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 |
| Sac bunt |
A bunt designed to advance a runner although the batter will be thrown out. If there's an error on the play, or the defense gets the lead runner, no sacrifice is counted - it's scored a fielder's choice |
| Sac fly |
A flyball that's caught but the runner on third base tags up and scores. If the runner doesn't advance, or there's an error on the play, it doesn't count as a sacrifice. (SF) is for Sacrifice Flies and (SH) for Sacrifice Hits (bunts) in scoring |
| Save |
A relief pitcher can only be credited with a save if his team maintains its lead while the opponentps tying or winning runs are on base, or if he pitches 3 or more innings without allowing the opponents to tie the game |
| Scoring position |
Getting a runner to second base (or third) - from where he can score on a solid single |
| Seeing-eye single |
A soft ground ball that finds its way between infielders for a base hit |
| Set-up man |
A relief pitcher who usually enters the game in the 7th or 8th inning |
| SHO |
(SHO) on record sheets is for Shutouts |
| Shoestring catch |
A running catch made just above the fielder's cleat tops |
| Sidearm |
A pitcher who throws with his elbow below the shoulder (and, no, WebBall is not automatically opposed to this style although many coaches are |
| Sinker |
A fastball that breaks downward as it reaches the plate area - could be thrown as a slider, cut fastball, forkball, split-finger, etc. It seems there is no defined grip for a sinker that everyone can agree on |
| SLG |
Slugging Percentage or Slugging Percentage Allowed |
| Slider |
Pitch that somes in like a fastball then breaks sharply sideways. Held similar to a curveball, but the wrist is kept straight, like a fastball, and snaps downward |
| Slump |
A long stretch without getting a hit. Even though there is no SURE CAUSE for a slump, everyone's always trying to find a SURE CURE |
| Sophomore Jinx |
A great rookie year followed by a poor performance in the second (sophomore) year. Originally applied to college ball but any second year can be jinxed |
| Southpaw |
A left-handed pitcher. Two of our contributors, Frank Clarke of NC and Joe Hernandez of NY have similar explanations.
From Frank: Parks were constructed with home plate to the west, so the setting sun wouldn't be in a batter's eyes...1st base would be to the south, 3rd to the north, and so on. A southpaw was so-called because his pitching hand faced 1st base - to the south.
Joe adds: The reason for facing the west was to keep the sun out of the batter's eyes as well as out of the eyes of the customers that were sitting in the more expensive seats behind the plate during afternoon games. So lefties threw with their south "paws". There are other theories, but a few sportswriters have confirmed the "sun" theory. |
| Spitball |
A doctored baseball to which a foreign substance (most commonly spit or grease) is applied to cause the ball to be unpredictable when thrown. Now illegal of course, it once was a legitimate pitch |
| Splitter |
The split-finger fastball is held between splayed fingers (though not as severely spread as with a forkball). On release, the thumb pushes up as the fingers pull down. See WebBall BullPen for illustration |
| Squeeze Play |
When a team with a runner on third base, attempts to score that runner by means of a bunt. The runner breaks for home on the pitch so the batter must bunt safely |
| Stolen base |
(SB) in scorekeeping. Successfully advancing a base between pitches without the batter hitting the ball or getting a base on balls. Should not be counted if there is defensive indifference (no fielder tries to hold runner or cover bag). But if the catcher misplays the pitch, or his attempted putout throw goes wild, it counts as a steal not an error. (SB%) is the abbrev. for Stolen Base Percentage and in the defense scoring (SB) is for Steals Allowed |
| Street Monkey Drill |
From p119 of Coaching Baseball Successfully - it is basically the drill used for tossing balls to the pitcher as he takes a banana route to first base - and no it isn't named for the banana but for the sandlot team Coach Andy Lopez played on as a kid. (The tosses can be from grounders to 1st or 2nd or from bunts in which 1st is charging.)
|
| Strike |
Never mind the definition, the only thing you need to know is the umpire's saying: 'Yesterday it might have been a ball; tomorrow it might be a ball, but today? Today it's a strike!' |
| Strike out |
It's scored as a K because the old term was 'struck'. The backwards K is used to mark a dropped third strike in which the putout is on a catcher tag or thrown down to first. If the putout attempt fails, it's scored a (WP) or (PB) or (ERR). And on the player record the strikeout total is (SO) |
| Strike Zone |
Let's not quibble - the strike zone is what the plate umpire says it is. Technically, the area over home plate the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the knee cap. The Strike Zone shall be determined from the batter's stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball. Also, for both width of plate and height, the ball need only be partly into the zone for it to count |
| Submarine |
A pitcher who throws with an extreme sidearm delivery, with the hand arcing below the belt |
| Suicide squeeze |
The runner on third breaks toward home on the pitch and the batter must bunt the ball cleanly or the runner won't score |
| Supination |
Turned upward. When your palm is facing up your forearm is supinated. When you lie on your back you are in a supine position. When you open a doorknob or throw a doorknob slider, that's supination. (Compare: pronation) |
| SV |
(SV) in the records is for Saves and (SVO) for Save Opportunities |
| Sweet spot |
The part of the bat just a few inches from the barrel |
| Swipe tag |
A quick glove arm movement between the base and a sliding runner. The intent is to a) get the out call by moving through before the runner arrives and b) not letting contact with the runner dislodge the ball from the glove |
| Switch hitter |
Player who can bat left-handed or right-handed - switching to the opposite side from which the pitcher throws |
