Youtubers are all going in
-
I sometimes feel that the game should be called PRIMAL BASEBALL because of the prevalence of homers, strikeouts, walks (to some extent,) stolen bases and spectacular defensive play. Nolan Ryan is pitching to Dave Kingman who morphs into Lou Brock when he reaches base and the fielders are all Ozzie Smith, Willie Mays & Johnny Bench types. Ha ha. That’s what a lot of games feel like to me especially when challenging yourself on a higher difficulty.
P.S. Feel free to insert the names of players from your generation. -
Excellent analysis, Gentlemen. What I’m gathering here is that it’s all about context and a walk is roughly the same as a hit with no runners in scoring position but overall not as valuable as a hit which has more potential to advance runners which ultimately creates runs. Am I on the right track? Also, wasn’t sabernetrics trying to convey that not making outs is paramount and maybe this somehow fused into the old adage about walks being as good as hits? By the way, if I’m ever on a game show, expect a request to be a lifeline.
-
I wonder what Ted Williams would say about the notion that walks are not important
-
Again, there are no absolutes in baseball.
Runners on first and third and one out. Hitter strikes a sharp hit but is defended by an infielder leading to a double play to end the inning. In hindsight, a walk to load the bases would have worked better for the offense. Point is there are no absolutes in baseball. There are only probabilities and outliers with an excellent defensive play can upset even those probabilities.
The adage "a walk is as good as a hit," has a context. It doesn't mean a walk is as good as any hit in any situation.
Sabermetrics is also a measuring tool, nothing more and nothing less. BTW: The movie Moneyball glossed over many truths in the A's that season, and also engaged in a lot of outright lies about real people. The movie barely acknowledged the existence of the A's starting pitchers. That ignored a heck of a lot given that the game of baseball is primarily pitching and defense.
Driving up pitch counts by trying to earn walks only works when your pitching staff keeps you in the game so that the one or two runs you can work this way can make the difference.
Another flawed adage is that "a strikeout is just another out." This is context based. A strikeout in a first and third situation is better than a double play to end the inning. But, overall, putting the ball in play is better than walking when there are runners in scoring position, but a walk always is better than an out.
A third adage: "There is no defense against the base on balls!"
-
no one has ever contended walks are not important, you never swing at bad pitches, my only contention is hits are better because you are taking control of the situation, thats how was taught to play, thats the baseball I prefer. I think the three outcomes of HR, SO or BB are boring. I can appreciate a patient hitter, Joey Votto is one of my favorite players and he walked a lot, but he went up there looking for his pitch with the idea of hitting. I read Ted Williams and Charlie Lau's books when I was playing, and I led the independent league I was in in walks, that doesn't change my philosophy of hits are better... I'll die on that hill
-
I wonder what Ted Williams would say about the notion that walks are not important
His philosophy centered on a core rule: "Get a good pitch to hit." Imparted by Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby and detailed in his book "The Science of Hitting", Williams believed a hitter who never walks is simply swinging at the pitcher's pitch rather than controlling the at-bat.
If Ted watched me play the game, he'd be disappointed in my approach.
-
@victoryphoenix_mlbts
Maybe contributing to your boredom is flaws, mistakes or other unnecessary unwanted elements included in the game itself by the creators (e.g. like CPU pitchers never giving you a pitch to hit). I don’t think a commitment to sabermetrics is causing this. Tell me something about the game that suggests they are heavily influenced by sabermetrics or are forcing it upon us. -
@TripleH-4481_PSN
Yes, these are the reasons. Not sabremetrics. -
I think they value home runs above all else. They push players with 125 power. When they create a moment, most of them hit a home run. That's my opinion as an old-school ball player and a proponent of the old-school game.
-
@MarioMendoza935_XBL
It's good to be seen. After my heart attack in 24 and reduced playing time, and then only playing very little in 25, I skipped 26 altogether. I was thinking of coming back for 27, but now I'll just wait and see. It's good to see some of the ol' peeps are still around.
