Broadcasters’ View: Pitchers’ Duels or Slugfests?

“Pitchers’ duels or slugfests?” It’s a lot like asking “beer or tacos?” There’s a pretty good chance you like both. At the same time, you might have a preference. Some would rather see an 11-10 game than a 1-0 game. Others would prefer to see a pair of pitchers match zeroes into the late innings.

What about the men behind the microphones? Do they consider one more enjoyable than the other? I asked a cross section of MLB broadcasters for their preference — pitchers’ duel or slugfest — urging that they try not to stay neutral. Here is what they had to say.

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Uri Berenguer, Boston Red Sox (Spanish-language) radio: “It seems to get more exciting when it’s a slugfest, but after too many of them, it’s too much excitement. Too much of a good thing isn’t a good thing… except when it comes to pitching. My preference is the pitchers’ duel.

“I really appreciate the craft of pitching. There’s something to be said about a pitcher who really knows how to manipulate the ball and make the best hitters in the world look silly. When you have one of those guys on the mound on a given night, it’s impressive. When you have two of those guys going at it, that’s baseball.”

Joe Castiglione, Boston Red Sox radio: “Today, sometimes the pitchers’ duels last 3:15, and if you’re going to play that long, I’d rather see a slugfest. You like to see action. You like to see home runs. You like balls put in play and runners running the bases. A pitchers’ duel is great if there is good defense and not a lot of strikeouts, but given a choice I’d rather have a 10-9 game.

“I think that opinion is based more on calling the game. In terms of baseball aesthetics, you’d like to see a well-pitched game with great defense. But in terms of action, there is more action in a slugfest.”

Dan Dickerson, Detroit Tigers radio: “I would say both are good in their own way. Here is the difference for me: the tight, low scoring pitchers’ duel is a lot of fun to call, because the games are quicker — unless maybe you’re in Boston or New York. But you almost always see good defense in tight, low-scoring pitchers’ duels. The pitchers have a good pace, which keeps the defenders on their toes. It seems like there’s a real sense of tension in those games.

“You also see games where it feels like you’re going 15 rounds in a boxing match. It’s a back-and-forth slugfest where you’re up and down, and are kind of exhausted at the end. It’s, ‘Wow, there were so many moments.’ In a way, that’s even more fun than a pitchers’ duel, because you get to be excited more often and get to make some big calls.

“If I had to choose, I guess I’d lean toward pitchers’ duel. There’s something about watching a Justin Verlander at his best, just dealing. Or a Chris Sale. There’s something about watching a power pitcher at the top of his game, and if you’ve got two going, there’s a lot of enjoyment in that.”

Robert Ford, Houston Astros radio: “Slugfests can be fun, with constant action and frequent score changes. However, slugfests usually aren’t quality baseball games; there are almost always plenty of walks and a few errors mixed in. I don’t like watching bad baseball, regardless of the game’s excitement level.

“As a result, I’ve always preferred pitchers’ duels. Pitching is my favorite part of the game anyway, and I love it when two pitchers are on top of their games. Pitchers’ duels mean every at-bat matters, particularly with men on base, and there tends to be more strategy, especially in the late innings. There are almost always a few outstanding defensive plays. Pitchers’ duels are usually well played, clean baseball games, which is what I prefer.”

Glen Geffner, Miami Marlins radio: “I’m definitely a pitchers’ duel guy. To me, 3-2 or 4-3 is the perfect game. I like games where every pitch matters and every defensive play matters. You’re on the edge of your seat every time there’s a man on base. I’ll take a clean, well-pitched 3-2 game over 12-11 any day.

“It’s fun to call home runs — there’s no doubt about that — but there’s more of a tension when you know that every pitch could change the outcome, especially in a low-scoring game. We’ve seen Jose Fernandez pitch a couple of 1-0 games and there’s nothing better than that. He’s piling up the strikeouts, and he has a runner at third in the seventh inning, and he strikes someone out.

“I love seeing Giancarlo Stanton hit 460 feet — don’t get me wrong — but I prefer good pitching and low-scoring games. Giancarlo hitting one 460 to win a 1-0 game for Jose would be a perfect day at the ballpark.”

Hawk Harrelson, Chicago White Sox television: “Give me the pitchers’ duel. That’s the baseball in me talking. I like a game where every pitch is meaningful. When you get a 12-9 game, that’s not usually the case.

