Luis Garcia, our new man in the middle

[Slateman]

reminds me of how a few years ago, ESPN tried tracking "productive outs."  Turns out it was negatively correlated with either wins or run scoring. 

There is no such thing as a productive out. Anyone who perpetuates that bullcrap knows jack crap about baseball. The hitter's job is to reach base safely. Everything else is failure.

[welch]

I think if the ball is deadened a bit, then the importance of steals will go back up for sure. I mean, it's not hard to understand why.

Further, speed means:

- ability to take an extra base when a player has the base-running skill
- extra pressure on the defense, as players have to make throws accurately and catch overthrows, bounces, all the other odd-ball things
- ability to leg out hits or even to make them close enough that a defender hurries, adding chance to a double-play
- ability to cover more ground in the field, both infield and outfield

[Slateman]

I think if the ball is deadened a bit, then the importance of steals will go back up for sure. I mean, it's not hard to understand why.

Theyre not going to deaden the ball any more than it is.

[hotshot]

Theyre not going to deaden the ball any more than it is.

Pitchers throw so hard and hitters are so strong that all it takes sometimes is minimal contact to have another "Adios Pelota" moment. I have no data to back it up but seems to me we're seeing more opposite field HRs than ever.

Where the batter is fooled or over-matched but can still just flick his bat and off the ball goes over the opposite field fence. Again, part of that power is provided from the speed of the pitch. I have more of an issue with those HRs than I do with the "traditional" ones hit by pulling the ball.

[madj55]

Played a real nice game last night. Loved the pimp job on his homer.

[Smithian]

[imref]

Louie two-bags.

[KV]

Christ….now are we gonna have to let Soto walk so that we have enough money to sign Garcia? /s