other objects feeling like they just got dinged.

What does IP mean in baseball?

Before you grab your favorite pale ale, note that this baseball abbreviation is IP and not IPA. IP in baseball stands for innings pitched. It is a statistic tracked for pitchers to measure how many batters they have retired. The number of innings a pitcher logs won’t identify exactly how many batters they have faced but does record how many outs they have successfully recorded.

For every three outs a pitcher is on the mound for, they are credited with one inning pitched. If they are removed in the middle of the inning or enter before the final out is recorded, a player will get a third or two-thirds of an inning credited to them. These add up over time during the length of a season and help show just how productive a pitcher has been at securing outs.

What does slugging mean in baseball?

Slugging in baseball can refer to a player’s ability to hit for power. A boxer can slug with their fist. A baseball player does it with their bat.

More specifically, it is in reference to how many home runs a player might hit. The term “sluggers” is a description for players with some great home run power. They are typically the guys batting in the middle of the starting lineup with forearms thicker than the average person’s thighs.

There is also a statistic called slugging percentage which helps to measure a slugger’s slugging abilities. Unlike slugs, they aren’t always slow movers. The best sluggers get so familiar with their home run trout that they can move around the bases with their eyes closed and quickly.

What is a ball in baseball?

Every pitch is considered a ball or a strike. If it is swung at, it is automatically a strike. If the batter lets it pass by and the umpire deems that it falls outside of the strike zone, it is considered a ball.

Batters have an opportunity to hit until there are either four balls or three strikes against them. Some hitters will look to get as many balls as they can in hopes of getting a free pass to first base known as a walk or base on balls.

Others aren’t so talented at recognizing the strike zone either because they never worked at improving in this area or astigmatism. They will swing at pitches outside of the strike zone which would have been considered balls. Sometimes, they get lucky and get a hit. Many times they look foolish waving their bat like it is a few sizes too big.

What does can of corn mean in baseball?

A can of corn in baseball isn’t as delicious or disgusting as it may sound—depending on how you feel about the yellow vegetable often canned for preservation. In baseball, a can of corn is what someone would call an easy to catch ball. Usually a high pop up on the infield or a lazy fly ball that the outfielder can catch with ease might be considered a can of corn.

The origin of this is believed to have come from how grocers would retrieve cans from high shelves. Obviously, getting something heavy down off of a high shelf shouldn’t turn into a wrecking ball crashing down on you. You want that can of corn to fall slowly and into your hands with ease both in the stockroom and on the baseball field.

Where is the strike zone in baseball?

The strike zone in baseball is supposed to be from between the batter’s armpits or the “letters” of the jersey down to the top of the knee. Batters will sometimes bend their knees slightly or extensively to shrink their strike zone. Because the size of players will range from Aaron Judge to Jose Altuve, the strike zone will change from batter to batter.

The St. Louis Browns took advantage of this in 1951 when showman owner Bill Veeck sent Eddie Gaedel to the plate with a bat. Gaedel stood at 3’7 and was walked on four straight pitches because of how impossible it was to throw a strike into his smaller-than-average zone.

What is a walkoff in baseball?

A walkoff in baseball is a victory for the home team on their last at-bat. Only the home team can ever win with a walkoff because it takes place to end the game. Home teams always get the last opportunity to hit so the celebration can only happen this way. Visitors only ever get to storm out of the dugout victorious while on defense.

One of the benefits of being at home: you can complete the game with your defense or your offense. Every possible dramatic and positive outcome is available.

Walkoff wins can come in a variety of ways and only happen in the ninth inning or later. Whether it’s an RBI single, a grand slam home run, or even a balk that scores the run to give the home team the lead, it is considered a walkoff.

What does OBP mean in baseball?

OBP in baseball is an abbreviation for on-base percentage. It measures how many times a player reaches base per 1,000 chances via hits, walks, or hit by pitches. If the player reaches base on an error, a fielder’s choice, or a dropped third strike, it does not count toward their OBP.

