What is cake in baseball?

“Cake” was also slang at the time for “a player of dubious skill,” which is nearly the opposite of the use of “cake” in current baseball slang to mean “something very easy” (a shortening of “piece of cake”).

What does hoodoo and cake mean in Casey at the bat?

to come before. 3 Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake, [10]And the former was a hoodoo, The term “hoodoo” is meant to imply that this player was a jinx, or bad luck. Originally the poem referred to Flynn as a “lulu,” or unskilled player.

What is a Lulu in Casey at the bat?

a very attractive or seductive looking woman. But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake, And the former was a lulu and the latter was a cake; So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat, For there seemed but little chance of Casey's getting to the bat.

What does tore the cover off the ball mean in baseball?

Generally speaking, when a batter is said to have "hit the cover off the ball," it's a fancy way of saying the hitter is in the midst of a hot streak.

What type of figurative language is and the former was a hoodoo while the latter was a cake?

Ernest Thayer uses metaphors comparing Casey to many things. "But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake, And the former was a hoodoo, while the latter was a cake."

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What is a Lulu in baseball?

A “lulu” in baseball slang of the period was “an unskilled player,” probably a sarcastic use of “lulu” meaning “something very good.” A “hoodoo,” however, was a player whose very presence was a jinx, bad luck.

What does Cooney died at first mean?

Answer: The phrase, "Cooney died at first" means that he was called out before getting to first base. The author chose to use a word like "died" to express a more dramatic way of saying the player was out, because he's also describing what it felt like for the fans - they were as upset as if the player had died.

What is Deking in baseball?

Raking (verb) – to really hit the ball hard, all over the park. When you're raking, you're hitting very well. (baseball-lingo.com).

What does stepping in the bucket mean in baseball?

“Stepping in the bucket” is when your front foot stride is open. The problem this can cause is when you open up your front shoulder as well. Opening up that front shoulder leads to 2 major problems.

What is the eye black rule in baseball?

Eye black is a grease, strip, or sticker that baseball players wear under their eyes to reduce the glare of the sun or the stadium lights during a game. Baseball players must be able to see the ball well to judge the velocity of balls as a hitter and a fielder.

What does no joy in Mudville mean?

A line from “Casey at the Bat,” describing the reaction of the hometown crowd when their hero, Casey, strikes out, losing the big game. In general, the expression is used to describe any disappointment: “My father has just lost his job; there's no joy in Mudville tonight.”

What does sickly silence mean?

This puts them in a bit of a somber mood: "A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game." Now, it's not like a big ol' cloud of quiet landed on the crowd. This is a figurative way of saying that everybody hushes up because they're bummed out and anxious about their team's chances of winning.

What is the mudville nine?

Mudville, a fictional town in the poem Casey at the Bat. Stockton Ports, renamed Mudville Nine from 2000–2002. Visalia Rawhide, a minor league baseball team in California that plays one game each season as the Mudville Nine.

What does a hugging third mean?

Hit the ball really hard. Which bases were the players on? Jimmy was at 2nd and Flynn was at 3rd. What does 'a-hugging third' mean? He ran there when Jimmy got his hit, barely got to the base.

What is Casey's tragic flaw in Casey at the Bat?

Thayer draws Casey's flaw in capital letters. It's pride. He's over-confident. There is "ease" in his manner when he steps to the plate.

What does haughty mean in Casey at the Bat?

haughty. having or showing arrogant superiority. 1: And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air, 6: And Casey stood a-watching it. 2: in haughty grandeur there.

What does pickle mean in baseball?

In baseball, a rundown, informally known as a pickle or the hotbox, is a situation that occurs when the baserunner is stranded between two bases, also known as no-man's land, and is in jeopardy of being tagged out.

What does lettuce mean in baseball?

Lettuce — Also known as flow, lettuce is a term bestowed to only the most glorious of baseball hair. Hair that qualifies as lettuce is typically well-kept and flows past the bottom of a baseball cap, often to or past the shoulders.

What is a rabbit in baseball?

a lively baseball, especially the ball used in present-day baseball: The pitchers keep complaining about the rabbit ball.

What is a meatball in baseball?

And big league batters can eat; they don't leave many meatballs on the plate. There's only a limited understanding of what a meatball is. One general definition: “an easy pitch to hit, thrown right down the middle of the plate.” Major League Baseball's official lingo agrees.

What is the rarest pitches in baseball?

Definition. A screwball is a breaking ball designed to move in the opposite direction of just about every other breaking pitch. It is one of the rarest pitches thrown in baseball, mostly because of the tax it can put on a pitcher's arm.

What is a vulture in baseball?

He's the pitcher who, for example, may come into a game with his team behind or the contest tied, pitch to a batter or two, watch his club suddenly take the lead, and earn the win. Former Dodger pitcher Phil Regan picked up the nickname “The Vulture” for collecting such wins.

Is Casey at the Bat a true story?

Though Casey is a fictional character, several baseball players have been named as potential inspiration.

What does stanza 1 mean in because I could not stop for death?

Stanza One

In Emily Dickinson's poem 'Because I could not stop for Death', the author personifies death, portraying him as a close friend, or perhaps even a gentleman suitor. In the first stanza, she reveals that she welcomes death when she says, “He kindly stopped for me”.

What is personified in the first two lines of because I could not stop for death?

This is specifically shown in lines 1 and 2 “Because I could not stop for Death‐ He kindly waited for me‐.” This is personification because death cannot literally stop to wait for someone. Dickinson portrays that death acts like a person waiting for her to join.