small ball

External Since: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 50

On May 21, 2:20 pm, John Kasupski <kc2....TakeThisOut@verizon.net> wrote:
> On Wed, 21 May 2008 14:53:18 -0400, Kevin McClave
>
>
> One is his contention that the reason the 1976 Reds scored the
> second-most runs in franchise history despite setting the major league
> record for the most runners LOB in a season is because they also had a
> franchise-record OBP. The OBP is why they had so many runners on base
> in the first place - regardless of whether they scored or were LOB.
>
> The reason so many of those runners scored isn't only that they had a
> high OBP (although obviously that's part of it), it's also related to
> the fact that that they had guys like Perez, Griffey Sr., Foster,
> Bench, and Morgan in the lineup who put balls in play and did other
> things to help bring those runners in. There were two guys in that
> lineup (Morgan and Foster) who drove in more than 100 runs. Neither of
> them hit 40 homers like Adam Dunn- nobody on the entire team hit 40
> bombs. But neither of them struck out 100 times either - nobody on the
> entire team struck out 100 times (let alone came close to 200). They
> put balls in play, they hit behind the runner, they did things to
> enhance their chances to score, rather than standing around waiting
> for somebody to hit a jack, or striking out while trying to do so.

huh?
Perez retired 3rd in career strikeouts.
Bench had probably struck out more times than any catcher in history
when he retired.
bench, foster and perez all had thier career best rbi years in the
same year they hit thier most homeruns.

no sorry. the BRM could beat you in many ways, but the brunt of that
offense was OBP guys batting in front of the ehavy hitters. Put Rose/
Griffey/Morgan in front of Dunn and he will drive in 120 runs too.
>
> Then there's Erardi's contention about Dunn belonging in the 2-hole
> because of his high OBP (due to walks) and the fact that he hits 40
> dingers a year. Well, yes, batting him second might get him 50 more
> plate appearances, but he's not going to hit homers in anything even
> close to a majority of those 50 extra plate appearances, and he's
> going to strike out in a good many of them, thereby accomplishing
> absolutely nothing advantageous to the team.

wow. completely over your head.
>
> Erardi also says Dunn's right around league average in terms of
> advancing runners from first base, but there's a reason why in the #2
> slot you want somebody who is ABOVE league average in this department.

what would that be?

>
> Erardi himself states, "Runs come from hitters getting on base and the
> hitters behind them getting them home." I'd much rather have Keppinger
> in the #2 slot than Dunn because while Keppinger has nearly the same
> OBP (.373) as Dunn (.376), he also has only 8 Ks as compared to to 38
> for Dunn (one reason why he's only 8 RBI behind Dunn) and in fact has
> a higher slugging percentage and a 90-point advantage in BA
>
> Unfortunately, Keppinger is now on the DL and will be for some time to
> come. Based on performances so far this season, I'd have Hairston
> batting second right now. Or Janish, which is exactly who Dusty had
> there last night.

interestingly, the Reds got on a roll at just about the time Kep went
down. no correlation.

It still comes down to pitching which still isnt that good (only 2
good starters) and rarely gets picked apart on these threads. They
should think about sending Cueto down, let him get a few dominating
starts under his belt, figure some stuff out.
>
> JK

I <3 John

External Since: May 09, 2007 Posts: 286

On May 21, 5:20 pm, John Kasupski <kc2....RemoveThis@verizon.net> wrote:

> They put balls in play, they hit behind the runner, they did things to
> enhance their chances to score, rather than standing around waiting
> for somebody to hit a jack, or striking out while trying to do so.

The 1976 Cincinnati Reds led the league in runs scored.
And in homers.
And in strikeouts.

Thanks for visiting, John.