In the opinion of many, OBP has taken the place of batting average. Because some players are patient that plate and draw a lot of walks, people will look at their OBP for a better measure of their ability to get on base. An OBP over .400 would be considered among the best in baseball. Below .300 means the player probably isn’t a very good hitter nor are they particularly good at drawing walks. They better be able to do something else well to stay in the major leagues.

What does SP mean in baseball?

SP in baseball is an abbreviation for starting pitcher. The starting pitcher is the person that begins the game on the mound for a team. They are usually expected to pitch several innings before relief pitchers are called upon from the bullpen to finish things off.

Starting pitchers need to go at least five innings to qualify for their team’s win but only need to throw a single pitch to get credited with the loss. The five inning mark for a win set a longtime baseball standard for the bear minimum expected from them. However, as the game has evolved, starting pitchers sometimes have trouble even getting this far. Long gone are the days when complete games were commonplace.

A starting pitcher is still essential to a team’s success, but more so is the overall pitching staff for a team. Starting pitchers run the first few laps. It’s up to the relievers to take the baton and run the last third or more.

What does PA mean in baseball?

PA in baseball is an abbreviation for plate appearance. It can also refer to the public address announcer, the person who comes on during the game to share the starting lineups and who is up to bat next. In the case of plate appearances, it’s a measure of how many times a batter has actually stepped up to the plate and does not include only at-bats.

Plate appearances and at-bats are different. A plate appearance includes every time a hitter even had a trip to the batter’s box while an at-bat does not include things such as walks or hit-by-pitches. A player’s batting average is only calculated by using their at-bats and not their total plate appearances.

Players who walk a lot will see a major difference between their plate appearances and at-bats. The best modern example is Barry Bonds in 2004. He had 617 plate appearances but only 373 at-bats. A big reason for it was that he drew 232 walks. Among them, 120 were intentional.

What is the bullpen in baseball?

The bullpen in baseball is where the relief pitchers will hang out during a game along with a few coaches. A bullpen will typically include two mounds and home plates and allow for relief pitchers to warm up before entering a game. Starting pitchers will also be found in the bullpen before a game where they get prepared to pitch.

The origin of the name bullpen comes from Bull Durham tobacco signs being featured on the outfield wall of most ballparks. Relief pitchers would warm up in the shadow of the bull during a time period when all baseball games were played during the day and they preferred not to work on their tans.

In 2021, PETA called for the term bullpen to be changed to “arm barn.” No change has yet to be made.

What is the difference between softball and baseball?

The core of softball and baseball is similar with a few changes between the two sports. The two most obvious would be the ball that is used and the way pitchers deliver the ball.

Softballs are, despite their name, not very soft and actually larger than baseballs. They are also thrown in an underhand motion by the pitcher rather than overhand like in baseball. There is fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball. The difference between these two is self-explanatory with fast-pitch involving the pitchers throwing as hard as they can and slow-pitch typically including a soft toss to home plate.

The distance between bases also typically tends to be shorter in softball than in baseball. Softball bases are 60 feet apart while baseball bases measure 90 feet from one to the next. Due to the shorter distance, softball players cannot take a lead off of a base until after the pitch is thrown.

There can also be differences between the two sports depending on the competitiveness of the game being played. Baseball typically moves at a similar pace no matter what the ability level. Softball can feature players of elite talent or a group of nine weekend warriors looking for an excuse to chug a beer after a big hit.

How many pitchers on a baseball team?

There is only one active pitcher on a baseball team at a single time. However, it is the one position almost guaranteed to be changed during a Major League Baseball game. Baseball managers love to have as many pitchers as they can possibly get because of how taxing the position is.

Major League Baseball rosters made up of 26 players will generally carry 5 starting pitchers and 8 relief pitchers. The starting pitchers will begin the game while the relief pitchers are the ones called from the bullpen to replace them whenever they get too tired or make the manager nervous that he could lose his job.

MLB does try to limit the number of pitchers a team can carry because many would prefer to have as many arms as possible. The current limit for a 26-man roster is 13.

