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.

S

;safety squeeze

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:A squeeze play in which the runner on third waits for the batter to lay down a successful bunt before breaking for home. Contrast this with the suicide squeeze.

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;scoring position

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:a runner on 2nd or 3rd base is in scoring position.

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;seamer

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• 2 seamer - a "two seam fastball" where the ball is held by the pitcher such that, when thrown, its rotation only shows two seams per revolution
• 4 seamer - like a 2 seamer, but the rotation shows 4 seams per revolution of the ball. Batters count the number of visible seams to help judge what kind of pitch by its rotation.

;seeing eye ball

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:a batted ground ball that just eludes capture by an infielder, just out of infielder's range, as if it could "see" where it needed to go. Less commonly used for a ball that takes an unusual lateral bounce to elude an infielder

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;Senior Circuit

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:The National League, so-called because it is the older of the two major leagues.

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;setup man

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:A relief pitcher who is consistently used immediately before the closer.

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;seventh-inning stretch

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:The period between the top and bottom of the seventh inning, when the fans present traditionally stand up to stretch their legs. A sing-along of the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" has become part of this tradition, a practice most associated with Chicago broadcaster Harry Caray. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, "God Bless America" is sometimes played in addition to, or in lieu of, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" in rememberence of those who lost their lives in the attacks.

Related Topics:
Inning - Take Me Out to the Ball Game - Chicago - Harry Caray - September 11, 2001 attacks - United States - God Bless America

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;shade

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:verb, where a player(s) (usually an outfielder) positions oneself slightly away from their normal spot in the field based on a prediction of where the batter might hit the ball.

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;shift

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:where the entire infield and/or outfield (that is, the players) position themselves clockwise or clockwise from their usual position. This is to anticipate a batted ball from a better who tends to hit to one side of the field. Also shade. In the case of some batters, especially lefthanders, and with the bases empty, managers have been known to shift fielders from the left side to the right side. This was done to Willie McCovey among others. The most extreme case was the famous "Ted Williams shift" (also once called the "Lou Boudreau shift"). Cleveland Indians manager Boudreau moved 6 of 7 fielders (including himself, the shortstop) to the right of second base, leaving just the leftfielder playing shallow, and daring Teddy Ballgame to single to left rather than trying to "hit it where they ain't" somewhere on the right side. Williams saw it as a challenge, a game within The Game, and seldom hit the ball to left on purpose in that circumstance.

Related Topics:
Ted Williams - Lou Boudreau - Cleveland Indians

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;shoestring catch

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:When a fielder, usually an outfielder, catches a ball just before it hits the ground ("off his shoetops"), and remains running while doing so.

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;short hop

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:a ball that hits the ground immediately in front of an infielder.

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;the Show

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:the major leagues. Particularly in the Show.

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;slice foul

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:When a fly ball or line drive starts out over fair territory, then curves into foul territory due to aerodynamic force caused by spinning of the ball, imparted by the bat. A slice which curves to the right is not to be confused with a hook which curves to the left.

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;slide

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:A slide is when a player drops to the ground when going into a base, to avoid a tag and (in the case of second or third base) as a means of stopping, so as not to overrun the base and risk being put out. Players also sometimes slide head-first into first base, thinking it will get them there faster than simply running.

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;small ball

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:A strategy by which teams attempt to score runs using station-to-station, bunting and sacrifice plays; usually used in a situation where one run will either tie or win the game; "manufacturing" run(s); close kin to inside baseball.

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;soft hands

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:A fielder's ability to cradle the ball well in his glove. Contrast hard hands.

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;sophomore jinx

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:The tendency for players to follow a good rookie season with a less-spectacular one. (This term is used outside the realm of baseball as well.) Two of the most notorious examples are Joe Charboneau and Mark Fidrych.

Related Topics:
Joe Charboneau - Mark Fidrych

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;southpaw

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:Left-hander, especially a pitcher.

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;squeeze play

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:A tactic used to attempt to score a runner from third on a bunt. There are two types of squeeze plays: suicide squeeze and safety squeeze.

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;starter or starting pitcher

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:The first pitcher in the game for each team.

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;station-to-station

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:This is a strategy in which a team attempts to score runs by stealing bases, hitting singles and adopting hit-and-run plays; close kin to inside baseball.

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;stats

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:Short for "statistics", the numbers generated by the game: runs, hits, errors, strikeouts, batting average, earned run average, fielding average, etc. Most of the numbers used by players and fans are not true mathematical statistics, but the term is in common usage.

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;submariner

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:A pitcher who throws underarm.

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;suicide squeeze

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:A squeeze play in which the runner on third breaks for home on the pitch, so that, if the batter does not lay down a bunt, then the runner is an easy out (unless he steals home). Contrast this with the safety squeeze.

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