Glossary of baseball (D) facts for kids

Baseball has many unique words and phrases. This guide explains some of the terms starting with the letter "D" that you might hear during a game.

Baseball Terms Starting with D

What is a Daisy Cutter?

A daisy cutter is an old-fashioned term for a baseball hit very hard along the ground. It's called this because it flies so low, it looks like it could cut the tops off daisies!

What Does it Mean When a Knuckleball "Dances"?

When a knuckleball is thrown well, it doesn't spin much. This makes it move in unpredictable ways, wiggling and wobbling as it gets to the batter. This strange, wobbly movement is called a "dance."

What is a Dark One?

A dark one is a pitch that is very hard for the batter to see. This makes it tough to hit. When a coach tells a pitcher to "throw him the dark one," it means to throw a tricky pitch that the batter probably won't hit.

What is a Dead Arm?

A pitcher has a dead arm when they can't throw as fast or as well as they usually do. It's like their arm feels tired and weak, even if they're not injured. This can happen to pitchers sometimes during a long season.

When is the Ball "Dead"?

In baseball, the ball becomes "dead" when the game action stops. This happens after a foul ball, or when a fan or player gets in the way. When the ball is dead, players cannot run to other bases, and no one can be tagged out. The game starts again when the umpire signals for play to continue.

What Was the Dead-Ball Era?

The dead-ball era was a time in baseball history, from about 1903 to 1918. During this period, the baseballs used were different, and rules made it harder to hit home runs. Teams focused more on getting players on base and moving them around with small hits. Hitting a home run over the fence was a very rare and exciting event back then!

What is a Dead Pull Hitter?

A pull hitter is a batter who usually hits the ball to the same side of the field they bat from. For example, a right-handed batter would hit the ball towards left field. A dead pull hitter almost always hits the ball this way. They rarely hit the ball to the opposite side of the field.

What Does it Mean to be "Dead Red"?

If a batter is "sitting dead red" or "looking dead red," it means they are waiting for a specific type of pitch, usually a fastball. When they get that pitch, they are ready to hit it hard, often for a home run or a base hit.

What Does it Mean to "Deal"?

The word "deal" has two meanings in baseball:

• To deal means to throw a pitch. Announcers often say, "Smith deals to Jones" as the pitcher throws the ball.
• It can also mean a pitcher is throwing very well. If a pitcher is "really dealing tonight," it means they are pitching great and getting batters out easily.

What Does "Decided in the Last At Bat" Mean?

Games "decided in the last at bat" are those where the winning team scores the winning run in their very last chance to hit. This means the game was super close and exciting right up until the end!

What Does "Deep in the Count" Mean?

A batter is "deep in the count" when they have three balls against them (like 3-0, 3-1, or 3-2). This situation usually favors the batter because the pitcher has to be very careful not to throw another ball, which would give the batter a walk.

What is Defensive Indifference?

Defensive indifference happens when the team playing defense allows a runner to move to the next base without trying to stop them. The runner doesn't get credit for a stolen base because the base was "given" to them, not "stolen." This often happens when a team has a big lead late in the game and just wants to get the final outs.

What is a Delivery in Pitching?

A pitcher's delivery is the way they throw the ball, including their arm angle and body movements. For example, a pitcher might have an "overhand delivery" or a "sidearm delivery."

What Does "Designated for Assignment" Mean?

When a player is "designated for assignment," it means their team is taking them off their main roster. This allows the team to make changes, like bringing up another player.

What is a Designated Hitter (DH)?

The designated hitter (DH) is a player whose only job is to hit the ball. They don't play a defensive position on the field. In the American League, teams usually use a DH. In the National League, the pitcher usually has to bat. When teams from different leagues play each other, the DH rule is used if the game is in an American League ballpark.

What is a Deuce?

In baseball, a deuce can mean two things:

• A curveball, because catchers often use two fingers for the signal.
• A double play.

The term comes from playing cards, where the "2" card is called the "deuce."

What is "Deuces Wild"?

