Strikeouts are killing baseball

Some of the differences play out in the draft, too. The Cubs drafted position player after position player in the first few years of the Epstein regime.

 

The emphasis on RAW has been lost.

Pitchers should be thinking about scattering hits, trying to go 8-9 innings, fielding the position, and helping themselves at the plate whenever possible.

If we started to see some Rick Reuschels going 16-14 again, things would change.

 

Why?

 

Funny you say Rick Reuschel ... watched him shut out the Dodgers on 87 pitches one day.

Pitchers these days are up to 87 pitches in 3 innings.

 

Giving up a blooper takes 1-2 pitches. Waging never-ending war with batters who foul off numerous pitches is much more tiring.

Scattering hits leads to Ws, which boost RAW.

 

Work Fast, Change Speeds, Throw Strikes. Used to be a slogan, now a forgotten skill set.

 

Batters are also being told to work the count, drive up the pitch count.

 

Speaking of Rick Reuschel, tomorrow's his birthday.

 

I understand all that. I guess the question is: Why, when you have a parade of bullpen specialists ready to come in and throw 97 mph? What's the value in doing anything but going full throttle for 5-6?

 

Losing the battle, but winning the war.

 

You're right, of course—stolen bases aren't the only manifestation of speed. Outfield range, extra bases (CAAAAAIN!), and so on. I remember Larry Bowa, when he was managing the Phillies, talking about all the ways that speed changes the game, and it was like listening to a preacher talk about God. For Bowa, speed explained and changed everything. I think that's how the Royals view it.

Brian Sabean at the Giants, at least for a time, thought infield defense was the secret ingredient that everyone else was missing.

The best thing about baseball is that it can be whatever you want it to be.