(baseball) A final resolution to a batter's turn at the plate which does not result in a walk, a hit by pitch, a sacrifice hit or sacrifice fly, or catcher interference
(baseball) Abbreviation of batting average. [(cricket) A statistical estimation of the scoring ability of a batsman; equal to the total number of runs scored divided by the number of times out.]
(baseball) A ball hit forcefully into the ground near home plate, producing a bounce high above the head of a fielder; technique that was intentionally employed during the dead-ball era of Major League Baseball, but today occurs infrequently and usually unintentionally
(baseball) An instance where the batter is allowed to go directly to first base without the possibility of being put out, due to the opposing pitcher delivering four balls.
Alternative spelling of base on balls [(baseball) An instance where the batter is allowed to go directly to first base without the possibility of being put out, due to the opposing pitcher delivering four balls.]
Alternative form of bat around (certain senses) [(intransitive, baseball) To have each of a team's batting line-up positions complete an at-bat in the same half-inning.]
(baseball) A statistical estimation of the hitting ability of a batter; equal to the number of hits divided by the number of official at-bats. Normally expressed as a real number instead of an average despite the name.
(baseball) A form of interference in which a catcher intentionally or inadvertently physically hinders a batter from the opportunity to legally swing at a pitched ball, and for which the catcher is charged an error.
(baseball) A pitch thrown with the arm motion of a fastball, but which travels at a much slower velocity because it is released without the fingers adding power to the delivery.
Alternative form of change-up [(baseball) A pitch thrown with the arm motion of a fastball, but which travels at a much slower velocity because it is released without the fingers adding power to the delivery.]
(baseball) A pitch thrown with a grip where the pitcher makes a circle with the index finger, holding the thumb at the bottom of the ball parallel to the middle finger and holding the ball far out in the hand.
(baseball) A bat that has been tampered with by drilling out part of the head of the bat and filling the resulting cavity with a light, compressible material (typically cork) in an attempt to improve the bat's performance (although performance is in fact degraded by corking the bat), rendering it illegal for use in play.
(baseball) A pitch thrown with an offset grip and a moderate amount of added pressure by middle finger yielding a combination of backspin and some sidespin, resulting in motion to the left when thrown by a right handed pitcher with velocity only slightly diminished from that of a fastball
(baseball) A measure of a pitcher's effectiveness based only on plays that do not involve fielders. Originally included only hit-by-pitch, walks, strikeouts, and home runs allowed, but more recently incorporates fly ball percentage, ground ball percentage, and line drive percentage.
(baseball) An official scoring judgement in which a runner is not credited with a stolen base because the team playing the field did not try to stop the steal. This typically occurs late in a game when the fielding team is winning by at least two runs.
(baseball) Initialism of defense-independent pitching statistics. [(baseball) A measure of a pitcher's effectiveness based only on plays that do not involve fielders. Originally included only hit-by-pitch, walks, strikeouts, and home runs allowed, but more recently incorporates fly ball percentage, ground ball percentage, and line drive percentage.]
(baseball, transitive) After a fly ball is caught, to tag the base (a runner) was on at the time of the pitch, thereby causing them to be out for failure to tag up.
(baseball) A situation in which two baserunners attempt to steal a base simultaneously. This is usually called by the manager when there are runners on first base and second base.
(baseball, transitive) To get the second out in a double play, typically referring to getting an out by beating a runner back to a base (often by throwing) after a fly ball has been caught
(idiomatic, baseball) for a pitcher to throw a pitch at or near the batter, typically to frighten the batter or to have him stand farther away from home plate.
Alternative spelling of five-tool player [(baseball) A player who can hit for a high batting average, hit for power, run the bases well, throw well and field well.]
(transitive, baseball) To create an out by touching a base in advance of a runner who has no base to return to while in possession of a ball which has already touched the ground.
(baseball) An instance of an out created by touching a base in advance of a runner who has no base to return to while in possession of a ball which has already touched the ground.
(baseball) A play in which a baserunner on first base is required to advance to second base because the batter has become a runner, or a runner on second or third base is required to advance because a runner on a preceding base is so forced.
Alternative spelling of force out [(baseball) An instance of an out created by touching a base in advance of a runner who has no base to return to while in possession of a ball which has already touched the ground.]
Alternative spelling of force out [(baseball) An instance of an out created by touching a base in advance of a runner who has no base to return to while in possession of a ball which has already touched the ground.]
(baseball) A backspin pitch thrown with a ball gripped in the direction to cause four of the seams of the ball to cross the flight path and released with roughly equal pressure by the index and middle fingers
(baseball) A metric used to evaluate the value of a pitcher's performance in one game. In a nine-inning game, an average score is 50, and the maximum achievable score is 114.
(baseball, in statistics) Abbreviation of hit, the number of hits by a player [A blow; a punch; a striking against; the collision of one body against another; the stroke that touches anything.]