Deuces wild is a fun phrase used when the number "2" appears everywhere on the scoreboard. This means there are two runners on base, two outs, two balls, and two strikes on the batter. It makes for a very exciting moment in the game!

What Does "Dial Long Distance" Mean?

To "dial long distance" means to hit a home run. It's like the ball travels so far, it's making a long-distance call!

What is a Diamond?

The diamond is the shape of the four bases on the baseball field. It's actually a square, but from the stands, it looks like a diamond.

What Does it Mean for a Fly Ball to "Die"?

A fly ball is said to "die" if it doesn't travel as far as expected. This can happen because of wind or other factors that make the ball drop quickly.

What Does it Mean to "Dig it Out"?

To "dig it out" can mean two things:

• When a fielder, especially a first baseman, catches a low throw that is very close to the ground. They have to "dig" it out of the dirt.
• When a batter runs very hard to first base on a close play, trying to beat the throw.

What Does "Dinged Up" Mean?

If a player is "dinged up," it means they have minor injuries that might bother them, but they are usually still able to play.

What is a Dinger or a Dong?

A dinger or a dong are slang terms for a home run.

What is a Dirt-Nap?

A dirt-nap is a slang term for tripping or falling down on the field, especially in the outfield or while running the bases.

What is the Injured List?

The "disabled list" was the old name for the injured list. This is a way for teams to temporarily remove injured players from their active roster. This allows the team to bring up another player to take their place while the injured player recovers. The name changed to "injured list" in 2019.

What is the Dish?

The dish is a slang term for home plate. You might hear a catcher "settle in behind the dish." It can also refer to a pitch, especially a good one.

What Does "Diving Over the Plate" Mean?

When a batter "dives over the plate," it means they lean in towards home plate. They do this to reach pitches that are on the outside edge of the strike zone. Pitchers might then throw the ball inside to keep the batter from leaning too far.

What is Doctoring the Ball?

Doctoring the ball means illegally changing the baseball by adding a foreign substance to it, like Vaseline or saliva (a spitball), or by scuffing it with sandpaper. Pitchers do this to make the ball move in unusual ways, making it harder to hit. These actions have been against the rules since the 1920s.

What is a Donnybrook?

A donnybrook is a slang term for a big fight on the field, where players from both teams leave their benches and bullpens to join in.

What Does it Mean to "Dot" a Batter?

To "dot" a batter means the pitcher hits the batter with a pitched ball. This can be on purpose or by accident. Sometimes, a pitcher might intentionally "dot" a batter if they feel the batter or their team has broken one of baseball's "unwritten rules." Usually, these pitches are thrown low to avoid serious injury.

What is a Double?

A double is a hit where the batter safely reaches second base. It's also called a "two-base hit."

What is a Double Clutch?

When a fielder, like an infielder or catcher, pulls their arm back twice before throwing the ball, it's called a double clutch. This hesitation can make their throw late, allowing runners to advance.

What is a Double Play?

A double play is when the defense gets two offensive players out during one continuous play. A common example is when a batter hits a ground ball, and the defense throws to second base for one out, then to first base for the second out.

What is Double Play Depth?

Double play depth is a defensive strategy where the middle infielders (shortstop and second baseman) play closer to second base. This helps them turn a double play more easily, but it also means they might not be in the best position to field a hit to the third-base side.

What is a Double Steal?

A double steal happens when two runners try to steal bases at the same time. For example, a runner on first and a runner on second might both try to steal the next base together.

What is a Double Switch?

A double switch is a smart player change used mostly in leagues where pitchers have to bat (like the National League). It lets a manager bring in a new pitcher and another player at the same time, while also improving the team's batting order. This way, the new pitcher doesn't have to bat right away.

What Does it Mean to "Double Up"?

To "double up" can mean two things:

• When a runner is the second out in a double play, they are "doubled up." This can happen if they are caught off base after a fly ball is caught.
• When a team wins both games of a doubleheader, they are said to have "doubled up" their opponent.

What is a Doubleheader?

