And I also noticed how much better his OBP has been since Washington started using him as a part-timer. It’s an interesting fact, and the opposite of what you’d expect from most guys… often you hear about pinch-hitters and bench guys pressing in the at-bats they get, trying to get big hits to win starting jobs.

Maybe Ward, instead, is extra-focused on having a good at-bat when he’s up for his one time per game. And less fatigued. I’m not really sure what kind of a role these things play for him. Or maybe he really changed his approach around the same time. He hasn’t had enough starts since then to have any meaningful starts-vs-bench-appearance splits.

At first I thought that his facing relievers almost exclusively could help out his OBP, but I checked the 2007 numbers and relievers allow about the same OBP as starters. They walk more batters, but also strike out more and give up fewer home runs, with a similar BABIP (as you’d expect). Relievers allowed slugging percentages 40 points lower than starters, and that certainly hasn’t been reflected in Daryle’s numbers since becoming a bench player. So his success coming off the bench appears to be attributable to his own improvements.

I wonder if any team would see his improved hitting in recent years and offer him a part-time starting job… it would be interesting to see how he did in that role, though as long as he’s productive I’d rather see him hit well with the Cubs.