"No matter what the stat boys say, you put the ball in play." - Dusty

[Wonderful Monds]

http://m.reds.mlb.com/news/2013/09/1...rikeout-totals

""Strikeouts, you don't have a chance to do nothing," Baker said. "No matter what the stat boys say, you put the ball in play. [Striking out] was an embarrassment back in my time. It's not such an embarrassment now, it's accepted. But it makes it harder to win. Maybe I'm old, but sometimes I don't like the way the game's going.""

[reds1869]

"Maybe I'm old, but sometimes I don't like the way the game's going."

You know what I don't like? A team that constantly bunts and runs itself out of innings.

[westofyou]

Be aggressive in the zone, don't strike out looking.

Seems reasonable

[Wonderful Monds]

Be aggressive in the zone, don't strike out looking.

Seems reasonable

Is that what he's saying though?

[westofyou]

Is that what he's saying though?

As a batting coach that's what he pretty much preaches, he likes in the zone aggressiveness, Will Clark like.

I'm not going to assume what's he's trying to say and I'll also note that K's are still outs and an out is an enemy to the offense, I want all outs to be looked at with an askew eye, including dumb steal attempts and excessive bunts early in the game too.

[Wonderful Monds]

As a batting coach that's what he pretty much preaches, he likes in the zone aggressiveness, Will Clark like.

I'm not going to assume what's he's trying to say and I'll also note that K's are still outs and an out is an enemy to the offense, I want all outs to be looked at with an askew eye, including dumb steal attempts and excessive bunts early in the game too.

I hope so, I just don't want Dusty to start stumping for Reds hitters to start expanding the zone for the sake of putting the ball in play.

[jojo]

Be aggressive in the zone, don't strike out looking.

Seems reasonable

Too bad that isn't what Dusty said.

[westofyou]

Too bad that isn't what Dusty said.

He said "nah nah nah nah" and everyone thus will call for his head.

I am well aware of that.

[dougdirt]

Be aggressive in the zone, don't strike out looking.

Seems reasonable

Dusty doesn't have a way with words.

I feel like he was trying to say this, but he came off sounding like he was saying something quite a bit different than that.

With that said, and we don't know the exact context this came from, I sure hope he does understand the value of a walk.

[Unassisted]

Fire this clown already.

How do you know that his boss doesn't think the same thing?

[_Sir_Charles_]

http://m.reds.mlb.com/news/2013/09/1...rikeout-totals

""Strikeouts, you don't have a chance to do nothing," Baker said. "No matter what the stat boys say, you put the ball in play. [Striking out] was an embarrassment back in my time. It's not such an embarrassment now, it's accepted. But it makes it harder to win. Maybe I'm old, but sometimes I don't like the way the game's going.""

So, WM, I take it you disagree with the quoted statement above? Why?

I sure as heck don't.

[dougdirt]

I will disagree with some of it. If everyone is striking out, which Dusty says they are, it doesn't make it any more or less difficult to win.

I also don't agree with disliking where the game is going.

You know why strikeouts are more prevalent than ever before? Part of it is people swinging for power. But part of it is that pitchers are just freaking better. Again, Homer Bailey and Mat Latos, starting pitchers, have sliders, SLIDERS that average velocity more than the 1985 MLB FASTBALL averaged. But, this is probably a side discussion.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I will disagree with some of it. If everyone is striking out, which Dusty says they are, it doesn't make it any more or less difficult to win.

I also don't agree with disliking where the game is going.

You know why strikeouts are more prevalent than ever before? Part of it is people swinging for power. But part of it is that pitchers are just freaking better. Again, Homer Bailey and Mat Latos, starting pitchers, have sliders, SLIDERS that average velocity more than the 1985 MLB FASTBALL averaged. But, this is probably a side discussion.

The "not liking where the game is going" part, I took that to be about people not being embarrassed about K'ing anymore.

[dougdirt]

The "not liking where the game is going" part, I took that to be about people not being embarrassed about K'ing anymore.

Why should they be embarrased? Send the pitchers from today back to the 70's. Guys would be striking out 100+ times too. As someone who played the game for as long as he did, Dusty really should understand just how much better pitchers are today than ever before.

Again, the Reds have two starters with breaking balls that they throw faster than the average fastball in the game 30 years ago. Guys are striking out more today? Of course they are. Look at how good the pitching is.

[Kc61]

Dusty's point is not well stated IMO but is pretty clear and absolutely correct.

He's commenting on the notion that strikeouts don't matter. Some folks these days repeatedly say that strikeouts are just outs and aren't bad.

Dusty is saying that if you strike out, you don't make contact which is bad. Contact is better than non-contact.

I've made the point often. The impact of a K is the same as any out. But the impact of failing to make contact is usually to eliminate the possibility of a successful at bat.