A Pitcher As a Many-Splendored "Thing"

Having decried the Pirates' recent lack of creativity in deploying their pitchers, I will use an older example that "dates" me. This time, we are in the bottom of the eighth inning. The bad news is that we're trailing by one run.

The good news is that we have men on first and third with only one out. And the best news is that we have a hitter on the bench with an average well over .300. That's the one you send to the plate to hit for your pitcher, right?

Any hit ties the game. So, too, might a long sacrifice fly or a deep infield ball that doesn't become a double play. A double might give you the lead, enough to win. A walk loads the bases.

With the man's OBP of .354, the chances of a hit or walk are better than one in three, and throwing in the chances of a successful sacrifice, the chances of a good outcome are just about 50-50.

Except when that star hitter will be your starting pitcher in two days (and his name is Ken Brett). So the Pirates send another man to the plate with a batting average about thirty points lower, whose slugging abilities are also decidedly worse.

The other man pops up, not deep enough to score the runner from third. The visiting team then gets the third out, and holds on for a win with no change in the ninth.

I would not use a star pitcher as a lead-off hitter in another game, and would think twice about batting him with one man on. But with two on, one at third, and one out, you've got to send in your best hitter—pitcher or not—because he can tie or win the game with one swing of the bat (Then pinch run for him to limit his "exposure").

This raises some interesting questions about the use of pitchers. It's probably academic in the American League, where there is a designated hitter (DH), but is a live issue in the National League.

Should such a team "pay up" for a good hitting pitcher to get an "all around" lineup like the American League teams have. If a pitcher is worth half a run (or whatever) more than other hurlers, should you accept an ERA 0.50 higher from him? Or put another way, how much more is a Yovani Gallardo worth, who pitched an eight inning shut-out and hit a home run in a 1-0 game, than a similarly good pitcher who can't hit? 

And even in the American League, suppose you get another Ken Brett? Should he be allowed to "DH" for himself if he is objectively the best remaining hitter available. Can you keep him as a DH even after relieving him as a pitcher? Or should you use him as a DH on days he is not pitching?

Prior to the salary explosion of the 1990s, the Pittsburgh Pirates, with a franchise history, were able to attract good players. Now they're less competitive in this regard, which is to say that they have to make better use of the players they do have.