Pinch Hitter Position?

by GiNgiNxbOi on Jun 30, 2008 1:22 PM PDT Comment 25 comments

Remember when Mark Sweeney was our full time pinch hitter. I thought that he was excellent at playing that role. What do you guys think about implementing that into our current team? Do you guys think it's a good idea (assuming we have a qualifying candidate for the position), or if it's just a waste of a player/position on the roster?

I guess it's still a pretty tough job, to get called up in the middle of a game and be asked to produce a hit, but i think it would serve to be a very useful tool to have in many situations.

Maybe we could turn Denker or Horwitz into one? My original thought was that Bowker would be good for the position, but he's turning into a good everyday player, and it might just be a waste.

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High leverage

Given that there is usually at least one high-leverage situation in a game for a team that is batting, having TWO good pinch hitters - only lefty and one righty - is a valuable thing to have. But such players can usually be found who can also play a bit in the field, as was the case with Mark Sweeney.

by sharksrog on Jun 30, 2008 1:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If "playing the field" is important criteria

Then I suggest we remove Zito from the rotation and use him

¿Julio is tourist in San Francisco? Harper's Bizarre!

by hairball on Jun 30, 2008 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree. I like my pinch hitter to be able to do more than pinch hit; like come into a game on a double-switch or pinch run.

I also think the role of pinch-hitting specialist (like Sweeney) is probably something you use a roster spot on if you’re more set at each position than the current Giants club is.

2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!

by Goofus on Jun 30, 2008 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Matt Cain.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Jun 30, 2008 1:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Also, I read "Hitter" different

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Jun 30, 2008 1:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

(see Zito reference, above)

¿Julio is tourist in San Francisco? Harper's Bizarre!

by hairball on Jun 30, 2008 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brian Horwitz

Believe Horwitz could become a pinch-hitter.

by wilriv21 on Jun 30, 2008 2:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree, Horwitz seems like he could become a pretty good PH in time.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Jun 30, 2008 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i’m okay with dave roberts as DPH

"he walked 18; new league record! Struck out 18, another new league record! He also hit the sportswriter, the PA announcer, the bull mascot twice..."

by i did my job on Jun 30, 2008 2:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

of course, i’m more okay with him as trade bait

"he walked 18; new league record! Struck out 18, another new league record! He also hit the sportswriter, the PA announcer, the bull mascot twice..."

by i did my job on Jun 30, 2008 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

nobody wants Dave Roberts

Rafael Rodriguez: Vlad Guerrero on layaway?

by BrianBokake on Jun 30, 2008 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pinch Runner! He can totally steal bases for us in the playoffs!

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Jun 30, 2008 7:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The designated pinch hitter seems like a luxury that good teams can afford to have. That being said, I guess Horwitz would be the best fit for those situations.

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by Natto on Jun 30, 2008 2:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs