I probably wouldn't quite say 'alone', but I certainly get your drift. The pitcher is probably more key in a team sport that any other position in any team sport. You get a good one like Koufax (the 60s Koufax), and all you can do is lament the fact that he can't go every day.

>My son and I were watching the game on TV Monday night and talking about how important the pitcher is compared to key positions in other sports. In football, the quarterback has to rely on receivers and runners to get great stats. In basketball you need other key players. Karl Malone would never have had his success without John Stockton and vice-versa. But the pitcher is out there all alone.
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>>There isn't much in any sport that is harder to do than to hit a baseball for a base hit against a pitcher whose job it is to see that you don't. Imagine in any sport where you could average 1 success out of ever three attempts and be considered excellent at your job.