A doubleheader is when two baseball games are played by the same two teams on the same day. Sometimes, these games are shorter, like seven innings instead of nine, especially in college or minor league baseball.

What Does "Down" Mean in Baseball?

When a player is "down," it means they have been put out.

• "One down" means one out has been made in the inning.
• "Two down" means two outs have been made.
• "Three up, three down" means the first three batters of the inning were all put out, and the side is retired.

What Does "Down the Line" Mean?

"Down the line" refers to the area on the field near the foul lines. It's often used to describe where a batted ball lands.

What Does "Down the Middle" Mean?

"Down the middle" describes a pitch thrown right over the center of home plate. You might also hear it called "down the pipe" or "down Main Street."

What Does "Down the Stretch" Mean?

"Down the stretch" means a team is getting close to the end of the season and is trying hard to win their division or a championship. It's like the final push in a race!

What is a DP Combo?

A DP combo is a slang term for a team's shortstop and second baseman. These two players work together a lot to turn double plays, so they are called the "double play combination."

What is a Drag Bunt?

A drag bunt is a special kind of bunt where a left-handed batter tries to hit the ball softly past the pitcher and towards the right side of the infield. They often do this while taking a step towards first base, hoping to use their speed to get a base hit.

What Does it Mean to "Draw" a Ball or a Walk?

When a batter "draws a ball" or "draws a walk," it means the pitcher has thrown four balls, and the batter gets to go to first base without hitting the ball.

What Does "Drawn In" Mean?

"Drawn in" means that fielders play closer to home plate than usual.

• Outfielders might be "drawn in" to prevent short fly balls from dropping for hits, especially in close games.
• Infielders might be "drawn in" if there's a runner on third base, so they can try to throw the runner out at home plate if a ground ball is hit.

What is a Dribbler?

A dribbler is a ground ball that is hit very weakly. It travels a short distance and bounces several times, like a slow dribble.

What Does it Mean to be "Drilled"?

If a batter is "drilled," it means they were hit by a pitch.

What is a Drive?

A drive can be a hard-hit ball, like a line drive. It can also mean to hit the ball hard, or to hit the ball in a way that brings in runs. For example, "Tejada drove him home from second."

What Does it Mean to "Drop" a Game?

To "drop" a game means to lose it. For example, "The Tigers dropped their fourth game in a row."

What is a Drop Ball?

A drop ball is another name for a sinkerball, which is a pitch that moves downwards as it reaches the plate. Some curveballs that dive sharply are also called "drop balls."

What Does "Drop Off the Table" Mean?

When a pitch "drops off the table," it means it has a very sharp, sudden downward movement as it gets to the batter. This is often used to describe a great curveball.

What is a Dropped Third Strike?

A dropped third strike happens when the catcher doesn't cleanly catch a third strike pitch. If first base is empty (or if there are two outs), the batter can try to run to first base before being tagged out. Even if the batter reaches base, the pitcher still gets credit for a strikeout.

What Does "Ducks on the Pond" Mean?

"Ducks on the pond" is a fun way to say there are runners on second or third base, or especially when the bases are loaded. It means there are runners in scoring position, ready to come home!

What Does it Mean for a Batter to be "Due"?

A batter is "due" when they haven't gotten a hit in a while, but they are usually a good hitter. It's like saying they're overdue for a hit, and you expect them to get one soon!

What is a Dugout?

The dugout is where a baseball team's players and coaches sit during a game when they are not on the field. It's usually a sunken area below the field level, with a roof for shade and protection.

What Does it Mean to "Dump" a Bunt?

To "dump" a bunt means to hit the ball softly and intentionally, usually along the foul line. A right-handed hitter might "dump" a bunt towards third base, while a left-handed hitter might "dump" it towards first base.

What is a Duster or Dust-Off Pitch?

A duster or dust-off pitch is a pitch thrown very far inside, so close to the batter that they have to drop to the ground to avoid being hit. It's often thrown to send a message or intimidate the batter.

Images for kids

• 

  The home team's dugout at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 2017