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Baseball

ProfessorGAC

(74,071 posts)

41. It Actually Makes A Lot Of Sense

Reply to CanonRay (Reply #23)

Sun Aug 10, 2025, 07:07 PM

Aug 10

In the very early days of baseball, diamonds were set up with the pitcher throwing west so the afternoon sun wasn't in the hitters eyes.
If you face west, your left arm is to the south.
Hence, southpaw!

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CanonRay

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Highlight:

Know Your Baseball Idioms: 'Southpaw,' 'can of corn,' and other phrases from the diamond [View all] Diamond_Dog Aug 8 OP

I played softball for my company's team many years ago and we had a coach that always said can of corn Deuxcents Aug 8 #1

"Can of corn" is in the article at the link Diamond_Dog Aug 8 #2

I know most of those... Wounded Bear Aug 8 #3

Bug on a rug ... aka worm burner... Diamond_Dog Aug 8 #5

Yeah, usually the leadoff guy is someone with a higher on base percentage... Wounded Bear Aug 8 #7

the guys you expect to get on base and maybe steal are the 1 and 2 batters rampartd Aug 9 #28

high hard one. (oops) usonian Aug 8 #4

Lol! Diamond_Dog Aug 8 #6

Oh, dear God, I hope he doesn't hit that!! lastlib Aug 8 #11

I don't know if that's a glass or plastic bottle. usonian Aug 9 #25

Submariner popped into my head. House of Roberts Aug 8 #8

That's a good one. Diamond_Dog Aug 8 #10

"Phenom" is one. "Up for a cup of coffee" is aotherl "Warning track power" brush Aug 8 #9

Those are all good ones! Diamond_Dog Aug 8 #12

Thanks, DD. Another one is "tools of ignorance." Might be too obscure. brush Aug 8 #17

Posted right in the link MichMan Aug 8 #21

5 Tool Was The First One I Thought Of! ProfessorGAC Aug 10 #40

Those are the rarest players. A few have been added to the list lately. brush Aug 10 #43

Cepeda & McCovey Were Slow ProfessorGAC Aug 10 #44

Hank Aaron was 'steady eddie' re: his consistent HR totals every year... brush Aug 10 #45

And, i Won't! ProfessorGAC Aug 10 #46

One of Casey Stengel's favorites was "butcher boy" rsdsharp Aug 8 #13

Well, that's a new one for me! Diamond_Dog Aug 8 #14

Mickey, too! rsdsharp Aug 8 #15

I believe "can of corn" was one of Bob Prince's lines he was the Pirates announcer in the 60s & 70s. Devilsun Aug 8 #16

Yes, and he also would use "bug on the rug." Diamond_Dog Aug 9 #36

Little League home run lapucelle Aug 8 #18

The Cubs longtime broadcaster Jack Brickhouse had one. boonecreek Aug 8 #19

Wall scraper The Wizard Aug 8 #20

Baltimore Chop CanonRay Aug 8 #22

Southpaw CanonRay Aug 8 #23

It Actually Makes A Lot Of Sense ProfessorGAC Aug 10 #41

Bush League CanonRay Aug 8 #24

That one was in the article too Diamond_Dog Aug 9 #30

"Frank and Ernest Play Ball" is a fun children's book by Alexandra Day that is full of them. I KitFox Aug 9 #26

How about ultralite001 Aug 9 #27

How could I forget "chin music"! Diamond_Dog Aug 9 #31

My dad was a catcher long ago... ultralite001 Aug 9 #35

You're welcome, ultralite001! Diamond_Dog Aug 9 #38

To be "Wally Pipped" Auggie Aug 9 #29

Thank you Auggie, those were great! I've never heard of either one. Diamond_Dog Aug 9 #32

You are welcome ... Auggie Aug 9 #33

You are correct! Diamond_Dog Aug 9 #37

🤣🤣🤣 ultralite001 Aug 9 #34

"The String is Out" Auggie Aug 10 #39

Yep! You are correct. Diamond_Dog Aug 10 #47

A Few Others ProfessorGAC Aug 10 #42

I have to admit I've never heard of any of those! Except for "blooper" or "bloop hit". Diamond_Dog Aug 10 #48