(baseball) Initialism of hit-by-pitch. [(baseball) An official scoring play in which a batter is hit by a pitched ball, and is awarded first base as a result. The batter is referred to as a hit batsman.]
Alternative form of heavy hitter [(baseball) A player with a favorable batting average who is especially good at hitting the ball deep into the outfield or farther.]
(baseball) A fielding play where the fielders deceive the baserunners as to the location of the ball, allowing one of the fielders to attempt to tag a runner out without the runner being aware of it.
(baseball) A play in baseball where the baserunners leave their base before the batter hits the ball, assuming that the batter will in fact hit the ball and this will give them an advantage.
Alternative spelling of hit-by-pitch [(baseball) An official scoring play in which a batter is hit by a pitched ball, and is awarded first base as a result. The batter is referred to as a hit batsman.]
Alternative spelling of hit one out of the ballpark [(baseball) To hit a fair ball so well that the ball flies over all of the spectators' seats and lands outside the stadium.]
(baseball) An official scoring play in which a batter is hit by a pitched ball, and is awarded first base as a result. The batter is referred to as a hit batsman.
(baseball) A statistic awarded to a relief pitcher who is not still pitching at the end of the game and who records at least one out and maintains a lead for his team.
(baseball) A flat, pentagonal, rubber object placed at the center of the batter's box, which is used as a basis for judging pitched strikes and balls, and the touching of which by a runner advancing from or past third base scores a run.
(baseball, of a runner, not comparable) In a position such that the path to the desired base is blocked by a fielder holding the ball; caught in a rundown.
(baseball) A rule providing that a fair fly ball hit with a force play at third base, which is deemed catchable by an umpire, be ruled an out irrespective of the fielder's play, eliminating the force play at all bases.
(baseball) A defensive alignment in which the third baseman, shortstop and second baseman positionally shift to their left when a left-handed batter is in the batter's box. Used primarily when the batter is an extreme pull hitter.
(baseball) A period of play in which members of a visiting baseball team attempt to hit a baseball pitched by the opposing home team until three players are called out, followed by a similar attempt by members of the home baseball team against the visiting team's pitching. There are nine or more innings in a regulation baseball game.
Alternative form of inside baseball [(US, idiomatic, baseball) Technical matters concerning baseball generally not apparent or of interest to spectators.]
(baseball) In informal baseball and stickball games, a baserunner who cannot steal a base but can, depending on the rules, advance on a wild pitch, and who usually travels at the rate of the current batter.
(baseball) A member of the second major generation of professional ballparks, built between 1909 and approximately 1940 and distinguished by a relatively compact layout, the use of steel and reinforced concrete as structural materials rather than wood, and the presence of one or more close-in upper decks of seating supported by pillars extending from the lower deck.
Alternative form of hit one out of the ballpark [(baseball) To hit a fair ball so well that the ball flies over all of the spectators' seats and lands outside the stadium.]
Alternative form of hit one out of the ballpark [(baseball) To hit a fair ball so well that the ball flies over all of the spectators' seats and lands outside the stadium.]
Alternative form of hit one out of the ballpark [(baseball) To hit a fair ball so well that the ball flies over all of the spectators' seats and lands outside the stadium.]
Alternative form of hit one out of the ballpark [(baseball) To hit a fair ball so well that the ball flies over all of the spectators' seats and lands outside the stadium.]
(baseball, softball, cricket) A chance for the batter (or batting team) to bat again, given as a result of an misplay by a member of the fielding team.
(baseball) Lefty one-out guy, or left-handed one-out guy, a left-handed pitcher who specializes in pitching to left-handed batters and rarely faces right-handed batters.
(baseball, figuratively) A series of singles and doubles that allow the batting team to score while still having runners on base who can be driven in by the next batter.
(baseball) A pitcher who specializes in getting the first outs of a game before being replaced, either by a long reliever or a pitcher who would normally start.
(baseball) Initialism of on-base plus slugging. [(baseball) A metric used to evaluate the effectiveness of a hitter; the sum of on-base percentage and slugging percentage.]
(baseball) A state in which a member of the batting team is removed from play due to the application of various rules of the game such as striking out, hitting a fly ball which is caught by the fielding team before bouncing, etc.
(baseball, intransitive) To intentionally throw the ball outside to the catcher who stands up with the pitch for the purpose of enabling the catcher to throw out a runner
(baseball) A batter's completed turn in the batter's box. It usually results in an at-bat or walk, but may also result in a hit-by-pitch, sacrifice fly, sacrifice hit, or catcher's interference. If the third out of an inning is recorded prior to completion of the batter's turn, no plate appearance is credited to the batter, and he will lead off his team's next turn at bat.
(baseball) A pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher or another relief pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, ejection from the game or fatigue.