What does QAB mean in baseball?

QAB in baseball is an abbreviation for quality at-bat. What makes an at-bat a quality one and not repugnant? It really depends on who is asked.

Quality at-bats aren’t actually calculated because there is no real standard. Unlike the quality start for a starting pitcher, quality at-bats have more to do with the person and what they consider to fall into this field. Essentially, as long as the at-bat had some sort of production in any way, it can be a QAB.

Some examples of quality at-bats that fans might not notice would be making a pitcher throw a lot of pitches or simply hitting the ball hard. A home run is an obvious quality at-bat as would moving a runner into scoring position. In the future, expect QAB to have a more agreed-upon way to calculate.

What does SU mean in baseball?

SU in baseball is an abbreviation for the setup pitcher. These are the relief pitchers that appear in the game before the closer whose job is typically to record the final three outs of the game. They are, in many ways, the unsung heroes of the bullpen who finally have the SU label to differentiate them from other pitchers.

Setup pitchers will usually find themselves pitching in the eighth inning and possibly even in the seventh. Those “bridge” innings can be vital for a team’s success. They are, as the name suggests, setting up for the closer to enter the game.

On the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Madson was regarded as the setup man for the closer, Brad Lidge. He earned the nickname “The Bridge to Lidge” as he was the often the man called upon for the eighth inning before the Phillies summoned their perfect closer for the ninth.

What is a cutter in baseball?

It doesn’t hurt as much as it sounds unless, of course, the pitcher has a vicious one. A cutter in baseball is a type of pitch. Many pitchers’ cutters are like a fastball with a little bit more movement. The goal is to throw it hard and also have the ball “cut” slightly to make the hitter suffer a little more embarrassment.

The most decorated cutter in baseball might belong to Mariano Rivera. The former closer for the New York Yankees had such a fantastic cutter that he didn’t throw anything else. Hitters always knew what they were going to get and yet he become the first person ever to be voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame with 100% of the vote.

What is the shift in baseball?

The shift in baseball is a defensive alignment to take advantage of a batter’s tendency to hit the ball to a particular spot on the field. It’s very common for left-handed sluggers to be pull hitters which means they tend to hit the ball into right field or on the ground near first base or second base. Infielders will shift to have three players on the right side of the infield while outfielders will typically only take a few steps because getting too far out of position can have much dire consequences for them.

The idea of shifting is a newer concept and not the most beloved by traditional baseball fans. However, there is an argument that hitters should simply learn to hit the ball the other way. There have been instances where a batter has purposefully, and successfully, bunted the ball down the third base line when a team has shifted again him. It’s not a home run but it’s also not an out.

What does LRP mean in baseball?

LRP in baseball is an abbreviation for long-relief pitcher. It has nothing to do with the height of the pitcher. The length has everything to do with how many innings they are able to offer their team.

Long relief pitchers are the pitchers in the bullpen capable of going multiple innings. While many relievers will only aim to get three outs, a bullpen’s LRP is meant to go at least two innings and usually more. Many times, a team will use a struggling starting pitcher in this type of role. Their goal is to help them get through one-sided games. Often unsung, having a good LRP can turn into a dangerous weapon.

What is a Maddux in baseball?

A Maddux in baseball happens when a pitcher summons Hall of Famer Greg Maddux and does something pretty special on the mound. A pitcher has themselves a Maddux when they throw a complete game shutout in less than 100 pitches. Yes, it is possible.

Complete games from pitchers are rare. Harder is a complete game shutout. Almost impossible is doing them both without exceeding 100 pitches. It’s the most efficient use of time on-par with brushing your teeth in the shower while waiting on hold with customer service.

In his career, Maddux had 13 games where he threw a complete game shutout in less than 100 pitches. Since pitches have been counted accurately beginning in 1988, nobody else has more than 7 of them. We’ll be lucky if entire franchises have 7 ever again.

What is rosin in baseball?

