Andy

@john ezra Same. Solved it without "getting it." Still, a fun cup of coffee.

@Andrzej Can you imagine the climbing crossword? QUICKDRAW, REDPOINT, HANGDOG, UNDERCLING etc etc. Alas every subculture has its potential words, and I suppose the NYT crossword is a good measure of becoming mainstream.

@Shrike I found the theme pretty straightforward but the clueing for the fill to be a little extra tricky

@HeathieJ Until I read your comment, I had been reading the "was exhausted" entry as "R-AND-R"-Y. Thank goodness it isnt!

@Steve L I follow baseball very loosely nowadays, and I'm amazed that a pitcher would steal and dive into the bag that much. Risk of injury seems high. I suppose he reaches for the base with this glove hand.

@Steve L I'll take a non-idoimatic -- but plausible -- phrase if it makes for a clever theme and good fill elsewhere.