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 |
| P/GS |
(P/GS) on record sheets is for Pitches per Game Started and (P/IP) Pitches per Innings Pitched |
| PA |
(PA) in scorekeeping stands for Plate Appearances - the number of times a batter is up, whether it counts as an at bat or not |
| Painting the black |
When a pitcher throws the ball over the edge of the plate |
| Passed ball |
(PB) in scoring. A pitch which should have been caught or blocked with ordinary effort but which gets by the catcher and allows any base runner(s) to advance |
| Payoff pitch |
The pitch on a three ball two strike count |
| Pea |
A ball traveling at high speed, either batted or thrown |
| Pepper |
Pepper is a common pre-game exercise where one player bunts brisk grounders and line drives to a group of fielders who are standing about 20 feet away. The fielders try to throw it back as quickly as possible. The batter hits the return throw. (Some ballparks ban pepper games because wild pitches could land in the stands and injure spectators) |
| Perfect game |
A game in which a pitcher does not allow any batter to reach base (and, yes, he doesn't usually earn it without some great support from his fielders) |
| PFP Pitcher Fielding Practice |
Pre-season or spring training drills for pitchers covering first base on infield ground balls or other defensive responsibilities on batted balls (backing up bases, etc.). also known as Pitcher Infield Practice (PIP) |
| Pick |
A good defensive play by an infielder on a ground ball. Also a shortened version of 'pick-off'. ") |
| Pick off |
(PK) in scoring. An attempt by the pitcher to get a base runner out by throwing to a base from the stretch position. The real result is to keep the runner safe as (from a percentage viewpoint) few pick-off attempts get the runner |
| Pickle |
A rundown |
| Pinch ... |
A _ batter or _ runner substitutes in for a previous batter or runner |
| Pitcher's duel |
A close, low scoring game |
| Pitchout |
A pitch thrown wide of the strike zone on purpose - to fool a runner who may be trying to steal. Seldom works |
| Platooning |
Using two different players for one position in a regular rotation - usually based on opposing pitcher to match rightie against leftie |
| Post (position) |
The point in a pitching motion in which the pivot foot is against the pitching rubber and the free leg is lifted up (knee over knee). New mechanics do not encourage a stop at the post |
| Pronation |
Turned down. When you lie on your tummy you are in the prone position. When you rotate your forearm and bring your fingers down on the inside of the baseball, as if throwing a screwball, your forearm becomes pronated. (If you ever meet Tom House you will see what a lifetime of throwing screwballs can do to create a permanent pronation.) |
| Proximal vs Distal |
The ends of bones. For "distal" think distance:
the distal end of any bone if the part away from the body. The end nearest you, in closer proximity to the body is "proximal". So the proximal end of the upper arm bone (the humerus) is what attaches to the shoulder within the rotator cuff, and the distal end is at the elbow joint.
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| Pull hitter |
A batter who generally hits to the same side of the field that he bats. (A righthanded pull hitter hits to the left side of the field.)") |
| Punch and Judy Hitter |
A singles-only hitter, someone who never hits for power. |
| Punchout |
A strikeout |
| Putout |
(PO) in scorekeeping. A fielder is credited with a putout if he concludes a play to retire a baserunner or a hitter. (The fielder that starts the play gets an assist.)") |
