Select from the alphabet. If you don't find a term you need explained, or you know a good baseball phrase that you think should be here, please send us an email (mail icon bottom of page).
| Phrase |
Definition |
| Cactus league |
Spring training games played in Arizona. (See also 'Grapefruit league'.)") |
| Can of corn |
A lazy, outfield pop fly that's easy to get under and catch |
| Catcher's box |
A defined area behind home plate in which the catcher must stay until the ball is pitched. The lines are seldom drawn for youth league games |
| Caught looking |
When a batter is called out on strikes without swinging at the pitch |
| Caught stealing |
(CS) in scorekeeping, a runner is marked CS when, during an errorless play, he is thrown out while trying to steal a base, or picked off a base while trying to advance, or overslides while stealing and is put out |
| Cellar |
Last place. Also 'basement' |
| Change up |
A slow pitch thrown with the exact same arm action as a fastball, to disrupt the timing of the hitter. This is probably the second pitch that every young ballplayer should learn. See WebBall BullPen for details |
| Checked swing |
A half swing, stopped before the bathead crosses the plane of the plate. The umpire can rule it a full swing (a strike) - on hiw own however, only if he calls it a ball can it be appealed to the base ump |
| Cheese |
Also 'good cheese' or 'hard cheese'. Refers to a good fastball. We have been given a number of explanations as to origin. Contributor Whit Mcleod mentions Dave Draveckey's book "Called Up", pg. 107, which credits Dennis Eckersley with inventing the term.
Here's a longer explanation from contributor Joe Hernandez: Although the term "cheese" is relatively new to baseball it does have an older origin. According to the London Guide (1818), it defined ""cheese" as standing for "the best thing of its kind." In many 19th century slang dictionaries you will find it to mean anything first rate in quality. Folks would say "that's the cheese" to express that the item is of good quality. It is believed to be traced to the word "chiz", which in Hindustani and Anglo-Indian means "thing", rather than the food.
Also from Joe: A more contemporary term for cheese is cheddar. Lenny Dykstra is quoted in Newsday, 3/1/1988 stating, "Doc Gooden blew some big-league cheddar". In "Pure Baseball", Keith Hernandez discussed "the high, rising cheddar". Remember that according to Bill Lee ( The Wrong Stuff), 1984) Dennis Eckerley called himself the "Cheese Master" and talked about "cheese for your kitchen" to mean "a fastball up an in". In the St. Petersburg Times (3/5/1987), Wally Backman in describing a fastball by Nolan Ryan, wrote "threw some good hard cheese up there". In Spanish we also use the term high cheese as in "alto queso" to describe a fast ball high and in. Other terms use are "good cheese" to describe a blurring fastball. As a kid, growing up in Brooklyn, we use to talk about throwing the fastball to "his cheese" (his forehead) to mean high and in. |
| Chin music |
A pitch that is high and inside - near the batter's chin |
| Choke up |
To move the bat grip up on the handle away from the knob - usually on a two strike count to ensure some contact with the pitch |
| Circus catch |
An outstanding catch by a fielder |
| Clean-up hitter |
Player hitting fourth in the batting order - a power hitter who's expected to clean the bases by bringing his teammates home |
| Closer |
Relief pitcher used in the game to hold a late-innings lead. (SV) in scorekeeping |
| Clubhouse Lawyer |
Player or coach who continually gripes about missed calls, misinterpretations of the rules or other conspiracies, real or imagined, all of which prevent individual or team success |
| Clutch hit |
The one that counts, a hit with baserunners on when you're behind in the game and at your last out in the inning. Otherwise known as the coach's prayer of last hope. Choking is the consequence of not getting the clutch hit. |
| Complete game |
(CG) in scorekeeping. The first pitcher finishes what he started - usually with a victory. (CGW) and (CGL) are used for complete game wins and losses |
| Cookie |
A sweet pitch in the middle of the plate - something pitchers don't want to serve up but hitters hope for. |
| Cookie cutter |
The tendancy, among coaches, to want to turn out players with identical mechanics. (WebBall says if it ain't broke, don't fix it!)") |
| Curve |
Breaking pitch that moves down, across, or both down and across, depending upon the rotation of the ball. See WebBall BullPen for illustrations |
| Cut-off |
Player lined-up to either cut-off or relay a throw from the outfield. Normally you want to execute the relay on your glove side for a quick transition and throw through. But if 'cut' is called you want to take it more square for a shortarm transfer to the throwing hand |
| Cutter |
A cut fastball (one with a late break to it). Thrown like a fastball but with finger pressure to cause side slip |
| Cycle |
When a batter hits a single, double, triple and home run in the same game (in any order) |
