【MLB観戦】これで完璧！野球英語70選で試合を100倍楽しむ方法

A: Wow, the umpire just yelled, “Play ball!” The game is starting!
B: I can’t wait! Look, the first batter is up. “Batter up!”
A: The pitcher throws—Strike! That was right in the zone.
B: Next pitch… Ball! Just outside the zone.
A: He swings and misses! That’s strike two.
B: Now it’s a full count.
A: Oh no, he struck out swinging!
B: The next batter walked on four straight balls.
A: He’s on first, and now he stole a base!
B: He slid into base, but he’s safe!
A: The next guy got a hit to left field.
B: Nice play by the left fielder!
A: Actually, he hit a line drive right past him.
B: Now the bases are loaded!
A: The cleanup hitter is on deck.
B: The guy after him is in the hole.
A: The batter hit a fly ball to center.
B: Nice catch by the center fielder!
A: That was a sacrifice fly, so the runner tagged up and scores!
B: The next batter bunted.
A: It’s a sacrifice bunt, moving the runner to second.
B: The next batter is a switch-hitter.
A: He’s got a good eye and draws a walk.
B: Now the ace is pitching for the home team.
A: He’s up to bat after the cleanup hitter.
B: He’s throwing a fastball over 95 mph!
A: Now a curveball—he struck out looking!
B: The manager is bringing in a reliever from the bullpen.
A: The bullpen is busy with several pitchers warming up.
B: The new pitcher is a setup man.
A: He’s throwing a slider.
B: The batter swings—it’s a pop-up to third base.
A: The third baseman made a great play!
B: The next batter is a rookie.
A: He’s batting .300 this season.
B: He’s got a strong arm, too.
A: He’s playing first base today.
B: The runner tries to steal third but gets caught in a rundown.
A: He’s tagged out!
B: The next batter hit a double into the gap.
A: He’s in scoring position at second.
B: The next guy is a clutch hitter.
A: He hit a go-ahead run in the 7th inning!
B: The runner is out at home on a great throw.
A: The right fielder made an error, but it’s okay.
B: The umpire made a bad call—that was interference!
A: No, it was obstruction!
B: The manager is arguing, and he’s been ejected!
A: The game goes into extra innings.
B: It’s the bottom of the ninth, tie game.
A: The pinch hitter is up.
B: He’s pinch-hitting for the pitcher.
A: The pinch runner is ready, too.
B: He’s pinch-running for the catcher.
A: The batter fouled it off a few times.
B: Then he hit a grand slam!
A: It’s gone! A walk-off home run!
B: What a way to end the game!
A: The closer blew the save, but the team still won.
B: The manager is happy, and the fans are cheering!
A: The pitcher almost had a no-hitter going.
B: He’s pitching a shutout until the 8th inning.
A: He’s a gold glove winner, too.
B: The utility player made some nice plays.
A: The middle reliever and the lefty specialist did their jobs well.
B: The bases are empty now, but it was a wild game.
A: The umpire made a bad call, but it’s all part of the game.
B: It was a whole new ballgame after that home run!

Beginner’s Guide to MLB: Essential Expressions

Welcome to Major League Baseball! If you’re new to the sport, learning these key expressions will help you enjoy the game and understand what’s happening on the field. Let’s start with the basics.

Starting the Game

When the game begins, the umpire shouts, “Play ball!” This signals the start of the match. The first batter steps up, and you might hear, “Batter up!” The batter is now ready to hit.

Pitches and Counts

The pitcher throws the ball. If it’s in the strike zone, you’ll hear, “Strike!” If it’s outside, it’s called a “Ball!” When the count is three balls and two strikes, it’s a “Full count.” If the batter misses three times, “He struck out.” Sometimes, “He struck out swinging” (swinging at the ball) or “He struck out looking” (not swinging).

If the pitcher throws four balls, “He walked.” The batter goes to first base.

Hits and Runs

When the batter hits the ball, there are different types of hits. “He got a hit.” means he reached base safely. If it’s a “line drive,” it’s a hard, low hit. A “grounder” is a ball that rolls on the ground, and a “fly ball” is hit high in the air. Sometimes, you’ll see a “pop-up,” which is a high, short fly ball.

