Who would you want to pitch in this situation?

Question

It is the bottom of the 12th.
Your team is winning by 1.
The bases are loaded.
There is one out in the inning.
Your team has already used your closing pitcher.
The starting pitchers can't pitch.

If David Ortiz is at the plate?
If Albert Pujols is at the plate?
If Ryan Howard is at the plate?
If Derek Jeter is at the plate?
If Ichiro is at the plate?

Answer 1

your mom

Answer 2

Considering some of the big bats you've got at the plate, I'd be more concerned with the guns in the outfield. Also, who's on third? Is he a speedster? If so, I'd want someone in the outfield with a cannon who can get the initial fly out and then gun down someone at homeplate. Also, if I go with a double play (depending on the infield players), I'd want a solid middle infield who can execute said double play. Then you have to consider the catcher. If he's a thinker like Brad Ausmus, he'll try to force a double play and be reasonably dependable at blocking the plate. Danny Ardoin would be another good defensive backstop.

Another thing to take into consideration would be the guy behind the catcher. If he's been liberal on calling strikes at the corners, I'd want a control pitcher up there. If not, I'd definitely want a pitcher who can bring the heat.

There are too many variables in this situation to determine which pitcher to use. I do enjoy the question, but I just can't pick one pitcher out to use. I need more info on who's on the bases and who's on defense for me.

Answer 3

I'd pitch Ortiz and Howard up and in, but off the plate until I had 2 strikes. Then something hard and sinking down and in that they could probably only hit on the ground...neither of these guys are fast.
The same with Pujols, but I'd make sure to keep every ball down and only throw fastballs off the plate.
Jeter is vulnerable down and in, but I'd make sure to mix one in near his hands so he didn't keyhole on a ball down.
Your only chance of getting Ichiro is to get him to pop the ball up, but good luck doing that..so you'd need to bring the infielders in so they have a chance to throw him out at first on a double play once he slaps the ball on the ground.
This is all theoretical, and all of these guys can hit just about any pitch anywhere. So, good luck finding a reliever that could do all of that.

Answer 4

If Derek Jeter is at the plate? Nolan Ryan

Answer 5

Absolutely Howard. As someone else pointed out he is the least experienced. Beyond that, with one out you want the maximum chance for a strikeout and/or a double play. That clearly rules out Pujols and Jeter, and anyone who knows anything about Ortiz knows he is the most clutch hitter of the group.

Answer 6

Depends on the importance of the game. If it is the playoffs or the world series I would go with a lefty with the exception of facing ICHIRO. Baseball is such a situational game you leave a lot possibilities with this scenario. I think you would really have to consider someone who has a good strike out pitch and pitches low in the zone to get a ground out. Put your infielders back. Off the top of my head I think a guy like Scott Eyre because he is a lefty and has some heat and pitches low in the zone with good command.

Answer 7

You need someone who is a great sinkerball pitcher to come in and try to get a double play. If I'm Joe Torre and the playoff's are on the line. Game 7 of the ALCS. I'm going to assume that all of the good relievers have been used already and we're down to a couple of guys in the pen and the starters who didn't start this game. I'd put in Wang to try for the double play.

Answer 8

First, you are obviously talking about being the visiting team.

If you're talking about any pitcher at all, I'd say Jack Morris, who ought to already be in the HOF. There is no one, NO ONE, who has been a more fierce competitor with the game on the line.

Answer 9

In the 2005 ALDS the White Sox had the bases loaded with no outs and brought in El Duque. He induced two pop-ups from Jason Varitek and Tony Graffino and then struck out Johhny Damon. It was a work of art. A lot of people questioned putting Hernandez on the roster, but he came through. Thanks for letting me relive that moment through your hypothetical. I will go with El Duque, just because of that!

Answer 10

Ortiz- Duaner Sanchez
Pujols- Mariano Rivera
Howard- Duaner Sanchez
Jeter- Wakefield
Ichiro- Nobody, its doesn't matter who pitches, this guy is gonna make contact no matter what and it really depends on what infield you have in which case i take the Mets infield.

Answer 11

Trevor Hoffman