Baseball talk!

Now that I'm doing posts about the language of baseball, I always keep a pad and pen at my side when watching a game. I've been collecting words and phrases since before the season began. What's happening at this point is that they're falling into categories. Each category will end up being a post (like the recent one about the physical nature of baseball talk; that's one category). But some baseball talk is hard to categorize. It's just loose talk. Here's some of it, all from the mouths of our intrepid baseball announcers:

"He's been around Major League Baseball for a long time -- first with the Orioles, then the Tigers -- and he even spent a cup of coffee with the Reds." This seems to mean he wasn't there long. Nice: spent a cuppa coffee.

"And of course, he played in the Dominican." Baseball has no time for Republics. None at all.

One endearing thing the announcers sometimes say about a player whose at-bat went well, is "He has a nice idea up there." It's kind of sweet, like they're old men sitting in rocking chairs in front of a general store and commenting on the passers-by.They even repeat themselves like old men: "Yup, a nice idea."

Now, here's one that I've got a question about. As they announce the line-ups, when they come to the catcher they'll often say, "And Castro (or Varitek or whoever) gets the nod tonight." At first I saw this as just meaning that the manager picked this guy to play tonight. Nice and simple. They have several back-up catchers and this one "got the nod". However, I've come to realize they never say this about a second baseman. You don't hear ". . . and Pedroia gets the nod tonight at 2nd." Doesn't happen. So could this mean the catcher "gets the nod" from the pitcher, as in the pitcher nods to him when he puts down the right sign? (Another way this is said is "So-and-so gets the call behind the plate" which seems like a variation on the same theme: the catcher "calling" the game this time, rather than the pitcher nodding at him.) Peanut gallery input requested.

"And now the pesky Red Sox 2nd baseman, Dustin Pedroia, steps into the batter's box." Ever notice how they only call the small guys "pesky"? For instance, they never say, "and now the pesky Alex Rodriguez" (or god forbid, Barry Bonds). Pesky = tiny and swattable. It is a dismissive term reserved for short guys (who are also tough, which is what makes them so darn pesky).

Here's another one: If a team gets any players on base, they're "trying to get something going here in the (whatever) inning." Apparently if no one is on base, they're not trying to get something going.

And finally, I'm always amused when a pitcher makes his first throw of the day -- a really fast one -- and the announcer says: "95 miles and hour, right out of bed!" Makes me laugh every time.

Okay, kids, that's it for now. But I've got a ton more. Stay tuned.