Position Players Pitching

http://media.nbcchicago.com/images/485*306/Adam_Dunn_8-5.jpg http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IDxJUNyFzVA/SeSXIw3vOgI/AAAAAAAACPI/kiD4k3UAPD4/s400/nick_swisher.jpg

non-pitchers with pitching appearances at baseball-reference

the last position players to pitch for each team

celebratory tumblr

Mandatory link.

http://multimedia.detnews.com/pix/9c/db/cc/bb/40/65/20110630000822_2011-0629-rb-tigers-mets678.jpg

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/adam-dunn-as-a-pitcher/

15 this year!

wonder if it's more common in pitcher-dominated eras bc lower score differentials and better bullpens = more extra innings

i'd imagine that modern theories about pitch counts and proper rest play a greater role

also you know adam dunn wanted to get out there -- he had some decent movement on the handful of pitches i saw

btw this is intended to be an ALERT thread such that i don't miss the next adam dunn

a scoreless eighth for jesus sucre

jeff francoeur just threw the phillies' first scoreless inning

jake elmore is faring less well in tampa

wish I was on ILX last may (or June?) to celebrate mike carp's horrendous knuckleballing against the yankees lol

good for frenchie I guess tho

i was hoping we'd get a yankee position player too, oh well

so per the Effectively Wild FB group, yesterday was the first time (since 1914) more than one position player allowed a home run on the same day.

they left frenchy out there for 48 pitches! apparently because the bullpen phone was 'off the hook' ffs

http://ak-hdl.buzzfed.com/static/2015-06/16/22/enhanced/webdr10/enhanced-13592-1434508072-1.png

thread is v active

can brendan ryan go two innings y/n

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ClSdm7KUYAAKQBF.jpg

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Josh+Harrison+Pittsburgh+Pirates+v+Colorado+ILfBOzkIskYl.jpg

erik kratz has now pitched in both leagues this season

Ryan Gions. loaded the bases in the 17th inning – then induced a double play to get out of it.

sorry, 18th

is one position player relieving another something that happens? i know i;ve never seen it before.

ryan lamarre 1.0IP 2H 0ER

Miguel Montero for the Cubs down 13-1

chris Gimenez on clev 2 IP

Jared Hoying, OF for the Rangers, pitched the top of the 9th with Texas down big. Gave up a homer on a 59mph toss

I am not a big baseball guy, so tuning into the end of the Rangers game and seeing this guy I've never heard of pitch @ 60 mph was bizarre, I'm thinking he's a knuckle baller pulled up from the minors, but I'm seeing no movement on the ball whatsoever (I had the TV on mute to listen to coverage of the madness taking place in downtown Dallas, two miles away from me)

Drew Butera again for KC, scoreless inning down 13-0

Jeff Sullivan ‏@based_ball 15m15 minutes ago
since the start of last year position players pitching have a 4.93 ERA in about 46 innings. better than Matt Cain, Joe Kelly, and Ubaldo
10 retweets 15 likes

hernan iribarren pitched the eighth for the louisville bats this afternoon

needed seven pitches to get three outs; one was a 46mph knuckleball

@RhettBollinger
Eduardo Escobar's first pitch was an 88 mph fastball.

tyler holt is the first reds position player to pitch since skip schumaker two years and one day ago

five pitches, three outs

best pitcher on worst staff ever!

does christian bethancourt even count

he's pitching in the fourth inning ffs

he was signed for that reason, so no

whoa this guy's story is cool

has that happened in the modern game? guy pitching and playing the field on a regular basis?

@AJCassavell
No player in MLB history has caught more than 5 games and pitched in more than 5 games in the same season. Christian Bethancourt might.

poor guy was immediately spiked by andrew toles on a play at the plate after his first pitch (a wild one)

michael martinez of the indians last night: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/michael-martinez-pitcher/

Currently Showing
SD & ATL
Reason: Position player pitching (Christian Bethancourt)
Priority #2

what's a higher priority than a position player pitching? no-hitter?

(ian kennedy has a 1-hitter going in the 8th btw)

yeah i have no-hitters in the 7th inning or later higher

3rd string catcher Kevin Plawecki pitching for the Mets today

this is the reverse but the Yankees put pitcher Brian Mitchell at 1b late in today's game...

Miguel Montero on the mound right now for the Cubs vs Yankees

Miguel Montero head hunting with a 80 mph heater 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/r68FZlNIA5

— MLB Memes (@MLBMeme) May 7, 2017

Position-player pitching alert: catcher Chris Gimenez making his third relief appearance this season. Twins down 15-6 in the ninth.

— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) May 31, 2017

http://deadspin.com/let-us-all-marvel-at-andres-blanco-s-70-mph-fastballs-1795923120

chuey

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-era-of-position-players-pitching

a scoreless ninth (one hit) for jon jay

http://www.cubshq.com/update/WATCH-Jon-Jay-pitches-a-scoreless-9th-inning-23057

He retired three of the four batters that he faced in the scoreless inning and he was clocked at 46-65 mph on his pitches.

It's that easy huh @jonjayU

— Brett Anderson (@BAnderson3737) July 6, 2017

hernan perez is on for the eighth with nats looking at history

he knew to point to the sky on a fly ball, nice

Welcome back. We are monitoring events in the Detroit/Pittsburgh game this afternoon.

— Pos Players Pitching (@70MPHFastball) March 30, 2018

is tyler glasnow the last pirates bullpen member who hasn't pitched, after brault?

Sandoval with the 1-2-3 inning.

Pablo Sandoval with the 69mph Curveball.

What. pic.twitter.com/I7hr5y8ktG

— Pitcher List (@PitcherList) April 28, 2018

greg garcia (cardinals utility guy) threw a scoreless 8th inning last night - 1 hit and a double play

chris gimenez for the cubs ... they're only 6 runs behind in the eighth, feels a little premature

Matt Davidson, Filthy 79mph Slider....and then reminding himself to slow strut off the field... 😂 pic.twitter.com/ZKg7XrNQgB

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 30, 2018

The Diamondbacks used two position players in relief in their 19-2 loss to the Rockies ... in fact they pitched more total innings than the actual pitchers did (3.1 IP for the real pitchers, 4.2 IP in relief for the position players).

http://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=380711127

they also . . . used a pitcher as a pinch hitter in the second inning, when they were only down 5-1

Alex Blandino, Filthy 67 mph Knuckle Ball. 🦋 pic.twitter.com/ivFAvcv7YQ

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 12, 2018

icymi

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/descalso-and-avila-hurl-their-way-into-weird-history/

Our Willians: not so good on the mound

tommy la stella comes on in the sixth

and gets the out with one pitch

backup catcher caratini is pitching now. first time the cubs have used two position players in the same game since 1907

the crowd is going wild

#Cubs (La Stella, Caratini & Happ): first team to use 3 position player pitchers in a game since the Brewers 8/29/1979 (Sal Bando, Jim Gantner & Buck Martinez)

— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) July 20, 2018

i think ive read more about that Sal Bando game this month than i did in '79

if my calculations are correct, you'd have been pretty busy when that game happened

lol

https://deadspin.com/hernan-perez-plunked-a-batter-with-the-softest-pitch-yo-1827798463

if you can't dodge a 48 mph pitch you shouldn't get the base

Kristopher Negron can do it all.

(Yes, this was an out)
(No, he did not allow any runs)
(No, he did not break 55 MPH) pic.twitter.com/IrIevQupmx

— Reno Aces (@Aces) July 22, 2018

Anthony Rizzo pitched and recorded an out in a 7-1 game last night.

I know that position players pitching is kind of a trend now, but do you really want your superstar hitters doing it?

Maybe everyone wants to channel their inner Ohtani these days?

First-time pitcher Kike Hernandez yielded a game-winning HR to the Phils' Trevor Plouffe in the 16th last night.

Yeah, it's getting out of hand now. The Jays punted a game in similar fashion last year too.

I'm assuming that Roberts merely pulled the strings that the Dodgers analytics department told him to pull. So their data shows that it's better to blow a game now than pitch the next day's starter in the 16th and risk an injury (and future wins)?

probably depends on schedule/geography/roster composition as well -- dodgers have a day game today and couldn't get anyone up from the minors (in oklahoma) in time to help. and they may or may not have the ability to option players *to* the minors in exchange without further repercussions.

but yeah

https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangers/2018/07/23/carlos-tocci-ryan-rua-become-first-pair-rangers-position-players-ever-pitch-game

https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2018/7/25/17612220/joe-maddon-cubs-position-players-pitching-as-rangers-comeback

All I could think about is that beneath the fun, hip exoskeleton, Joe Maddon is a soulless actuary.