If the batter hits the ball out of the park, it’s a “Home run!” or “It’s gone!” If all the bases are full and he hits a home run, that’s a “Grand slam!” This is a big moment!

Runners and Fielding

When runners are on base, you might hear, “Bases are loaded” (all bases have runners) or “The bases are empty” (no runners). If a runner is safe at a base, you’ll hear, “He’s safe!” If he’s caught, it’s “He’s out!” or “He’s tagged out.”

Sometimes, a runner tries to “steal a base” by running to the next base while the pitcher is throwing. If he gets caught between bases, “He’s caught in a rundown.” When a runner scores after a fly ball is caught, “He tagged up.”

Special Plays and Situations

If a batter hits a fly ball and a runner scores, it’s a “sacrifice fly.” If he bunts to move a runner, it’s a “sacrifice bunt.” A “pinch hitter” or “pinch runner” is a substitute who comes in to hit or run.

In the late innings, you might hear, “It’s the bottom of the ninth,” which is the last chance for the home team to score. If the game is tied after nine innings, “It’s extra innings.”

If the home team wins with a hit in the last inning, it’s a “walk-off!” For example, “He hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th.”

Pitchers and Defense

The “ace” is the best pitcher on the team. The “closer” is the pitcher who finishes the game. If he fails to protect the lead, “He blew the save.” The “bullpen” is where pitchers warm up, and when “the bullpen is busy,” many pitchers are getting ready.

Other important defensive terms:

• “Nice play!” or “Nice catch!” – compliments for good fielding.
• “He made a great play.” – for an outstanding defensive move.
• “He made an error.” – when a fielder makes a mistake.

Special Achievements

If a pitcher doesn’t allow any hits, it’s a “no-hitter!” If he doesn’t allow any runners at all, it’s a “perfect game!” If a batter gets a single, double, triple, and home run in one game, “He hit for the cycle.”

Other Useful Terms

• “He’s on deck” – next batter.
• “He’s in the hole” – batter after the on-deck batter.
• “He’s up to bat” – it’s his turn to hit.
• “He’s batting .300” – his batting average is 0.300.
• “He’s got a good eye” – he’s good at judging pitches.
• “He’s got a strong arm” – he can throw the ball hard and far.
• “He’s a switch-hitter” – he can bat from both sides.
• “He’s a utility player” – he can play many positions.
• “He’s a rookie” – a first-year player.
• “He’s a veteran” – an experienced player.
• “He’s in a slump” – not playing well recently.
• “He’s on a hot streak” – playing very well recently.
• “He’s a clutch hitter” – good in important moments.
• “He’s a gold glove winner” – excellent fielder.
• “He’s in the dugout” – waiting his turn on the bench.
• “He’s on the bench” – not starting the game.
• “He’s playing first base” – fielding at first base.
• “He’s warming up in the bullpen” – preparing to pitch.
• “He’s a starter” – the first pitcher in the game.
• “He’s a reliever” – a pitcher who comes in later.
• “He’s a setup man” – a pitcher before the closer.
• “He’s a middle reliever” – a pitcher in the middle of the game.
• “He’s a lefty specialist” – a pitcher who faces left-handed batters.
• “He’s throwing a fastball/curveball/slider/changeup” – types of pitches.
• “He’s pitching a shutout” – no runs allowed so far.
• “He’s got a no-hitter going” – no hits allowed so far.
• “That’s a balk!” – illegal move by the pitcher.
• “That’s interference.” – when a runner or batter interferes with a play.
• “That’s obstruction.” – when a fielder blocks a runner.
• “The runner is out at home.” – tagged out at home plate.
• “He’s been ejected.” – thrown out of the game for arguing.
• “The umpire made a bad call.” – a wrong decision by the umpire.
• “It’s a wild throw.” – a bad throw by a fielder.

Now you know the essential MLB expressions! Use these to enjoy watching or talking about baseball. “Play ball!” and have fun!