General
chin music
What does chin music mean?
A pitch deliberately thrown up and in, near the batter's head, to intimidate him and move him off the plate.
"The pitcher sent a little chin music after the last batter's home run."
Origin
'Chin music' meant idle chatter since 1822; it entered baseball for a brushback pitch in the 1970s.
Frequently asked questions
What does chin music mean in baseball?
It's a pitch thrown high and inside, close to the batter's chin or head, to intimidate him and force him off the plate.
Where does the term chin music come from?
Since 1822 'chin music' meant idle chatter; baseball adopted it in the 1970s for a brushback pitch that 'talks' to the hitter.
Is chin music the same as a beanball?
Not quite. Chin music is meant to move a batter back near the head, while a beanball is actually aimed to hit him.
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