Here's a beginner’s guide to understanding the Los Angeles Dodgers and baseball in general! Here are some essential terms and concepts to help you follow the games and get to know the Dodgers better:
1. The Basics
- Innings: Baseball games are divided into 9 innings, with each team getting a chance to bat (offense) and field (defense).
- Outs: Each team gets three outs per inning while batting. An out can occur when a fielder catches the ball, tags a runner, or a batter strikes out.
- Runs: The primary goal is to score runs. A run is scored when a player successfully reaches home plate after touching all three bases.
- Home Plate & Bases: The field has four bases: first, second, third, and home. A player must touch each one, in order, to score.
2. Dodgers' Unique Terms and Concepts
- Dodger Stadium: The Dodgers' home field, located in Los Angeles. Opened in 1962, it's known for its iconic views of the San Gabriel Mountains and is one of the oldest ballparks in MLB.
- The Big Blue Wrecking Crew: A nickname for the Dodgers' formidable lineup, especially their powerful hitters and talented pitchers.
- Chavez Ravine: Another name for Dodger Stadium's location, often used as a nickname for the stadium itself.
3. Pitching Terms
- Pitcher: The player who throws the ball to the batter. The Dodgers have had legendary pitchers like Sandy Koufax, Fernando Valenzuela, and more recently, Clayton Kershaw.
- Strikeout (K): When a batter accumulates three strikes. Dodgers' pitchers strive for strikeouts to prevent hitters from reaching base.
- Bullpen: The area where relief pitchers warm up. The Dodgers’ bullpen plays a crucial role in holding leads and keeping scores low.
- ERA (Earned Run Average): A statistic that measures the number of runs a pitcher allows per nine innings. The lower the ERA, the better.
4. Batting Terms
- Home Run (HR): When a batter hits the ball out of the park, allowing them to circle all the bases and score.
- On-Base Percentage (OBP): This shows how often a player gets on base (hits, walks, hit-by-pitch). High OBP is good because it means the batter is reaching base more often.
- Slugging Percentage (SLG): Measures the power of a hitter by calculating the total bases per at-bat. High SLG means the player hits for extra bases (doubles, triples, home runs).
- RBI (Runs Batted In): A stat for how many runs a batter drives in through their at-bats.
5. Fielding Terms
- Infield: The area inside the diamond where the bases are located. Infielders include the first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, and third baseman.
- Outfield: The area beyond the infield, divided into left, center, and right fields. Outfielders catch long hits and prevent runners from advancing.
- Double Play: A play where two outs are made in quick succession. The Dodgers’ infielders often try to execute double plays when possible.
6. Important Stats
- Batting Average (BA): A measure of how often a batter gets a hit, calculated by dividing hits by at-bats.
- OPS (On-base Plus Slugging): Combines OBP and SLG, representing a batter's overall offensive value. A high OPS usually indicates a strong hitter.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched): Measures the number of base runners a pitcher allows per inning. A low WHIP is ideal for pitchers.
7. Key Dodgers Traditions
- Dodger Dogs: The classic hot dogs served at Dodger Stadium.
- "It's Time for Dodger Baseball!": A phrase often announced at the start of games, popularized by Vin Scully, the Dodgers' legendary announcer.
- The Wave: Dodger fans often start "The Wave" in the stadium, a fun crowd participation movement that’s become a Dodgers tradition.
8. Popular Dodgers Players to Know
- Clayton Kershaw: A long-time Dodgers pitcher, known for his dominance and leadership.
- Mookie Betts: An outfielder known for his powerful bat, speed, and defensive skill.
- Freddie Freeman: A first baseman with strong batting skills and leadership on the field.
9. Other Baseball Lingo
- Lineup: The order in which the team’s batters hit.
- Bench: Substitute players available to pinch-hit or enter the game as replacements.
- Walk-Off: When the home team wins in the final inning with a hit that scores the winning run.
With these basics, you'll be able to follow along with Dodgers games and get more involved in their traditions and strategies!
