Pitch, Pitch, Pitch

I don't have vast experience with HS baseball, but from what I have seen it is not at all unusual for the top pitchers to play a position and bat when not pitching.

I would consider it very unusual at the high school level, from what I have seen, for a good hitting pitcher to not be in the lineup when not pitching, at least as a DH.

Maybe it is different in other parts of the country, but here in Oregon, the only pitchers who exclusively pitch are those who don't hit well or play another position well.

My son, for two years (sophmore and junior years)played exclusively as a pitcher. Senior year, he was DH and first baseman, led the team in BA, HR and ERA.

As you can see, never hurt his chances for a great scholarship at a D1 school.

Coaches do what they do for reasons, in his case, it was because older players were starters and they got the job done.

Beleive it when I say, very glad mine sat when he did. Not being a pitcher's parent, you might not understand.

My son is the #1 pitcher on his staff. He didn't get an at-bat until half-way through the season. Here's the results so far:

1B, L5, 2B, 1B, BB, 4-3, F8, HR.

Not bad for a sissy LHP. By the way, after he hit the HR they DH'd him the next game!

quote:

Originally posted by woody4220:
Wouldn't it be better for the team to have some of these guys playing regularly?

Remember that Babe Ruth started out as a pitcher.

Then they realized that using his bat only one day out of four was a complete waste and he was converted over to an OFer.

The rest is history.

Bobby Thigpen, the major league record holder for saves in a single season with The White Sox (moment of silence please), played center field at Miss. State...on his left and right? Will Clark and Raffy Palmiero...Those guys could play a little

While my 04 never bat (good thing), my 02 hit 500 in hs...

His stats:
HR, K

2 at bats in 4 yrs. I think he had a good bat, was a good outfielder, had the arm, but would have been to slow to play there in college, so he concentrated on pitching.

Hey Woody,

I see it as well, it depends on the program and situation. Also, if a kid is a pitcher and plays a position the next day or two then it may or may not be a good idea to have him throw across the diamond when his arm is still sore. Coaches try and protect their pitchers and give those guys as much rest as possible. Now Dh'ing is another story. I too see it around these parts and for the most part it is working out well. But when I see a player go 0 for 4 when they have a pitcher who is a stud hitter sitting on the pine, then I second guess the situation.

The son has been pitching for the last 4 years before HighSchool. I knew the program didn't play pitchers between starts so I started hitting him grounders and pop flies. He is now the leadoff hitter doing an amazing job. We still throw BP and long toss but he is happy he made the adjustment and it has benefited the team overall. If he would have continued to pitch , he would have gotten about 1/4 of his at bats.

Woody we rarely have pitchers that are not also one of our better hitters and or fielders. If they are not one of our best 9 hitters or fielders then fine they pitch only. But if they are we find ways to use them. If we play the day after we just DH them. And if we play 2 days after we usually will play them at first base etc. This year all four of our top pitchers are good hitters and good fielders. In fact our #1 and #2 are two of our best hitters and fielders. I have always protected our guys arms but at the same time tried to find ways to get their bat in the line up. But every coach is different and teams are different. If I had my preference my pitchers would only pitch. But at least around here you just dont have that luxury.

I think you have to look at injury as part of the equation. My son never hit in Elite ball except a couple times in 17U when both our 1st basemen went out with injury. He had an outstanding game the one time but never was allowed to do it again. I saw some of our pitchers who played both ways break their wrists,arms and legs sliding and colliding with other players. If you are a starter and a serious pitcher you just pitche. In HS and AAA ball he played both ways but was told to not take any chances. He led his AAA team in hits , RBIs. That was nice but he wanted to pitch in college and why risk injury ? I was always amazed at how he could sit patiently for his turn on the mound but that was what the coaches and he wanted.

I agree with the above post.
When mine made the decision to get more playing time as a senior in HS other than pitching, we cringed. We quietly sat on the sidelines, and watched as he slid into bases and got hit by pitches.

But he had a lot of fun, helping to get his team to regionals first time in 5 years.

Woody - We struggled with the pitch only thing too, but he goes to a top baseball hs with many good players and he will only pitch in college. The few times he has batted he did great. But we never argued for more playing time. In fact, never said one word about it. Its up to the coach. I like having him just pitch, and not worry about his at bats and agree with the posters who warn about too much stress on the arm especially for the SS/pitchers or catcher/pitchers who never come out of the game.

At my son's HS, the varsity is sitting at 5-5, and have had a hard time scoring runs. Yet there are 2 kids that are excellent hitters and fielders, but since they pitch, they sit. They are being wasted IMO as they are relievers and have thrown a total of 5 innings in 10 games between the two of them. At the same time, the coach continues to shuttle outfielders between varsity and jv looking for someone who might have a hot bat. The best chance these guys have at hitting is possibly a late inning pinch hit. They are in no way stud pitchers, but they typically lead their summer teams in hitting and defense.

The other day I watched a game at another school where the ace (who just pitched a complete game the day before, and is a D-1 signee as a pitcher) lead off and played 1B. If not for the fact it was the day after he threw a ton of pitches he would have been in CF.

All I can say is that I'm glad my son doesn't pitch. Besides the lack of PT, I think I would be a nervous wreck watching him on the mound. I get heart palpitations everytime he bats! I'll probably die of a massive coronary one day while he's hitting! LOL For some reason though, while I coach his summer team, I don't get as wound up.

Woody its because when you are coaching the team you are focusing on the team and not just your son. I coach my son in HS and to be honest with you I have no idea if he was 1-4 or 3-4 after the game. I really could careless as long as we win. Im so wrapped up in coaching the game I dont have time to watch one guy regardless of who it is. But in the summer and fall when I dont coach and I go watch him play I tend to be more into HIS performance. Keep coaching him as long as you can you will never regret it. Good Luck

Until I joined this site my opinion was that if he wasn't pitching, why isn't he in the outfield? Well, I've seen his coaches play him at first and even sit him the day after he pitches. I've actually gone up to them and thanked them for watching out for his arm. It was a hard thing for him at first because he is one of the best outfielders on the team as well as hitter. Now though I think he realizes it is in his best interest to take time and rest and if that means sitting so be it. The arm needs rest to recover.

quote:

Originally posted by Bum:
My son is the #1 pitcher on his staff. He didn't get an at-bat until half-way through the season. Here's the results so far:

1B, L5, 2B, 1B, BB, 4-3, F8, HR.

Not bad for a sissy LHP. By the way, after he hit the HR they DH'd him the next game!

What is an L5?

Line drive to the 3B.

I'm not sure that THAT many coaches look for pitchers to be exclusive...but some kids PLAY themselves into being "pitchers only"! I have had kids that simply could not contribute much other than on the mound, so when they were seniors we let them focus on that area exclusively.
If a kid can really hit and field, can't imagine too many coaches that have the depth to let that kid just pitch. If I have a kid that is THAT valuable, he's playing SOMEWHERE!