Pancake
What Does Pancake Mean in Baseball?
The term “pancake” in baseball is slang for a type of training glove used by players. This flat glove is designed to aid infielders in developing soft hands and improving their fielding skills. Unlike a traditional glove, the pancake glove has a very shallow pocket, which forces the player to use two hands while fielding ground balls to ensure a secure catch and transition to throwing.
The pancake glove serves as an instructional tool during practice sessions, emphasizing the fundamentals of fielding technique for players. It necessitates precise hand-eye coordination and enhances the fielder’s ability to scoop up grounders and quickly transfer the ball to their throwing hand, which is essential for making effective plays during a game. The nickname itself reflects the glove’s appearance, resembling the flat, round shape of a pancake.
Defining the Term Pancake
The concept of a “pancake” in baseball has a unique place within the sport’s lexicon, representing a specific play outcome rather than the breakfast food.
Origins of the Term
The term “pancake” in baseball has roots that are somewhat obscure, with no definitive origin story. Traditionally, it refers to a flattened baseball glove, resembling a pancake, when a fielder fails to catch the ball squarely.
Pancake in Baseball Glossary
In the context of baseball jargon, a “pancake” typically describes a situation where a player makes a flat or unsuccessful catch attempt. The ball often falls and slaps against the glove, similar to a pancake hitting a griddle, but the player does not secure the ball.
Situations and Usage
The term “pancake” in baseball is meant to describe a specific event in fielding where a player makes a flat catch, trapping the ball against the ground similar to a pancake’s shape.
Infield Defense
In the context of infield defense, the term “pancake” can denote a player successfully catching a ground ball by using his glove to flatten it against the ground. This technique is essential during low and fast grounders where an infield player needs to keep the ball from getting away to make a play.
Coaching Strategies
From a coaching perspective, teaching infielders the “pancake” method involves instructing on proper glove handling and body positioning to successfully execute these kinds of catches. Coaches may run specialized drills that emphasize the flattening motion of the glove to simulate the situation where a “pancake” catch would be necessary.
