Out of Position: The Responsibility of Position Players Pitching
You may have seen an uptick in position players taking the mound in MLB. Krebs’ latest Friday MLB Column explores the thought process behind the blowout trend and how managers utilize the concept in the big leagues.
Completing a task requires a degree of cohesion and belief. Sport is the bedrock of communication and teamwork, which can include a focus on a goal, or in some cases, extreme fun. The Savannah Bananas are an extreme of what a fun baseball team looks like, with new and innovative rules that seek to transition baseball from the seriousness of years past. While it is unlikely to see Major League Baseball adopt “Banana Ball” that has come to iconize the Savannah Bananas, MLB does have a wackier component with position player pitching. While the universal Designated Hitter may have gone by the wayside, there is not much the league can do to prevent managers from putting a position player on the mound. The concept of the position player pitching is an element of baseball unlikely to see modification and creates an attempt to make Major League Baseball fun.
A sign of a manager giving up on their team in the later innings includes sending out a position player to pitch. While some may argue that a manager is trying to save bullpen arms for the remainder of the series, giving the ball to a position player is the baseball equivalent of putting up a white flag and conceding. To some hard-nosed baseball players and fans, making baseball fun is a sign of weakness for team members hoping to maximize their time in the big leagues by winning a championship.
In some circumstances, having a position player on the mound allows players to do something never done before, in the case of future Cardinals retirees Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, creating a legendary and iconic moment for everyone watching. Managers must consider before throwing a position player out there.
Managers must recognize which situations call for light-hearted versus more bound moments and allow the entire clubhouse to bond together as a team. Understanding personalities is part of the job and creating a culture where some expect the best from everyone but still with enjoyable circumstances. Taking the necessary steps to keep team members on the same page should be the first action taken by managers when handed the reins.
Championship teams balance fun and on-field contributions to create a baseball product everyone can believe in. Understanding and respecting players for who they are, both on the field and off, allows for better integration of culture to achieve team goals. Position players pitching should not be commonplace but remain a moment that everyone involved can make memorable in the unremarkable.
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