[Lexicog] "googly" and metaphors of deception

[Chaz and Helga Mortensen]

Fritz, "playin' possum" is only for pretending one is asleep or dead. Otherwise I think we would say "fox" or "sly fox".

The equivalent of the googly in baseball is the screwball. The screwball curves the "wrong" way. A good pitcher can baffle an opposing batter with it. However, few pitchers throw it because of the damage it does to the arm. A right-handed pitcher must spin his wrist to the left as he releases the ball. A natural release would be to the right.

If a person is called a screwball, he is just really weird. I guess he spins or curves the wrong way!

-Chaz
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