List of baseball jargon

The following is an alphabetical list of selected unofficial terms, phrases, and other jargon used in baseball, and explanations of their meanings. See also baseball slang for slang in general usage that originated in baseball. For an exhaustive list, see The New Dickson Baseball Dictionary, by Paul Dickson.

D

;Dead Ball Era

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:The time period prior to the Lively Ball Era, when the nature of the ball along with other rules tended to limit the power game, and the primary batting strategy was the inside game of baseball.

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;defensive indifference

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:A play in which a runner advances to the next base without a throw from the catcher or without any fielder attempting to cover the bag to accept a throw from the catcher. The runner then does not get credit for a stolen base because his action was not challenged in any way. This usually occurs in a game in which the score is heavily favored towards one team and a runner advancing a base will not make a large difference in the expected outcome of the game... specifically, the ninth inning with two outs, where the objective is simply to focus on the batter and induce him to make the final out.

Related Topics:
Stolen base - Inning - Outs

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;Deuce

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:A curveball, because it is usually signalled for by the catcher by showing the pitcher 2 fingers.

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;diamond

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:The layout of the four bases in the infield. The infield is actually a square 90 feet (27 m) on each side, but from the stands it resembles a parallelogram, or "diamond".

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;digging it out

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:Fielding a ball on or near the ground. Usually a 1st baseman taking a low throw from another infielder

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;dinger

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:Home run. Also homer, round-tripper. See more nicknames in the article home run.

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;doctoring the ball

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:Cheating by applying a foreign substance to the ball, or otherwise altering it, to put an unnatural spin on a pitch. Examples: Vaseline or K-Y or saliva ("spitball") possibly aided by chewing slippery elm; or scuffing with sandpaper, emory board or belt buckle.

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;double play

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:Any sequence of defensive plays in the same continuous playing action resulting in two outs.

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;hence, double play depth

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:2nd baseman and shortstop play in closer to the basepath in order to be able to get to second base quickly

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;down the line

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:On the field near the foul lines, often used to describe the location of batted balls.

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;down the middle

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:Over the middle portion of home plate, used to describe the location of pitches.

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;drop off the table

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:When a pitched ball (e.g., a curveball) breaks extremely sharply.

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;ducks on the pond

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:runners on base, especially when the bases are loaded: "Look at all the ducks on the pond!".

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;dying quail

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:A batted ball that drops in front of the outfielders, often unexpectedly (like a shot bird).

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