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The Cards have been on a tear lately - ever since they started with the pitcher batting in the 8th spot, they have gone 14-7.
Which made we wonder if any team has done this for any significant amount of time before - I mean, in 99% of the cases the pitcher will be your weakest hitter (even if it's only because of a lack of rhythm), so I don't really see a benefit apart from potentially giving your leadoff man someone on base more often...

Well Kip Wells and Adam Wainwright both have OPS' over .700 so there actually better. While Looper isn't bad with the bat.

It really doesn't matter to me, I prefer the pitcher hitting 9th, but whatever works works.

Funny you ask, Larussa tried this a few years back.

Does there winning have anything to do with Rick Ankiel's return???? hmmmmmm

I believe Owings almost hit 6th for the Diamondbacks after his 2HR game; but hit 9th and ended up with a HR anyway.

Who's the best batting P in the league?

beater97 wrote:Who's the best batting P in the league?

Owings. May be biased, but he is an adept hitter. The D'Backs are even contemplating using Micah in the field next year. Highly doubt it, and don't want that to be the case, but that's how good his bat is, and also the lack of offense we have.

beater97 wrote:Who's the best batting P in the league?

Owings is a good hitting pitcher, but i have to give it to Zambrano.

Not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dontrelle Willis
Mike Hampton-Used to be
Micah Owings
Carlos Zambrano
Jason Marquis

SportsWorld wrote:Dontrelle Willis
Mike Hampton-Used to be
Micah Owings
Carlos Zambrano
Jason Marquis

these two kills us.

I remember a game or two a few seasons back when Dontrelle Willis was batting 7th in the Marlins order

I have yet to see Owings hit but I know he was a pretty successful college hitter so I'm not entirely surprised by his success with the bat.

The theory behind batting the pitcher 8th is that you get a guy hitting ninth that doesn't completely suck and gives the top of your line-up another guy who could get on. I think this would work better having a leadoff hitter like Damon in his prime or Ricky, guys who can hit for good power WHILE leading off. Soriano might actually benefit from this as well. mahalo
~Chach~

I think Hudson is leading pitchers in hits. He has become more reliable at the plate than Andruw Jones.

As far as the pitcher hitting 8th, it helps you as much as it hurts you. Sure it gives Pujols more runners in front of him, but with the bases loaded you would rather your regular 8th hitter coming to bat than your pitcher.

I know in one of the games against the Braves, the Cards had two runners on with two outs with the 8th spot up. The pitcher popped up and ended the inning, but the next inning Miles lead off and started a 5 run rally with a bunt single.

Of course it was an illegal bunt single that should have never happened, but whatever.

beater97 wrote:Who's the best batting P in the league?

As has been said, this year it's Owings by a mile...he has an OPS of .902 and is batting .280 with 4 HR.

Number two is Kip Wells: he is batting .340 (!) with a .766 OPS. If only he could PITCH.

Number three is another Cardinal, Adam Wainwright: .271 BA, .710 OPS.

Yovanni Gallardo has an OPS of .693, although in only 27 AB.

Other pitchers with .600+ OPS: Dontrelle Willis, Aaron Cook, Zambrano, Chris Capuano, and Tom Glavine.

My apologies if I have missed anyone.

Number two is Kip Wells: he is batting .340 (!) with a .766 OPS. If only he could PITCH.

We need to teach him how to play 3rd.

bigboy1234 wrote:We need to teach him how to play 3rd.

We need to teach someone how to play third. I hear they are going to try So Taguchi there today.

Oh well, at least we can bat him ninth.

mizzoupacers wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



We need to teach someone how to play third. I hear they are going to try So Taguchi there today.

Oh well, at least we can bat him ninth.

you're kidding me...is he really playing there today? You guys realize that Rolen is still a very good option at third base, and that Larussa bats his pitcher 8th to get more runners on for Pujols?

34Celtic wrote:-= original quote snipped =-


you're kidding me...is he really playing there today? You guys realize that Rolen is still a very good option at third base, and that Larussa bats his pitcher 8th to get more runners on for Pujols?

Rolen is hurt. And yes he was joking about So So, Brendan Ryan is our starting 3rd baseman today.

I got a little scared / worried for the city Nelly calls home

Seems like this move is paying off.