16 Responses to “Patient Pitchers”

1. Andy Says:
   February 20th, 2010 at 10:37 pm

   The fact that he pinch-hit so much says something about the quality of his hitting.

2. SJBlonger Says:
   February 21st, 2010 at 12:58 am

   16 times in 22 seasons isn't really that often, is it?

3. Erik Says:
   February 21st, 2010 at 1:05 am

   I am guessing that those pinch-hit appearances were in late innings or extra innings when they ran out of position players. I never remember Atlanta ever having that deep a bench in the Bobby Cox era.

4. Thomas Says:
   February 21st, 2010 at 2:45 am

   5 of those top 10 since 87 spent time with ATL. How ironic....

   Also, that Mike Hampton link is somehow two links. The M is the mike hampton link, the rest takes you to Ike Hampton. ... how strange.

5. TheGoof Says:
   February 21st, 2010 at 5:10 am

   What's most amazing is that Mickey Lolich is on the list, despite a .110 AVG and .121 SLG(!) with fewer ABs than most of the others and playing in a pitchers' era. Five doubles, the next lowest is 19. Only he and Willie McGill, some deadball guy, had no homers. Who in their right mind would walk him? Well, since I asked, I might as well answer that everyone did, but nobody on a regular basis -- the most for an individual being four guys three times.

6. Andy Says:
   February 21st, 2010 at 8:10 am

   16 times pinch-hitting seems like a lot for a pitcher to me. Even they were all due to running out of position players it must mean Cox had a significant amount of faith in Jim over the other available "pitch hitters."
   SJBlonger, I'll research it and make a post to satisfy our curiosity.

7. Pageup Says:
   February 21st, 2010 at 1:28 pm

   Does Wes Ferrell have the most home runs ever for a pitcher with 38?

8. salvo Says:
   February 21st, 2010 at 2:42 pm

   Adam Wainwright has already pinch-hit 15 times in his three seasons as a starting pitcher...3 singles, 2 sac, 1 sac fly, and 6 Ks.

9. dukeofflatbush Says:
   February 21st, 2010 at 2:42 pm

   Something else to consider, Glavine had at least 2 dozen or so inter-league starts where he was DHed for, plus today's pitchers are much more likely to be pulled in the 7th for a pinch hitter, greatly reducing PAs. That explains the 20 year gap between Seaver and Glavin. Just check his CGs to say a Lolich or a Seaver, granted Seaver did a stint with the Whitesox and Lolich played half his career in the DH era, those guys till went deeper into games, probably resulting in 25PAs a year more than today's starters.

10. Johnny Twisto Says:
    February 21st, 2010 at 6:17 pm

    Pageup, yes.

11. DoubleDiamond Says:
    February 21st, 2010 at 6:30 pm

    Regarding comment #6 from Andy - Some of these may have come in a game in which one of the other good hitting pitchers was not available to pinch hit because he was the starter that day!

    Also, I know that at least once in the 2000's, the Phillies used a pitcher to pinch hit in a situation in which a sacrifice bunt would be helpful. It was during the time when Larry Bowa was the manager. He got ejected, with Gary Varsho taking over the managerial decisions. The game went into extra innings, and regardless of whether or not they had anyone else on the bench (other than perhaps the backup catcher) he sent Brett Myers up to hit after the lead-off batter got on. The bunt was successful, and the runner who moved to second ended up scoring the winning run. I remember that it was a weekday day game and that I read about it online after I got home from work.

12. Johnny Says:
    February 21st, 2010 at 6:40 pm

    Glavine, Smoltz, and Maddux are flat out some of the smartest players to ever play the game.

13. Richard Deegan Says:
    February 21st, 2010 at 7:38 pm

    For those like me who may have wondered, Red Ruffing got 98 BB, Bob Lemon 93, Warren Spahn (no BA but 35 HR) 94 and The Babe (as a pitcher) negligible (probably around 20)

14. JDV Says:
    February 22nd, 2010 at 11:31 am

    Lolich's numbers jumped out at me, too. One walk for every 9.7 PAs! More walks than hits! Did he ever swing? Was that his strategy? And, as 'TheGoof' said, what were all those pitchers thinking?

15. Kahuna Tuna Says:
    February 22nd, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    And, as 'TheGoof' said, what were all those pitchers thinking?

    I have a guess: "Sure, he's only hitting a buck ten, but he's a switch-hitter! Dude obviously knows what he's doing up there. He's just been hitting in bad luck, and he's due. Besides, Brinkman's on deck. Guaranteed tapper."

16. Baseball-Reference Blog » Blog Archive » More Walks than Hits Says:
    February 23rd, 2010 at 6:03 am

    [...] reader JDV noted that during his career, Mickey Lolich amassed more walks than hits. The concept of players with [...]