had the pitching

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had the pitching" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to a situation involving pitching, but without additional context, it is unclear when it could be used. Example: "The team had the pitching advantage in the final game, leading to their victory."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

They had the pitching.

The New York Times - Sports

Of course, the Indians would be looking for a sizable return on Santana, and at least one general manager surveyed did not think the Yankees had the pitching prospects to be able to make such a deal.

The New York Times - Sports

Finally, the Red Sox had the pitching depth to beat the Yankees.

The New York Times - Sports

"We haven't had the pitching, hitting or defense," reliever Graeme Lloyd said.

The New York Times - Sports

"They had the pitching and they came up with timely hits".

The New York Times - Sports

After falling short of a wild-card berth in the final weekend the last two seasons, it seemed Philadelphia finally had the pitching to get over the top.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"We still have the pitching.

The New York Times - Sports

Ever since Lee jilted them and Andy Pettitte retired, they clearly have the pitching shorts.

The New York Times - Sports

Some of the bells produce two pitches and have the pitch names written at the two striking places.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Adultery is always going to be an away game, and I don't have the pitch.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This is your moment to shine, have the pitch ready.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a baseball team's pitching ability, use more common phrases like "possessed strong pitching" or "had a strong pitching rotation" for clarity.

Common error

Be specific about the strength or weakness of the pitching. Instead of the ambiguous phrase "had the pitching", use descriptive terms like "dominant", "reliable", or "inconsistent" to better convey the quality of the pitching staff.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had the pitching" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used in sports contexts to suggest a team possessed a capable or advantageous pitching staff. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase lacks grammatical precision and standardized meaning.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had the pitching" is used to describe a team or organization possessing a capable pitching staff, typically in a sports context. However, Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is not grammatically precise and can be vague. More specific alternatives such as "possessed strong pitching" or "boasted a solid pitching rotation" are recommended for clarity. The phrase appears mainly in news and media sources, with a neutral register. Therefore, it is better to use clear descriptive terms and strong alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

possessed strong pitching

Replaces "had" with "possessed" to emphasize ownership of a strong pitching staff.

boasted a solid pitching rotation

Uses "boasted" and specifies "pitching rotation" to highlight pride in a well-rounded staff.

featured excellent pitching talent

Emphasizes the quality of the pitching talent available.

maintained a dominant pitching staff

Highlights the continuous dominance of the pitching staff.

offered a compelling pitch

Shifts the context to making a persuasive offer, replacing "pitching" with "pitch" in a business sense.

showcased impressive pitching prowess

Focuses on demonstrating skill and excellence in pitching.

demonstrated superior pitching ability

Highlights the superior ability in pitching.

presented a convincing argument

Replaces "pitching" with "argument", focusing on the act of persuading someone.

delivered a persuasive presentation

Shifts context to giving a persuasive business presentation.

articulated a clear proposal

Focuses on the clarity of the proposal or pitch being made.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says a team "had the pitching"?

The phrase "had the pitching" is ambiguous, but it generally implies that a team possessed a strong or capable pitching staff. For clarity, it's better to use phrases like "possessed strong pitching" or "boasted a solid pitching rotation".

What are some alternative ways to say a team has good pitchers?

Instead of saying a team "had the pitching", consider alternatives like "featured excellent pitching talent", "maintained a dominant pitching staff", or "demonstrated superior pitching ability".

Is it grammatically correct to say a team "had the pitching"?

While understandable in informal contexts, the phrase "had the pitching" is not considered grammatically precise. Better alternatives would clearly specify the quality or impact of the pitching, such as having a "dominant" or "reliable" pitching staff.

In what contexts might you hear the phrase "had the pitching"?

You're most likely to hear "had the pitching" in sports commentary or informal discussions about baseball. However, more formal or professional writing would benefit from more precise and descriptive language.