Glossary of baseball (M) facts for kids

Baseball has many special words and phrases! Here are some of them, starting with the letter 'M'.

M

Maddux

A "Maddux" is a special baseball game where a pitcher throws a complete game shutout. This means they pitch the whole game without the other team scoring any runs. The pitcher also uses 99 pitches or fewer. This term is named after Greg Maddux, a famous pitcher who did this 13 times!

Magic Number

The "magic number" tells a leading team how close they are to winning their division or league title. It's the total number of wins they need, plus the losses their closest rival needs to have, for them to win for sure. Once they reach this number, no other team can catch them!

Magic Words

These are specific words that players or coaches might say to an umpire. If spoken, these words are almost guaranteed to get that person immediately ejected (kicked out) from the game.

Make a Statement

When a player or team "makes a statement," they do something impressive that gets the attention of the other team. This could be a fantastic catch, a powerful home run, or a strong slide into a base. It shows their power and skill.

Make the Pitcher Work

An offensive team tries to "make the pitcher work" by making them throw many pitches. They do this by being patient at the plate, not swinging at bad pitches, or by fouling off pitches. This tires out the opposing pitcher, making it easier to score runs later in the game.

Make-Up Call

Sometimes, an umpire might make a mistake on a call. A "make-up call" is when they seem to try to balance out that mistake with another call later in the game. For example, if they wrongly call a strike, they might later call a ball on a pitch that was actually a strike. Umpires usually say they don't do this.

Make-Up Game

If a baseball game is canceled, maybe because of rain or another reason, a "make-up game" is scheduled for a later date. This ensures all games are played during the season.

Manager

In baseball, the "manager" is the person in charge of the team on the field during a game. They decide who plays, when to change pitchers, and what strategies to use. This is different from the general manager, who handles trades and team building.

Manufacturing Runs

"Manufacturing runs" means scoring runs one at a time, often without hitting a home run. This involves smart plays like being patient at the plate, hitting the ball to move runners, taking advantage of errors, and good baserunning, like stealing a base. It's also known as small ball.

Masher

A "masher" is a player who hits many home runs. They are known for hitting the ball with great power.

Matchsticks

"Matchsticks" is a fun way to describe the scoreboard when a team scores exactly one run in several innings in a row. It looks like a string of "1"s, similar to a picket fence.

Meat

The word "meat" has a few meanings in baseball:

• The "meat" of the bat is the thickest part of the bat's barrel, where hitters try to hit the ball for the most power.
• The "meat of the order" refers to the middle of the batting lineup, usually where the team's strongest hitters are placed.
• A pitcher's "meat hand" is their throwing hand.

Meatball

A "meatball" is an easy pitch for a batter to hit. It's usually thrown right down the middle of the plate, making it very tempting for the batter.

Men in Blue

This is a common nickname for the umpires because they wear blue uniforms.

Metal Bat Swing

A "metal bat swing" describes the type of swing used by college players who are used to hitting with metal bats. When they move to professional baseball, they have to adjust to wooden bats, which require a different swing style.

Middle Infielders

The "middle infielders" are the second baseman and the shortstop. They play in the middle of the infield.

Middle Innings

The "middle innings" are the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings of a standard nine-inning game.

Middle of the Inning

This is the short break between the top half and bottom half of an inning. During this time, the visiting team goes to the field, and the home team gets ready to bat. No game action happens, and it's often when commercials are shown on TV.

Middle of the Order Hitter

A "middle of the order hitter" is a batter who hits with power. They are usually placed in the third, fourth, or fifth spot in the batting lineup because they are expected to drive in runs.

Middle Reliever

A "middle reliever" is a relief pitcher who comes into the game during the middle innings (usually the 4th, 5th, or 6th). Their job is to stop the opposing team from scoring more runs, especially if the starting pitcher struggled.

Miscue

A "miscue" is another word for an Glossary of baseball (E)#error. It means a mistake made by a player during a play.

Miss Some Bats

When a pitcher "misses some bats," it means they are very good at getting batters to swing and miss the ball. Pitchers who can do this are often brought into games when the other team has runners in scoring position.

Miss Some Spots

A pitcher who "misses some spots" is not throwing the ball exactly where they want it to go. This means they don't have good command over their pitches, making it easier for batters to hit them.

Mistake

In baseball, a "mistake" is a poor play or decision that isn't officially an error. This could be throwing the ball to the wrong base, missing a cut-off man, or a pitcher throwing a pitch right into a batter's favorite hitting zone.

Mitt

A "mitt" is a type of baseball glove. While the term can sometimes refer to any glove, it officially describes the special gloves worn by the catcher and the first baseman. Unlike regular gloves, mitts have a slot for the thumb but only one large pocket for all the fingers, like a mitten.

Mix Up Pitches

To be successful, pitchers need to "mix up their pitches." This means they use a variety of different pitches (like fastballs, curveballs, and changeups) and throw them in a smart way to keep batters guessing and off balance.

MLB

"MLB" is a common abbreviation for Major League Baseball. This is the organization that runs the two main professional baseball leagues in North America: the American League and the National League.

Money Pitch

A "money pitch" is a pitcher's best and most reliable pitch. It's the pitch they throw when the game is on the line, and they need to get a crucial out. They are said to "earn their money" with this pitch.

Money Player

A "money player" is someone who performs very well in important, high-pressure situations, also known as the clutch. You can count on them to deliver when it really matters.

Moneyball

"Moneyball" refers to a strategy in baseball that focuses on finding undervalued players using advanced statistics. The idea is to build a strong team by identifying players whose skills are not fully appreciated by others in the league. For example, it often focused on players with a high on-base percentage. It's often seen as the opposite of "smallball" strategies.

Moonshot

A "moonshot" is a home run that is hit very high into the air. The term became popular when the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and played in a stadium with a very short left-field fence. Player Wally Moon hit many high home runs there to clear the tall fence.

Mop Up

A "mop-up pitcher" or "mop-up man" is a relief pitcher who comes into the game when the outcome is already pretty clear, usually when one team is winning or losing by a lot. Their job is to finish the game without letting the score get even worse. Sometimes, other position players might even pitch in these situations to get some experience.

Motor

To "motor" means to run very fast and without hesitation, usually to an extra base. For example, a player might "motor to third base" after a hit, showing great speed and determination.

Mound

The "mound" is the raised area in the middle of the baseball field where the pitcher stands to throw the ball. In Major League Baseball, it's about 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. The front of the pitcher's plate, or "rubber," is 60 feet 6 inches (18.4 meters) from home plate. The top of the rubber can be no more than 10 inches (25.4 cm) higher than home plate.

Moundsman

"Moundsman" is another word for a pitcher. It refers to the player who pitches from the pitcher's mound.

Movement

"Movement" refers to how a pitch deviates or moves from a straight path as it travels toward the plate. Pitches with good movement are harder for batters to hit because they don't fly straight. This can apply to both fastballs and breaking balls.

Mow 'Em Down

When a pitcher "mows 'em down," it means they are completely dominating the opposing batters. They are getting outs easily, allowing very few, if any, batters to reach base.

Muff

To "muff" a play means to make an Glossary of baseball (E)#error, especially on an easy play. It implies dropping or mishandling the ball.

Mustard

"Mustard" refers to a lot of speed or power on a throw or pitch. If a player is told to "put some mustard on it," it means they should throw the ball with extra velocity.

MVP

"MVP" is an abbreviation for Most Valuable Player. At the end of each season, an MVP award is given to the best player in each Major League. MVPs are also chosen for important playoff series, like the World Series, and the All-Star Game.

Images for kids

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  Little League umpires wearing blue