.304 and a Batting Champion?

[leftwinger]

I once saw a WS game STL vs. TX. STL sent 11 men to the plate (never got the ball out of the infield) yet scored 6 runs. Yes, that was exciting. TX was becoming frantic, flabbergasted. No matter what they tried ...... it was not working. And that was not even a ****** Ball team.

Now you come up with body armor on, they can't pitch inside and the top power hitters hit an HR 1 per 11 AB (1/30 for the masses). Strikeout rates are 25%? Boring. When you need to put the ball in play, get the winning run in....try ****** Ball.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

I once saw a WS game STL vs. TX. STL sent 11 men to the plate (never got the ball out of the infield) yet scored 6 runs. Yes, that was exciting. TX was becoming frantic, flabbergasted.

But that's "hope" baseball. You hope the other team makes a mistake. Not a winning strategy.

 

[leftwinger]

CARD (****** ball) used to have 3-4 players with over 200 (RBI + run scored). Coleman Lonnie Ozzy Herr McGee Pendleton and others could all run, play defense and throw. No DH. yes it was exciting to see triples doubles and stolen bases even after 15 throw overs.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Right, because he had people behind him who could hit. Note he batted in 58 and 54 runs, respectively, in those two years. And that to his runs scored each season, and his run production is not even in the top 10 in 2025 MLB, for either total.

Oh, and he was an easy first ballot HOFer.

He didn't have RBIs simply because he was a leadoff hitter.

His 162 average is impressive even now: .328/.415/.443, with 200 hits, 38 doubles, and 94 walks with only 49 strikeouts.

The weirdest stat might be that he led the league in...intentional walks for six consecutive seasons.

 

[leftwinger]

But that's "hope" baseball. You hope the other team makes a mistake. Not a winning strategy.

Youre not wrong for todays game but to Bunt, Put the ball in play, put pressure on with speed, a team can probably still win like that. In particular in playoff baseball when runs are scarce.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

He didn't have RBIs simply because he was a leadoff hitter.

And he was a leadoff hitter because he didnt hit for much power. He got on base. The Red Sox counted on the power behind him to produce the runs

Oh, and he was a first ballot HOFer. So it's not quite a good argument to say teams should play small ball, because Wade Boggs had success, ya know?

Trea Turner had 69 RBIs out of leadoff position this year only 141 games, while batting .304. Why? Because he also had 53 XBHs in 639 PAs.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

Youre not wrong for todays game but to Bunt, Put the ball in play, put pressure on with speed, a team can probably still win like that. In particular in playoff baseball when runs are scarce.

True, but that's for when your 9 or 1 hitter are up. Teams are not likely to have their strong hitters bunt and give away an out, unless the game situation really dictates it.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

And, let's be clear on something that I know my fellow old schoolers may scoff at:

The pitching in MLB is just in a higher tier than it was even 15 years ago, much less 40 years ago.

Every bullpen has 1-4 guys that can throw 100. Across the league, you have fresh arms that throw high 90s coming in in the 6th inning.

The spin rates have evolved to a very high level across the league.

Starters and relievers with a 99 mph fastball with a 90 mph slider with a spin and movement rate not seen in the league in the 80s and 90s? That has made MLB a new game.

 

[Jarlaxle]

And he was a leadoff hitter because he didnt hit for much power. He got on base. The Red Sox counted on the power behind him to produce the runs

Oh, and he was a first ballot HOFer. So it's not quite a good argument to say teams should play small ball, because Wade Boggs had success, ya know?

Trea Turner had 69 RBIs out of leadoff position this year only 141 games, while batting .304. Why? Because he also had 53 XBHs in 639 PAs.

Thanks for the fat, hanging curveball: Boggs averaged 50. (His highest was 70 XBH in a season in 1987.) He regularly (9X) hit 40+ doubles a season. He was usually a leadoff hitter (with Boston, he often hit 2nd in NY) because he was REALLY good at it.

 

[Jarlaxle]

True, but that's for when your 9 or 1 hitter are up. Teams are not likely to have their strong hitters bunt and give away an out, unless the game situation really dictates it.

