Rambling On About My Glory Days: Learning Baseball Lingo

Back when I played pro baseball which was some time ago, there were standard phrases that players yelled in certain game situations. These dugout statements are words that fans do not hear, and are communicated from players and coaches towards players or umpires on the field. They are mostly tongue-in-cheek comments that are standard lingo and become part of player’s vocabulary over time. Mind you, this is not recommended for the non-professional level of baseball or around kids (sportsmanship issues). These statements add some humor to the game and are mostly good natured ribbing. Here are some of those statements, when they are most used and their meaning. I have left out some of the descriptive expletives that often accompany them so as not to offend anyone or anyone’s mama, and I won’t mention those that are not suitable for public consumption.

The following are yelled by players of the batting team and directed at the opposing team’s pitcher.

1. “We’ll let you know when it is a strike” – This statement is shouted when the pitcher appears to be upset at a close call. Translation: we will swing at the pitch when it is a strike.

2. “You had your chance” - This is expressed when a pitcher is throwing over to first base a few times in order to pick the runner off. Translation: pitcher should have gotten hitter out when he pitched to him.

3. “Challenge somebody” - This is usually spoken when pitcher never throws a fastball in a fastball count. Translation: Team up to bat is getting frustrated because the pitcher is getting them out with a lot of junk (off speed) pitches.

4. “Scared? Get a dog” - This is used with any of the other three previous situations where the pitcher seems hesitant to pitch or throw strikes. Translation: Today, while we’re young.

5. “If it hurts, don’t throw” - this one is actually yelled as a sign of respect when a pitcher is overpowering. Translation: crying “uncle” because pitcher is mowing everyone down with the “heat.”

This is a sampling of comebacks that I remember from my playing days. I am sure these are still in use being that baseball is such a game of tradition. If readers have any good lines (translation - more up to date) directed at the pitcher in a game, put it in a comment for all to have at their disposal for their next game – not that I advocate that kind of thing for non-professional players, of course. No fair using “You wouldn’t break a pane of glass with that pitch” - that goes back to my little league days and is also timeless. Next post I will share some lines directed at the hitters and umpires.

Former major leaguer Jack Perconte is the author of The Making of a Hitter ( http://jackperconte.com ) and has a baseball instruction site that can be found at www.baseballcoachingtips.net . He has recently published his second book Raising an Athlete – How to Instill Confidence, Build Skills and Inspire a Love of Sport