Baseball
Content
Fatima Joy M. Fajardo
BSS-2
Terminologies Used in Baseball/Softball
A. Field
1. Backstop. The fence or Suspended Tension Backstop behind home plate, designed to
protect spectators from wild pitches or foul balls.
2. Baseball field. Also called a ball field or a baseball diamond is the field upon which
the game of baseball is played. The term is also used as a metonym for Baseball Park.
3. Batter’s box. Is the place where the batter stands when ready to receive a pitch from
the pitcher. It is usually drawn in chalk on the dirt surrounding home plate, and the
insides of the boxes are watered down before each game.
4. Batter’s eye or batter's eye screen. Is a solid-colored, usually dark area beyond
the center field wall of a baseball stadium, that is the visual backdrop directly in the line
of sight of a baseball batter, while facing the pitcher and awaiting a pitch.
5. Bullpen (or simply the pen). Is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a
game.
6. Dugout. Is a team's bench area and is located in foul territory between home plate and
either first or third base. There are two dugouts, one for the home team and one for the
visiting team.
7. Foul territory or foul ground. Is defined as the area of the field outside of the foul lines.
The foul lines and foul poles are not part of foul territory.
8. Foul Poles. The purpose of the foul poles is to help the umpire judge whether a fly ball
hit above the fence line is foul (out of play) or fair (a home run). The poles are a vertical
extension of the foul lines.
9. Infield. Is where most of the action in a baseball game occurs, as it includes that area
where the all-important duel between the pitcher and batter takes place.
10. Outfield. Refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than
the infield
11. On deck. Is where the next scheduled batter, or "on-deck" batter, warms up while
waiting for the current batter to finish his turn.
12. Warning track is the part of the baseball field that is closest to the wall or fence and is
typically made of dirt, instead of grass or artificial turf like most of the field. It
runs parallel to the ballpark's wall and looks like a running track.
B. Equipment
1. Baseball - is a ball used in the sport of the same name, baseball.
2. Baseball bat - is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the sport of baseball to hit
the ball after it is thrown by the pitcher.
3. Batting cage - (aka tunnel) is an enclosed area for baseball or softball players to
practice the skill of batting.
4. Batting gloves - are a component in baseball sportswear. Typically consisting of a
leather palm and back made of nylon or another synthetic fabric, the glove covers one
or both hands of a batter, providing comfort, prevention of blisters, warmth, improved
grip, and shock absorption when hitting the ball.
5. Batting helmet - is the protective headgear worn by batters in the game
of baseball or softball. It is meant to protect the batter's head from errant pitches thrown
by the pitcher.
6. Baseball cap - is a type of soft cap with a rounded crown and a stiff peak projecting in
front.
7. Baseball doughnut - is a weighted ring that fits over the end of a baseball bat, used for
warming up during a baseball game. A doughnut can help increase bat speed
8. Baseball glove or mitt - is a large leather glove that baseball players on the defending
team are allowed to wear to assist them in catching and fielding balls hit by a batter, or
thrown by a teammate.
9. Pitching machine - is a machine that automatically pitches a baseball to a batter at
different speeds and styles. Most machines are hand-fed, but there are some that
automatically feed.
10. Shin guard or shin pad - is a piece of equipment worn on the front of a player’s shin to
protect them from injury.
11. Stirrups - are uniform socks commonly worn by baseball players up until the mid1990s, when major-league players began wearing their pants down to the ankles,
setting a trend soon picked up by players in minor and amateur leagues.
12. Baseball uniform- is a type of uniform worn by baseball players. Most baseball
uniforms have the names and uniform numbers of players who wear them, usually on
the backs of the uniforms to distinguish players from one other.
13. Uniform number- is a number worn on the uniform of each player and coach. Numbers
are used for the purpose of easily identifying each person on the field as no two people
from the same team can wear the same number.
C. Game Process
1. Batting order or batting lineup - is the sequence in which the nine members of the
offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main
component of a team's offensive strategy.
2. Extra innings - is the extension of a baseball or softball game in order to break a tie,
often referred to as "free baseball" by fans.
3. Innings - is a fixed-duration segment of a game in cricket, during which one team
attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring.
4. On deck - refers to being next in line to bat. In a professional game, the batter who is
on deck traditionally waits in a location in the foul territory called the on deck circle.
