Pitchers running the bases? Sounds crazy

As a fan of an American League baseball team, one of the more enjoyable qualities of… As a fan of an American League baseball team, one of the more enjoyable qualities of interleague play is watching pitchers hit.

It’s amusing to see what each pitcher’s approach is.

Some actually look like they’ve swung a bat before, while others just fling their bats at the ball or stand in the batter’s box with no intention of swinging.

Perhaps it’s just fun to watch professional athletes so unsure of themselves when we’re so used to the quiet confidence or cockiness that we normally see.

While pitchers contain the ability to throw a ball around 90 miles per hour and can make it drop, curve or slide on a dime, if you put a bat in their hands, it doesn’t turn out so pretty.

In fact, most might as well close their eyes, thrust their arms forward and hope for the best.

It’s completely understandable that since pitchers on American League teams don’t bat because of the designated hitter, there’s no need for them to work on their swing or take batting practice. But it’s hitting.

And without question, hitting is one of the three most important aspects of baseball.

It’s just part of the attraction to watching a baseball player, or any athlete really, outside of his comfort zone. What I don’t like, though, is when a player is injured doing something he doesn’t normally do.

Such was the case on June 15, when the Chien-Ming Wang of the Yankees hurt his foot while running the bases. Wang, the Yankees’ ace, is expected to be out until at least September.

One of the Yankees owners, Hank Steinbrenner, was not too pleased with his top starter being injured either and, a few days after the injury, let the world know what he thought of pitchers hitting.

“The National League needs to join the 21st century,” said Steinbrenner to the Associated Press after the injury.

Of course. It’s clearly the National League’s fault that Wang injured himself running the bases.

What was the league thinking when it didn’t tell Wang that occasionally the base path curves and in order to score a run you might have to turn every now and then?

“I’ve got my pitchers running the bases, and one of them gets hurt,” added Steinbrenner.

“He’s going to be out. I don’t like that, and it’s about time they address it. That was a rule from the 1800s.”

If nothing more than an amusing quote, Steinbrenner does bring up the issue of whether or not the National League should still have pitchers hit or adopt the designated hitter.

The National League is thought of by many as the purer of the two leagues. Pitchers hit, managers make double switches, and the game goes on. That’s how it’s always been, and it might be how it always will be.

Now maybe the National League shouldn’t adopt the designated hitter, but that doesn’t mean it still can’t make a few changes. Maybe implement them next year during interleague play as a trial and go from there. If this happens, we won’t have to listen to any suit-figures complaining about the game.

Here we go.

The first new rule, to make sure more injuries like the one to Wang don’t happen, is simple. Pitchers should be allowed to round the bases on roller skates. They’ll of course have to wear wrist guards and knee pads, but it would be a much safer alternative to actually running.

The next rule could help as well. If the manager wants a pinch runner in the game for a pitcher, that runner must be handcuffed to the pitcher and drag him around the bases. Unlike the pitcher, the pinch runner won’t be on roller skates, mostly because that would just make no sense.

There’s more.

If a pitcher opts to wear a jacket while running the bases to keep warm, he should also wear oven mitts on both hands.

And lastly, if a pitcher is injured while running the bases, he has to spend all his time on the disabled list with the team.

He shouldn’t be allowed to wear his uniform, though. He should wear a track uniform and practice with running shoes. Well, a running shoe on one foot and a boot on the injured foot.

Maybe then all the pitchers would learn.