List of baseball jargon (P)

to paint

:To throw pitches at the edges of the strike zone. A pitcher who can "paint" consistiently may be referred to as Rembrandt or Picasso, and can be said to paint the black or paint the corner.

park

:To hit a home run. "He parked a three-run homer." The term implies hitting the ball into the parking lot.

park effects

:See hitter's park.

passed ball

:A catcher is charged with a passed ball (abbreviated PB) when he fails to hold or control a legally pitched ball which, in the opinion of the official scorer, should have been held or controlled with ordinary effort, and which permits a runner or runners to advance at least one base; and/or permits the batter to advance to first base, if it's a third strike (with first base unoccupied and/or 2 out). A run that scores because of a passed ball is not scored as an earned run. Neither a passed ball nor a wild pitch is charged as an error. It is a separately-kept statistic.

patient hitter

:Doesn't do a lot of first-pitch swinging, swinging at pitches out of the strike zone, or even swinging at strikes that he can't hit because of their location and/or type. Generally gets a lot of walks.

patrol

:* An outfielder may be said to be "patrolling the outfield" (like a good soldier or police officer patrolling his assigned territory),:* A catcher who keeps runners from stealing bases is said to be good at "patrolling the basepaths."

payback

:If after the pitcher from one team tries to bean or otherwise hit a batter, the opposing pitcher retaliates by trying to hit a batter from the first pitcher's team, it's a "payback." Such retaliation often happens when it is one of a team's stars who is the initial target; in such a case the opposing pitcher is likely to target the star player on the other team when he gets his first opportunity. Umpires may issue a warning if they think a pitch is intentionally thrown at a batter, and if such an attempt happens again by either team's pitcher, the pitcher is likely to be ejected from the game.

payoff game

:The decisive game in a series, such as the third game in a three-game series in which each team has already won one game.

payoff pitch

:A pitch thrown with a full count. The implication is that much effort has gone into reaching this point (this is at least the sixth pitch of the at-bat), and the pitch will either pay off for the pitcher (a strikeout) or the batter (a hit or a walk). However, a foul ball can extend the at-bat. The term is most often used when a hit will score a run and a strikeout will end the inning.

PCL (Pacific Coast League)

:A AAA minor league that formerly had "open" classification (between AAA and major league) from 1952-57.

pea

:A pitched ball thrown at high speed. "Clem can really fling that pea."

pearl

:Slang for a baseball.

pearod

:A hard line drive batted back at the pitcher.

PECOTA

:A system for forecasting pitcher and hitter performance developed by Nate Silver of Baseball Prospectus. A player's "PECOTA" may be the forecasted range of his performance on a variety of indicators for the current or future seasons.

peeking

:The batter trying to see the catcher's signals to the pitcher.

peg

:To throw the ball to one of the bases. "The fielder pegged the ball to first."

pen

:The bullpen.

=pepper=

:Pepper is a common pre-game exercise in baseball, where one player bunts brisk ground balls and line drives to a group of fielders who are standing close by. The fielders try to make a play on the ball, and throw it back as quickly as possible. The batter then attempts to hit the return throw, and so on. A good contact hitter may sometime seem to be playing pepper with the opposing pitcher during a game: "Polanco is a good hitter," Blanton said. "He just kind of stands up there and plays pepper. He's a guy you really can't strike out. He's going to put the ball in play. He's the kind of guy who seems to place it out there." [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270730111 ESPN - Tigers maintain one-game lead in AL Central - MLB ] ]

percentage points

:Term used to describe when a first and second place team are separated by less than 1/2 a game in the standings. For example, if Team A is in first place by less than half a game over Team B, Team B is said to be "within percentage points" of Team A.

perfect game

:A special, very rare no-hitter where each batter is retired consecutively, allowing no baserunners via walks, errors, or any other means. In short, "27 up, 27 down." A "perfect game" could involve multiple pitchers with one pitcher relieving another, but in the major leagues they all have been completed by a single pitcher. Often called a "no-no-no."

perfect inning

:An inning in which a pitcher allows no runners to reach base.

