What is lob in baseball?

In baseball, a "lob" refers to a high-arcing pitch that is thrown with less velocity than usual. This type of pitch is often used by pitchers to change the batter's eye level and disrupt their timing at the plate. Lobs are typically thrown with a slower speed in an attempt to catch the batter off guard and induce weak contact or a swing and miss.

While lobs can be effective when executed correctly, they can also be risky as they give batters more time to adjust and track the pitch. A poorly thrown lob can end up hanging in the strike zone, making it an easy target for a batter to hit. Therefore, pitchers must be strategic and precise when using lobs in their pitch selection.