How many Runs?

[Raisor]

The Reds won today. They scored 5 runs. Let's take a minute and dance.


Everyone done? Krono?


Reds are averaging 4.6 runs a game. They are on pace to score 746 runs this year.

All that to say, how many runs a game should the team be scoring? If you look around the board you can find all sorts of posts complaining about the offense.

Ok, so how many should they be scoring?

[dougdirt]

How many runs should the Reds be scoring?

More than their opponent.

Duh.

[RedEye]

Third in the NL in runs scored seems good enough to me. Sounds like a team that should play .600 ball if the pitching is also good. Which it is.

[Roush's socks]

The reds are playing great at .600 pctg. The bullpen has been the weakest link this year.

[Raisor]

Let me give an example with what I'm talking about:

Team scores 4-5 runs in the early innings. None the rest. Pitching gives up 6 loses the game. At that point we get post after post complaining the offense took the night off.

Same thing happens but they scatter the runs over the 9 innings and nary a word.

What's the difference?

[RedEye]

There is no real difference -- only perception.

[New York Red]

How many runs should the Reds be scoring?

More than their opponent.

Duh.

Exactly. What they average per game isn't as important as when they score them.

[New York Red]

Team scores 4-5 runs in the early innings. None the rest. Pitching gives up 6 loses the game. At that point we get post after post complaining the offense took the night off.

Link?

[RedFanAlways1966]

Let me give an example with what I'm talking about:

Team scores 4-5 runs in the early innings. None the rest. Pitching gives up 6 loses the game. At that point we get post after post complaining the offense took the night off.

Same thing happens but they scatter the runs over the 9 innings and nary a word.

What's the difference?

Never ANY EXCUSE for going eight straight innings w/out a run. Especially against a bullpen that combined could not hit the broad side of Cooperstown when standing 10 feet from it (nor any city that starts with the letter "C"... Chicago, Cincy, Cairo). Well, being human and crap happens to all teams is an excuse.

[westofyou]

Let me give an example with what I'm talking about:

Team scores 4-5 runs in the early innings. None the rest. Pitching gives up 6 loses the game. At that point we get post after post complaining the offense took the night off.

Same thing happens but they scatter the runs over the 9 innings and nary a word.

What's the difference?

The game doesn't happen on a spreadsheet if a team scores 5 runs in one inning of a 14 inning game and then they get 2 hits and 2 walks from inning 8-14 you bet your butt people will complain, and chances are it will not matter to them that the Reds achieved the team's average in runs scored by game.

[Roy Tucker]

Let me give an example with what I'm talking about:

Team scores 4-5 runs in the early innings. None the rest. Pitching gives up 6 loses the game. At that point we get post after post complaining the offense took the night off.

Same thing happens but they scatter the runs over the 9 innings and nary a word.

What's the difference?

Winning.

Losing eats worms. Winning is a Jeff Ruby steak.

[Steve4192]

Winning.

Losing eats worms. Winning is a Jeff Ruby steak.

Meh.

Jeff Ruby is old and full of gristle. I don't think I would want a Jeff Ruby steak. A Jeff Ruby shepherd's pie would be preferable.

[edabbs44]

Let me give an example with what I'm talking about:

Team scores 4-5 runs in the early innings. None the rest. Pitching gives up 6 loses the game. At that point we get post after post complaining the offense took the night off.

Same thing happens but they scatter the runs over the 9 innings and nary a word.

What's the difference?

Everything being equal, not much. But the details could matter. If I watch the Reds fatten on awful relief pitchers and get shut down by better pitching, averaging out to a solid batting line, that might matter more than other scenarios. Especially when looking towards October.

[Roy Tucker]

Meh.

Jeff Ruby is old and full of gristle. I don't think I would want a Jeff Ruby steak. A Jeff Ruby shepherd's pie would be preferable.

Ok, that works too. I'm sure woy would like a nicely seasoned fried tofu.

But losing is a plateful of worms with a piquant sauce of boogers and snot.

[BCubb2003]

This thread seems to be going in two distinct directions.

Fans pay a lot of attention to situational hitting. Maybe too much. But sometimes good overall numbers can hide a weakness that can be exploited when it matters.

Still, who wouldn't want the Reds' numbers right now? Except the Cardinals, and they'd want them too most years.