PFP

:A commonly used acronym for Pitchers' Fielding Practice. A session in which pitchers practice fielding bunts and other ground balls, throwing to a base, and covering first base and home plate.

pick it clean

:To field a sharply hit ground ball without bobbling it. "One of the fastest guys that we have hit a ball down the line at third and Zimmerman came in, picked it clean and threw across the diamond like it was nothing." [ [http://www.pressboxonline.com/story.cfm?id=2113 PressBox: Baltimore Sports. Period ] ] Sometimes just expressed as "pick it", as in: "There was a time when baseball teams were happy with a third baseman who could reach double digits in homers and pick it with the glove". [Nate Silver, "Hot Corner May Be Deepest Position in Major Leagues," [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/fantasy/03/14/thirdbase.pecota/index.html SportsIllustrated.com (March 18, 2008)] .]

pick me up

:When one player makes a mistake or fails to do something he tried to do, he may ask another, "Pick me up." Or said in praise of his offensive teammates by a pitcher who allowed more runs than he wished: "The guys picked me up with a lot of runs today. I'll have to improve on that outing and get better." [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280614106 ESPN - Dodgers vs. Tigers - Recap - June 14, 2008 ] ] "I just told him, 'Great win for us and thanks for picking me up,' Jones said. Jones had inherited a three-run lead for the ninth -- and allowed four runs to put the Tigers a run down. But with one out in the Tigers' ninth, and with runners on first and second, Cabrera ripped the first pitch from left-handed closer Brian Fuentes far up the rightfield gap." ["Jones blows save, Cabrera's hit wins it as Tigers reach .500," [http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080629/SPORTS02/806290598 Detroit Free Press, June 29, 2008] .]

pick up the pitch

:A batter's ability to see what kind of pitch is being thrown. "The Tigers are having a hard time picking up Saenz's slider." When they don't pick up the pitch, batters are likely to swing and miss.

picket fence

:A series of 1's on the scoreboard, resembling a picket fence. After the 3rd inning of the final game of the 2007 ALCS, broadcaster Tim McCarver reported that the Red Sox, who had scored one run in each of the first three innings, had a "picket fence" on the scoreboard. Also referred to as matchsticks.

pickle

:A rundown.

pickoff

:A quick throw from the pitcher (or sometimes the catcher) to a fielder covering a base when the ball has not been hit into play. Normally done to catch a runner off-base, it may also keep the runner's lead in check. The pitcher must either first step off the pitching rubber with his push-off foot, or clearly step towards the base he is throwing at with his lifted leg in order for the move to not be ruled a balk.

pinch hitter

:A substitute batter. Often brought in during a critical situation (a "pinch") to replace a weak batter (usually the pitcher, in the National League). In other circumstances it may be a situational substitute.

pinch runner

:A substitute baserunner. Often brought in during a critical situation (as with a pinch hitter), typically to replace a slower runner in hopes of stealing a base. Herb Washington's 1975 Topps card is the only baseball card that uses the "pinch runner" position label.

pink hat

:A female fan of the Boston Red Sox who is perceived to be merely "jumping on the bandwagon" as opposed to a more loyal, knowledgable Red Sox fan (of either gender). This term comes from the alternate pink Red Sox caps that are sometimes worn by female Red Sox fans. [ [http://www.bostonmagazine.com/blogs/boston/2007/09/06/the-pink-hats-are-taking-over-part-i/ Boston Daily Blog - Boston Magazine ] ]

pine tar

: A sticky substance used by batters to improve their grip on the bat. :*See also George Brett's famous 1983 Pine Tar Incident.

=pitch=

:A baseball delivered by the pitcher from the pitcher's mound to the batter as defined by the "Official Rules of Baseball, Rule 2.00 (Pitch)" and "Rule 8.01".

pitch around

:Not throwing a batter a hittable pitch, but also not walking him intentionally and hoping to get him to chase bad pitches.

pitch count

:The total number of pitches a pitcher has thrown in a given game. 100 is considered the point at which a starter who has been pitching well may start to lose his effectiveness, often dramatically. 100 pitches will get an effective starting pitcher through the 7th or 8th inning, a moderately effective one through five or six, and an ineffective one may use his hundredth pitch during the fourth inning or even earlier.

