Saturday, April 5, 2008

Last Position Players to Pitch by Team

UPDATE: I've posted a table through May 6, 2009 here.

It's always notable when a position player takes the mound for an inning or two. Usually it only happens in blowouts when a manager wants to save the other arms in the bullpen for another day. While it hasn't happened yet this season, six position players on four different teams toed the rubber at some point in 2007 (Can you name them? Answers at the end of the post). For this post I looked up the last position players to pitch for every team. Surprisingly, three of the four teams that have gone the longest without using a position player on the mound play in the National League.

Last Position Player to Pitch by Team

TeamNameDate
Arizona DiamondbacksJeff Cirillo8-20-2007
Atlanta BravesJohn Russell6-25-1989
Baltimore OriolesManny Alexander4-19-1996
Boston Red SoxDavid McCarty10-3-2004
Chicago CubsGary Gaetti7-3-1999
Chicago White SoxDave Martinez8-4-1995
Cincinnati RedsLenny Harris6-1-1998
Cleveland IndiansTim Laker4-20-2004
Colorado RockiesTodd Zeile9-14-2002
Detroit TigersShane Halter10-1-2000
Florida MarlinsJason Wood6-29-2007
Houston AstrosTim Bogar6-24-2000
Kansas City RoyalsShane Halter7-17-1998
Los Angeles AngelsChili Davis6-17-1993
Los Angeles DodgersRobin Ventura6-25-2004
Milwaukee BrewersTrent Durrington4-17-2004
Minnesota TwinsJohn Moses7-31-1990
New York MetsTodd Zeile7-26-2004
New York YankeesWade Boggs8-19-1997
Oakland AthleticsFrank Menechino7-18-2000
Philadelphia PhilliesTomas Perez5-13-2002
Pittsburgh PiratesAbraham Nunez5-30-2004
San Diego PadresSean Burroughs9-20-2005
Seattle MarinersJohn Mabry5-28-2000
San Francisco GiantsGreg Litton7-4-1991
St. Louis CardinalsAaron Miles9-20-2007
Tampa Bay RaysJosh Wilson6-8-2007
Texas RangersScott Sheldon9-6-2000
Toronto Blue JaysFrank Menechino8-28-2004
Washington NationalsJunior Noboa7-20-1990*

* - Fellow position player Dave Martinez pitched right before Noboa in the same game.

I wonder which team will have a position player pitch first this season. The Braves already got creative by having a pitcher play the outfield (Chris Resop on April 4) for one batter, but it's been almost twenty years since a position player pitched for them.

As promised, the six position players to pitch last season:
  • Jeff Cirillo - Arizona Diamondbacks
  • Aaron Miles - St. Louis Cardinals
  • Augie Ojeda - Arizona Diamondbacks
  • Scott Spiezio - St. Louis Cardinals
  • Josh Wilson - Tampa Bay Devil Rays
  • Jason Wood - Florida Marlins

2 comments:

Eugene said...

Time for an update HAHA.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9453156/Rays-pound-Yanks-so-bad-that-Swisher-pitches#

Anonymous said...

Change Cincinnati's to Paul Janish as of May 6, 2009