One of the great things about baseball is it has a language all it's own. If you don't know the lingo, listening to a game or reading about it can be downright confusing. Sure, everyone knows three strikes and your'e out but a twin killing? Around the horn? Uncle Charlie? LOB? RBI? RISP? But if you love the game it's like music to your ears.
One of my favorite terms is "magic number" -- which means your team is in first place in the divison as the season winds down. It represents the total of additional wins by your team or additional losses by the rival team after which it is mathematically impossible for the rival team to capture the title in the remaining games. Basically, if your team has a magic number you're in pretty good shape. And if not? See ya, bye-bye, so long suckers. Right now the Yanks magic number is 7 -- since they are playing 4 games against the 2nd place team this weekend it's conceivable that they could clinch their division this weekend. So YEAH! And to give credit where credit is due, the Mets also have a magic number, which is 2. More likely than not they will secure their postseason berth this weekend as well. Kudos to the Mets, and their manager (and former Yankee player/coach) Willie Randolph for a season to be proud of. It could be a very interesting October in NY baseball-wise.
