Baseball & American Culture:

(vocabulary words)

LM#1 - LM#4

I.  Learning Module #1:

    1.  Southpaw- A left-handed pitcher (see "portsider" - LM#2)

    2. Limber-   To "warm up"(especially the throwing arm); ("limber up!")

    3.  Hit and Run- Offensive manuver designed to move runners and stay out of DP.

    4.  BP-   Batting practice (pre-game hitting warm-up)

    5.  Tater-   Home run (usually of the "tape measure" variety)

    6.  Fungo-   A special bat used by coaches to hit ground and fly balls for practice.

    7.  Trapper-   First baseman's glove- (special design for specific duties)-oversized.

    8.  Crow Hop-   Skip step used by defensive players to regain balance for a throw.

    9.  Little Ball-   Expression used to refer to a team that plays for one run at a time (usually incorporating the bunt, steal, and hit-and-run) as opposed to the big inning.

    10.  Bird Dog-   A part-time scout who refers prospects to a "real" professional scout.   

II.  Learning Module #2:

    1.  Express- Fast ball (usually of exceptional velocity!)

    2.  Squeeze Play-   Play designed to bunt a runner from 3B to home.

    3.  Sidearm-   Method of throwing a baseball.  Arm drops from 12 to 3 position.

    4.  Drag-   To bunt with the intention of getting a base hit.

    5.  Portsider-   See LM#1 (#1)

    6.  Hot Corner-   3B

    7.  Tally-   Scoring a run.

    8.  Ephus-   A type of pitch thrown like a "slow-pitch softball" arc.

    9.  Dying Quail-   A "bloop" hit that "flares" into the outfield. (see Texas Leaguer-LM#3)

    10.  Pop-up-   Routine ball hit in air to infield.

III.  Learning Module #3:

    1. Scroogie-   A screwball (type of pitch that moves away from the hitter).

    2.  Stretch-   With runners on base (pitcher uses rather than windup).

    3.  Pud-   Catcher's mitt.

    4.  Texas Leaguer-   See LM#2 (#9)

    5.  Comebacker-   A hard hit groundball back to (and fielded by) the pitcher.

    6. In-the-Bucket-   Hitter's stride that goes toward 3B rather than the pitcher.

    7.  Big RC-   Rotator cuff injury to shoulder (usually career threatening).

    8.  Gapper-   A ball hit into (and through) the outfield gaps.

    9.  Submarine-   A pitch thrown with the arm angle from 6 o'clock rather than 12.

    10.  Dodgers-   See textbooks.

IV.  Learning Module #4:

    1.  Heater-   Fastball (see LM#2, #1)

    2. Tools of Ignorance-   Refers to catcher's equipment (mask, shin guards, etc).

    3.  Pull Hitter-   See textbook.

    4.  Pick-off-   See textbook.

    5.  No-Break-   A type of catcher's glove with no creases in it.

    6. Dial 8-   A home run (see LM#1, #5)

    7.  Can-of-Corn-   A very routine fly ball to outfield.

    8.  Tweener-   A ball hit in-between two defensive players.

    9.  Chin Music-   A knock-down pitch which is designed to "shake up" the hitter.

    10.  White Wash-   See textbook.