Our collection of baseball terms
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).
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y
| Phrase |
Definition |
| Fan |
To strike out swinging - as in fanning the breeze |
| Fastball |
Straight pitch thrown as hard as possible. A four-seamer (held with fingers perpendicular to the long seams and thrown with a backspin) will catch more air on the seams and sink less than a two-seamer (held with fingers along the seams). See WebBall BullPen for illustrations |
| Fielder's choice |
A putout of someone other than the batter-runner, usually the lead runner. Although the batter gets safely on base he is not credited with a hit |
| Fielding % |
(FLDP) or (FLD%) pr (FPCT) in scorekeeping, number of attempts that resulted in an out compared to the number of total attempts. Formula: (Putouts + Assists) / (Putouts + Assists + Errors)") |
| Fireman |
A team's closer or late-inning relief pitcher |
| Five Tools |
The sought-after skills of baseball. The traditional five tools are throwing, catching (fielding), baserunning, hitting (making contact) and hitting for power. The sizth tool is your attitude and enthusiasm and work ethic |
| Foot In The Bucket |
When a batter pulls his front leg back from the pitch toward the foul line |
| Force out |
When a runner is forced to advance because trailing runner(s) are entitled to their bases. Fielder needs only to touch the base being approached (with ball in hand) to record the out |
| Forfeited Game |
Game declared ended by the umpire in chief in favor of the offended team by the score of 9 to 0, for violation of the rules |
| Forkball |
Pitch thrown by placing ball between the pointer and middle fingers, with upward pressure on the thumb. Usually results in a sinker that drops more than a split-finger fastball.. |
| Fosh |
A change-up pitch that is more name than substance. It has recently gained new popularity in the northeast - Boston, New York areas, but there seems to be no set way to throw it. Fosh is an acronym for full-of-s**t pitch |
| Foul line |
Extends from back point of home plate through outside edge of 1st and 3rd bases to the outfield fence and perpendicularly upwards. The chalk lines themselves are in fair territory |
| Fungo |
A ball hit to a fielder during practice. It's usually hit by a coach using a 'fungo bat' which is longer and thinner than a normal bat |
