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Baseball Definitions & Slang: A –

• AL – is the American League, one of the major baseball leagues
• Ace – is the best starting pitcher for the team . . . starting with an ace can get you off on the right track
• Alley – is another word for the “Gap”, the part of the outfield in between the outfielders
• At ‘em ball – (or should it be “atom ball”) – a ball whacked straight at one of the defensive players . . . ouch, nasty
• Around the Horn – is a double play which goes all the way from third, round to second and round to first
• Backdoor Slider – this is a pitch which at first appears to be outside the strike zone, then it breaks over the plate at the last minute . . . tricky little customers indeed
• Backstop – is the wall or fence which is behind the home plate
• Bag – is something to carry your lunch in, oh, and it also means a baseball base
• Balk – is something you might hear the umpire call. It means that there’s to be a penalty because the pitcher made an illegal movement . . . naughty naughty. It’s to stop pitchers from deliberately trying to deceive runners and if it’s called the baserunners can each advance one base
• Baltimore Chop – is not something to put into your lunch bag (although it does sound tasty), it’s actually a ground ball which hits in front, or off of the home plate and hops right over the top of the infielder’s head.  Maybe it should be called a Baltimore Bunny then . . .
• Bandbox – is a pretty small ballpark which is particularly good for the hitters
• Banjo hitter – is a hitter who, well, just doesn’t have much power and it takes him all his time to hit the ball past the infield dirt
• Base hit – is when the batter has hit the ball into fair territory and gets at least to first base
• Bases loaded (aka bases drunk) – there are runners positioned at each base
• Basket catch – is one whereby the fielder catches the ball with his glove close to the level of his belt
• Basket case – nothing to do with baseball, but it’s a great way to describe the old woman who lives across the road from our post office . . . avoid at all costs, she’s crazy!
• Bazooka – means an extra strong throwing arm . . . what a bazooka! Don’t know how that banjo hitter will cope with that one!
• Big Fly – is a long home run, and could also describe a rather disturbing film with that chap out of Jurassic Park, you know who I mean, tall guy, Jeff something or other . . . I know really, but do you?
• Breaking Ball – a curving off-speed pitch
• Bronx Cheer – boo, boo, get off . . . get the idea?