5. Out - (also informally "away" or "down" when mentioning the number of batters
currently out) occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of
different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out.
6. Run- is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and
returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are
recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured.
7. Seventh-inning stretch is a tradition that takes place between the halves of the
seventh inning of a game – in the middle of the seventh inning. Fans generally stand up
and stretch out their arms and legs and sometimes walk around.
D. Batting
1. At bat (AB) or time at bat - is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher.
2. Baltimore Chop- A ball hit forcefully into the ground near home plate, producing a
bounce high above the head of a fielder.[1] This gives the batter time to reach first base
safely before the ball can be fielded.
3. Count refers to the number of balls and strikes a batter has in his current plate
appearance.
4. Bunt is a special type of offensive technique in baseball or fast pitch softball. In a bunt
play, the batter loosely holds the bat in front of the plate and intentionally taps the ball
into play.
5. Checked swing is a type of motion in baseball made by a batter. A checked swing
occurs when a batter starts to swing his bat at the ball, but stops the swing in order to
allow the ball to pass without hitting it.
6. Cleanup hitter is the hitter who bats fourth in the lineup. Although the third man up is
generally the hitter with the highest batting average, cleanup hitters often have the most
power on the team and are typically the team's best power hitter; their job is to "clean
up the bases", hence the name.
7. Designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10,
adopted by the American League in 1973. The rule allows teams to have one player,
known as the designated hitter (abbreviated DH), to bat in place of the pitcher.
8. Double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second
base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay
(see error) or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.
9. Double switch is a type of player substitution, usually performed by a team while
playing defense.
10. Foul ball is a batted ball that (1) Settles on foul territory between home and first base or
between home and third base, or (2) Bounds past first or third base on or over foul
territory, or (3) First falls on foul territory beyond first or third base, or (5) While on or
over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or player, or any object foreign to
the natural ground.
11. Foul tip is defined as "a batted ball that goes sharp directly from the bat to
the catcher’s hands and is legally caught. A foul tip is considered a strike and the ball
remains "in play."
12. Grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners ("bases
loaded"), thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play
13. ground rule double is an award of two bases from the time of pitch to
all baserunners including the batter-runner as a result of the ball leaving play after being
hit fairly and leaving the field under a condition of the ground rules in effect at the field
where the game is being played.
14. Hit (denoted by H), also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely
reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or
a fielder's choice.
15. Hit and run is a high risk, high reward offensive strategy used in baseball. It uses
a stolen base attempt to try to place the defending infielders out of position for an
attempted base hit.
16. Hit by pitch (HBP) is a situation in which a batter or his clothing or equipment (other
than his bat) is hit by a pitch from the pitcher; the batter is called a hit batsman (HB).
17. Hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double,
a triple, and a home run in the same game.[1]Collecting the hits in that order is known as
a "natural cycle".
18. Home run (abbreviated HR, also "homer", "dinger", "bomb", or "four-bagger") is scored
when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach
home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in
the process.
19. Infield hit is an outcome in baseball in which the batted ball stays in the infield but
neither the batter nor any of the runners are put out. If the batter and the runners reach
safely due to an error, it is not considered an infield hit.
20. Inside-the-park home run is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the
ball out of the field of play.
21. Leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. It can also refer to any batter who
bats first in an inning.
22. Lefty-righty switch is a maneuver by which a player that struggles against left- or
right-handed players is replaced by a player who excels in the situation, usually only for
the duration of the situation in question.
23. Line drive is a type of batted ball, sharply hit, and on (or slightly above) a
level trajectory. The threshold between a line drive (also sometimes called a liner or
frozen rope) and a fly ball can be subjective.
24. Moonshot is referred to as a home run that travels a great distance vertically, while
only barely clearing the fences.
25. Plate appearance (denoted by PA)- In baseball statistics, a player is credited with
a plate appearance (denoted by PA) each time he completes a turn batting.
26. Platoon system in baseball, also known as the two-platoon system,[1] is a method of
sharing playing time, where two players are selected to play a single defensive position.
Usually, one platoon player is right-handed and the other is left-handed.
27. Pull hitter is a batter who usually hits the ball to the side of the field from which he bats.
28. Sacrifice bunt (also called a sacrifice hit) is a batter's act of deliberately bunting the
ball, before there are two outs, in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to
another base.