BREAKING: Grant Brisbee describes Joe Maddon as "fun, hip"

that's on the managerial curve, where Buck Showalter is the baseline

icymi, the Rays used Sergio Romo at 3b for one out in a Waxahachie Swap

re the increase in position players pitching, it seems like people are freaking out about this because it's a direct acknowledgment that a team is giving up on a game? on the other hand, if your team is losing badly, at least watching a position player try to pitch adds some entertainment value and something to root for

It was done by a manager with a big lead recently, right?

that doesn't sound like Respect for the Game

Inauspicious debut for Jose Reyes:

1 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 0 K, 2 HR, 6 ER, 48 pitches (29 strikes), 54.00 ERA

Makes me wonder get the record is for most pitches thrown in a game by a position player. Ouch!

typos there but hopefully the meaning comes through (new profile description)

uh, i only just now realized that we all have profiles (accessible by clicking the username), and updated accordingly.

maybe i did know that we had profiles (i must have clicked them to send ilxmail...right?), but somehow it escaped me that you could edit the information in them, or that it was a thing to look at

re the increase in position players pitching, it seems like people are freaking out about this because it's a direct acknowledgment that a team is giving up on a game?

For me it's mostly about the injury risk. If Rizzo had gotten hurt in that game he pitched, how do you justify losing your All-Star first baseman over something so stupid?

There's also the inherent ridiculousness of carrying 12 pitchers and still not having enough of them to throw some mop-up innings in a blowout.

James tweeted about this last week:

"The surge in the # of position players pitching is a signal that the 100-year trend toward more frequent pitching changes has finally reached a limit within the 25-man roster. The worst mistake that baseball could make would be to expand rosters and allow that trend to resume."

xp yeah that's why they usually make the 4th outfielder do it. though idk if I've seen a position player injure themselves on the mound yet. I'm sure it's happened I just can't remember it. pitchers batting, on the other hand...

There's also the inherent ridiculousness of carrying 12 pitchers and still not having enough of them to throw some mop-up innings in a blowout.

idk if your team is sitting at a 1% win probability I think it makes sense to save your arms if you can hobble through the last couple of innings

Ryan Goins hurt himself pitching for the Jays a couple of years ago--he didn't miss much time. Didn't Canseco famously hurt himself pitching?

Yeah, it was '93:

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1993-06-29/sports/1993180202_1_texas-rangers-canseco-jobe

He never played after June 23.

though idk if I've seen a position player injure themselves on the mound yet.

Jose Canseco famously blew out his arm pitching in the 90's. I think we haven't seen injuries because it used to not happen very often -- only a couple of times per season. If the current trend continues, it's only a matter of time before someone else hurts their arm or gets hit by a comebacker.

xposts

I haven't paid enough attention to these situations — do position players ever pitch when they're winning in a blowout, or is it just when they're losing?

it's possible, but i've never heard of it. apart from the fact that the winning team's pitchers, having not given up 17 runs or whatever, aren't as taxed, i'm pretty sure that would be considered a dire insult under the Unwritten Rules

Apparently hasn't happened since George Sisler in 1920, when things wuz different.

https://www.sbnation.com/2018/4/24/17274044/position-players-pitching-heck-yeah

Has Position-Player Pitching Reached Its Peak… or Nadir? Last night we had 3 more position players pitch, furthering the already existing record to 49 —with an average of more than one per day since the All-Star break https://t.co/6nVHnIUOkc

— Jay Jaffe (@jay_jaffe) August 3, 2018

Pitchers becoming hitters and coming full circle as position players pitching ... Rick Ankiel wants to make a comeback in 2019 as a reliever. He'll be 40 next year.

Matt Davidson is the first 15-HR hitter to pitch 3x in a season since Ruth

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/white-sox/matt-davidson-pulls-babe-ruth-continues-be-poster-child-baseballs-position-player-pitching

may be joined by Ohtani (11 HR)

Sam Miller:

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24364647/are-position-players-actually-good-pitchers-yes-definitely-no

confusing url, slightly less but still very confusing title

i guess it's understandable that jace peterson didn't cover first on a grounder to the 1B

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dog2ngGVsAEipId.jpg:small

Pablo Sandoval: "Pitching is not easy. But it's easy for me because I don't care."

— Kerry Crowley (@KO_Crowley) May 6, 2019

Luke Maile threw a 1-2-3 inning yesterday, with a strikeout; using a knuckleball/change-up/fastball repertoire!

