MLB: Hitters and Pitchers do the Switcheroo

This past weekend had its share of uniqueness in MLB

Over the weekend, we saw some things of the “Cant Predict Baseball” Variety.  When you get extra innings or blowouts, you are always bound to see something weird.  Well Weird MLB was plentiful this weekend as we saw a number of things ranging from atypical to awe inspiring.

There will always be some sort of tension between hitters and pitchers when it comes their respective roles on a baseball team.  The Pitchers prevent runs from scoring, The Hitters create the runs.  When one side doesn’t hold up their side of the bargain (think of this year’s Red Sox), it can cause problems.  This weekend provided us two examples of players doing the opposite of their designated role.  More broadly, it just proves how talented MLB players are.

Enter Nationals’ OF Gerardo Parra, who has been known to have a cannon in the OF.  With the Nets down big in their game against the Diamondbacks, Parra was summoned to the mound.

Simply put, Parra was not good by any measure in his outing, walking a bunch and giving up a bunch of runs.  That said, the OF turn mop up pitcher did hit 92 on the gun which was a hit amongst those looking on in the dugout.  92 is still no joke though.  There are legitimate MLB pitchers who have success at that velocity and Parra came out pumping it even though he hadn’t pitched in nearly two decades.  He was at least a good sport about it, saying this after the game.

"“I tried, I tried,” Parra said with a big smile on his face. “I’m happy I got back to the mound. It didn’t go like I wanted, but I’m still happy. First time in the big leagues. So this is big for me.”"

Position Players Pitching has become a more common event in today’s game but what about when Pitchers are forced to be positions players.  We got that this past weekend when Vince Velasquez turned in the performance of the year in LF.  The Phillies were seeking to acquire an OF at the deadline and they did in Corey Dickerson. Little did they know, they had the solution to their OF woes already on the roster.  Velasquez put his ROCKET on display when he threw an absolute strike to home to nab a helpless White Sox runner who was just trying to end a game that had already gone on long enough.

Now maybe they should have applied a bit more common sense.  Vince Velasquez is an MLB pitcher who brings an above average fastball to the mound and this throw equates to little more than long toss in warm ups.

Where it really gets impressive is this play right here.

Gold Glove defense right there from Velasquez.  A sinking line drive directly at an OF is one of the hardest  plays in all of baseball since you don’t get the perspective of seeing it from the side.

MLB players are insanely talented.