With postseason baseball games getting under way today, Associated Press produces a style guide of key terms and definitions relating to the sport so writers and editors can be on the same page, notes Grumpy Editor.
First off, AP reminds that ballclub, ballgame, ballpark and ballplayer all are one word. But with “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” the traditional song during the seventh-inning stretch, ballgame is split into two words.
Among other terms so that baseball writers don’t strike out:
No more fancy words when a player hits the baseball out of the park, cautions AP. Words such as walloped, blasted, cracked, bombs, four baggers are frowned on. It’s strictly hitting a home run.
As for pitchers, sports writers are refrained from using words such as twirling, chucking or fireballing.
Also with pitchers, AP points out that it takes two pitchers doing well for a duel. So that means pitchers’ duel rather than pitcher’s duel.
Forget the hyphens, says AP, when it comes to describing third base umpire, first base coach and left field line.
Finally, a team that goes through division series, league championship series and wins the World Series (starting Oct. 19) is called World Series champions, not world champions.
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