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The Citizen-Journal



Sports

PUBLISHED: Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Hearing the play-by-play



The skill may never come in handy, but it's there. Each baseball, or softball player, likely has it, but never realized it. Those trying to pay attention to both the softball and baseball games during postseason play, may have stumbled on it by accident.

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It's the ability to hear the game. Knowing what is happening, simply by listening to the atmosphere. But, you'd likely have to be a former player or coach to realize it.

Games on a diamond have a universal language, with similar catch phrases used in parallel situations.

For those of you in the dark, I can translate a bit of the language for you. In each situation, there's a way to decipher what's happening. If the team needs a hit, there's a phrase for it. If the there's an RBI to be had, there's a cheer for it. Here's your guide to what you'll hear and when:

*The pitcher throws a strike - "Way to fire."

*The pitcher throws a ball - "Looked good."

*The team needs a hit - "Little bingo, kid."

*Runners in scoring position - "R-B-R-B-R-BU. R-B-R-B-R-B-I."

*Stealing a base - "Dig, dig, dig, dig."

*Run about to score - "Home it! Home! Home!" *A potential home run - "Back, back, back, back."

*The umpire made the "wrong" call - "Come on, what are you looking at?"

*The umpire made the "right" call - "This guy's good."

*The umpire should power walk to the car - The program lists umpire names......what about phone numbers?"

*A nice catch is made - "Good leather."

*The batter just swung and missed - "Keep your eye on it."

*The batter hit it foul - "Straighten it out."

*The batter gets a hit - "Nice rip kid."

*Runner on third, less than two outs - Squeeeeeeeeeeeeze!"

*Two outs, runner on base - "Running on anything."

*Batter got on base, with a little help from the defense - "Good hustle."

*Someone screwed up - "Get your head in the game."

*Someone did well - "Way to be."





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