- published: 10 Jun 2015
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In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is assigned the number 1. In the National League and the Japanese Central League, the pitcher also bats. Starting in 1973 with the American League and spreading throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the hitting duties of the pitcher have generally been given over to the position of designated hitter, a cause of some controversy.
In most cases, the objective of the pitcher is to deliver the pitch to the catcher without allowing the batter to hit the ball with the bat. A successful pitch is delivered in such a way that the batter either allows the pitch to pass through the strike zone, swings the bat at the ball and misses it, or hits the ball poorly (resulting in a pop fly or ground out). If the batter elects not to swing at the pitch, it is called a strike if any part of the ball passes through the strike zone and a ball is when no part of the ball passes through the strike zone. A check swing is when the batter begins to swing, but then stops the swing short. If the batter successfully checks the swing and the pitch is out of the strike zone, it is called a ball.
Ryan Andrew Vogelsong (born July 22, 1977 in Charlotte, North Carolina) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. In addition to an earlier stint with the Giants (2000–2001), he has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2001–2006), and for Nippon Professional Baseball's Hanshin Tigers (2007–2008) and Orix Buffaloes (2009).
In 1995, he graduated from Octorara Area High school in Atglen, Pennsylvania, where he played baseball, basketball and soccer. He played Legion baseball in Oxford PA. He played his little league baseball in the Southern Chester County Midget League for Highland. He also played for Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pennsylvania during the 1996-1998 seasons. He had great success at Kutztown striking out 242 batters in his 3 year collegiate career.
Vogelsong was drafted by the Giants in the 5th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his major league debut with the Giants on September 2, 2000.
Vogelsong was acquired by the Pirates on July 30, 2001, along with outfielder Armando Ríos, for pitcher Jason Schmidt and outfielder John Vander Wal. He appeared in two games for the Pirates before he required Tommy John surgery that kept him out of the majors until the end of the 2003 season.
I am, I'm pitching to myself at bat
Always patting myself on the back
Tell me I have it easy, I'll tell you it's not true
Am I destined to live out a life, with no one to help me through?
Tell me I have it easy and I'll tell you it's not true
For you've never felt as alone as I do
Sometime I often long for someone
To share with an evening's setting sun
Tell me I have it easy, I'll tell you it's not true
Am I destined to live out a life, with no one to help me through?
Tell me I have it easy and I'll tell you it's not true
For you've never felt as alone as I do
Tell me I have it easy, I'll tell you it's not true
Am I'm destined to live out a life, with no one to help me through
[Incomprehensible] tell me I have it easy and I'll tell you it's not true