EnglishPod 085 - Elementary - Baseball

Conversation A:  Hello baseball fans, and welcome back to today's game! My name is Rick Fields and of course, I am here, once again, with the man that seals the deal, Bob Copeland. B:  It's a beautiful day to see two world class teams face each other and fight for their right to be called champions. A:  Well, the national anthem has just been sung, and the umpire has started the game. It's time to play ball! B:  Roger Vargas is up at bat. The pitcher winds up and strike one! A:  A very nice curve ball by the pitcher. The catcher gives him the sign, he winds up and Vargas gets a line drive! B:  The players are scrambling to get the ball. Vargas gets to first base and he's still going! The outfielder throws it to second! Vargas slides! He's safe! A:  Great play! B:  We have a runner on third and up at bat is Brian Okami! There's the pitch, he hits it! It's going, going, that ball is gone! A:  Home run by Okami! That puts this team ahead by two as we are at the bottom of the fifth inning here at Richie Stadium! Key Vocabulary World class (Adjective): Ranking with the best in the whole world National anthem (common noun, singular): The song that represents a country and is played in ceremonies Umpire (common noun, singular): A person who controls and judges a baseball game Up at bat (phrase): Get ready to hit the ball Wind up (phrase): Get the energy to throw the ball Curve ball (common noun, singular): A ball thrown on a curve (i.e. not straight) that is hard to hit Pitcher (common noun, singular): The player who throws the ball to the batter Catcher (common noun, singular): The player behind home plate who catches the ball without being hit Line drive (phrase): A hit that travels low along the baseline Scramble (verb): Do something quickly and in a disorganized way Outfielder (common noun, singular): A player who plays in the area that is relatively far from the pitch Safe (Adjective): Successfully gets to the base Home run (phrase): A hit that strikes the ball out of the field Inning (common noun, singular): A set of baseball containing a turn at bat and a turn in field for each side Supplementary Vocabulary Up to bat (phrase): The next in line to do something Ballpark figure (phrase): An approximate number Hit it out of the park (phrase): To do something very well, or very successfully Off the bat (phrase): Immediately, with out delay Screwball (common noun, singular): An unusual, crazy, or eccentric person