Marty Brennaman slams Adam Dunn....again.

[Redlegs]

Originally Posted by edabbs44

The Reds were in a race last season...

Originally Posted by big boy

The Reds had a losing season in 2006.

You're both correct. Big Boy, the Reds were tied for 1st place heading into September and heading out to that infamous late season west coast trip. I think that more than qualifies for being in the race.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Dom Heffner

Who led the league in ground outs last year? I'm going to rip that guy like Marty does Adam.

I'd say it's Pierre

Here's your top ten out makers last year and their RC/27 vs the league average at their position.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
SEASON
2006
RUNS CREATED/GAME vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria

OUTS                           OUTS     RC/G    
1    Juan Pierre                 532     -.33   
2    Jimmy Rollins               521     1.22   
3    Jeff Francoeur              506    -1.14   
4    Alfonso Soriano             493     1.18   
5    Rafael Furcal               486     1.54   
6    Felipe Lopez                483     0.46   
7    Pedro Feliz                 482    -2.19   
8    Jose Reyes                  478     1.87   
9    Hanley Ramirez              477     1.54   
10   Chase Utley                 472     2.86

Juan Pierre made all the outs for the equal of 21 Cubs games... Magic.....

[Redlegs]

Originally Posted by Dom Heffner

Who led the league in ground outs last year? I'm going to rip that guy like Marty does Adam.

The point is the strikeout has no value whatsoever. If you have a guy on 3rd with less than two outs, would you want a groundout to 2nd or a strikeout? There are times when a groundout has a huge difference in a game compared to a strikeout.

Dunn's a power hitter. Strikeouts come with the territory, but if he can cut down on them a great deal, it will help his team win games. That's why he went so long without having a sac fly. He has to improve on making contact. The good news is, he's only 27 and has been reported to have come to camp with a new mindset this year.

[Yachtzee]

Originally Posted by westofyou

I'd say it's Pierre

Here's your top ten out makers last year and their RC/27 vs the league average at their position.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
SEASON
2006
RUNS CREATED/GAME vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria

OUTS                           OUTS     RC/G    
1    Juan Pierre                 532     -.33   
2    Jimmy Rollins               521     1.22   
3    Jeff Francoeur              506    -1.14   
4    Alfonso Soriano             493     1.18   
5    Rafael Furcal               486     1.54   
6    Felipe Lopez                483     0.46   
7    Pedro Feliz                 482    -2.19   
8    Jose Reyes                  478     1.87   
9    Hanley Ramirez              477     1.54   
10   Chase Utley                 472     2.86

Juan Pierre made all the outs for the equal of 21 Cubs games... Magic.....

Maybe he didn't show enough hustle.

[Redsland]

Originally Posted by Redlegs

If you have a guy on 3rd with less than two outs, would you want a groundout to 2nd or a strikeout?

If a base hit is on the menu, I'd probably rather have one of those.

Given your two choices, though, I'd take the strikeout. Furthermore, I'd have that strikeout squirt through the catcher and go to the backstop. That would score the baserunner and put the batter on first base.

[Redlegs]

Originally Posted by Redsland

Given your two choices, though, I'd take the strikeout. Furthermore, I'd have that strikeout squirt through the catcher and go to the backstop. That would score the baserunner and put the batter on first base.

Why you're at it, why not just have the aforementioned squirtting baseball take a crazy bounce off the backstop and skip into the dugout? That would advance the batter even further.

[TRF]

Originally Posted by Redlegs

The point is the strikeout has no value whatsoever. If you have a guy on 3rd with less than two outs, would you want a groundout to 2nd or a strikeout? There are times when a groundout has a huge difference in a game compared to a strikeout.

Dunn's a power hitter. Strikeouts come with the territory, but if he can cut down on them a great deal, it will help his team win games. That's why he went so long without having a sac fly. He has to improve on making contact. The good news is, he's only 27 and has been reported to have come to camp with a new mindset this year.

This situation came up for Dunn 20 times last year.