The point is that in many cases, if the guy can bunt, he's NOT giving away an out. Hitters like Bobby Witt Jr., Jarren Duran, Cedanne Rafaela, Pete Crow Armstrong, Elly de la Cruz, or Trevor Story are fast enough that unless the infielder makes a perfect play, they're going to beat it...and the pressure to make that play results in mistakes.

 

[Winco]

Just sit back and ENJOY the game.

You wankers think everything is some conspiracy theory.

Saturday Night.
Seattle Mariners.

 

[leftwinger]

And, let's be clear on something that I know my fellow old schoolers may scoff at:

The pitching in MLB is just in a higher tier than it was even 15 years ago, much less 40 years ago.

Every bullpen has 1-4 guys that can throw 100. Across the league, you have fresh arms that throw high 90s coming in in the 6th inning.

The spin rates have evolved to a very high level across the league.

Starters and relievers with a 99 mph fastball with a 90 mph slider with a spin and movement rate not seen in the league in the 80s and 90s? That has made MLB a new game.

The silly 3 batter rule has killed the use of bullpen "specialist. It has changed the game. Some good managers used to change 3-4 relievers in an inning to change game momentum, to make the other teams pitcher "sit", become cold, stale, think too much, become irritated, angry. IMVHO.

All that is gone now. Closer to slow-pitch softball than ever. Anyone can manage a game now. What can they do?

 

[leftwinger]

Just sit back and ENJOY the game.

You wankers think everything is some conspiracy theory.

View attachment 1170470

Saturday Night.
Seattle Mariners.

SHUP a out it. They changed the rules to DH and 3 batter min. No pickoff change.

Again. If you like slow pitch softball.....the strategy is misding.

 

[Winco]

SHUP a out it. They changed the rules to DH and 3 batter min. No pickoff change.

Again. If you like slow pitch softball.....the strategy is misding.

LOLLOLLLL at the couch potato leftwinger that never played the game beyond little league, if even that.

Are you drunk already........ word salad at its finest.

 

[rightwinger]

Because they would lose 100+ games, in today's game, if thats what they asked of their players. .

Situational

Sometimes ya just needs a hit or god forbid a BUNT

 

[rightwinger]

The silly 3 batter rule has killed the use of bullpen "specialist. It has changed the game. Some good managers used to change 3-4 relievers in an inning to change game momentum, to make the other teams pitcher "sit", become cold, stale, think too much, become irritated, angry. IMVHO.

All that is gone now. Closer to slow-pitch softball than ever. Anyone can manage a game now. What can they do?

Hate the 3 batter rule
Sometimes a pitcher just can’t find the plate or is throwing batting practice fastballs

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

Thanks for the fat, hanging curveball: Boggs averaged 50. (His highest was 70 XBH in a season in 1987.) He regularly (9X) hit 40+ doubles a season. He was usually a leadoff hitter (with Boston, he often hit 2nd in NY) because he was REALLY good at it.

And he did so in many more plate appearances.

Yet Turner's RBI total was 30% higher. In 15% fewer plate appearance than in a comparable season to Boggs.

Why do you think that is? Turner also hit leadoff.

I'll answer: because the guys in front of him at 7,8,9 are hitting more XBHs than the guys in front of Boggs. More guys in scoring position.

So, once again, you see the benefit of power in run production over slappy, on base approaches.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

Hate the 3 batter rule
Sometimes a pitcher just can’t find the plate or is throwing batting practice fastballs

I was hoping it would reduce the number of pitchers carried on the rosters.

Nope.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

Situational

Sometimes ya just needs a hit or god forbid a BUNT

"Sometimes"

Now turn that into a percentage... is that tiny percentage how you are going to evaluate a hitter? Nope.

They play every day, not "sometimes". Do i want a guy that can "sometimes" bunt or get a single, over 162 games?

Nope. I want a guy that can sometimes leave the yard.

 

[Fort Fun Indiana]

The silly 3 batter rule has killed the use of bullpen "specialist. It has changed the game. Some good managers used to change 3-4 relievers in an inning to change game momentum, to make the other teams pitcher "sit", become cold, stale, think too much, become irritated, angry. IMVHO.

All that is gone now. Closer to slow-pitch softball than ever. Anyone can manage a game now. What can they do?

That effect is offset quite a bit by the sheer talent of the bullpen pitching.

Note that the league batting average is still experiencing the same, steady decline that it has for 20 years.