"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

[Unassisted]

Fire this clown already.

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

[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.

[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.

[_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.

[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]

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.

[PuffyPig]

Actually what he said is quite correct.

If you put the ball into play, you have a chance.

He didn't say swing at balls, he said not to strike out.

He basically said what everyone advocates here everyday.

[dougdirt]

Oh, I also disagree with the part where the stat boys say don't put the ball in play. They don't say any such thing.

[AmarilloRed]

In the article, it's clear he's talking about strikeouts. But the quote sure sounds like he's denigrating walks.