Good-Hitting Pitchers: How Common?

[KG Erwin]

I've got a starter who's hitting .293. Dang, I could use this guy as a pinch hitter. And no, it isn't Babe Ruth. [:D]

Anyway, it's cool (and realistic) that pitchers aren't always automatic outs, or simply used as bunters.

How about you guys?

[LetsPlay2]

I used to like to see Don Drysdale bat myself when I was in Cal. (grew up Dodger fan)

Now Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs is a treat to watch too !

[Hard Sarge]

Well, remember, a lot of pitchers played other postions as they were coming up, some made the pro's as something other then a pitcher

Bob Lemon was a centerfielder, before he became a pitcher, and he was aways a dangerous hitter

[DonBraswell]

KG, Seems to me I read some where that Stan the Man was a pitcher before becoming an outfielder. Don Newcombe was a very good hitter also.
Don

[motnahp]

Along with Zambrano, the name Mike Hampton comes to mind. He hit 7 or 8 home runs in a season not that long ago. Rick Rhoden was also a great hitter for the Dodgers and Pirates back in the 1980's. As non-athletic as Fernando Valenzuela looked, he was also a threat at the plate. Another portly hurler, Terry Forster, could swing a mean stick, but was more valuable out of the bullpen.

As far as I know, it's perfectly OK to use a PS pitcher as a pinch hitter.

I have a big word of caution, though, for anyone who uses a pitcher as a pinch runner. The first time I tried this, the program would not let me remove the guy. I recall using pitcher Mike Norris to run for the A's catcher. Unfortunately, Norris had to finish out the game as the catcher. I could not replace him in any way, shape, or form. I'm not sure if Shaun fixed this bug or not.

Since my 1979 A's are just about guaranteed to finish last in their division, I may try this again. What the heck, Norris is also on this team. Let's see what happens when slow-footed Jeff Newman or Jim Essian gets on base late in the game. I'll update in the next day or so with my results.

[dneely]

The new pitching hitter (or hitting pitcher) is Micah Owings on the D-Backs. He often was used as a pinch hitter and he hit some real bombs last year. There has been off-season talk about him playing somewhere in the field when not pitching. Check out his stats!