So the other day I was (as I often am) watching a high school baseball game. It was (in case any one is truly concerned) a Pace vs.. Doral play off game. Watching the game is not as simple and just sitting and watching as it would be for most. I tend to hear all the banter that goes on behind me. I do not know why I even allow it to get to me. It really goes back as far as when Omar and I started "dating" and I would fly out to Wisconsin. At that time is was not about the actual game. I guess since I knew some of the guys, the inside scoop for the most part I always chuckled when I heard the comments. Let me not even get started when I would hear a groupie comment, the baseball wives I know always got a kick out of these. As the years passed my knowledge of the game unwillingly grew. There are times where I am actually amazed with what I have picked up subconsciously. Some of the picked up tid bits are more of a dialect, and other facts/ the way the game is played. And with that background information I share what odds and ends of what I have picked up:
The difference between a fly ball and a homerun? If you get under the ball, its likely 99/100 times is a fly ball. Most people do not know this, but the way a pitcher throws the ball will likely make you "pop up"
Double cuts...SUPER important. If you are the cut off guy and you are not where you are suppose to be, be prepared to get your ass chewed out. LOL! Cut off guy (for those who may not know this) is the guy who needs to be behind (for lack of a better word) the player who is suppose to catch the ball. It is the "back up" I guess you could say.
A slump buster is NOT someone you want to be. To be nice, it is a not pretty girl/ woman you hook up with (using a nice term) to get you out of your slump.
Being that Omar was a catcher I always had sympathy for them. I never really felt they got credit when credit was due. If the pitcher had a bad game, it was the catchers fault for "calling" a bad game, if it went well...wow the pitcher threw a great game (oh catcher didn’t call good pitches?). So...I have a soft spot for pass balls vs. wild pitches. It is really such a gray area. From my understanding, if it is catchable (is that even a real word?) and it gets under the catcher than it is considered a pass ball. PLEASE pitcher’s wives, let me know if I got this one right.
Ball players do not (from my experience) call it the majors. LOL!!! It is actually a pet peeve of mine, when I hear people call it that. I really have ZERO reason to be annoyed by it, but I am. Its the Big Leagues...not the majors.
Ahhh...and one of my favorite terms which can be applied to non baseball life- to big league someone. To big league someone is the utmost disrespect. Which basically is when you act like you are better than someone, by neglecting to acknowledge their existence. Big leaguing someone can lead to FB friend removal...LMBO!
This next one I am not sure why it is what it is...but it just IS. The off day, never to be confused with the day off (as the rest of the world describes it). baseball players do not get set schedules, Mon-Fri with Sat and Sun off. They receive a random day off every so often. This is called an OFF DAY. Whenever a game is canceled due to weather (rain or snow) also an off day. I still call Omar’s baseball free days off days, can’t break the habit.
Errors vs. hits are determined by the opinion of the score keeper basically. Although for the most part, the rule of thumb is if it is a routine play that is not accomplished it is considered an error. If it is an above average play than its really not. But again, it depends on who considers it average vs. above average.
Unless the ball is directly popped up behind home plate, it is never the catchers ball...unless someone else misses it. What do I mean by this? Ok, pop up to infield: between third baseman, pitcher and catcher, who’s ball is it? Well technically the third baseman. Although some would also argue it is never the pitcher’s ball either, he is the second choice. Catcher never says "ME- ME- ME" or has "YOU-YOU-YOU" said to him. It is kind of like he is there just in case (cut off guy).
There really is more baseball related junk crowing my brain but I can’t seem to organize it to get it typed on the screen. The more games I go to and hear the comments and questions of "why would we walk this guy to load the bases with 2 outs?"- to force the out...etc. I am always amazed with how much above average knowledge of the game I have picked up. High five me!
