Amen, brother!
Posted on 10/10/2007 7:43:36 AM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost
I mean, come on . . . I don't expect a pitcher to hit .300 on a regular basis -- but how about at least hitting in the low .200s?
This is one reason why I have always been a fan of a player like Dontrelle Willis -- who has been a very good pitcher (up until last year, at least), a remarkable fielder, and an exceptional hitter (among pitchers) as well.
The problem is that capitalism and competitive sports don't mix at all. Competitive sports is the one industry where you have to beat your opponents, but at the same time ensure that they stay in business and keep your customers interested in your product.
I think thats what makes pitchers forced to hit so interesting. When do you pinch hit? Do you pinch hit? Who do you put up in the pitchers spot, left or right handed batter? Who’s pitching? What will the opposing team do if you pinch hit against this pitcher?
Baseball lost a lot of its strategy when it instituted the DH. To me the only reason they did it in the first place was to keep Hank Aaron on the field way past his prime.
I agree with you, but as relief pitchers have become a more integral part of the game the strategic aspect of pinch-hitting for pitchers has diminished considerably over time. Since most pitchers don’t finish the games they start anyway, and since most teams now have multiple “set-up men” in the bullpen that are used before the closer, strategy often comes into play in only some limited circumstances. For example . . . Do you pinch-hit for a starting pitcher in the 8th inning if you’re on the losing end of a 1-0 score? Do you pinch-hit for the starter in the 6th inning if you’re winning by a run or two, or do you wait until the 7th inning before going to your usual string of relief pitchers?
Yep.
They took the ‘thought’ out of the ‘thinking man’s game’...and now they wonder where did all the fans go....
Amen, brother!
I would be real hesitant to go too many years into a contract with any player right now if there is any genuine possibility of improved steroid testing and with the test for HGH likely available in the near future. Many of these guys (you too, A-Rod) might not be quite as productive once those days come.
“as a sox fan, id like to see him in a royals jersey”
You are assuming the Royals are willing to double their payroll! :P
I heard he might sign with Team Dubai...
No A rod, don’t leave NY, Texas, Seattle...
Oh, man, pro sports is lamer than anything I can think of. Would rather buy a nice toy, and have my kids fight over it. That would be sport, and don’t even have to pay for it.
well it might be that hed go to the national league, there is a spot for a slugger in the aging sanfran giants
he has never had a big build, seems to me that his head and his features were smallish when he first came up.... he was tall, but not that muscular....
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