pitch to contact

:A pitcher who doesn't try to strike out batters but instead tries to get them to hit the ball weakly, especially on the ground, is said to pitch to contact. "Schilling has gone on the record as saying he'd like to pitch to contact more this season in an effort to reduce his pitch count and go deeper into games. Such an effort is likely to reduce the number of strikeouts he gets but in theory might provide quicker innings and faster games." ["Pitching to Contact: Good Idea or Bad?" [http://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?showtopic=17034 Sons of Sam Horn] , April 3, 2007.]

pitcher

:The fielder responsible for pitching the ball. Defensive position 1. The term "pitch" (which literally means "to place") comes from the early days when an underhand delivery was required, as with "pitching" horseshoes. The original rules specified that the ball was to be "pitched, not thrown to the bat." Overhand throwing by the pitcher has been legal since 1884, but the term pitcher and its variants remain in the language of the game.

pitcher of record

:The pitchers who receive the win (W) and the loss (L) are the "pitchers of record." A starting pitcher who is neither the winner nor the loser "earns" a "no decision". The pitchers of record are designated by the official scorer in accordance with the scoring rules. Also see win.

pitcher's best friend

:A double play, which helps to bail a pitcher out of a threatening situation. Headline and story: "PITCHER'S BEST FRIEND. The Twins on Sunday turned five double plays in a game for the first time since 1995."

pitcher's duel

:A low-scoring game in which the starting pitchers on both teams allow few hits and at most one or two runs. A pitcher's duel for the early innings sometimes gives way to a slugfest later in the game, however.

pitcher's mound

:The mound, or colloquially the hill.

pitcher's park

:A park in which pitchers tend to perform better than they perform on average in all other parks. This in the inverse of being a hitter's park. See hitter's park and park factor for further information.

:For example, when the wind is blowing "in" at Wrigley Field, it is typically rendered a "pitcher's park", and low scores for one or both teams are not unusual. Under those circumstances, no-hitters also become possible at a park many fans normally think of as a "hitter's park".

pitchout

:A defensive tactic used to pick off a baserunner, typically employed when the defense thinks that a stolen base play is planned. The pitch is thrown outside and the catcher catches it while standing, and can quickly throw to a base. A pitchout is typically always a called "ball" (unless the batter vainly tries to hit it) and if a stolen base is indeed "on", the runner is almost certainly going to be thrown out. If no steal is on, it's just another called ball. Obviously, a pitchout is not done when the batter already has a count of 3 balls.

pivot man

:Generally refers to the second baseman. A second baseman often has to turn or pivot on one foot in order to complete a double play. A short-stop also sometimes pivots to complete such a play.

PL or P.L.

:Abbreviation for Players' League, a one-year (1890) major league.

place hitter

:A batter who has skill in controlling where he hits the ball. [John Walsh,"Hit 'em where they ain't -- if you can," [http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/hit-em-where-they-aintmdashif-you-can/ HardballTimes.com, May 15, 2008] .] George Herman (Babe) Ruth wrote, "The place hitter is the chap who can take a ball which ordinarily he would hit to left, he would hit to right, or vice versa." [Cited in David Shulman, "Baseball's Bright Lexicon," "American Speech", Vol. 26, No. 1 (Feb., 1951): 29-34.]

=plate=

:*As a noun, plate usually connotes home plate. There is also a pitcher's plate, but it is more commonly referred to as the rubber. :*As a verb, plate means to score a run. "In the fourth our defense continued to hold and we managed to plate a couple of runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 3." [ [http://www.rollingthunda.com/ Mark’s (Mostly) Softball Blog ] ]

plate appearance

:Any turn at bat is considered a "plate appearance" for computing stats such as on base percentage, and for determining whether a batter has "enough of them" (minimum 3.1 X number of scheduled games) to qualify for the batting average championship. Plate appearances consist of standard at-bats plus situations where there is no at-bat charged, such as a base on balls or a sacrifice. However, if the batter is standing in the batter's box and the third out is made elsewhere (for example, by a caught-stealing or by an appeal play), then it does not count as an appearance, because that same batter will lead off the next inning.

Platinum Visor

:A batter who strikes out five times in one game is said to have gotten the Platinum Visor. Alternatively, he may be awarded Olympic Rings.:Also referred to as Platinum Sombrero.

