phrase General Slang

painting the black

PAYN-ting thuh BLAK · phrase · slang

Throwing strikes right on the edge of the plate.

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Definitions

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Locating pitches precisely on the black border edge of home plate, at the very corners of the strike zone.

“He was painting the black all night, hitting his spots perfectly.”
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painting the black In A Sentence

He was painting the black all night, hitting his spots perfectly.

Origin & Usage

American baseball slang; home plate is trimmed with a black border, the pitcher 'paints' its edge.

People Also Ask

What does painting the black mean in baseball?

It means locating pitches precisely on the black border edge of home plate, right at the corners of the strike zone.

Why is it called painting the black?

Home plate is trimmed with a black border, so a pitcher hitting that edge is said to 'paint the black.'

Is painting the black a good thing?

Yes, it signals elite command, as the pitcher is hitting the toughest corners of the zone.

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