You may have noticed a little white bag behind the pitcher’s mound at a baseball game. Somebody didn’t leave sugar behind. It’s a rosin bag. One of the very few allowed foreign substances in the game, it can be a pitcher’s best friend.

Rosin is meant to give pitchers a better grip on the baseball. With pitchers always looking for an edge and sometimes taking things too far with illegal substances, rosin remains one of the longstanding legal additions they can add to their hands.

Pitchers need dry hands void of perspiration to do their best. Because every pitch requires a different grip, having dry hands is important.

How many baseball players are on a team?

A baseball team only needs nine players on each team to play a game. However, a team in Major League Baseball will include more. During the majority of the regular season, MLB teams carry 26 players with them. This number can change depending on the time of the year. The current rule for September call-ups allow for teams to have 28 players. On days with a doubleheader scheduled, teams are allowed 27 players.

Throughout the course of a season, teams will use far more players participate but never more than 26 at a time unless the circumstances allow them to have more. Players on the 40-man roster are allowed to be promoted from the minor leagues to the major leagues. Depending on other contractual situations, players on the 26-man roster will either have to be designated for assignment, released, or demoted in order to remove them for a replacement.

Players will also get injured. In those cases, they are placed on the injured list and a replacement is found.

Why do baseball coaches wear uniforms?

The reason baseball coaches wear uniforms doesn’t have to do with making a fashion statement. It has more to do with tradition than anything else.

In the early days of baseball, teams didn’t have a manager in the way we think of them today. They weren’t grandparents who had beer bellies. Managers were more of a team captain that made many of the managerial in-game decisions. This was often a player so a uniform was necessary. Contrary to what many believe, there isn’t an entirely strict dress code for managers. Many are ex-players so a lot of it has to do with keeping with tradition. Frankly, it’s tough to imagine many managers wearing anything else.

Connie Mack, a manager of the Oakland Athletics for many years during the first part of the 1900s, famously wore a suit and often a hat to go with it. Maybe one day we’ll have another manager who bucks the trend. Would a Hawaiian shirt and flip flops be too much?

What does GIDP mean in baseball?

GIDP in baseball is an abbreviation for grounded into double play. Watch enough baseball games and you’ve seen plenty of rallies killed when a player adds a GIDP to their stat log.

The most common GIDP occurs when the defensive team is able to get an out at second base and then move the ball to first base before the batter reaches there safely. There are other ways for a player to ground into a double play. Maybe the most heart wrenching occurs with the bases loaded and the batter chops one back to the pitch. In that instance, the pitcher might throw the ball home to get an out and the catch doubles up the batter by throwing the ball to first base.

However it happens, if the ball hits the ground and results in two outs, it counts as a GIDP against them.

What is the infield fly rule in baseball?

The infield fly rule in baseball is one of the first many of us learn in Little League. When there are runners on first and second base or first, second, and third base, it can go into effect. It will not happen, however, if there are already two outs. In that case, the defense has to actually catch the ball without help from the umpire.

An easy pop up on the infield with what the umpire deems would require only ordinary effort is the only type of batted ball where the infield fly rule can be called. The batter is automatically ruled out, but why? What if clunked off the infielder’s face?

The reason this rule exists is to prevent infielders from letting the ball purposefully drop in order to turn a double play. If the bases were loaded with nobody out and a batter hits a high pop up right in front of home plate, the catcher could simply let it drop and then pick up the ball to tag home plate and then get a second out at third base. The team on offense loses out.

The infield fly rule prevents defensive players from having an unfair advantage by getting to decide what to do in the field based on what the runners are doing.

What is a passed ball in baseball?

A passed ball in baseball occurs when the catcher is unable to catch a pitch that the official scorer felt he should have. This doesn’t go for every single pitch. At least one runner must advance for it to happen. This includes the batter who has the ability to run to first base on a dropped third strike by the catcher.

The cousin of the passed ball, the wild pitch, is the opposite call but with the same result. When a pitcher might get a little too wild and throw one in the dirt that the official scorer believes was impossible for the catcher to catch, it’s the pitcher who gets the blame. The two can discuss it on the mound or argue about it later on in the dugout after having a few minutes to fume about the error.

