In a blowout between the Yankees and the Indians today, busted third base prospect Andy Marte threw the ninth inning for Cleveland. He set the Yankees down 1-2-3, and even struck out Nick Swisher swinging. What did manager Manny Acta have to say about the spectacle after the game?
"Some people may find it funny, but it’s not funny to me," Acta said. "I did it because we had to. I feel that looks like a mockery of the game. The people who pay their money don’t deserve to watch a position player pitch."
Let's get one thing straight, Manny - the people who pay their money don't deserve to watch a blowout. But the people who pay their money and get a blowout very much deserve to watch a position player pitch. I don't think it's an exaggeration on my part to say that seeing a position player pitch is literally the only thing that can make a blowout loss entertaining in an instant. Who do you think those Indians fans in attendance would've rather seen? An inning from third baseman Andy Marte, or a second inning from some guy named Jess Todd?
Blowouts aren't fun. Watching blowouts isn't fun. Even when you're winning. But when you're losing, it's just the absolute worst. They drag, and if you're me, you spend the whole game debating whether this'll be the first time in your life you leave a game early. If you stick around to watch the rest of a blowout, it's because, deep down, you hold some glimmer of hope that something will happen that will make it all worthwhile. And watching a position player pitch is one of the only things that can make it all worthwhile.
Shame on you, Manny Acta, for coming down on one of baseball's greatest occasions. Position players pitching is awesome. Hell, given your pitching staff's collective 1.5 K/BB, you might want to consider trying out a few more of your infielders. God knows they couldn't really do a lot worse.
(Be you warned, for here there be .gifs)
8 recs | 57 comments
A FUCKIN MEN
Dewey N - July 29, 2010
Look at him!
That’s not what he’s supposed to be doing at all!
Why, this is ever so strange!
Jeff Sullivan - July 29, 2010
Position players pitching is awesome and all
But I think seeing Jon Rauch play shortstop would be the greatest experience an impartial fan could have during a game.
Is there any way you can make this happen for me
Dewey N - July 29, 2010
Probably
Jeff Sullivan - July 30, 2010
Brooks Kieshnick was an abomination.
JY - July 30, 2010
Aaron Miles has pitched a few times for the Cardinals if I'm not mistaken
Fuzz - July 30, 2010
I find it funny
That Manny Acta is concerned that having a position player pitch makes a mockery of the game in respect to the paying public. Of course, he says nothing about the mockery to the game in respect to the opposing team.
Baseball is entertainment. Position players pitching is entertaining. Paying public is satisfied.
ThundaPC - July 29, 2010
That is the usual comment manager make, along with playing their best players in a meaningless game at the end of the season.
msb - July 30, 2010
As if Swisher weren't already one of my favorite players years ago,
he has now struck out a professional hitter and been struck out by a professional hitter.
Teej - July 30, 2010
Now he just needs to leave Twitter and he will be the greatest Yankee of all time
Jeff Sullivan - July 30, 2010
Exactly.
I refuse to follow him. Don’t want to ruin it.
Teej - July 30, 2010
.
Teej - July 30, 2010
I have a new respect for Swisher now.
Either he’s Nostradamus, or the guy does his studying.
MTSea - July 30, 2010
I imagine the scene went down like this.
Jose Molina: So, what, just down the middle right?
Swisher: No no! I want to do this right? What’s the scouting report on Kapler?
Molina: Haha! Such a kidder. Ok, so just don’t slip on the rosin bag or anything and we can go home.
Swisher: I’m 100% serious. I can get this guy!
Molina: /eyeroll
JAH - July 30, 2010
Joe Inglett for the Brewers might have been even more hilarious
Not only is he a position player, he threw six pitches on Tuesday for the Brewers, all ‘knuckleballs’ (really just astoundingly slow fastballs but the pitch f/x couldn’t figure that out) between 51 and 56mph. Naturally, it was a 1-2-3 inning as the hitters hit them easily but right at fielders. Sadly, I can’t seem to find video.
Ken Macha, who must like Manny Acta and not like fun, called position players pitching ‘embarrassing’ last week but clearly had no problem being embarrassed when he was getting blown out.
Gihyou - July 30, 2010
Here you go
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=10344473
craig3410 - July 30, 2010
Love Marte's pitching motion.
JonBBT - July 30, 2010
He looks like he's doing some sort of pelvic thrust while the pitch is still on it's way to the plate
And that’s alright in my book.
OlSalty - July 30, 2010
I have now watched the .gif about 45 times.
I can honestly say, each time I laughed uncontrollably. No, it wasn’t the beer talking, nor was it the novelty of a position player pitching. What made that moment priceless was Swisher’s reaction after getting K’d. GMZ is all about roster flexibility, seems like Marte is a prime trade candidate.
MTSea - July 30, 2010
I think managerial types don't always like Swisher for the same reason we love him
He’s completely aware of — and unafraid to acknowledge — how ridiculous and fun baseball ultimately can be. Makes him completely relatable for us, but “unserious” about the game to guys like Kenny Williams and Ozzie Guillen.
esoteric - July 30, 2010
I hope Rick Ankiel has to take the mound once more.
