Batter Up! A Guide to the Language of Baseball

After a few months of using your baseball batting cage, perhaps you'll down another team's "ace." That's baseball lingo for "star pitcher," and if you spend enough time practicing knocking them out of the park, you just might avoid that "can of corn." What's a can of corn have to do with baseball, you might ask? Well, in baseball lingo, a "can of corn" refers to a ball that's easily caught by an infielder. Maybe, with a lot of practice, you'll even hit a "dinger." That's a home run!

Face the Music Because of the time you spend honing your batting skills in your batting cage, you'll know how to deal with "chin music" - a pitch that almost scrapes a batter's chin, high and inside. Does a Baltimore Chop sound good to you? Well, in baseball, it has nothing to do with pork! A Baltimore Chop is a ground ball that hits in front of home plate, only to take a huge bounce over an infielder's head. On the Screws You definitely want to hit one "on the screws" - or when a batter hits the ball extra hard. Perhaps you'll even send your teammates around the bases for a grand slam! Most people know the term "homer," for a home run, but have you heard of a rhubarb? That's something you'll want to avoid - it's an on-field fight! One thing you'll definitely want to find, though: your bat's "sweet spot!" That's the part of the bat near the barrel that, if you get it just right, will lead to a sweet hit.

Hit 'em Where They Ain't!
With a little luck and a lot of time in the batting cage, you'll be "hittin' 'em where they ain't" in no time. Since 1897, "hit 'em where they ain't" has been the batter's rallying cry. The phrase was coined by baseball legend Wee Willie Keeler, who said that's how he hit for a 424 average that year.

Watch Out for Old Uncle Charlie
Do you have that crazy relative you try to avoid? Most people do, and in baseball, as you'll learn with lots of practice in your batting cage, you'll want to avoid an Uncle Charlie - that's a wild curve ball. By all means, though, keep an eye out for a "wheelhouse." It's a pitch that's almost tailor-made for you - waist-high and right over the heart of home plate. Hit it out of the park!

Buy me Some Peanuts & ...
Chances are, some good time spent in the batting cage will make you a real "cracker jack." That's baseball lingo for a good player. Maybe you'll even make it to the "big show," otherwise known as the Big Leagues!