It just doesn’t look right at first.
The guy who was just peeking over his shoulder at first base and hurling the ball 93 mph from the mound is awkwardly swinging the bat in the on-deck circle. Then he’s trying to appear comfortable in the batter’s box before he takes a few good hacks at his counterpart’s offering.
Pitchers are supposed to pitch and hitters are supposed to hit, proponents of the American League and its designated hitter system argue.
But there’s something compelling about watching a pitcher get the opportunity to help his own cause with a swing of the bat. When a pitcher gets on base, it feels like you’ve witnessed something special. When a pitcher smacks a home run, you really have seen something special. On Wednesday night, John Lackey went 2-for-3 with a single and double and got the chance to touch home plate in the sixth inning, helping to put his team ahead. He doesn’t get that chance outside of the away games during interleague play.
Pitchers are supposed to pitch, but it’s cool to watch them do what batters can’t, from time to time, and figure out how to hit the opposing pitcher.
So which is it? As Jimmy from Springfield, Mass., wants to know, do you like seeing pitchers hit?
