It seems like how many homeruns a player has is the first thing considered when determining how good a player is or who gets the MVP, ROY, etc. A lot of the top homerun hitters strike out a lot, which always seems to get over looked. A strike out does absolutely nothing for your team, yet no one seems to care. In the NL, I would take Albert Pujols over anyone, because even though may not hit the most homeruns, chances are if theres a runner on base, he'll advance them. For the record, Pujols has averaged 40 hr and 65ks a year for his career. How many other power hitters today who play mostly complete seasons have averaged close to that?
2007-10-15 09:44:47 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
Wally, you make a good point, but even more with no runners on, i don't want Ryan Howard at bat,because if he doesn't hit a homerun, he'll probably strike out
2007-10-15 09:50:35 · update #1
yes we put too much value on homerun, i mean it helps to bring the players home if the bases are all full; rather than that, i realy don't care for it, i rather see my team bump the ball or either strike out, than dealing with a lot of homeruns, i enjoy when my team just get a good hit and try to move up , the other players so they can make it home , or even try to steal a base if they off to, i do know that most high hitters , get a lot of strike out but that what they like best.
2007-10-15 17:58:53 · answer #1 · answered by Rosalinda 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't like strikeouts, but they don't hurt your team in most cases any more than does a ground ball to second or a foul pop-up. While it's nice to move a runner over with an out, there's also a chance of hitting into a double play.
Most of the MVP candidates - strike out a ton, but they make up for it both with their power and their ability to get on base via a walk. Ryan Howard struck out 199 times this year, but his OBP was only 4 points lower than a 77-strikeout guy in Ichiro. Anyone in their right mind would want a guy like Pujols, but he's very much the exception to the high homer/high K trend.
Homers will also come up in the MVP talk because they're still the most effective way to score runs, which is the purpose of the game. Speed, defense, bunting, hit and run - they're all part of the game, but nothing changes a game faster than a home run. I wish we had fewer of them, but they're still the best thing you can accomplish as a hitter.
2007-10-15 16:52:07 · answer #2 · answered by Craig S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes we do. Good point with Pujols. There are very few players in the history of the game that have had more home runs than strikeouts. Gehrig and DiMaggio are two I can think of, and I think Bonds may have done it as well. You don't see that often now a days.
2007-10-15 16:51:02 · answer #3 · answered by Personal Insult 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it was the 1st Inning I would much rather get people on base and score one run than just hitting a solo home run.
Same goes with an NFL game. I would rather my team drives down the field than returning the kick all the way.
It gives your team momentum.
2007-10-15 17:41:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no kidding! it's ALWAYS about the runs. what about a smart hitter who knows how to bunt and can get on base so the home run can bring in more runs?? what about the always invaluable DEFENSE???? and equal BASE RUNNING. Very few teams who don't run the hell out of the bases can't win.If it wasn't for Dave Roberts stealing third the sox would never have won in 04 but everyone gives it up for Derek Lowe and forgets the more than half of his runs out of the park, the number of innings he gave up three or more by the fourth and with the bases loaded. there's MUCH more to the game than hitting.
2007-10-15 16:50:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
you make a good point, but then when you are last man at the plate and no runners in the field. its going to take a home run to win the game. so they are important at critical stages.
2007-10-15 16:48:58 · answer #6 · answered by wally 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We put to much value on lame observation of other people exercising, well actually baseball isnt even exercise, so; We put too much value on wasting time watching steroid abusers run in a diamond shape, and posting stupid questions on the internet.
2007-10-15 16:49:38 · answer #7 · answered by Mister Knowitall 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Mister Knownothing - why are you here if you don't care about baseball, and think it's lame?
You are very ignorant, change your name before I make a citizen's arrest.
.
2007-10-15 17:14:29 · answer #8 · answered by Kris 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