Balk: An illegal motion by the pitcher with one or more
runners on base, entitling all runners to advance one base. A balk can be one of
a number of movements related to the pitching motion but the intention is to
catch the runners off balance.
Ball: A pitch which does not enter the strike zone and is
not struck at by the batter.
Base: The four points of the baseball diamond (first
through third bases and home plate) that must be touched by a runner in order to
score a run.
Batter: The offensive player who is currently positioned
in the batter's box.
Batter's Box: Either of the areas next to home plate
where the batter stands during his time at bat.
Bottom: The second half of an inning.
Bunt: A legally batted ball, not swung at but
intentionally met with the bat and tapped within the infield.
Catch: The act of a fielder in getting secure possession
in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it.
Catcher: The defensive player whose position is directly
behind home plate.
Defense: The team currently in the field.
Designated Hitter: A player who may be designated to bat
instead of the pitcher.
Double: A play in which the batter makes it safely to
second base without stopping.
Double Header: Two games played in immediate
succession.
Double Play: A defensive play in which two offensive
players are put out as a result of one continuous action.
Dugout: The seating area for team members not currently
on the playing field.
Fair Ball: A legally batted ball that settles on or over
fair territory.
Fair Territory: That part of the playing field within and
including the first base and third base lines, from home plate to the playing
field fence and perpendicularly upwards.
Fielder: One of the nine defensive players, including
pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, left
fielder, center fielder and right fielder.
Fielder's Choice: The act of a fielder who handles a fair
grounder and, instead of throwing to first base to put out the batter runner,
throws to another base in an attempt to put out a preceding runner.
Fly Ball: A ball which goes high in the air when
batted.
Force Play: A play in which a runner loses his right to
occupy a base when the current batter becomes a runner.
Forfeited Game: A game declared ended by the umpire for
violation of the rules, and awarded to the offended team.
Foul Ball: A batted ball that lands on foul territory
between home plate and first base or third base, bounds past first or third base
on or over third territory, first touches foul territory beyond first or third
base, or touches a player, umpire or any object not part of the playing field
while over foul territory.
Foul Territory: That part of the playing field outside
the first and third base lines extended to the outfield fence and
perpendicularly upwards.
Ground Ball: A batted ball which rolls along the
ground.
Ground Rule Double: When a line drive bounces on the
field and over the wall in fair territory the hit is scored as a ground rule
double and the batter advances to second base.
Home Plate: The base over which an offensive player bats,
and to which he must return after touching all three bases in order to score a
run.
Home Run: A play in which the batter makes it safely
around all bases and back to home plate without stopping.
Home Team: The team on whose field the game is played. If
the game is played on neutral grounds, the home team shall be designated by
mutual agreement.
Infield: The diamond-shaped portion of the playing field
bordered by the four bases.
Infielder: A fielder who occupies a position in the
infield.
Infield Fly: A fair fly ball which can be caught by an
infielder with ordinary effort, which first and second, or first, second and
third bases are occupied before the second out. Infield Fly Rule: On the infield
fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been
handled by an infielder not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or
the base lines. The umpire's judgment must govern, and the decision should be
made immediately. When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at
their own risk. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a
fair ball, the ball remains in play.
Inning: That portion of the game within which the teams
alternate on offense and defense and in which there are three outs for each
team. Each team's time at bat is a half-inning.
Line Drive: A ball which is batted directly to a fielder
without touching the ground.
Offense: The team currently at bat.
Out: A declaration by the umpire that a player who is
trying for a base is not entitled to that base.
Outfield: The portion of the playing field that extends
beyond the infield and is bordered by the first and third baselines.
Outfielder: A fielder who occupies a position in the
outfield.
Pitch: The ball delivered by the pitcher to the
batter.
Pitcher: The fielder designated to pitch the ball to the
batter.
Quick Return Pitch: An illegal pitch, made with obvious
intent to catch the batter off balance.
Run: The score made by an offensive player who has
rounded the bases and returned to home plate.
Runner: An offensive player who is advancing toward,
touching or returning to any base.
Safe: A declaration by the umpire that a runner who is
trying for a base has not been tagged or forced out, and is therefore entitled
to that base.
Single: A play in which the batter safely makes it to
first base.
Strike: A legal pitch when so called by the umpire,
which:
- Is struck at by the batter and missed;
- Is not struck at, if the ball passes through the strike zone;
- Is fouled by the batter when he has less than two strikes;
- Is bunted foul;
- Touches the batter as he strikes at it;
- Touches the batter in flight in the strike zone; or
- After being batted, travels directly from the bat to the catcher's hands and
is legally caught by the catcher (foul tip).
Strike Zone: An area directly over home plate, from the
bottom of the batter's kneecaps to the midpoint between the top of the batter's
shoulders and the top of the batter's uniform pants.
Tag: The action of a fielder in touching a base with his
body while holding the ball, or touching a runner with the ball, or with his
hand or glove while holding the ball.
Throw: The act of propelling the ball toward a given
objective, usually a teammate. A pitch is not a throw.
Top: The first half of an inning.
Triple: A play in which the batter makes it safely to
third base without stopping.
Triple Play: A defensive play in which three offensive
players are put out as a result of one action.
Umpire: The official who judges the legality of
individual plays and who otherwise enforces the rules of the game.
