chico ruiz
Member
this is a ongoing league wide discussion right now. it's not only the reds. i watch a lot of baseball, and a majority of team fan bases are having some derivational dialogue about this same thing. offensive philosophy. hit-n-run called it a 'flawed concept.' i've read and heard many theories about how mlb got to this place. PED's and it's aftermath. super over-the-top ridiculous big money. the way young talent is coached at the lower levels (particularly hitting). i'm starting to think that an inside/out swing is a god given talent because you see fewer players capable of it every year. 1507 has bemoaned reds hitters swinging from their heels the last few years. it's true. and they're doing it in situations where just hitting the ball to the right side will score a run or move a runner. there is one line from 'moneyball' that has stuck with me. beane / pitt says, if there going to bunt don't worry about the runner on-base. take the out at first. if they're going to give us an out, take it. that is the baseball equivalent of a paradigm shift. i don't much like it. seems like we're witnessing the death of the on-field tactical decisions that made it fun for me to watch, and guess along with, whoever was managing. there are a handful of good managers. maybe 3 really good field-smart managers. but, i think john mcgraw is still rolling around his grave, with fists pumping, asking, 'what the $#@^&%$ have you done to my game you GDMFSOB's.'