29. Sacrifice fly - the batter presumably intends to cause a teammate to score a run, while
sacrificing his own ability to do so. Sacrifice flies are traditionally recorded in box
scores with the designation "SF".
30. Single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of
a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball (thus becoming a runner) and
getting to first base before a fielder puts him out.
31. Slap bunting is an offensive baseball and softball technique described as "the idea
behind the skill is to hit the ball to a place on the infield that's farthest from the place
where the out needs to be made".
32. Strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a
time at bat. It usually means the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for
both pitchers and batters, and is denoted by K.
33. Strike zone is a conceptual right pentagonal prism over home plate which defines the
boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when
the batter does not swing.
34. Sweet spot is a place where a combination of factors results in a maximum response
for a given amount of effort.
35. Triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither
the benefit of a fielder's misplay (see error) nor another runner being put out on
a fielder's choice.
36. Base on balls (BB), also known as a walk, occurs in baseball when a batter receives
four pitches that the umpire calls balls, and is then entitled to reach first base without
the possibility of being put out.
37. Walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives
the home team the lead (and consequently, the win) in the bottom of the final inning of
the game.
E. Pitching
"Beanball" is a colloquialism used in baseball, for a ball thrown at an opposing player with
the intention of striking him such as to cause harm, often connoting a throw at the player's
head (or "bean" in old-fashioned slang).[1]
breaking ball is a pitch that does not travel straight like a fastball as it approaches
the batter.
brushback pitch is a pitch–usually a fastball–thrown high and inside the strike zone to
intimidate the batter away from the plate on subsequent pitches.
changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. The changeup is the staple off-speed pitch, usually
thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much slower to the plate.
curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement
that imparts forward spin to the ballcausing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches
the plate.
fastball is the most common type of pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball.
count refers to the number of balls and strikes a batter has in his current plate appearance.
It is usually announced as a pair of numbers, for example, 3-1 (pronounced as "three and
one," or, alternatively, "a three-one count"), with the first number being the number of balls
and the second being the number of strikes.
inside pitching refers to a tactic used by pitchers. It refers to throwing a pitch outside of
the strike zone and near the batter's box.
knuckleball or knuckler is a baseball pitch thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in
flight, causing an erratic, unpredictable motion.
BSS-2
Terminologies Used in Baseball/Softball
A. Field
1. Backstop. The fence or Suspended Tension Backstop behind home plate, designed to
protect spectators from wild pitches or foul balls.
2. Baseball field. Also called a ball field or a baseball diamond is the field upon which
the game of baseball is played. The term is also used as a metonym for Baseball Park.
3. Batter’s box. Is the place where the batter stands when ready to receive a pitch from
the pitcher. It is usually drawn in chalk on the dirt surrounding home plate, and the
insides of the boxes are watered down before each game.
4. Batter’s eye or batter's eye screen. Is a solid-colored, usually dark area beyond
the center field wall of a baseball stadium, that is the visual backdrop directly in the line
of sight of a baseball batter, while facing the pitcher and awaiting a pitch.
5. Bullpen (or simply the pen). Is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a
game.
6. Dugout. Is a team's bench area and is located in foul territory between home plate and
either first or third base. There are two dugouts, one for the home team and one for the
visiting team.
7. Foul territory or foul ground. Is defined as the area of the field outside of the foul lines.
The foul lines and foul poles are not part of foul territory.
8. Foul Poles. The purpose of the foul poles is to help the umpire judge whether a fly ball
hit above the fence line is foul (out of play) or fair (a home run). The poles are a vertical
extension of the foul lines.
9. Infield. Is where most of the action in a baseball game occurs, as it includes that area
where the all-important duel between the pitcher and batter takes place.
10. Outfield. Refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than
the infield
11. On deck. Is where the next scheduled batter, or "on-deck" batter, warms up while
waiting for the current batter to finish his turn.
12. Warning track is the part of the baseball field that is closest to the wall or fence and is
typically made of dirt, instead of grass or artificial turf like most of the field. It
runs parallel to the ballpark's wall and looks like a running track.
B. Equipment
1. Baseball - is a ball used in the sport of the same name, baseball.
2. Baseball bat - is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the sport of baseball to hit
the ball after it is thrown by the pitcher.
3. Batting cage - (aka tunnel) is an enclosed area for baseball or softball players to
practice the skill of batting.