=platoon=

:*The practice of assigning two players to the same defensive position during a season, normally to complement a batter who hits well against left-handed pitchers with one who hits well against righties. Individual players may also find themselves marked as a platoon player, based on their hitting against righties vs. against lefties. Casey Stengel brought some attention to the system by using it frequently during his New York Yankees' run of five consecutive World Series champions during 1949-1953.

:*The term "platooning" sometimes refers to the in-game strategic replacement of batters in the line-up based on the handedness of a newly inserted relief pitcher, or conversely the strategic insertion of a relief pitcher to face a batter of the same hand. This is the logic behind having a LOOGY on the roster, for example. The LOOGY is to pitching what a pinch-hitter is to batting: put into the line-up for short-term strategic advantage.

platter

:Home plate.

play by the book

:To follow the conventional wisdom in game strategy and player use. For example, when to bunt or when to bring in the closer.

play (noun)

:*Any small sequence of events during a game, (never lasting long enough to contain more than one pitch), during which at least one offensive player could advance, or score a run, or tag up, etc., or could be put out. (This includes, e.g., a pop foul, during which it is possible that the batter could be put out, but advancing is not possible, and neither is scoring.) This term, "play", is mentioned (appears) in the article about the definition of an error.

:*Where the action is focused at a given time, in particular where a runner is about to reach a base or reach home, and the defense is attempting to get him out. An announcer might declare "There's a play at home," for example, if a runner is attempting to score and the catcher is about to receive a throw and attempt to tag the runner out.

:*Also see In play.

player to be named later

:When two baseball clubs make a trade, part of the publicly announced deal may involve an unspecified "player to be named later" who is not one of the headline players in the deal. In some cases, the PTBNL is simply a financial payment equal to the annual salary of a base-level major league baseball player ($300,000 as of 2007).

players' manager

:A manager who is close to his players and who the players may consider a peer and a friend. The knock on players' managers is that they tend not to be tough disciplinarians and that out of concern for losing the sympathy of the players they may find it difficult to make tough decisions that are in the best interests of the team. Thus, the term is not always complimentary. Many managers find they must maintain some aloofness in order to be effective. Joe Torre is often referred to as a player's manager; his approach can be effective with mature players who take their responsibilities seriously. Casey Stengel used to say that the secret to managing was "to keep the guys who are neutral about you away from the guys that hate your guts."

playing in

:When the infield is shallower than normal in order to attempt to throw out a runner on third-base on a ground ball. This does not allow the infielders to cover as much ground however, and can turn a routine ground ball into a base hit.

playing back

:The usual position depth taken by infielders when they're not anticipating a bunt or setting up for a double play.

playoffs

:*All the series played after the end of the 162-game regular season. This includes the American League Division Series, National League Division Series, American League Championship Series, National League Championship Series, and the World Series.:*Any short set or series of games played after the regular season to determine a division or league champion. Also called the "post-season". Technically speaking, if a one-game playoff is required to determine who wins the regular season or the wild card (and thereby qualifies for the post-season)) is counted as part of the regular season.

plunked

:Hit by a pitch.

plus

:When a pitcher begins an inning, faces at least one hitter without recording an out and is removed from the game for a relief pitcher, he is said to have pitched x plus innings, where x is the amount of innings he completed in the game. For example if a starting pitcher gives up two walks to lead off the sixth inning and is pulled for a reliever, he has pitched 5+ innings.

plus pitch

:A pitch that is above average when compared to the rest of the league. Often the strikeout pitch.

plus plus pitch

:A pitch that is among the best of its type in the league and is essentially unhittable when thrown right. Often a breaking pitch.

plus player

:A player with above-average major league skills. A term from baseball scouting and player evaluation. See tools.

poke

:A hit. Referring to an extra-base hit or home run, a fan or announcer might exclaim, "That was quite a poke." A reporter might record a line drive as "Cameron pokes a shot into left field." [ [http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/gamelog/MLB_20070812_SD@CIN# MLB Baseball Glog - CBSSports.com ] ]

pop

:The term has two usages that are of opposite meanings in terms of batting success and failure.::*A pop-up is a batted ball that is hit very high and stays in the infield. Called a pop-foul when it falls or is caught in foul territory.:::*"Rondini popped it foul out of play" implies that Rondini hit a pop-up or pop-foul that went into the stands where a defender couldn't reach it.:::*Brendan C. Boyd and Fred C. Harris, in their impish commentary in "The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book", discussed a player who was known for hitting sky-high popups and said that "he could have played his career in a stovepipe". [Brendan C. Boyd and Fred C. Harris, "Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book" (Boston: Little, Brown, 1973).]

