Something apparently unique in San Francisco Giants history happened this evening, when Tim Lincecum stepped to the plate with one out in the second inning at Chase Field tonight. He became the first starting pitcher in the team’s history - certainly since they moved to California - to hit anywhere but the ninth spot, batting #8 instead.
Lincecum Breaks The Glass Ceiling For The Giants
I wrote about this tactic and its purpose during spring training, when the Pirates discussed using it. They have lived up to their promise, so far batting the pitcher eighth 24 times. That’s actually more than the sixteen times the master of the technique, Tony La Russa, has done so with the Cardinals. Tonight, the Giants became the third team to give it a shot.
Last year was something of a high-water mark: no less than seven different teams tried it at some point in the season. As well as the Cardinals, the Brewers, Dodgers, Padres, Royals, Marlins and Reds also experimented, though the last-named trio only did it in one game [the Royals, obviously, can be somewhat forgiven]. There were four in 2008, but before that, you have to go back to 1957 to find any year with more than two.
So far, hard to say it’s had much effect. Both Lincecum and the man batting behind him, Andrés Torres, are 0-for-2. I’m also not sure whether this will be an ongoing tactic by San Francisco. But regardless, I enjoy seeing old doctrines being challenged by the likes of La Russa and the Giants’ Bruce Bochy
[Postscript] And, a little bird tells me, don’t be surprised to see Dan Haren bat eighth for the Diamondbacks on Friday when they take on the Blue Jays.
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