What is a cycle in baseball?

There are no training wheels required to hit for the cycle in baseball. This occurs when a batter ends the game with at least one single, one double, one triple, and one home run. Every kind of hit possible is on his stat sheet by the final out. A natural cycle occurs when they do it in order from smallest to largest.

As difficult as it may seem, several players have hit for the cycle multiple times. Perhaps the most amazing to do it three times is Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich. In 2018, he hit for the cycle twice against the Cincinnati Reds less than a month apart. In 2022, he hit for the cycle again. His opponent was, yet again, the Reds.

What is a quality start in baseball?

A quality start in baseball occurs when a starting pitcher goes six or more innings and allowed three or fewer earned runs. It’s the most basic measure of what is expected of them. And while the bare minimum of this does result in a lackluster 4.50 ERA for the game, it remains the measure of quality in this statistic.

Interestingly, if a pitcher went all 9 innings and gave up 4 earned runs, they would have a 4.00 ERA for the game. The extra three innings and only one extra run wouldn’t be enough for it to be considered a quality start. Hopefully, the now rare complete game on his stat sheet will make up for it.

What qualifies as a save in baseball?

To qualify for a save in baseball, there needs to be a couple of things must occurs. It’s more than recording the final three outs in the ninth although the one quality each of these situations does share is that saves are only handed to the person who gets the final out.

The most common saves occur when a relief pitcher enters the game with their team ahead by no more than three runs. They pitch the final inning and earn themselves a save.

If a pitcher doesn’t appear in a full inning, they can still record a save. They would have to enter the game with the tying run in the on-deck circle, at the plate, or already on base. Sometimes, with a big lead, managers will give someone other than their closer a chance to finish the game. Far too often, a big lead evaporates and someone has to enter to close the game and pick up a save.

The third and rarest save comes when a pitcher completes the final three innings or more. Regardless of the score, pitching the last three innings in relief is deemed worthy of a save.

Why is baseball the best sport?

Baseball is the best sport because of how different it is from others. It’s a team sport played on such an individual basis. Every at-bat is between the pitcher and batter to start with eight other people getting involved to help the former and up to three other base runners at any point affected by the latter.

Whatever it is you enjoy about sports, baseball can offer it.

Love numbers? There are an abundance of statistics to keep you hanging on every play of a game. Nerd out if you want to.

Are you a history buff? No sport has more of it than baseball. The sport was organized well before fans ever had to worry about beating traffic after the game because there just weren’t any cars.

Just looking for as much entertainment as possible? The MLB season lasts 162 games and is played nearly every day from the beginning of April through the end of September. This doesn’t even include the preseason or postseason.

In baseball, you never know which part of the game will be the most important. Is the game won in the first inning followed by eight frames of a pitcher’s duel or do we head to the ballpark and watch a slugfest for nine innings? It’s a box of chocolates.

What does K 9 mean in baseball?

K 9 in baseball is a common abbreviation for strikeouts per nine. K/9 as it is commonly written as will measure how many times per nine innings a pitcher is able to secure a strikeout.

Pitchers are often measured statistically on a basis of 9 innings because that is the length of a baseball game. A pitcher’s earned run average is probably the most commonly known one that is based on 9 innings of work.

Depending on the era of the game, the best K/9 will differ. Typically, relief pitchers have a better K/9 rate than a starting pitcher however that’s not always the case. If a pitcher can average a strikeout per inning pitched, they would have a K/9 of 9 which is pretty solid.

How to get a save in baseball

In order to get a save in baseball, a relief pitcher must meet a certain criteria. All three of them require the pitcher to secure the final out of the game but there are a couple of paths to get there.

The most common way is for a pitcher to enter the game their team ahead by no more than three runs. If they don’t let the opposing team tie the game before they get the final out, they earn a save. They must also pitch at least one inning in this case.