:::*The term "high pop" is short for "high pop-up".::*However, a batter with "pop" has exceptional bat speed and power.:::*"Reggie popped one" implies that Reggie hit a home run.

:There is the unrelated meaning of "pop" as a beverage sold in mass quantities at the ballpark on hot summer days; also known as "soda pop", "soda", "sodie", etc. [On the geography of the terms soda, pop, and coke, see "Pop vs. Soda Page." [http://www.popvssoda.com/] ]

portsider

:A left-handed pitcher, so named because "port" refers to the left side of a ship. Synonym: southpaw

=position=

:*One of the nine defensive positions on a baseball team, consisting of (in scorekeepers' numerical order): (1) pitcher, (2) catcher, (3) first baseman, (4) second baseman, (5) third baseman, (6) shortstop, (7) left fielder, (8) center fielder, (9) right fielder. Positions 3 through 6 are normally called infield positions. Positions 7, 8, and 9 are outfield positions. The pitcher and catcher are the battery. However, for purposes of implementing the Infield Fly Rule, the pitcher and catcher are counted as infielders, and such a broader definition of infielders is commonly used, if only to differentiate them from outfielders. Players in positions 2 through 9 — all positions except the pitcher — are position players.:*A defensive player also positions himself differently — sets up in a different location on the field while playing his position — depending on who is pitching, who is at bat, whether there men on base, the number of outs, and the score of the game.

position player

:Any defensive player other than the pitcher.

post-season

:The playoffs.

pound the strike zone

:See attack the strike zone.

power hitter

:A powerful batter who hits many home runs and extra base hits, but who may not have a high batting average, due to an "all or nothing" hitting approach. Dave Kingman is perhaps the best example of a "all power, low batting average" slugger. See also slugger and slugging percentage.

power pitcher

:A pitcher who relies heavily on his fastball to get hitters out, typically by getting a lot of strike-outs. Distinguished from a control pitcher or a contact pitcher who rely on the variety and location of their pitches to be effective.

pow wow

:A meeting on the mound between a coach and players to discuss strategy. Based on the more general meaning of Pow-wow as a gathering of North American indigenous people. Also called a tea party.

pro ball

:Used to refer to "both" major and minor leagues, especially on baseball cards. For example, "Complete Professional Record" would include both minor and major league seasons while "Complete Major League Record" would include only major league seasons. Minor league players consider it an insult when asked when they'll "get to the pros".

productive out

:When a batter makes an out but advances one or more runners in the process, he has made a productive out. In contrast, a strikeout or other out in which no runners advance is unproductive. [Buster Olney has proposed a statistic called Productive Out Percentage, or POP: "Productive out percentage is the ratio of productive outs -- generally, advancing runners with the first out in an inning, or driving home a run with the second out." Buster Olney, "Small Ball vs. Money Ball," [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=olney_buster&id=1792101 ESPN.com] , April 29, 2004.] An at bat that is productive is often said to be a "good at bat", even if a batter doesn't get safely on base. Statistically speaking, however, although a given out may be associated with scoring a run (such as via a sacrifice fly, a fielder's choice, or even a double play), an out reduces the number of future runs that are likely to be scored in the inning and game, when compared with a base hit or base-on balls that puts another runner on base who can potentially score. [See the Run Expectancy Matrix here: http://baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=204022.]

projectable

:A scouting term for a young player with excellent tools who appears likely to develop into a productive or more powerful player in the future. "I don't think he's going to be a big home run hitter, but his pop to the gaps has improved this year, and his speed and on-base skills are impressive. His youth stands out, and he's athletic and still physically projectable." [John Sickels, "Double-A Transition Monitor: Michael Brantley," "MinorLeagueBall.com" (June 23, 2007).]

