strike zone
- Noun:
- The area over home plate between a batter's knees and shoulders through which a pitch must pass in order to be called a strike: In baseball, the "strike zone" is a defined three-dimensional space above home plate. Its vertical limits are determined by the batter's stance; the top is at the midpoint between the top of the batter's uniform pants and the top of the shoulders, and the bottom is at the hollow beneath the kneecap. A pitch that passes through any part of this zone is ruled a strike by the umpire if the batter does not swing.
- Noun:
- The pitcher aimed for the lower corner of the strike zone.
- The umpire has a consistent interpretation of the strike zone.
- A tall batter often has a larger strike zone than a shorter one.
"To paint the corners of the strike zone": This idiom describes a pitcher's skill in throwing pitches that just catch the edges of the strike zone, making them difficult for the batter to hit.
- The veteran pitcher is famous for his ability to paint the corners of the strike zone.
"The strike zone is expanding/shrinking": Refers to the perception that an umpire is calling strikes on pitches outside the official rulebook definition (expanding) or is not calling strikes on pitches that are within it (shrinking).
- In the late innings, it felt like the strike zone was expanding for the home team's pitcher.
- Strike (n): A call by the umpire when a pitch is in the strike zone and not swung at, or when a batter swings and misses, or when a batted ball is fouled off under certain conditions.
- Ball (n): A pitch that is not in the strike zone and is not swung at by the batter.
- The zone (informal, context-specific): Often used in baseball commentary to refer to the strike zone.
- That fastball was right in the zone.
To work the strike zone: A pitcher's strategy of throwing pitches within or around the edges of the strike zone to get ahead in the count.
- A successful pitcher must know how to work the strike zone effectively.
To challenge the strike zone: When a batter takes a pitch close to the zone, trusting the umpire will call it a ball, or when a pitcher throws a pitch on the edge, testing the umpire's call.
- With a full count, the rookie decided to challenge the strike zone and took a close pitch.
- A hitter's eye: The ability of a batter to judge whether a pitch is within the strike zone. While not directly containing "strike zone," it is a closely related concept.
- He has a great hitter's eye and rarely swings at pitches outside the strike zone.
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(baseball) the area over home plate between a batter's knees and shoulders through which a pitch must pass in order to be called a strike
