tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23241716.post114197033851173559..comments2012-02-20T05:45:53.478-05:00Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697776280178146413noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23241716.post-1142010883514658312006-03-10T12:14:00.000-05:002006-03-10T12:14:00.000-05:00Absolutely true. I'm a fan of Dunn et al and I do think the to-do made over the strikeouts is a bit overdramatized. But strikeouts are the least productive kind of out that you can make, as any hit ball at least gives the chance that something good could happen. It's one of the reasons (along with the low OBA and poor defense) that I'm not wild about Wily Mo Pena.<BR/><BR/>It's also the reason why strikeout pitchers would be very helpful to the Reds. If the pitcher gets the batters out himself, the Reds' fielding ineptitude doesn't come into play. :) <BR/>-JinAZJinAZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697776280178146413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23241716.post-1142010237267652752006-03-10T12:03:00.000-05:002006-03-10T12:03:00.000-05:00"A major discovery stemming from this research over the past year is that fielding and simple dumb luck can have a big influence on the number of hits allowed by a pitcher after a ball is hit into play."<BR/><BR/>Is this also a reason to favor hitters who don't strike out so much (unlike, well, the Reds)? That is, hitters who consistently put the ball in play are more likely to benefit from "simple dumb luck," too. Not that the Reds didn't score lots last year, but every little bit helps--especially when the pitching is so bad.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.com