Public Enemy Number One

:A good curve ball or it can refer to a player who is hitting well in that game.

pull

:*To pull a pitcher is to take him out of the line-up and substitute a relief pitcher in his place. This is the same meaning as to yank a pitcher or use the hook.

:*To pull a hitter is to substitute a pinch hitter for the next at-bat.

:*To pull the ball is to hit the ball toward the side of the field that is usually associated with the batter taking a full swing and hitting the ball hard. A right-handed hitter pulls the ball toward the left-side of the diamond; a left-handed hitter pulls the ball toward the right side of the diamond. Some players are known as pull hitters. Others are spray hitters or opposite field hitters especially in opportune situations such as when a right-handed hitter hits the ball to the right side behind a runner who is on first or second base, making it easier for that runner to advance even on a ground ball.

pull hitter

:A batter who often hits the ball ("pulls") towards the "natural" side of the field (e.g., a right-handed hitter hitting to left field).

pull the string

:To throw a pitch that breaks sharply and perphaps late. A pitcher has only "pulled the string" if the batter is fooled into swinging where the pitch was going, not where it ends up, therefore striking him out. The image is of a marionette jerking to one direction as a string is pulled hard.

punch a hit

:To hit the ball to the opposite field. The term implies that instead of taking a full swing, the hitter took a short swing at the ball. "With speedster Willy Taveras pinch running at first, Berkman punched a hit to right." [http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=356535 .]

Punch and Judy hitter

:A hitter with very little power. The first use of the term is attributed to former L.A. Dodgers manager Walter Alston who, when asked about a home run by Giants' slugger Willie McCovey, said: "When he belts a home run, he does it with such authority it seems like an act of God. You can't cry about it. He's not a Punch and Judy belter." In current usage, a hitter may be referred to simply as "a Judy." Illustration: "The other day when Future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn was touring Cooperstown in advance of his Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Tony referred to himself as a "Judy" (in reference to the phrase "Punch and Judy Hitter"). At the time I felt that Tony was being Tony, and he was downplaying the fact that he was called a "Judy." Though Tony did not take offense, I did. I felt that regardless of the title "Judy," Tony set the modern standard for hitters in this era of baseball. . . ." ["When It's Okay to be Called a Judy," http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/TeamSpuds/84184 SportingNews.com, May 16, 2007] .]

punch-out

:A strikeout.

purpose pitch

:A brushback, intended to make the batter move away from home plate. A batter targeted by such a pitch is sometimes said to get a close shave. 1950s pitcher Sal Maglie was called "the Barber" due to his frequent use of such pitches. A sportswriting wag once stated that its "purpose" was "to separate the head from the shoulders".

push

: A right-handed batter who hits the ball toward the right side of the diamond may be said to push the ball. This is opposite to the situation when a right hand-hitter pulls the ball to the left side. "Jacqueline Wetherbee pushed a leadoff base hit through the right side and Cagney Davis took her spot on the basepath." [ [http://www.gopack.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=41793&SPID=3717&DB_OEM_ID=9200&ATCLID=898157 Late Gamecock Rally Ends Softball’s Season, 4-3 - NC State University Wolfpack - Official Athletics Site ] ]

put a charge on the ball

:It hit the ball very hard, typically a home run. Probably derived from the idea of giving the ball extra energy like an electric charge or shock.

put a hurt

:*To hit the ball extremely hard. "Known as "The Big Hurt" (because he puts the hurt on the ball), Frank Thomas is known for his strength and batting eye." [ [http://www.netstoreusa.com/sports/Frank_Thomas.shtml Frank Thomas Memorabilia ] ] :*To beat another team, especially by a decisive score. Headline: "Dodgers Put the Hurt on Angels." [ [http://www.the-signal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=49096&format=html The Signal: News for Santa Clarita Valley, California ] ] This usage is common to other sports.

put away

:*A fielder who catches a fly ball, or who tags a runner may be said to "put away" his opponent. Similarly, a pitcher may "put away" a batter by striking him out.:*A team may "put away" its opponent by making a decisive play or out, or by breaking open the game and gaining a substantial lead on its opponent.

References