Thanks to Fooks for tipping us off on this one. This is an actual article in a Tampa Bay newspaper to help educate the local “fans” on baseball. For all you die-hard Phillies fans out there, this is the fan base you might lose to:

BATTING AVERAGE: The standard numerical measure of a player’s ability at the plate. It is calculated by added three zeros to the number of hits and dividing by the total number of at-bats. An season average of .300 is considered excellent, while .400 has only been achieved by eight batters since 1900 (the last time in 1941 by Ted Williams, who batted .406).

CAUGHT LOOKING: A batter who takes a third strike and is called out, often because he was expecting a different pitch than the one thrown.

CLEANUP: The fourth batter in the lineup, usually one with power, because he is expected to clean the bases of any runners with a home run or extra-base hit.

CLOSER: A relief pitcher specializing in recording the final out (or outs) of a game to preserve a victory.

CUTOFF MAN: A fielder who intercepts a throw from the outfield, usually to prevent a runner from taking an extra base or to hasten the throw to a base.

DOUBLE PLAY: A routine but difficult play in which the defense gets two outs with one pitch.

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (ERA): The statistic representing the number of runs a pitcher allows per nine innings (27 outs). It is determined by dividing earned runs by innings pitched, then multiplying that number by nine. Example: A pitcher has worked 47 innings during the season and has allowed 14 earned runs. 14 divided by 47 times 9 equals 2.68 ERA.

HIT AND RUN: The base runner tries to move from one base to the next. It is the batter’s obligation to protect him by putting the ball in play.

HOT CORNER: Third base.

K: The symbol in a scorecard for a swinging strikeout. A backward K is used to indicate a called third strike.

LONG RELIEVER: A pitcher expected to work three or more innings in a game.

ON DECK: The batter due up next. He stands or kneels in the on-deck circle between the dugout and home plate.

PITCHOUT: A ball intentionally thrown high and wide when a steal is expected, to prevent the batter from hitting the ball and to place the catcher in a better throwing position.

RALLY CAP: A cap worn inside-out or backward by superstitious players hoping to start or extend a rally.

SEVENTH-INNING STRETCH: The time when the home-team fans rise and stretch before their team comes to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. Legend has it that it began in 1910 when President William Howard Taft stood the stretch and the crowd, believing he was leaving, stood as well out of respect for the office.

STOLEN BASE: A runner who successfully advances a base without the ball being put in play.

SUICIDE SQUEEZE: A runner on third breaks for the plate as the pitcher delivers. The batter bunts the ball. If executed correctly, there is virtually no way the runner can be tagged at the plate.

UP THE MIDDLE: A ball hit back past the pitcher, over second base and into center field.

UTILITY PLAYER: One who can play several positions and usually doesn’t start.