The downside to that is that league average BABIP is usually right around .300. You can get away with teams getting on less than that sometimes, but the K is still the best option for a pitcher. Pitch to contact is usually pitch to lose.
I'm not advocating changing any one type of pitcher into another. People that work on the strikout do well striking people out. Pitch to contact pitchers do better pitching to contact. It takes a guy like Lannan or Marquis a lot more pitches to strike someone out than it would take someone like Strasburg or Zimmermann. They typically do better playing to their strengths / style.
Pitch to contact pitchers have their spot. It's just that you can't be a team with nothing but pitch to contact guys like we have been for a long time. Two or three guys max with three strikeout pitchers would be ok. Hopefully we have 2 good strikeout pitchers in 2012 with Strasburg and Zimmerman.
And yes, walks kill any pitcher.
