D-backs pitcher hits 8th in batting order for 2nd time in team history
PHOENIX -- For the second time in Arizona Diamondbacks' history, a pitcher will bat eighth in the order. Rookie righty Archie Bradley was moved ahead of shortstop Nick Ahmed on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers, but D-backs manager Chip Hale didn't make the decision as any grand statement.
He simply wants more opportunity for Paul Goldschmidt to knock in runs from his third spot in the order.
"Just trying to get some more guys on in front of Goldy, is what it comes down to. Maybe it allows Nick to see some different pitches, being behind Archie instead of being in front of him. Archie can swing the bat a little bit. You always want to do it with a pitcher you feel like can handle the bat and do some things," Hale said.
The first time an Arizona pitcher batted eighth came in 2008, when Bob Melvin bumped up Micah Owings -- a star hitter in college.
"He did it not trying to change the game," Hale said. "They were struggling to get guys on in front of Pujols at the time."
The bottom of the D-backs' order on Wednesday includes four players -- Aaron Hill (5), Chris Owings (6), Bradley (8) and Ahmed (9) -- hitting below .200 on the year.
Bradley's limited duty of six at-bats includes one hit, and Hale sees the former dual-threat high school quarterback recruit as a good enough athlete to become a decent hitter down the road.
Tonight's #Dbacks lineup vs. Rangers: Inciarte LF Pollock CF Goldschmidt 1B Trumbo RF Hill 3B Owings 2B Gosewisch C Bradley P Ahmed SS
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 22, 2015
Looking at the swap more under the microscope, it could be viewed as a boost to Ahmed, who has been a game-changer at shortstop but not at the plate, where he's hitting .122 with 14 strikeouts and five hits in 41 at-bats. Ahmed's first RBI of the year came Tuesday, when he got enough of the bat on ball for a sacrifice fly. It was the D-backs' only score in the 7-1 loss.
"We need a little more contact, we need better plate discipline from him, and he knows that," Hale said of Ahmed. "It's something that doesn't come overnight. He's done it before. He's had tough starts in Triple-A and Double-A and made marked improvements after the first month. We're looking for the same thing."
It doesn't help Ahmed find confidence when teams pitch around him with runners on base. On Saturday, the Giants did so to face pitcher Rubby De La Rosa.
While this arrangement is a rarity for the Diamondbacks, it has been used extensively this season by the team's Triple-A affiliate. Reno batted the pitcher eighth in the first nine games of the year, with outfielder Evan Marzilli, who is hitting .300, in the ninth spot. The Aces have gone away from that look since Marzilli was injured and placed on the 7-day disabled list.
The D-backs find themselves in a different situation. According to Hale, they likely won't go to this lineup option unless they have a decent-hitting pitcher in play.
"We'll see how it goes tonight," Hale said. "Just wanted a little change of pace."
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