“Take one for the team” - leaning into a pitch to get on base when your team is losing and needs base runners
“The Mendoza line” - usually referenced as being above or below, the Mendoza line is the lowest possible average a slick fielding infielder can have and still stay on the Major League team. In other words, some one who performs at the level of the Mendoza line is just barely competent enough to keep their job.
and the closely related “Stepping into one”
“Tools of the ignorant” refers to catcher’s equipment.
“Pulling the string,” at least as I have always understood the phrase, means throwing a changeup.
[Hijack]
I double checked; you’re right.
I can’t stand watching televised baseball because all they ever show is the batter, pitcher, and, on occasion, the outfield.
[/hijack]
A 3-skill player, usually in American football, is a triple threat.
Back to baseball, a guy who can play well at several positions is a utility player, and one who can hit the ball where you need it hit is a utility hitter.
A suicide squeeze (bunt) is a risky play, and it’s beautiful when it works.
In deals between one team and another, a player might be traded for an undisclosed sum and a player to be named later. I’ve heard of middle managers being "traded to marketing for a draftsman and a copier to be named later."Detroit’s Ernie Harwell was the only broadcaster ever traded for a player.
“Warning track power” is a derisive term for a player who makes impressive swats that are 6 feet short of a home run.
“Took a bad hop” means a ground ball surprised a fielder who should have caught it.
Legendary broadcaster Red Barber, speaking about a player having a choice of good options, said, “He’s sitting in the catbird seat.” Where’d he get that? I haven’t a clue.
A catcher and pitcher choose the next pitch with hand signals. Sometimes the catcher walks out to the mound to “check signals.”
When the pitching team is ahead with one or two innings to go, they’ll send in “the closer,” who can reliably keep the other team from gaining the lead. If he does, it’s a “save.” If he doesn’t, it’s a “blown save.”
Pitcher Dizzy Dean said, “It ain’t braggin’, if you done it.” Or something like that.
Here’s a silly custom. If a batter strikes out, and he argues the issue with the ump, the manager will come out to try to keep him from saying something rash enough to get thrown out of the game. If the player gets thrown out, the manager is obligated to argue the point hard enough to also get thrown out. :rolleyes:
Yogi Berra is the mother lode of this stuff. Most of it is copyrighted, so let’s be careful out there, okay?
Pitcher Orel Hirschhiser, about mid-game philosophy: " The past is past. The future is perfect."
“Hit 'em where they ain’t,” has a multitude of applications.
Cite?
“Are you lifting the oxcart out of the ditch? Are you tearing up the pea patch? Are you hollering down the rain barrel? Are you scraping around the bottom of the pickle barrel? Are you sitting in the catbird seat?”
heh, I don’t follow baseball, but I love The Catbird Seat by Thurber.
I believe the term “Southpaw” to refer to a lefthander originated in baseball.