Turn Off Ads?
Page 1 of 7 12345 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 103

Thread: Most over-rated skill in baseball

  1. #1
    2009: Fail Ltlabner's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Cincinnati
    Posts
    7,441

    Most over-rated skill in baseball

    As I am often want to do, I started a thread a few weeks ago called, "the most important skill in baseball".

    On the flip side; what is the most over-rated skill in baseball...and why?


  2. Turn Off Ads?
  3. #2
    Beer is good!! George Anderson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    5,964

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    The velocity on a fastball. If you have little control or little movement on the pitch then its not worth much.

  4. #3
    nothing more than a fan Always Red's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Cincy West and WNC
    Posts
    5,558

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    foot speed.

    If you can't catch it, throw it or hit it, foot speed won't help you out all that much.
    sorry we're boring

  5. #4
    Member RedsManRick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Guelph, ON
    Posts
    19,441

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    "Athleticism"

    You can put a pure, raw athlete in a football jersey or basketball shorts and pretty quickly turn them in a solid player, beating guys on their instincts. Baseball is much more skill based. Not that you don't need athleticism and natural talent, but it's just a different level. There are heaps of tremendous athletes (Ruben Mateo anyone) who were given plenty of opportunities but just never amounted to much. You just don't see that happen in other sports as much.
    Games are won on run differential -- scoring more than your opponent. Runs are runs, scored or prevented they all count the same. Worry about scoring more and allowing fewer, not which positions contribute to which side of the equation or how "consistent" you are at your current level of performance.

  6. #5
    Member texasdave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    19,572

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    Spitting sunflower seeds into a bucket. Sure that skill might just make you a chick magnet, but in arbitration hearings what is really worth? Besides, if you stop to think about it, you're probably only good at it because of all of the pine time you been putting in over the years.

  7. #6
    Strategery RFS62's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Fleming Island, Florida
    Posts
    16,849

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    Quote Originally Posted by George Anderson View Post
    The velocity on a fastball. If you have little control or little movement on the pitch then its not worth much.


    I agree, unless the speed is in the high 90's.

    Otherwise, late movement and command are infinitely more important.
    We'll go down in history as the first society that wouldn't save itself because it wasn't cost effective ~ Kurt Vonnegut

  8. #7
    So Long Uncle Joe BoydsOfSummer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Hamilton,Ohio
    Posts
    3,850

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    Perceived defensive prowess.
    0 Value Over Replacement Poster


    "Sit over here next to Johnathan (Bench)...sit right here, he's smart."--Sparky Anderson

  9. #8
    Member Superdude's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    2,812

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    Pick off move.

  10. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Lubbock, Texas
    Posts
    1,362

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    The ability to take a walk.

  11. #10
    breath westofyou's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2000
    Location
    PDX
    Posts
    56,997

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    Batters don't follow out their natural instinct to wallop the ball, but stall around the plate in the hope of drawing a base instead of hitting the ball hard.

  12. #11
    Plays The Right Way Hap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    796.357
    Posts
    1,734

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    Quote Originally Posted by Always Red View Post
    foot speed.

    If you can't catch it, throw it or hit it, foot speed won't help you out all that much.
    .

  13. #12
    Churlish Johnny Footstool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Overland Park, KS
    Posts
    13,881

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    Sacrifice bunting is incredibly overrated for anyone but a pitcher.
    "I prefer books and movies where the conflict isn't of the extreme cannibal apocalypse variety I guess." Redsfaithful

  14. #13
    Member jimbo's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Troy, OH
    Posts
    2,754

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    Quote Originally Posted by Handofdeath View Post
    The ability to take a walk.
    If you are referring to an ability to take a walk because a hitter goes up to the plate simply looking for a walk, I probably agree. But if a high number of walks are the result of a hitter who has good plate discipline, then I couldn't disagree more. A hitter with good plate discipline is not only increasing his chances of a walk, but also his chances of making good contact because they will only swing at pitches that they have a high percentage of making good contact with. Walks are a by-product of good plate discipline in most cases and I can't see that as being a bad or overrated thing. Walks lead to baserunners who lead to runs scored.

    As to the topic at hand, I would have to agree with a few other posters who mentioned a pitcher who throws heat. Throwing the ball hard, unless you can throw in the high 90s, will not be effective unless you can change speeds, put movement on the ball, and locate your pitches.

  15. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Lubbock, Texas
    Posts
    1,362

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    Quote Originally Posted by jimbo View Post
    Walks lead to baserunners who lead to runs scored.
    If you have someone talented enough to hit you in.

  16. #15
    Member Highlifeman21's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Bristol, just around the corner from ESPN
    Posts
    8,694

    Re: Most over-rated skill in baseball

    Quote Originally Posted by Handofdeath View Post
    If you have someone talented enough to hit you in.

    Walks score runs too.

    They avoid outs and acquire a base, which last time I checked is the main two objectives for EVERY PA. How something that accomplishes the main two objectives of every PA is overrated.... well, enlighten us.


Turn Off Ads?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most importantly, enjoy yourselves!


RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball


Contact us: Boss | Gallen5862 | Plus Plus | Powel Crosley | RedlegJake | The Operator