Kevin Czerwinski - Knack Coaching Youth Baseball: Tips on Building a Winning Team

Around the Horn: Refers to a double play that is started by the third baseman, who throws the ball to the second baseman for a force play. The second baseman then throws to first to complete the double play.

Assist: A number that is credited to every player who touches a batted ball prior to a putout. For example, on a grounder to short in which the shortstop throws the runner out at first, he would be credited with an assist.

At-bat: A plate appearance that is officially credited to the batter. A player is not credited with an at-bat on a walk, a hit by pitch, a sacrifice fly, or if the inning ends while he is in the batters box and a runner is caught stealing or picked off.

Balk: An illegal motion made by a pitcher that will allow a runner to advance a base.

Bases on Balls: The official name for a walk.

Batters Box: The chalked-off areas on either side of home plate in which the batter stands during an at-bat. They are 4 feet wide and 6 feet long and begin 6 inches away from the plate.

Battery: The pitcher and the catcher.

Batting Average: A statistic calculated by dividing a players number of hits by his at-bats. For example, if a player has nine hits in twenty-seven at-bats, he is hitting .333.

Bunt: This occurs when a batter holds the bat loosely in his fingers and guides it into the ball, attempting to tap it lightly into fair territory.

Catcher: The player positioned behind home plate.

Changeup: An off-speed pitch that is not thrown as rapidly as a fastball. A circle change and straight changeup are just two examples.

Check Swing: This occurs when a batter begins to swing but holds up and does not complete his swing. An umpire will use his discretion to determine when a swing was checked or not.

Choke Up: The act of a batter moving his hands up on the bat in order to have better control of it while swinging.

Closer: The pitcher who attempts to close or finish the game for the winning team.

Count: The acting of keeping track of balls and strikes is the count. Balls are generally first when discussing a count. For example, if the count was two and one, there would be two balls and one strike.

Curveball: A breaking pitch with diagonal spin that causes tremendous movement.

Double Play: A double play occurs when two outs are recorded during one plate appearance.

Earned Run Average: A pitching statistic calculated by multiplying the number of earned runs a pitcher allows by nine and then dividing that number by his total number of innings pitched.

Error: A player is charged with an error when the official scorer deems him to have misplayed a ball hit to him or after he has made an errant throw.

First Baseman: The player traditionally positioned in fair territory near first base.

Fly Ball: Any ball that is hit high in the air.

Force Out: This occurs when a batter is forced to leave the basepath during another players at-bat because he is thrown out while attempting to advance to a particular base.

Foul Ball: Any ball not hit in fair territory

Full Count: When the batter has worked the count to three balls and two strikes, the count is full.

Ground Ball: Any ball hit on the ground.

Hit and Run: This occurs when the baserunners are in motion before the ball is hit. The runner then attempts to make contact in order to keep the runners moving.

Infield: The infield is composed of the four players who are positioned around the bases and in the basepaths. The first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop are the infielders.

Intentional Walk: An intentional walk occurs when a pitcher and catcher elect to throw four balls purposely outside the strike zone in order not to face a particular batter.

Knuckleball: A breaking ball that is gripped with the knuckles rather than the fingertips. The pitch dances and changes trajectory as it approaches the plate.

Long Reliever: A pitcher that comes into a game early to replace the starter and pitches an extraordinarily long time, say five or six innings.

Middle Reliever: A pitcher who pitches an inning or two, usually the fifth, sixth, or sometimes seventh innings.

On Deck: The on-deck batter is the one who is up next in the batting order after the batter who is currently at the plate.

Outfield: The outfield is the area from foul line to foul line beyond the infield.

Outfielder: A player who is positioned in the area from foul line to foul line beyond the infield. The outfielders are the left fielder, right fielder, and center fielder.

Pinch Hitter: A pinch hitter is a substitute batter for the regularly scheduled batter.

Pinch Runner: A pinch runner is a substitute runner for any runner who has reached base safely.

Pop Fly: Any batted ball that is hit in the air.

Run Batted In: Also known as an RBI, the run batted in is a statistic credited to a hitter when his plate appearance results in a run being scored. No RBI is credited in certain instances, such as when the batter has reached base on an error.

Runners at the Corners: Refers to when there are runners on first and third base.

Sacrifice Fly: Not an official at-bat under baseball scoring rules, though it is a productive one. It occurs when a ball is hit in the air into the outfield with less than two outs and the runner on base advances or scores.

Save: A pitcher is credited with a save when he finishes the game for the winning team though he is not the winning pitcher. A save is recorded if the pitcher pitches at least a third of an inning and enters a game with a lead of no more than three runs. A save is also credited when a pitcher pitches at least three innings or if the potential tying or winning run is on deck, at bat, or on base.

Scoring Position: Any runner on second or third base is in scoring position.

Second Baseman: The player positioned between first and second base.

Setup Man: The pitcher who usually pitches the seventh and/or eighth inning, thus setting up the opposing lineup for the closer, who pitches the ninth inning.

Shortstop: The player positioned between second and third base.

Slider: A pitch that starts out looking like a fastball but breaks sharply as it nears the plate, either into or away from the hitter.

Squeeze: A squeeze play is a sacrifice bunt with less than two outs and a runner on third base.

Steal: A stolen base occurs when a runner successfully moves up a base while the pitcher is delivering a pitch.

Strike: Any pitch that is determined by the umpire to be over the plate when a batter has not swung. A batter can also swing and miss a pitch for a strike. A foul ball is also a strike, but a batter cannot strike out on a foul ball unless it is bunted.