“One of the best games I’ve ever seen pitched was by Mark Fidrych, against the Yankees, at old Tiger Stadium. He didn’t throw a ball over the middle of the thigh; everything was down. I’ve seen a lot of great pitchers’ games in 56 years, and I like a 1-0 or a 2-0 game.”

Darrin Jackson, Chicago White Sox radio: “I’ll take a pitchers’ duel any day of the week. First and foremost, you’ve got a well-played game that keeps you at the edge of your seat. One pitch changes the outcome. It keeps all of the players in the game and it keeps all of the fans in the game. You can’t wait to see what comes next.

“As a broadcaster, it’s the same way. It’s faster and nobody is going to get bored. But as a fan, I like the ones that hold you on the edge of your seat. The nerves are going, because your team is trailing by one or up by one. I’ve always loved those.”

Len Kasper, Chicago Cubs television: “I am firmly in the pitchers’ duel camp. In fact, we had one such game at Wrigley Field last Saturday as Wade Miley and Jake Arrieta blanked each other’s teams into the seventh inning. Miley took a no-hitter into the seventh while Arrieta carried a shutout into the eighth. They both worked with a crisp pace — Miley pitched like his hair was on fire — and gave the opposition almost nothing to work with.

“The thing I love the most about these games is the margin for error is so small. After the Cubs got the lead on Miley, Arrieta walked the first two batters in the eighth and it ended up costing him the game as Seattle scored three in that inning and won the game 4-1. Miley got the win as he gave up one hit and one run. It was a brilliant performance by both pitchers, neither of whom deserved to lose.”

Jim Price, Detroit Tigers radio: “I like the art of pitching. No doubt about it. I think pure baseball fans like that. Slugfests are fun, but really, a pitcher versus a batter — the art of pitching against the art of hitting —is a big part of the game. It’s a big part of the combat.

“I caught some great pitchers, and I loved to work with them. Having a good game plan and executing it… that’s fabulous. As a broadcaster, when I see a pitcher — even a pitcher on the other side — executing his plan, putting the ball where he wants it and throwing out of the same keyhole… to me, that’s what it’s all about.

“I’ve been out there. I struck out in the World Series against one of the greatest pitchers of all time [Bob Gibson]. I caught Denny McLain and Mickey Lolich. The art of pitching was strong with them, and that’s what I still really enjoy.”

John Rooney, St. Louis Cardinals radio: “I like them both, but I probably lean toward the pitchers’ duel. I think there is more strategy involved. You get the managers’ wheels turning a little bit more. The bullpens are ready — when do you bat for the pitcher? That’s why I like the pitcher batting in the National League more than I like the designated hitter.

“I’ve worked a lot of years with both. I had 19 years in the American League between Minnesota and the White Sox, and now I’ve had 11 years with the Cardinals. I much prefer the National League style of baseball. When you get those pitchers’ duels, there are tough decisions for the manager. Those keep you hanging.

“Probably the favorite one I’ve called would be the 1-0 game in the playoffs between Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay. The Cardinals beat Philadelphia in a decisive Game 5. When the run scored early in the game, Mike Shannon looked at me and said, ‘What do you think the chances are of that run standing up?’ Carpenter made it stand up.”

Steve Sparks, Houston Astros radio: “I love good hitting. As long as it’s well paced and the pitching changes are made in between innings, my perfect game would be a 9-8 walk-off on an inside-the-parker. I also enjoy two-out RBIs because they’re such a gut punch.

“Pitchers’ duels seem relegated to pitch-count monitoring and bullpen usage. And if I’m getting real specific, throw in a right fielder gunning down a runner at third who didn’t slide because he got deked by the third baseman. Can we include the Kiss Cam?”

Dave Van Horn, Miami Marlins radio: “I like both, because I like this game. You’re not going to get a pitchers’ duel every night and you’re not going to get a slugfest every night. And sometimes a slugfest early turns into a pitching duel late, or vice versa. Again, I just like the game.

“From a broadcast standpoint, and for the fans, you do like to see some action. That’s whether it’s some great defensive plays or the kind of action major leaguers can produce with the bat. I like to see things happening on the field.

“The perfect game is the exception to all that. I’ve been fortunate enough to broadcast three perfect games. I had David Cone’s for the Yankees against the Montreal Expos. I had Roy Halladay’s for the Phillies against the Marlins. I had Dennis Martinez’s against the Dodgers. There’s something very special about them, because they don’t happen very often. The anxiety and excitement build when a pitcher is bidding for a no-hitter or a perfect game. Sometimes there’s little action, but they are still wonderful.”