Wigginton? Barf!

This one might be over early.

Do you think the team is missing bigmac?

I like Danny Mac, but he's doing quite a bit of concern trolling if he thinks Votto should swing at pitches outside of the zone instead of drawing walks. Since swinging at a pitch outside of the zone increases the likelihood that you'll make an out, I would prefer my guy to spit at it and wait for his pitch. 

tkihshbt wrote:

I like Danny Mac, but he's doing quite a bit of concern trolling if he thinks Votto should swing at pitches outside of the zone instead of drawing walks. Since swinging at a pitch outside of the zone increases the likelihood that you'll make an out, I would prefer my guy to spit at it and wait for his pitch. 

But he isnt paid to walk.
 

APIAD wrote:

tkihshbt wrote:

I like Danny Mac, but he's doing quite a bit of concern trolling if he thinks Votto should swing at pitches outside of the zone instead of drawing walks. Since swinging at a pitch outside of the zone increases the likelihood that you'll make an out, I would prefer my guy to spit at it and wait for his pitch. 

But he isnt paid to walk.
 

I don't think I'd classify it that way. He's paid to be a productive hitter, and if he stands on first base instead of swinging at a pitch out of the zone and getting himself out then he's done his job. Since a good process will eventually lead itself to good outcomes, I don't think he's hurting the Reds in any way and will end up being one of the five best hitters in the NL. 

My favorite moment so far is Horton touting Latos' improved maturity while Latos is standing with his back to the plate bitching about not getting a call on a pitch to Jay that was six inches inside.
This is the cockiest team since the mid-'80s Mets.

Well i wouldnt say a walk is never a bad thing.  Ill take that back.  If craig took a 2-1 strike down the middle in a spot we needed run production to draw a walk it wouldnt be as good as him getting a rbi.  Still i wouldnt fault him.  

APIAD wrote:

tkihshbt wrote:

APIAD wrote:

But he isnt paid to walk.
 

I don't think I'd classify it that way. He's paid to be a productive hitter, and if he stands on first base instead of swinging at a pitch out of the zone and getting himself out then he's done his job. Since a good process will eventually lead itself to good outcomes, I don't think he's hurting the Reds in any way and will end up being one of the five best hitters in the NL. 

i was mocking dan.  I am fine with walks.  Maybe it is because i am a moneyball fan, idk, i am big fan of walks and long at bats.  The more pitches you see the better and imo a walk is never a bad thing.  

 
A walk isn't all that great when there are runners on second and third with one out and the next guy is a .250 hitter who grounds into a double play. Votto isn't necessarily paid to get on base. He's paid to help his team win. Give me the guy who will occasionally swing at a pitch that's two inches outside the strike zone to make contact and drive in a run at the expense of a couple of precious on-base percentage points.
Barry Bonds never swung at a pitch that he didn't think was a strike. His OPS numbers were ungodly. And he's got zero rings to show for it.

Last edited by artie_fufkin (4/29/2013 8:30 pm)

artie_fufkin wrote:

APIAD wrote:

tkihshbt wrote:

I don't think I'd classify it that way. He's paid to be a productive hitter, and if he stands on first base instead of swinging at a pitch out of the zone and getting himself out then he's done his job. Since a good process will eventually lead itself to good outcomes, I don't think he's hurting the Reds in any way and will end up being one of the five best hitters in the NL. 

i was mocking dan.  I am fine with walks.  Maybe it is because i am a moneyball fan, idk, i am big fan of walks and long at bats.  The more pitches you see the better and imo a walk is never a bad thing.  

 
A walk isn't all that great when there are runners on second and third with one out and the next guy is a .250 hitter who grounds into a double play. Votto isn't necessarily paid to get on base. He's paid to help his team win. Give me the guy who will occasionally swing at a pitch that's two inches outside the strike zone to make contact and drive in a run at the expense of a couple of precious on-base percentage points.
Barry Bonds never swung at a pitch that he didn't think was a strike. His OPS numbers were ungodly. And he's got zero rings to show for it.

barry bonds did suck at driving in runs.  

you cant really say if a guy should or shouldnt have walked.  Maybe the guy that takes the walk in the above listed situation rolls over on the pitch and ends the innjng by going after a ball out of his comfort level. In that case id rather him be on first and the 250 hitter in the box.  

Edit: most major leaguers would take the rbiin the situation you listed over the walk.  The rbi is the money stat.  
 

Last edited by APIAD (4/29/2013 8:37 pm)

APIAD wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

APIAD wrote:

i was mocking dan.  I am fine with walks.  Maybe it is because i am a moneyball fan, idk, i am big fan of walks and long at bats.  The more pitches you see the better and imo a walk is never a bad thing.  

 
A walk isn't all that great when there are runners on second and third with one out and the next guy is a .250 hitter who grounds into a double play. Votto isn't necessarily paid to get on base. He's paid to help his team win. Give me the guy who will occasionally swing at a pitch that's two inches outside the strike zone to make contact and drive in a run at the expense of a couple of precious on-base percentage points.
Barry Bonds never swung at a pitch that he didn't think was a strike. His OPS numbers were ungodly. And he's got zero rings to show for it.

barry bonds did suck at driving in runs.  

you cant really say if a guy should or shouldnt have walked.  Maybe the guy that takes the walk in the above listed situation rolls over on the pitch and ends the innjng by going after a ball out of his comfort level. In that case id rather him be on first and the 250 hitter in the box.  
 

The only thing I know is walks don't drive in runs. I always used to get amused by the "walk is as good as a hit" cliche. A walk is almost never as good as a hit. A runner doesn't go from first to third on a walk. A runner doesn't score from second on a walk. Hell, it doesn't even have to be a hit to be better than a walk. A runner on third doesn't tag up and score on a walk.
I'm not talking about going up there hacking, and neither was McLaughlin. He was talking about expanding the zone in key situations to drive in runs. There's plate discipline, and there's obstinance.
 

If you played the Aoki/Segura/Gallardo trifecta in the Brewers' home run pool tonight, you're cashing in a big money ticket.