Off-Topic Forum

I just got my final 1957 Cub, Jim Bolger. So that pleases me. But, as always, I carefully reviewed the back before putting it away. Here's the trivia: Q: Who struck out the most times in one season? Ans: Vince DiMaggio, 1938, 134 times. 

To put that number in perspective, two players have that many strikeouts this season already (enjoy Javy, Mets' fans!). And the 134 would not rank in the top 500 of all-time anymore. 500th is 144. The record now is a modest 223 by Mark Reynolds in 2009. Of course, they played fewer games back then...

Oh how I miss Tony Gwynn (never struck out more than 40 times in a season).

v3

I hear you.  There are too many strikeouts in the game today.  Most players today don't even care that they strikeout a lot.  They are only interested in hitting home runs.

This is what hapens when the stigma is gone. The new norn, swing for the fence or take the walk. It's also part of what they are trying to fix, and the darn overshifting. But I also just watched Bogaerts strike out and he was pissed at himself for doing so, always is. So there are a few who do care, but until the stigma returns we end up with this. I tell you, I kee hearing the announcers (several trams) lately bemoaning the loss of the hit-and-run and a good bunt. They actualy "joke" about it saying it's a great place to do so and bet each other if it'll happen.

Playing a minimum of 110 games in each of eighteen seasons (and compiling over 10,000 AB) Luis Aparicio struck out a total of 742 times. Yes, 742 in an entire HOF career!

You would think with managers conforming to the analytical push within each contest, they would again try the basic baseball method of scrappy run production: bunting for a hit, hit-and-run, etc. (jimetal-what ever happened to the stolen base?). I believe that old NL platform is more conducive than the AL solo-HR fests in winning a game.

PS - along a similar tangent, do chicks still dig the long ball?

how come when people bitch and moan about strike outs they never mention how much harder, faster and more spin pitches are thrown with these days?

Yeah, the SB too! I'm watching the Padres right now and they are running crazy over the A's. They've been running all year, exciting...

But the thing is, teams are paying for the analytics of the players (HR, OBP, etc) they don't pay for those other skills. Player know it so they don't do it.

ComposerMike wrote:

Playing a minimum of 110 games in each of eighteen seasons (and compiling over 10,000 AB) Luis Aparicio struck out a total of 742 times. Yes, 742 in an entire HOF career!

You would think with managers conforming to the analytical push within each contest, they would again try the basic baseball method of scrappy run production: bunting for a hit, hit-and-run, etc. (jimetal-what ever happened to the stolen base?). I believe that old NL platform is more conducive than the AL solo-HR fests in winning a game.

PS - along a similar tangent, do chicks still dig the long ball?

There is that, yes, and I can acknowledge that. But at the same time batters tend not to try and adjust for it like they can because there is no incentive to.

The main reasons they don't is all about the "geeks" and their made up stats . Nobody teaches bunting because it's a "bad play" SB if you're not at 80+ sucessful bad play hit and runs almost nobody could pull it off because they're not taught to just put wood on the ball it's HR or bust etc.

I've been saying this for a few years now, but the focus on three true outcomes is ruining the game. A home run derby is not an exciting game. Look at what the focus on power hitting has done to a guy like Matt Carpenter. I'm not saying he was ever gonna be a HoF caliber player, but he used to do an excellent job as a lead off hitter who got on base and would come in with a clutch double to drive in a run. Now he is lucky to be hitting .200 because everyone is telling him "Just hit over the shift" as if that is actually going to fix anything. 

What I'm saying is bring back Whiteyball. 

I have also been complaining about this for many years and think it is a dad state of affairs.  I would like to add owners and fans to the problem.  The contract guy that hits .300 and rarely strikes out does not make nearly as much money when he goes to sign his contact then the guy that hits .250 and strikes out all the time but has a bunch of homers.  So the incentive is to be the second guy.