tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371351138596055444.post6860614217218755746..comments2024-01-20T23:55:26.269-08:00Comments on The Detritus Review: Metaphor Hit by Pitch, Charges MoundUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371351138596055444.post-81542608660456098632008-04-21T15:37:00.000-07:002008-04-21T15:37:00.000-07:00Tooshay.Tooshay.Empiricushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11629835829400843701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371351138596055444.post-75443808197771928062008-04-03T14:01:00.000-07:002008-04-03T14:01:00.000-07:00As a Braves fan: the greatest pinch hit moment (f...As a Braves fan: the greatest pinch hit moment (far greater than Kirk Gibson's HR) is Francisco Cabrera in the 1992 NLCS.<BR/><BR/>He's a complete nobody (unlike the MVP that Gibson was) who came through with the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 9th in the 7th and deciding game of the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Absolutely my favorite sports moment of all-time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371351138596055444.post-4652166911363136992008-04-03T13:37:00.000-07:002008-04-03T13:37:00.000-07:00Tooshay.Tooshay.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16371363571092946834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371351138596055444.post-91082074025737205012008-04-03T12:19:00.000-07:002008-04-03T12:19:00.000-07:00Still, the better hitter riding the pine is not a ...Still, the better hitter riding the pine is not a pinch-hitting specialist, just a victim of occasional circumstance.Empiricushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11629835829400843701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371351138596055444.post-28686043497268793502008-04-03T11:21:00.000-07:002008-04-03T11:21:00.000-07:00Great pinch hitters:Dave Hansen.Lenny Harris....We...Great pinch hitters:<BR/><BR/>Dave Hansen.<BR/>Lenny Harris.<BR/><BR/>...<BR/><BR/>Well. How about that?<BR/><BR/>I have to agree with your criticism of the idea that "everybody loves a great pinch hitter." For one thing, the fans of the other team presumably aren't so wild about him. For another, there's nothing special about being a "pinch hitter" that makes them lovable. As you point out, they're probably pinch hitting because they're not good enough/don't do the right things* to play every day. It's hard to be "great" or "beloved" for not being all that great, I think.<BR/><BR/>Unless you're the Cubs, of course.<BR/><BR/>"Everyone loves a rookie called up for his first big-league at bat" might be a little closer to the mark, although I admit it doesn't quite have the snap of "pinch-hitter."<BR/><BR/>*Contrary to what you might think, sometimes managers will sit objectively better players. It could be out of spite or pique, or it could be that some other flaw in their game keeps them on the bench. For example, suppose you have a center fielder who's a good hitter but a poor fielder. If you've got a left- and right-fielder who are also poor fielders, you're probably going to play the slick-fielding center fielder instead of the slugger because your team can't afford to have three bad-fielding outfielders. So the better player rides the pine and is available for pinch-hitting for reasons beyond the control of anyone but the GM.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16371363571092946834noreply@blogger.com