(transitive, baseball, of a fielder) To make a play which results in a runner or the batter being out, either by means of a put out, fly out or strikeout.
(baseball, of the offensive team) To manage easily to hit pitching by the starting and relief pitchers of the opposing team, despite the types of pitches thrown or the skill of the pitchers.
(baseball) The portion of the field between the basepath and the foul ball line in which a batter is allowed to run without causing or receiving interference. Also referred to as runner's lane.
(transitive, baseball) To advance (a runner on base) by batting the ball so it can be fielded, placing the batter out, but with insufficient time to put the runner out.
(baseball) A ball that has been intentionally hit softly with a hands-spread batting stance with the intention of advancing a runner at the cost of an out
(baseball) A play by the team at-bat where with a runner at third base, the batter puts down a sacrifice bunt with the aim of allowing the runner to score. In contrast to a suicide squeeze, the runner waits to see the trajectory of the ball before deciding whether to attempt to touch home plate.
(baseball) A type of draft pick awarded to Major League Baseball teams for the loss of free agents under certain conditions, and taking place in the supplemental round between the first and second rounds of the MLB amateur draft.
(baseball) To preserve, as a relief pitcher, (a win of another pitcher's on one's team) by defending the lead held when the other pitcher left the game.
(baseball) A pitch thrown with added pressure by the index finger and a twisting wrist motion resulting in a motion to the right when thrown by a right-handed pitcher.
(baseball) A pitch thrown with added pressure by middle and ring fingers yielding a combination of backspin and sidespin, resulting in a motion to the left when thrown by a right handed pitcher.
(baseball) A moderate rotation speed backspin pitch thrown with a ball gripped between the index finger and middle finger; it has good velocity, may have a precessing spin, and sinks as it approaches the plate.
A strategy in which a team attempts to score runs by stealing bases, bunting, sacrificing, hitting singles and adopting hit-and-run plays; inside baseball or small ball.
(baseball, softball) A play where a runner on any base runs to the next base, usually while the pitcher pitches to a batter. Such a runner is liable to be put out if tagged with the ball while not in contact with any base.
(baseball) A status resulting from a batter swinging and missing a pitch, or not swinging at a pitch when the ball goes in the strike zone, or hitting a foul ball that is not caught.
(ergative, baseball, softball) Of a batter, to be retired after three strikes (missed swings, as opposed to any other way of becoming "out"); of a pitcher, to cause this to happen to the batter.
(baseball) The area through which if a pitched ball passes, it will be called a strike, typically from the batter's knees to the belt and the width of home plate.
(baseball) A play by the team at-bat where with a runner at third base, the batter puts down a sacrifice bunt with the aim of allowing the runner to score. In contrast to a safety squeeze, the runner sets off from third as soon as the pitch is made, allowing him or her to start running much earlier than on a safety squeeze.
Alternative form of tailender [(cricket) One of the last four or five batsmen in the batting order, normally bowlers with limited batting ability; a member of the tail.]
(baseball) A sign from the third base coach, or whoever the batter receives signals from, telling the batter that no matter what he will not swing at the next pitch.
(baseball) The moment when the pitcher begins the motion of pitching the ball and, by the rules of the game, has committed himself to throwing the pitch.
(baseball) Being a player who has numerous tools, meaning the skills to hit for a high batting average and for power, to run the bases well, to throw well, and to field well.
(baseball) A statistic that measures a player's hitting. In this statistic, each single counts as one base, each double counts as two bases, each triple as three bases and each home run as four bases.
(baseball) A pitch thrown with a grip in the "horseshoe" orientation of the ball, with the rotation at a slight angle resulting in less Magnus effect as compared to a four-seam fastball since only two of the ball's seams cross the flight path; the pitch is delivered with a similar velocity as a four-seam fastball, but has a degree of sink.
Alternative form of ugly finder [(baseball, colloquial) A hard batted or thrown ball which hits or nearly hits someone, especially a line drive foul ball hit into a dugout.]
(baseball) A statistical measure which evaluates the relative performance of a batter or pitcher compared to a hypothetical replacement player of average fielding skill and below average hitting or pitching.
(baseball) Acronym of value over replacement player. [(baseball) A statistical measure which evaluates the relative performance of a batter or pitcher compared to a hypothetical replacement player of average fielding skill and below average hitting or pitching.]
(softball, baseball) The dirt or other material on the edge of a baseball or softball field that warns a player that he or she is approaching the fence, especially the portion in the outfield.
Note: Concept clusters like the one above are an experimental OneLook
feature. We've grouped words and phrases into thousands of clusters
based on a statistical analysis of how they are used in writing. Some
of the words and concepts may be vulgar or offensive. The names of the
clusters were written automatically and may not precisely describe
every word within the cluster; furthermore, the clusters may be
missing some entries that you'd normally associate with their
names. Click on a word to look it up on OneLook.