Thom and Joe Sr.

[DWKB]

Let me get this strait here:


In a game where 12 out of 13 total runs were scored on the HR

In a game that happened to be between the two best pitching staffs in the NL


We actually heard Thom and Joe Jr talk about OAK style of baseball and how the HR might be the caddie but the SAC bunt is the gasoline? How once you get into the playoff against "those really good pitching staffs" you can't rely on the HR alone to score runs, you have to create them?


Do they really not see the irony in their statements for this game and how their perceptions have nothing to do with reality?


GEEZ.......................

 

[unc84steve]

(Response from choir)

Post-season baseball has the best pitching, fielders & hitters. Therefore it's harder to string together a 3-element rally (walk, bunt, single) than it is to get a HR, even if HR's also go down 10% (because pitchers don't walk as many, fielders play the bunt sharper, and pitchers don't give up as many hits)

i.e. .9 x .9 x .9 = .73

It's a case of the media & fans repeating something they want to believe rather than what the facts bear out (then again, maybe we should do a study)

 

[schillingfan]

Well, I don't think you can just apply broad statistics to any particular game situation. I'd be more than happy to get the home run whenever it comes. But if I'm facing Curt Schilling or Randy Johnson in the playoffs and I have Matt Morris on the mound, if I got a runner on first base I would still bunt him over and try to scratch out a run because that one run could be the difference in the game.

But if Joe Jr. believes that I guess it definitely explains why the D-Backs have lost all their power since the 2001 season.

 

[DWKB]

Originally posted by schillingfan
Well, I don't think you can just apply broad statistics to any particular game situation. I'd be more than happy to get the home run whenever it comes. But if I'm facing Curt Schilling or Randy Johnson in the playoffs and I have Matt Morris on the mound, if I got a runner on first base I would still bunt him over and try to scratch out a run because that one run could be the difference in the game.

But if you look at the actual data available, you'd see that:

A) Johnson and Schilling both give up as many if not more HRs/IP in their career than both Batista and Brown.

B) With Schilling in particular, all I can remember of him being scored off of in the postseason was by the HR. Drew in 2002 and 2001 NLDS, Spencer in Game 4 of 2001 WS, Soriano in Game 7 of 2001 WS.

 

[schillingfan]

Well, after I wrote that I was thinking Curt isn't the best example, because the home run is his weakness. I generally agree with what you said, but in some situations when the pitcher is obviously on his game, if you can scratch out a run you try for it.

But even as to Curt, his home runs usually are solos, so once you have the guy on base, he usually is going to bear down and not give it up.