During the regular season, using a position player to pitch during a complete blowout seems to have become the norm. It makes sense, seeing as the managers want to save the arms in their bullpens for a closer game in the future, but there is question as to whether or not it should be done in the postseason and what it does to the integrity of the game.

Since 2012, the number of position players pitching has steadily risen as each year has passed. In 2014, the number reached 20 position players and by Sept. 12, 2017 the number had reached an all-time high of 35.

This season, the number continued to rise, as was documented by Cut4 on Twitter.

The official number during the 2018 regular season was tallied at 48 different position players taking the hill. Altogether, they recorded an ERA of 11.78, walked 31 batters, and struck out 22.

In the case of a blowout, it definitely makes sense to use a position player instead of tiring out an arm in the bullpen. Why waste a reliever when you’re down by 10 in the later innings?

For some position players, it’s something they want to try at least once, so it works out that the manager gets another arm. However, there are some possible downsides to using a position player on the mound.

The biggest risk, of course, is the possibility of injury. The position players generally don’t throw in the same style or speed as the pitchers do.

If they try to throw it too hard or in a way their arm isn’t accustomed to, they could tear something or do some other kind of damage, though it’s unlikely. For the most part, they keep it on the slower side and lob the ball to the catchers to preserve their arms.

There’s also the risk of a line drive coming back at them hot off the bat and hitting them. That risk goes for anyone on the mound, but pitchers are slightly more accustomed to that possibility.

Of course, when a position player is somewhere in the infield, a line drive is still possible, but it would usually take a little longer to get there, giving them more time to react.

Regardless of the pros and cons, a position player pitching has, without a doubt, become one of the most enticing – and entertaining – parts of a blowout or long extra-inning game for fans.

For some teams it works out, but others aren’t as fortunate and the lead continues to mount, or the game is lost in extras. However, saving arms in the bullpen and/or avoiding having to use a starting pitcher in relief usually outweighs the rare loss brought on by a position player pitching.

In most cases, a position player is called upon pitch in a lopsided blowout game. Such was not the case on July 24, 2018, when Dodgers super-utility Kiké Hernandez was called in to pitch in the 16th inning of a 4-4 ballgame against the Philadelphia Phillies, with whom that had another game a short eight hours later. It was Kiké’s first – and only – pitching appearance and left catcher as the only position he has yet to play. Oh … he ended up losing that game on a three-run walk-off home run by Phillies third baseman Trevor Plouffe.
(Photo credit – Hunter Martin)

Now the big question to be answered: Should position players pitch during the postseason?

In the case of Monday night’s Boston Red Sox – New York Yankees game, the very first cycle in postseason history was completed by Boston’s Brock Holt while a position player was on the hill. Yankees back-up catcher, Austin Romine came in to pitch the ninth with his team down 14-2 and with another American League Division Series game to be played the next night.

This was just the second time in postseason history that a position player has come in to pitch.

Romine quickly recorded two outs before walking Ian Kinsler and bringing Holt up to the plate for the sixth time that night. On the first pitch of the at bat, Holt launched his cycle-clinching home run down the right field line.

Red Sox second baseman Brock Holt became the first player in MLB history to hit for the cycle during a postseason game, doing so on this two-run home run off of Yankees back-up catcher Austin Romine in the top of the ninth inning of Game-3 of the ALDS. (Photo credit – Frank Franklin II)

Some fans believe that it isn’t the same as hitting a home run off of an actual pitcher. They believe that the position player doesn’t have the same strength and skill of regular pitchers, so it taints the sanctity of the accomplishment.

Others believe that who is on the mound doesn’t matter and that it’s up to the batter to have the ability to see the pitch and take it deep.

In my honest opinion, I don’t see why not.

The manager is making a choice to reserve his pitchers for the next game, which is without question more important than the already lost cause. This next game could potentially eliminate the Yankees, so of course they would want to put their best out on the mound instead of wasting them during a blowout loss.

I guess in the situation of a long extra inning game, it would simply depend on the importance of the game. If it’s playoffs, it might be worth going to the bullpen or putting in a starter. Otherwise, why not give the pitching arms a rest and give the fans what they want.

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(Editor’s note: The Yankees lost Game-4 of the ALDS by a score of 4-3 and were indeed eliminated).