Quote:
Originally Posted by RedsManRick
BCubb -- I hope you were somewhat exaggerating, but I think you do make a point. Fans want action. Many fans would rather lose 4-3 and have 3 guys thrown out on the bases and a whole bunch of ground ball outs than win 4-3 with 3 walks a grand slam in the 1st inning followed by a parade of strikeouts. Fans cheer for both appreciation and admiration. In the even that they can't cheer for appreciation, they'd at least like something to admire...
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It is somewhat of an exaggeration, but I'm willing to allow for the possibility that even when Freel gets picked off, the constant poking, prodding and scrambling means the other team is under constant, wearing stress. We might see the pick-off as an individual event, and a weak OBP made worse, but the pitcher might walk the next batter and give up a run-scoring double. That's a different dynamic from waiting around for a home run, which usually means waiting for a mistake pitch that might not come.
But really, it's the pitching, pitching, pitching. Find a legitimate closer and Weathers becomes a decent set-up man instead of two-inning closer running on fumes. Find a couple of decent middle relief guys and the starters suddenly get better. Find a decent starter to go with Harang and Arroyo and suddenly the offense is capable of winning more games.
This is more likely to happen, I think, than getting rid of everyone and using that money to buy better players than the ones you got rid of.