Phillies' Sean Rodriguez throws a perfect 8th against the barves. (15-1 game)

roman quinn got the job done for the phillies

pirates' jose osuna comes in for the top of the 7th, down 13-4

he's pumping 90 mph

mixes in a 74 mph breaking ball

some wild lineup moves by the rays today. kolarek gets an out, moves to first base for the second batter (first baseman leaves the game) in favour of righty chaz roe, then comes BACK to the mound for out number three, with a new first baseman.

austin romine . . . pounding the zone

"pounded in the zone by the abstract spirit of being owned by your rivals"

when he came in i was sort of not paying attention and was like.. is this a knuckleballer, what is going on

Orioles' Stevie Wilkerson becomes first position player to record save since 1969

https://deadspin.com/with-a-series-of-slowballs-stevie-wilkerson-became-the-1836724040

throwing at an average of 54.3 mph

Brandon Hyde's nickname for Wilkerson is "Dr. Poo Poo" apparently

that's Wilkerson's 3rd pitching appearance this month

lmao Orioles

OF Roman Quinn for the Phillthies (in a tie in the 15th)

Vince Velazquez making highlight reels in LF

Quinn takes the loss

jaws

"Pitcher playing position" works out a bit better than "position player pitching" pic.twitter.com/PQrS3Y3Y9H

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) August 3, 2019

cubs back-up back-up catcher taylor davis pitched yesterday, and he was caught by kyle schwarber, who hadn't played as a catcher in about two years

what is the Run Expectancy when you've got the bases loaded with no outs and the opposing pitcher is the 3rd string catcher

Brandon Dixon’s curveball would not be keeping up with traffic on most of Detroit’s freeways, but he tossed a hitless ninth inning. pic.twitter.com/niWYpUh3Os

— Jason Beck (@beckjason) August 7, 2019

Jay Jaffe on its last hurrah

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/weve-reached-peak-position-players-pitching/

Jays up 12-4 in the 8th. Rays bring in Mike Brosseau

And he strikes out Randal Grichuk to end the inning!!

Backup catcher Kratz on the mound for the Yankees dealing a knuckle ball!

he pitched the other night!

Jays middle infield Santiago Espinal has also pitched a couple times now.

Rejoice! We've finally added a flag for "Position Player Pitching" to help you better find amazing videos https://t.co/X7AA6ZGq7y

— SavantTips (@SavantTips) November 10, 2020

white sox rookie slugger phenom yermin mercedes is pitching against the red sox right now

they're only six runs behind with two innings to go which seems a little early to wave the white flag

maybe they're just trying to find a position for yermin

followed by danny mendick

mercedes was throwing in the 70s-80s, mendick working exclusively in the 60s

gameday had the last mendick pitch at 39.6 mph

they're only six runs behind with two innings to go which seems a little early to wave the white flag

also they have 13 pitchers on the roster

they did play a double-header yesterday tbf

Rizzo struck out Freeman 😭

(via @Cubs)pic.twitter.com/fTVyUPKb4o

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 29, 2021

Marwin Gonzalez coming into a 16-4 affair against the jays.

(16 for the jays obviously)

Just had a 1-2-3 inning!

Arroyo in for the 9th now.

Had the game on the radio driving into Woodstock; heard Teoscar's second HR. Did that ever get out of hand...They really let Ryan Weber take a beating out there (11 runs in 5.2 innings). Guess they had no one left.

I felt seriously bad for the guy. I’m assuming he went in knowing he’d have to go long... but if you’re down to just one RP, why take your SP so early - I don’t think he was injured.

even more brutal is when he's DFA'd tomorrow

Baseball’s Great Debate: Who’s Worse, Pitchers Who Hit, or Hitters Who Pitch?

https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2021/8/6/22612375/pitching-position-players-pitchers-hitting-universal-dh

Arauz in for the Red Sox, down 11-4 to the jays.
And a double header coming up tmrw, in kind of an important series!

Darin Ruf with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen tonight

Reese McGwire in for the BoSox

franmil reyes for the cubs (drilled pujols in the back, lol)

Brandon Crawford! 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 walk, no runs.

Brandon Crawford, 2023 pitching mechanics. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/hFcExcooWR

— kate ⚾️ (@sfgiantskate) June 11, 2023

Nicky Lopez had a great Braves debut. 4 for 6, 3 runs, 5 RBI, and pitched a scoreless 9th. Danny Mendick gave up 8 ER in 1.1 IP for the Mets. Final score 21-3.