Maybe he would be over his control issues.
houseofprime - July 30, 2010
This reminds me of John Mabry pitching in 2000
And how awesome it made an otherwise dreadful game to attend
seattlecougar - July 30, 2010
I love position players pitching, and I wished it happened more often.
Curse you, Jose Canseco!
EnglishMariner - July 30, 2010
In defense of Acta
I am pretty sure he to a degree meant that people don’t want to see a blowout. They pay to watch a good game. Sure, in a blowout, they can get their jollies watching a position player pitch, to relieve the boredom. But it isn’t funny to him, sure. It’s a blowout. He has to risk injuring a position player (ha ha, look at Marte, isn’t that a weird motion). Sure, they are their to entertain, but they’re competitive professionals. That’s one of the selling points. You want comedy, you can find it sure enough, and great plays, or watch a young pitcher you haven’t seen before surprise you with his stuff. If you want intentional buffoonery, go watch the Globetrotters…or the 1919 Black Sox. You might find it funny. I sure do. But Manny Acta is paid well to compete After a blowout, I can imagine him not being in a laughing mood.
wobatus - July 30, 2010
Absolutely correct.
Jose Canseco is the earliest memory of a position player pitching. He did not disappoint and I fell in love with these moments from that time on.
Wilder. - July 30, 2010
It's pretty obvious Manny Acta cares about the sanctity of baseball.
If we allow same-position match-ups in an at-bat, then what next? Players throwing ducks at balloons?
ThomasG - July 30, 2010
I hope Ichiro pitches in like his last year or something.
SeaKoala - July 30, 2010
It would be a wonderful thing to do on the last game of his last season.
msb - July 30, 2010
Fuck that, I want him to *start* in the last game of his last season.
craig3410 - July 30, 2010
Choo too.
westbrook - July 30, 2010
Ever sense his bomb
I have always wanted Felix to DH.
SeattExPat - July 30, 2010
Didn't he sprain an ankle running to home that game?
Yes, he did. I don’t want to repeat that.
philosofool - July 30, 2010
Yeah but that was on defense.
SeattExPat - July 30, 2010
He sprained his ankle getting run over by Carlos Beltran.
Graham MacAree - July 30, 2010
Carlos Beltran must have an aura of injury around him. It even affects people who get too close to him.
nathaniel dawson - July 30, 2010
Gary Gaetti pitching is probably the best thing I have ever seen at a baseball game
His fastball broke 80
Poochie - July 30, 2010
Didn't Tony Pena Jr throw like 91 when he tossed an inning for the Royals?
seattlebruin - July 30, 2010
Isn't he being converted into a pitcher right now?
Poochie - July 30, 2010
Indeed
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=pena—001ton
Jeff Sullivan - July 30, 2010
AA went well!
Poochie - July 30, 2010
Then he dropped an absolute dime on Pudge.
What a breaking ball.
abender20 - July 30, 2010
I seem to recall Jamie Burke pitching once.
flashbeak - July 30, 2010 via mobile
If you didn't recall it before, looking at the picture of Burke pitching (above) would jog your memory.
marc w - July 30, 2010
Sorry, I am on my phone and can't see any photos or GIFs.
flashbeak - July 30, 2010 via mobile
What to people think of Sergio Santos pitching? Initially funny, like Ben Davis pitching in the FSL, but not funny anymore? Still funny?
I still find it really cool, though admittedly less cool after he sliced through the M’s line-up last series. He’ll always be a shortstop to me, I guess.
marc w - July 30, 2010
Will always be kind of cool, like Rafael Soriano, but the humor goes away when they start to look like they know what they're doing
Jeff Sullivan - July 30, 2010
Like Tony Pena
That wasn’t funny. That was interesting.
Jeff Sullivan - July 30, 2010
I think it's cooler if they're very close to the majors/got to the majors and then switch
Raffy Soriano couldn’t hit in rookie league, so I had no memory of him as a position player.
We’ll have to see how Brian Anderson’s transition goes…
marc w - July 30, 2010
Like Ron Mahay?
Poochie - July 30, 2010
Exactly like Ron Mahay.
marc w - July 30, 2010
I was the clubhouse manager for the rookie A-ball team Santos first went to when signed in 2002.
Dude had ridiculous power. He hit one ball in particular that we walked off somewhere between 470-480 feet.
I had assumed he was out of baseball by now with not hearing anything about him, and then saw the game earlier this year against the M’s where he pitched.
Pretty cool that a guy can change up his game that much and be that good.
BigR - July 30, 2010
I addition to the blowout, I was having a pretty shitty day—this and my fav episode of Arrested Development took care of that.
westbrook - July 30, 2010
The subject line is your friend.
scottg02 - July 30, 2010
I wanna see Adrian Beltre pitch. Leg kick, stride, then dead stop before he fires the ball sidearm to the plate.
JonBBT - July 30, 2010
I'm sure the Cleveland fans...
enjoyed watching Marte pitch more than they enjoy watching Manny Acta manage.
zeeehjee - July 30, 2010
I'm sure they enjoyed watching Marte pitch more than they've 'enjoyed' watching him try to hit for the past 3 years.
marc w - July 30, 2010
I remember when Scott Maynard was trying to pick up the knuckleball.
JY - July 30, 2010
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