Loganfan wrote:PrimeX wrote:Probably because I had no argument with the "tops in the NL" part? Good eye though, slugger.Loganfan wrote: I see you lopped off the 'certainly in the NL'
Mikey, I see your posted stats and raise you a young bully throwing to the DH vs. a bully throwing to pitchers/ weak pinch hitters in the NL.
That's a damn good point.
In a close game, most managers in the NL would opt to pinch hitter in the pitcher position or double-switch. I think starting pitchers are more apt to face pitchers in the lineup but in a close-and-late situation, I don't think a manager would ever let their pitcher hit for themselves unless the pitcher was unhittable that night. From that sense, it's like facing a full 9-man order instead of 8 and a pitcher. Pinch-hitters are used often because a certain reliever is in...to force the other manager to make a move. To use the DH argument against AL vs. NL bullpens isn't as valid as it seems. However, you don't see guys like Ortiz, Giambi, Thomas and Hafner in NL lineups either because they couldn't really play in the field.