# Looking for obscure or semi-obscure baseball metaphors **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 9, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342 "2008-06-09T17:38:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/21 "2008-06-10T01:55:12Z")
[QUOTE=j666] “Tinker to Evers to Chance”: natural talent combined with serious team-work (and some kick-ass coaching, if you’re the manager). I doubt any-one who isn’t a Cubs fan will know what I’m talking about … [/QUOTE] I was about to add it. Anything automatic, inevitable, unstoppable, “Tinker to Evans to Chance.” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/22 "2008-06-10T02:05:04Z")
[QUOTE=Ronald C. Semone] “a five tool” player, someone who can field well, throw well, run well, hit for average, and hit for distance. Hence, anyone who is an allround expert. [/QUOTE] Is the expression “four-tool player” ever used? Or 3 tools, etc? I can easily see how I can use that term in this piece. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/23 "2008-06-10T02:22:10Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] I was about to add it. Anything automatic, inevitable, unstoppable, “Tinker to Evans to Chance.” [/QUOTE] A true Cubs fan and romantic. [While I seem to have turned into a Management Drone.] Now that the Red Sox are winners, the Cubs are all baseball fans have left. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/24 "2008-06-10T02:34:59Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Is the expression “four-tool player” ever used? Or 3 tools, etc? I can easily see how I can use that term in this piece. [/QUOTE] In 60 years of closely following baseball, I have never heard anything except “five tool”. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/25 "2008-06-10T02:40:35Z")
Interviewers are often criticized for asking “softball” questions (though I suppose that’s from softball, not baseball – though there is the MSNBC news show “Hardball.” And “playing hardball” means “acting tough.” If you want really obscure, there’s LOOGY – Lefty One Out GuY. It’s a lefhanded pitcher brought in to pitch to a single lefthanded batter, and I could see the metaphor being used elsewhere when you pick someone to do a tough job and get out. “Bullpen” often is used to mean a group of workers who can be called on as needed. “Touch all the bases” means to complete all the steps necessary to finish a job. “Touch base” also means “to get in contact.” “Screwball” started out in cricket and later baseball before becoming a term for a crazy person. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/26 "2008-06-10T03:29:11Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Hell’s bells, I don’t know either. The notes on the assignment came back “Can you add some punch to this? I’m thinking baseball metaphors and stuff like that, since we’re doing that thing with the Redbirds. So lots of baseball stuff.” [/QUOTE] First, are you asking us to do your homework? 🙂 [sub]I keed[/sub] Where are you that you have a Redbirds team? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/27 "2008-06-10T04:47:09Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] First, are you asking us to do your homework? 🙂 [sub]I keed[/sub] Where are you that you have a Redbirds team? [/QUOTE] Memphis. I’m a freelance writer and I was asked to include baseball allusions in a piece I’m working on. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/28 "2008-06-10T11:28:42Z")
[QUOTE=Ronald C. Semone] In 60 years of closely following baseball, I have never heard anything except “five tool”. [/QUOTE] I could see using “three tool” or “four tool”, again in a derogatory manner. Making the point that someone ISN’T a complete player. Like you though I haven’t actually heard anyone use either one. Hell, my least favorite player on my favorite team, Jason Giambi, is a one-tool player. He can hit for power and that is about it. **Skald** , is any of this stuff potentially useful? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/29 "2008-06-10T15:25:35Z")
[QUOTE=Laughing Lagomorph] I could see using “three tool” or “four tool”, again in a derogatory manner. Making the point that someone ISN’T a complete player. Like you though I haven’t actually heard anyone use either one. Hell, my least favorite player on my favorite team, Jason Giambi, is a one-tool player. He can hit for power and that is about it. **Skald** , is any of this stuff potentially useful? [/QUOTE] Already used it, thanks! You guys should feel free to continue the discussion, but I personally have what I need. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/30 "2008-06-10T16:42:11Z")
[QUOTE=jk1245] A “12-6 curveball” or “12 to 6 curveball” means a curveball that really moves (think 12 to 6 on a clock face). Used to indicate something that is even more of curveball than normal. [/QUOTE] I’ve never heard this term. Wouldn’t a 12-6 pitch be straight down the middle with no curving at all? However, someone tossing a curve ball at you (meaning putting you in a difficult situation) is a very common metaphor. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/31 "2008-06-10T16:56:02Z")
[QUOTE=Darryl Lict] I’ve never heard this term. Wouldn’t a 12-6 pitch be straight down the middle with no curving at all? However, someone tossing a curve ball at you (meaning putting you in a difficult situation) is a very common metaphor. [/QUOTE] A curveball doesn’t necessarily curve to the left or right; it does always curve down (ie., it’s thrown with topspin). The idea is to get it to cut under the bat, not in or out. ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/32 "2008-06-10T16:58:43Z")
[QUOTE=j666] “Tinker to Evers to Chance”: natural talent combined with serious team-work (and some kick-ass coaching, if you’re the manager). I doubt any-one who isn’t a Cubs fan will know what I’m talking about … [/QUOTE] A famous double-play combo. Tinker was shortstop, Evers on second base, Chance at first. I think. No, I didn’t look it up (which is why there’s probably something factually incorrect about it) and I’m a Rockies fan, as hard as that is this season. ---
**Author:** ![galvatron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@galvatron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galvatron)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/33 "2008-06-10T17:29:46Z")
Rubber Arm - a pitcher that can throw many piteches without tiring Pepper — Pepper is a common pre-game exercise in baseball, where one player bunts brisk ground balls and line drives to a group of fielders who are standing close by Cleanup hitter - The fourth batter in the lineup, usually a power hitter. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/34 "2008-06-10T17:41:06Z")
Taking infield - The pre-game fielding practice. BP Pitcher - Batting Practice pitcher - someone who throws soft tosses for hitters to tee off on in pre-game warm-ups. In a game, if a pitcher is getting lit up by the opponents, he’s said to be ‘throwing BP’. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/35 "2008-06-10T17:48:20Z")
A couple of my favorites are: “Good field, no hit” - someone who does one thing well, but does the other thing so terribly as to be useless on the whole. “5 o’clock hitter” - someone who does well in batting practice, but not so well when the pressure is on in the actual game. ---
**Author:** ![galvatron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@galvatron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galvatron)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/36 "2008-06-10T17:51:03Z")
Banjo Hitter - Hitter with little power ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/37 "2008-06-10T18:09:11Z")
[QUOTE=galvatron] Banjo Hitter - Hitter with little power [/QUOTE] Also “slap hitter”. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/38 "2008-06-10T18:56:25Z")
Hey Skald, any chance of linking us with the article once it is published? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/39 "2008-06-10T19:06:58Z")
[QUOTE=zamboniracer] Hey Skald, any chance of linking us with the article once it is published? [/QUOTE] No. It’s work for hire (i.e., I don’t own the copyright) and I’m almost certain that it won’t show up anywhere but the company’s intranet and internal documents. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342/40 "2008-06-10T19:23:06Z")
**Hitting for the cycle** is hitting a single, double, triple and home run in the same game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-obscure-or-semi-obscure-baseball-metaphors/452342.md?page=3)