4. Batting gloves - are a component in baseball sportswear. Typically consisting of a
leather palm and back made of nylon or another synthetic fabric, the glove covers one
or both hands of a batter, providing comfort, prevention of blisters, warmth, improved
grip, and shock absorption when hitting the ball.
5. Batting helmet - is the protective headgear worn by batters in the game
of baseball or softball. It is meant to protect the batter's head from errant pitches thrown
by the pitcher.
6. Baseball cap - is a type of soft cap with a rounded crown and a stiff peak projecting in
front.
7. Baseball doughnut - is a weighted ring that fits over the end of a baseball bat, used for
warming up during a baseball game. A doughnut can help increase bat speed
8. Baseball glove or mitt - is a large leather glove that baseball players on the defending
team are allowed to wear to assist them in catching and fielding balls hit by a batter, or
thrown by a teammate.
9. Pitching machine - is a machine that automatically pitches a baseball to a batter at
different speeds and styles. Most machines are hand-fed, but there are some that
automatically feed.
10. Shin guard or shin pad - is a piece of equipment worn on the front of a player’s shin to
protect them from injury.
11. Stirrups - are uniform socks commonly worn by baseball players up until the mid1990s, when major-league players began wearing their pants down to the ankles,
setting a trend soon picked up by players in minor and amateur leagues.
12. Baseball uniform- is a type of uniform worn by baseball players. Most baseball
uniforms have the names and uniform numbers of players who wear them, usually on
the backs of the uniforms to distinguish players from one other.
13. Uniform number- is a number worn on the uniform of each player and coach. Numbers
are used for the purpose of easily identifying each person on the field as no two people
from the same team can wear the same number.
C. Game Process
1. Batting order or batting lineup - is the sequence in which the nine members of the
offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main
component of a team's offensive strategy.
2. Extra innings - is the extension of a baseball or softball game in order to break a tie,
often referred to as "free baseball" by fans.
3. Innings - is a fixed-duration segment of a game in cricket, during which one team
attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring.
4. On deck - refers to being next in line to bat. In a professional game, the batter who is
on deck traditionally waits in a location in the foul territory called the on deck circle.
5. Out - (also informally "away" or "down" when mentioning the number of batters
currently out) occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of
different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out.
6. Run- is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and
returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are
recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured.
7. Seventh-inning stretch is a tradition that takes place between the halves of the
seventh inning of a game – in the middle of the seventh inning. Fans generally stand up
and stretch out their arms and legs and sometimes walk around.
D. Batting
1. At bat (AB) or time at bat - is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher.
2. Baltimore Chop- A ball hit forcefully into the ground near home plate, producing a
bounce high above the head of a fielder.[1] This gives the batter time to reach first base
safely before the ball can be fielded.
3. Count refers to the number of balls and strikes a batter has in his current plate
appearance.
4. Bunt is a special type of offensive technique in baseball or fast pitch softball. In a bunt
play, the batter loosely holds the bat in front of the plate and intentionally taps the ball
into play.
5. Checked swing is a type of motion in baseball made by a batter. A checked swing
occurs when a batter starts to swing his bat at the ball, but stops the swing in order to
allow the ball to pass without hitting it.
6. Cleanup hitter is the hitter who bats fourth in the lineup. Although the third man up is
generally the hitter with the highest batting average, cleanup hitters often have the most
power on the team and are typically the team's best power hitter; their job is to "clean
up the bases", hence the name.
7. Designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10,
adopted by the American League in 1973. The rule allows teams to have one player,
known as the designated hitter (abbreviated DH), to bat in place of the pitcher.
8. Double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second
base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay
(see error) or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.
9. Double switch is a type of player substitution, usually performed by a team while
playing defense.
10. Foul ball is a batted ball that (1) Settles on foul territory between home and first base or
between home and third base, or (2) Bounds past first or third base on or over foul
territory, or (3) First falls on foul territory beyond first or third base, or (5) While on or
over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or player, or any object foreign to
the natural ground.
11. Foul tip is defined as "a batted ball that goes sharp directly from the bat to
the catcher’s hands and is legally caught. A foul tip is considered a strike and the ball
remains "in play."
12. Grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners ("bases
loaded"), thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play
13. ground rule double is an award of two bases from the time of pitch to
all baserunners including the batter-runner as a result of the ball leaving play after being
hit fairly and leaving the field under a condition of the ground rules in effect at the field
where the game is being played.
