Slang

Cheese

A blazing fastball with exceptional velocity, heat so hot it's like throwing cheese past hitters.

Example Usage

“He threw nothing but high cheese all night, pure gas at 98 mph.”

Cheese

Cheese is baseball slang for a dominant fastball, pure heat that blows by hitters. When a pitcher is "throwing cheese," they're pumping fastballs with exceptional velocity that hitters can't catch up to.

Origin of the Term

Why "Cheese"?

  • Cheddar = hot: Playing on "heat"
  • Sharp and cutting: Like sharp cheese
  • Untouchable: Too good to hit
  • Pure and simple: Just a fastball
  • Cheddar: Another name for cheese
  • High cheese: Fastball up in zone
  • Pumping cheese: Throwing hard
  • Straight cheese: Pure fastball

Types of Cheese

Locations

Type Location Effect
High cheese Up in zone Swinging strikes
Elevated cheese Above zone Chases
Knee-high cheese Lower zone Called strikes

Descriptions

  • Sharp cheddar: Extra nasty
  • Straight cheese: No movement
  • Rising cheese: Appears to hop
  • Painted cheese: On the corner

Famous Cheese Throwers

Known for Velocity

  • Nolan Ryan (the original)
  • Aroldis Chapman (106 mph)
  • Jordan Hicks (triple digits)
  • Jacob deGrom (elite velo + command)
  • Gerrit Cole (power fastball)

Usage in Context

Common Phrases

  • "Nothing but cheese"
  • "Throwing straight cheese"
  • "That's some high cheese"
  • "He's got premium cheese"
  • "Dealing cheese all day"

Broadcasting

  • Popular with color commentators
  • Creates excitement
  • Fans love the term
  • Describes elite velocity

Related Terms

Fastball

The most fundamental pitch in baseball, thrown with maximum velocity and typically featuring backspin that creates 'rise' or carry through the strike zone.

Four-Seam Fastball

The straightest and typically fastest fastball variant, gripped across the horseshoe seams with maximum backspin for velocity and carry.

Filthy

A pitch with exceptional movement, velocity, or deception that makes it nearly unhittable, the ultimate compliment for nasty stuff.

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