Astros Baseball Basics

Baseball Basics: Positions

A fan's guide to commonly-used terms and phrases.

Ace -

A team's best starting pitcher.

Alley -

The section of the outfield between the outfielders. Also "gap."

Around the horn -

A double play going from third base to second to first.

Backdoor slider -

A pitch that appears to be out of the strike zone, but then breaks back over the plate.

Bag -

A base.

Basket catch -

When a fielder catches a ball with his glove near belt level.

Brushback -

A pitch that nearly hits a batter.

Caught looking -

When a batter is called out on strikes.

Chin music -

A pitch that is high and inside.

Closer -

A team's relief pitcher who finishes the game.

Cutter -

A cut fastball (one with a late break to it).

Cycle -

When a batter hits a single, double, triple and home run in the same game.

Dinger -

A home run.

Gopher ball -

A pitch hit for a home run, as in "go for."

Heat -

A good fastball. Also "heater."

High and tight -

Referring to a pitch that's up in the strike zone and inside on a hitter. Also known as "up and in."

Hill -

Pitcher's mound.

Homer -

A home run. Other terms include: blast, dinger, dong, four-bagger, four-base knock, moon shot, tape-measure blast and tater.

Hot corner -

Third base.

Pick -

A good defensive play by an infielder on a ground ball. Also a shortened version of "pick-off."

Pickle -

A rundown.

Punchout -

A strikeout.

Ribbie -

Another way of saying RBI. Also "ribeye."

Rubber game -

The deciding game of a series.

Run-down -

When a baserunner gets caught between bases by the fielders.

Set-up man -

A relief pitcher who usually enters the game in the 7th or 8th inning.

Southpaw -

A left-handed pitcher.

Sweet spot -

The part of the bat just a few inches from the barrel.

Texas Leaguer -

A bloop hit that drops between an infielder and outfielder.

Touch 'em all -

Hitting a home run (touching all the bases).

Utility player -

A player who fills in at many positions.

Wheelhouse -

A hitter's power zone. Usually a pitch waist-high and over the heart of the plate.

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