Relief pitchers can also earn a save by pitching less than an inning. They would have to enter the game with the tying run either on-deck, at the plate, or already on base.

The third and rarest way to pick up a save is for a pitcher to complete the final three innings or more regardless of the score.

What is a force out in baseball?

A force out in baseball occurs when the defensive team is able to tag the base a runner is forced to run to before they are able to reach it. Every time a batter hits a groundball to shortstop and it is thrown to force base before they reach, it is a force out.

Runners already on base are also force out fodder. Any runner on first base is forced to run to second base to make room for the batter. As long as there is someone forced into running behind you, you’ll be at risk of being forced out at the next base. During times when there isn’t a force out at play, defensive players must tag the runners when they are off of a base.

What is pepper in baseball?

While a wonderful ingredient for any meal, pepper in baseball is something entirely different. It’s a game players will use to warm up or maybe just have a little bit of fun. It can be done with even just two people.

One player will use a bat to hit groundballs and line drives to other player(s) about 20 feet or so away from them. They do it with a lighter, shorter swing to keep more control of what the baseball does. The player who fields the ball will toss it back to the one with the bat. The hitter swings away, usually chopping at the baseball for brisk groundballs that will one-hop their way to one of the fielders.

What is a utility player in baseball?

A utility player in baseball is the one on the roster expected to do a little bit of everything. They are the member of the roster who can play practically anywhere on the field. Typically, they are a bench player but that isn’t always the case.

Players like Ben Zobrist, Jeff McNeil, and Chris Taylor established themselves in recent years as reliable utility men who can actually appear in the everyday lineup. The advantage of this is that managers can move them around the field. One day, a utility player might start at second base. The next day, he’s in left field. The day after that, the first baseman needs a break. The manager doesn’t call the Ghostbusters for help. They call upon the utility player.

What does HBP mean in baseball?

HBP in baseball is an abbreviation for hit by pitch. It hurts just thinking about it.

When a batter is hit by a pitch in a baseball game, they are automatically awarded first base. It has the same result as a walk. All forced runners also get to move up a base in front of the player suffering through a little bit of a pain at the moment. Just walk it off. Throw some dirt on it.

The record for most HBP in a career belongs to Hughie Jennings. He was hit 287 times in his career. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame as is the runner-up, Craig Biggio, who was hit 285 times. Biggio is probably fine not having the record.

What does CP mean in baseball?

CP in baseball is an abbreviation for closing pitcher. You probably know it better simply as the closer.

The CP is the designated relief pitcher whose job is to secure the final out or more each game. Although they aren’t always the ones called upon by the skipper to do this duty, most teams will have a closer on the roster who gets the bulk of the save opportunities.

It is the save statistic that helps to measure a closer’s reliability. Saves are awarded for shutting the door in a team’s victory. Along with other statistics like ERA and K/9, the number of saves a closer has can show how dominant they are.

What is a golden sombrero in baseball?

A golden sombrero might sound like a tacky restaurant you run into on a road trip. It might even seem like a prize at a carnival you win. In baseball, a golden sombrero is enough to even make the toughest of hitters shed some tears. It is awarded when a batter strikes out four times in a game.

When a batter strikes out five times, it is a platinum sombrero. That’s much harder to accomplish but has happened many times. Some, including high-profile names like Aaron Judge and Sammy Sosa, have had multiple 5 strikeout games.

As far as wearing the golden sombrero goes, nobody wore it more than Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies. There were 27 times in his career when he struck out 4 times or more.

What is a full count in baseball?

A full count in baseball is not a term used for a vampire who just finished eating. It’s actually a lot more dangerous for everyone involved.

In baseball, pitchers are allowed 3 balls and batters can have up to 2 strikes called on them before either a walk or strikeout occurs. When there are 3 balls and 2 strikes on the count, it’s considered full. There is no more room left for error on either side.

Full counts are baseball intensity at their best. Does the batter swing at a borderline pitch? Does a pitcher try to get the hitter to chase something outside of the zone? Someone comes away as the winner. Who is it going to be this time?