20 AB's out of 561.

His BA was .150. he went 3-20, had he gotten 2 more hits his BA would have been .250, 3 more hits it would have been .300.

He K'd 9 times and had 11 RBI.

Can we please let this go now? The sample is so small, it's pointless to talk about it. We are talking about roughly 4% of his AB's.

[Redsland]

Presumably we can look forward to Marty "tell it like it is" Brennamen calling out Scott Hatteberg on those occasions when he fails to sprint from the dugout to his defensive position.

[edabbs44]

Originally Posted by Ltlabner

Yea, the first time the team had been in a race this century. It will take more than a few months of competitive baseball to lure the fans back.

Then the "fans" are just that..."fans".

Small mkt teams do not have a real good chance at being consistently good. Many of these teams need to catch lightning in a bottle for a few years and then when their young talent gets too expensive, the team has to start over.

So when these "fans" get a chance to see playoff race baseball, they should grab some tix and head out to GABP.

[Caveat Emperor]

Originally Posted by Redlegs

The point is the strikeout has no value whatsoever.

The strikeout makes the pitcher throw, at minimum, 3 pitches to retire you. I'd rather have a 7 or 8 pitch AB that ends in a strikeout than a first-pitch swinging weak grounder to short.

Taking pitches and working the count causes the starter to labor and increases the likelihood that you'll get to what, for most teams, is the weakest part of their roster -- mid-inning middle relief.

Or, go ahead and hack at that first pitch. Maybe you'll make the starter tired just watching how hard you run.

[pedro]

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

The strikeout makes the pitcher throw, at minimum, 3 pitches to retire you. I'd rather have a 7 or 8 pitch AB that ends in a strikeout than a first-pitch swinging weak grounder to short.

Taking pitches and working the count causes the starter to labor and increases the likelihood that you'll get to what, for most teams, is the weakest part of their roster -- mid-inning middle relief.

Or, go ahead and hack at that first pitch. Maybe you'll make the starter tired just watching how hard you run.

I'm for wearing the pitcher down with icy resolve and good old american know how!

[deltachi8]

Originally Posted by edabbs44

Then the "fans" are just that..."fans".

Small mkt teams do not have a real good chance at being consistently good. Many of these teams need to catch lightning in a bottle for a few years and then when their young talent gets too expensive, the team has to start over.

So when these "fans" get a chance to see playoff race baseball, they should grab some tix and head out to GABP.

Or just run your organization smartly. Know when to trade your assets and develop new ones. Move guys a year too early rather than one to late.

[Redlegs]

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

The strikeout makes the pitcher throw, at minimum, 3 pitches to retire you. I'd rather have a 7 or 8 pitch AB that ends in a strikeout than a first-pitch swinging weak grounder to short.

Taking pitches and working the count causes the starter to labor and increases the likelihood that you'll get to what, for most teams, is the weakest part of their roster -- mid-inning middle relief.

Or, go ahead and hack at that first pitch. Maybe you'll make the starter tired just watching how hard you run.

We're not talking about a quality at bat vs. a poor at bat. Working the count is always good thing, and even better when the ball is put in play. Hitting a ground ball makes the fielder field the ball, make a throw, and have the first baseman receive it. Striking out does none of that, unless it happens on a wild pitch or past ball. Also, a weak grounder to short just may get the run home in the scenerio I mentioned earlier.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by edabbs44

Then the "fans" are just that..."fans".

Small mkt teams do not have a real good chance at being consistently good. Many of these teams need to catch lightning in a bottle for a few years and then when their young talent gets too expensive, the team has to start over.

Oh bunky poo poo..... Oakland and Minnesota don't seem to be struggling to get ahead...

[Redlegs]

Originally Posted by jojo

Oh bunky poo poo..... Oakland and Minnesota don't seem to be struggling to get ahead...

Agreed. Same goes for the Florida Marlins a few years back when they took down the high priced Yankees. Smaller markets just have to work a little harder and a whole lot smarter until baseball wises up and gets a salary cap.