Pitcher batting in the 8 hole?

[Cappinpicks]

LA russa just cost the cards a run, 2nd and 3rd 1 out he has pitcher bat

[soxwin]

He has been doing this for years. There are a few strategical advantages to having pitcher bat 8th

1. You have a legit hitter and runner batting in front leadoff guy so this gives albert Pujols as many chances as possible to come up with bases loaded or multiple runners on base.

2. When pitcher is mowing the hitters down in order early, pitcher is 2nd batter in 3rd inning giving him some rest before going back out to the mound

[gryfyn1]

LA russa just cost the cards a run, 2nd and 3rd 1 out he has pitcher bat

Actually, having you pitcher batting 8th instead of 9th improves a teams chances to win The Book show that despite the extra atbats given to the 8th hitter over the 9th, the benefit of having a better hitter before your 1 and 2 hitters is worth a couple of extra runs per year,

[No coincidences]

You obviously don't pay much attention to baseball.

[thebayareabeast]

I don't like the move at all.

[Hawk007]

Just like LaRussa changing his batting order every other game, doesn't make sense.

[eatdust11]

Luckily for him... Adam Wainwright is just ridiculously good on the mound... great run he has going