Forgive my ignorance, but what is a pitchers' duel? Does it have something to do with the idea that pitchers aren't good at bat, or is it something else? Thanks!


(P.S. I'm asking because a game show host used to use this phrase, and I need to know what it means for a quiz I'm writing.)

It refers to a baseball game where there is very little offense. This means that few batters reach base, usually due to strikeouts. All of the "offense" is done by the pitchers, who are essentially "dueling" it out with each other.

How are batters "offense" in that sense? As I understand the rules of baseball, the only way to score is by crossing home plate.

By offense I mean hitting the ball, walking...just getting on base. Most teams follow the "get 'em on, get 'em over, get 'em in" philosophy. You first have to get on base. That's the "offense".

Technically the team hitting is the "offense" and the fielding team is the "defense". The pitchers and catchers are part of the "battery" and it is harder to define them as "offense" or "defense". A pitcher's duel just means the batters hardly every reach base. It's like a game of catch between the pitcher and the catcher.

And you're correct, the only way to score a run is to safely cross home plate, but that doesn't mean getting a single, double, triple, walk, hit by pitch, fielder's choice, or stolen base isn't "offense".

Actually I misspoke. I meant to ask, "How are PITCHERS offense in that sense?" I do understand that any way a batter crosses home plate gets the point. I'm not that clueless.

That's okay

Like I said, it's hard to put a name to what the pitchers are, because they're on the defensive team, but they're throwing pitches essentially "attacking" the plate, which could be considered "offense". Does that make sense?

In a National League (NL) park, a pitcher can be "offense" as they bat as well. In an American League (AL) park, pitchers only pitch.

As there are two teams in Missouri (this forthcoming was the case in Texas until this season when Houston jumped to the AL), when the Royals and Cardinals play one another, if they play in Kansas City as they are an AL team, the pitchers solely pitch, while if they play in St. Louis, an NL team, then both pitchers bat.

kaddarsgirl: have you thought about joining the MLB tipping comp?

I didn't know one existed...

We've had one in the Tipping Comps forum for the last 10 or so years.

Think of a duel as two gunslingers facing off against each other in the town square. Impose the measure of success in the duel as who allows the least offense by the opposing team. A pitchers' duel is then a game in which both pitchers are shutting down the offensive capabilities of the other team. These are becoming a rare event in today's game which usually is managed with a succession of pitchers. Teams try to limit the number of pitches thrown by their guy. Usually 100 pitches is good limit. Then relief pitchers are brought in and then the closer. Sometimes these journeymen performers combine to deliver outcomes like shutouts and are then considered to have combined in a duel. Back to the top, you might think of that situation likened to the shootout at the OK Coral.
Some of the greatest 'duels' by pitchers in modern times were those between the San Francisco Giants pitcher, Juan Marichal, and either of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers, Sandy Kofax or Don Drysdale. Those games were usually ended in a final score of 1 to 0 and many were in the books with neither side generating more than one or two base runners. Several of the games resulted in no-hitters. Through the 1990s, anyone whose pitcher went against the Atlanta Braves pitching staff of Maddox, Glavin and Smoltz and limited the Braves to 2 or fewer runs was said to have engaged in a pitchers' duel.

His name is Sandy Koufax, mehaul.

He played basketball and baseball for my university back in the 1950s. He was the greatest baseball player to every come from UC. In more recent years, though, UC did graduate Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox/White Sox) in 2001, and Tony Campana (Chicago Cubs/Arizona Diamondbacks) and Josh Harrison (Pittsburgh Pirates) in 2008. I missed seeing Tony and Josh play at UC by mere months, as I began attending UC in September 2008.

Youkilis is now thirdbaseman for the Yankees!

To better understand pitchers' duel perhaps it will help to know that the opposite event is called: a slug fest, where no matter who the pitchers are, the batters give definition to their name by battering the baseball and scoring many runs.

When did Youkilis leave the White Sox for the Yankees?! I hadn't heard.

Last December in a free agent contract, "Youk", part of the record three Jewish Red Sox players (with Stern and Kapler) on the field at the same time in August 2005 to set an American League record, signed a big deal with the Yankees who were in need of replacing Alex Rodriguez who had suffered a broken hip and, coupled with a steroid use revelation, may never don a uniform again.
Youkilis looks very different now while complying with the Yankees no facial hair policy.

They have a policy for that? Is it something to do with wind resistance?

Yes, ozzz, the Yankees forbid ALL facial hair. When Johnny Damon played there, he looked odd!

Even though we remember Johnny Damon most for his long haired bushy bearded Red Sox days. With most teams he was with he was clean shaven, or with the Rays he had the 3 day stubble going.