14. Hit (denoted by H), also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely
reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or
a fielder's choice.
15. Hit and run is a high risk, high reward offensive strategy used in baseball. It uses
a stolen base attempt to try to place the defending infielders out of position for an
attempted base hit.
16. Hit by pitch (HBP) is a situation in which a batter or his clothing or equipment (other
than his bat) is hit by a pitch from the pitcher; the batter is called a hit batsman (HB).
17. Hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double,
a triple, and a home run in the same game.[1]Collecting the hits in that order is known as
a "natural cycle".
18. Home run (abbreviated HR, also "homer", "dinger", "bomb", or "four-bagger") is scored
when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach
home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in
the process.
19. Infield hit is an outcome in baseball in which the batted ball stays in the infield but
neither the batter nor any of the runners are put out. If the batter and the runners reach
safely due to an error, it is not considered an infield hit.
20. Inside-the-park home run is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the
ball out of the field of play.
21. Leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. It can also refer to any batter who
bats first in an inning.
22. Lefty-righty switch is a maneuver by which a player that struggles against left- or
right-handed players is replaced by a player who excels in the situation, usually only for
the duration of the situation in question.
23. Line drive is a type of batted ball, sharply hit, and on (or slightly above) a
level trajectory. The threshold between a line drive (also sometimes called a liner or
frozen rope) and a fly ball can be subjective.
24. Moonshot is referred to as a home run that travels a great distance vertically, while
only barely clearing the fences.
25. Plate appearance (denoted by PA)- In baseball statistics, a player is credited with
a plate appearance (denoted by PA) each time he completes a turn batting.
26. Platoon system in baseball, also known as the two-platoon system,[1] is a method of
sharing playing time, where two players are selected to play a single defensive position.
Usually, one platoon player is right-handed and the other is left-handed.
27. Pull hitter is a batter who usually hits the ball to the side of the field from which he bats.
28. Sacrifice bunt (also called a sacrifice hit) is a batter's act of deliberately bunting the
ball, before there are two outs, in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to
another base.
29. Sacrifice fly - the batter presumably intends to cause a teammate to score a run, while
sacrificing his own ability to do so. Sacrifice flies are traditionally recorded in box
scores with the designation "SF".
30. Single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of
a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball (thus becoming a runner) and
getting to first base before a fielder puts him out.
31. Slap bunting is an offensive baseball and softball technique described as "the idea
behind the skill is to hit the ball to a place on the infield that's farthest from the place
where the out needs to be made".
32. Strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a
time at bat. It usually means the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for
both pitchers and batters, and is denoted by K.
33. Strike zone is a conceptual right pentagonal prism over home plate which defines the
boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when
the batter does not swing.
34. Sweet spot is a place where a combination of factors results in a maximum response
for a given amount of effort.
35. Triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither
the benefit of a fielder's misplay (see error) nor another runner being put out on
a fielder's choice.
36. Base on balls (BB), also known as a walk, occurs in baseball when a batter receives
four pitches that the umpire calls balls, and is then entitled to reach first base without
the possibility of being put out.
37. Walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives
the home team the lead (and consequently, the win) in the bottom of the final inning of
the game.
E. Pitching
"Beanball" is a colloquialism used in baseball, for a ball thrown at an opposing player with
the intention of striking him such as to cause harm, often connoting a throw at the player's
head (or "bean" in old-fashioned slang).[1]
breaking ball is a pitch that does not travel straight like a fastball as it approaches
the batter.
brushback pitch is a pitch–usually a fastball–thrown high and inside the strike zone to
intimidate the batter away from the plate on subsequent pitches.
changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. The changeup is the staple off-speed pitch, usually
thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much slower to the plate.
curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement
that imparts forward spin to the ballcausing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches
the plate.
fastball is the most common type of pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball.
count refers to the number of balls and strikes a batter has in his current plate appearance.
It is usually announced as a pair of numbers, for example, 3-1 (pronounced as "three and
one," or, alternatively, "a three-one count"), with the first number being the number of balls
and the second being the number of strikes.
inside pitching refers to a tactic used by pitchers. It refers to throwing a pitch outside of
the strike zone and near the batter's box.
knuckleball or knuckler is a baseball pitch thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in
flight, causing an erratic, unpredictable motion.
