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.

P

;to paint

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:to throw the ball at the edges of the strike zone. A pitcher who has so much control that he can paint regularly may be referred to as Rembrandt or Picasso.

Related Topics:
Rembrandt - Picasso

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;park

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:To hit a home run. He parked a three-run homer. Also see yard

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;payoff pitch

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:A pitch made when the pitch count is full, i.e., when three balls and two strikes have been totaled for the batter. The implication is that much effort has gone into reaching this point (this is at least the sixth pitch of the at bat), and the pitch will either pay off for the pitcher (resulting in a strikeout) or the batter (resulting in a hit or a walk). This is not always so, though, as a foul would extend the length of the at bat. The term is most often used when whatever happens next will either score a run or end the inning.

Related Topics:
Balls - Strikes - At bat - Strikeout

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;pickle

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:Same as rundown.

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;pinch hitter

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:A hitter substituted, mid-inning, for the scheduled batter. Often, a pinch hitter is brought in during a critical situation (a "pinch", or "the clutch") to replace a weak batter (usually the pitcher, in the National League). Although that's the origin of the term, any batter substituting for another, for any reason, is conventially called a pinch hitter.

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;pinch runner

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:A runner substituted for another runner who is on base. Often, a pinch runner is brought in during a critical situation (just as with a pinch hitter), typically to replace a slower runner with a faster runner in hopes of gaining an extra base. However, any substitute runner, for whatever reason, is conventionally called a pinch runner.

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;pitch around

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:not intentionally walking a batter, but not throwing him a hittable pitch - hoping to get him to swing at bad pitches

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;pitch count

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:The total number of pitches a pitcher has thrown in a given game. The optimal pitch count for a starter is reckoned to be about 100. The near-obsession with pitch counts has resulted in a significant decline in complete games since the 1980s. Former major league pitcher and now Minnesota Twins broadcaster Bert Blyleven, who pitched many complete games in his time, has raised the sarcastic question, "What happens to you if you go over 100 pitches? Do you explode?" Statistically speaking, the answer is often Yes. Arguably the greatest pitching achievement in history was Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series. In that game, he threw 97 pitches, an average of 3.5 per batter. In these days of more aggressive hitting, pitchers often hit the 100 mark by the middle innings.

Related Topics:
Minnesota Twins - Bert Blyleven - Don Larsen - 1956 World Series

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;pitch out

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:A pitch that is so far outside that it can't be hit. The catcher catches the pitch standing to allow a quick throw to try picking off a runner.

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;PL or P.L.

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:Abbreviation for Players' League, a one-year (1890) major league.

Related Topics:
Players' League - 1890

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;playing in

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:see double play depth. Also can refer to the 1st baseman and/or 3rd baseman playing closer to home plate in anticipation of fielding a bunt.

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;position player

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:A non-pitcher.

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;power hitter

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:A powerful batter who hits many home runs and extra base hits, but who may not have a high batting average, due to an "all or nothing" hitting approach. Also slugger.

Related Topics:
Home run - Extra base hit - Batting average

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