Two-Minute Men: Thome, Giambi Bring 995 Homers to Pinch-Hitting Role

At some point this October, Tony La Russa or Charlie Manuel is going to want to bring in one of his top right-handed relief pitchers, but he's going to look in the other dugout and see Jim Thome or Jason Giambi holding a bat, and he may think twice.

And then maybe he'll think of Matt Stairs. With one rib-jarring swing last October, a pinch-hit two-run homer that led the Phillies to a victory over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the NLCS, Stairs left an impression that proved to the Dodgers and Rockies how important one at-bat can be.

"Even if you are only winning one or two games, that can be a difference," said Mark Sweeney, a Dodgers coach and one of baseball's all-time most successful pinch-hitters. "Obviously, what Matt Stairs did to us was huge. Even if it doesn't happen, there is that threat, and that definitely plays into a manager's head."

The Dodgers answered by acquiring Thome from the White Sox just before the Aug. 31 deadline for postseason eligibility. Thome, 39, is a likely Hall of Famer who has hit 564 homers in the regular season and 17 more in the playoffs.

The Rockies signed Giambi after he was released by the A's. Giambi, 38, is a former MVP and a seven-time All-Star. He's hit 407 regular season homers, seven more in the playoffs.

That's 995 homers between two players whose job now is to get in the game for about two minutes a day.

"You just hope that two minutes is fun," Thome said.

Both players had been regulars, mostly at DH, throughout their careers, but they chose to play out this season in this ultra-specific role. Thome had to approve the trade, and he did so knowing that he's physically unable to play first base and there's no DH in the National League. Giambi had a choice of a few teams after the A's released him. He said he could have signed with the Rays and started some games at DH, but he instead chose a pinch-hitting gig with the Rockies.

Both players said they were willing to accept such a limited role in exchange for the chance to play in October.

"Winning was ultimately the reason," Thome said. "We've got a very nice club. We've had some success. To get the opportunity to go to the postseason was very intriguing."

But how effective can the players be in this new role? Although you often hear that being a DH is like pinch-hitting four times a game, it's really not. There is nothing like pinch-hitting.

"I'm trying to learn it," Thome said. "I just try to do a lot of listening and watching. There is no better experience than actually getting out there and doing it. I have a lot of respect for guys that have done it. That's for sure."

Thome is lucky to have two of the best right in the Dodgers clubhouse. Sweeney had 175 career pinch-hits, second only to Lenny Harris (212). Manny Mota, the Babe Ruth of pinch-hitters, is also a Dodgers coach. Mota was one of the first to make a name for himself as a pinch-hitter, and his record of 150 pinch-hits stood for more than 20 years.

Of course, Sweeney and Mota were mostly slap hitters who came to the plate looking to knock a base hit somewhere to start a rally or extend one. Thome and Giambi are sluggers.

"His job up there is to take more chances," Sweeney said of Thome. "I had to really grind at-bats. He knows he's a difference-maker when it comes to that."


Sweeney also said he's counseled Thome on how he will be pitched differently in his new role: "I told him he's going to get two-strike pitches right off the bat. They aren't going to flip him an easy breaking ball because they expect him to be on the fastball."

Giambi said he's talked to Stairs, a former teammate from Oakland. Stairs, 41, represents the hybrid, a pinch-hitting specialist with power. He has 19 regular season pinch-hit homers, second most all-time to Gates Brown, who had 20. Last year he hit .333 as a pinch-hitter in the regular season.

"Matty always was good at it," Giambi said. "He always had that approach where he saw a pitch to hit and didn't read too much into it. 'I'm going to look for a pitch and swing as hard as I can.' He's been great."

Stairs said that Thome and Giambi are both well-equipped to handle the job.

"They are both quiet hitters," Stairs told FanHouse's Ed Price. "They are both so strong the way they approach the baseball, just see the ball and react, which makes it a lot easier."

Attitude is also critical, Stairs said. The fact that Giambi and Thome each volunteered for this job gives them a better chance to succeed.

"If you accept what you are doing, it makes the job easier," Stairs said. "You can think 'I should be playing (every day),' but when you accept pinch-hitting and know it's your role, first of all your mind is at ease, and everything else comes after that."

Giambi and Thome both said they've learned the most important part of becoming an effective pinch-hitter is to develop a routine during the game to prepare for that one at-bat. Giambi said he'll typically start hitting off a tee in the third inning, do some soft toss in the fifth, and get someone to throw him batting practice in the sixth or seventh.

Both players learned that they need to manage the game in their minds, trying to prepare for which relievers they may see. Thome said he walks up and down the bench during the game picking the brains of his teammates about who he might face in the later innings, and also imparting some of his general wisdom on hitting.

"He brings experience," Sweeney said. "He's giving away the opportunity of DHing and adding to that home run total, basically to have the opportunity to win. That's great for these young kids to see."

Rockies manager Jim Tracy said Giambi has made an impact in the clubhouse, too.

"He's been through this type of situation that we're going through," Tracy said. "He's been a tremendous calming influence. He always has the right thing to say."

Mostly, though, the Rockies are looking for Giambi to do it in the batter's box, getting the job done in that two minutes a day he's needed. So far Giambi has four RBI in seven pinch-hit plate appearances.

"He's been a tremendous addition," Tracy said. "Hopefully over the final couple of weeks we'll get more opportunities to use him in significant situations."