1-2-3 Strikes Yer Out!

All World All Sports

-Digger's Daily-

Today's Major Leaguers are striking out at alarming rates. Is swinging for the fences at any cost now the "in" thing to do? It makes me wonder how batting coaches keep their jobs. Countless times this season I've watched the Yankees, Brewers and Rangers hitters strike out with runners in scoring position when putting the ball in play would probably lead to runs.

Texas Rangers first sacker Chris Davis became the quickest player to reach 100 strikeouts. He's currently leading the league with 109 and could be on his way to well over 200. How does a player batting .206 with 109 strikeouts still have a job in the majors? It's not as though he was just having an off season either. In 152 career games he's fanned 197 times. Owch!

Fundamentals of the game have been lost on most teams. Managers just aren't doing their jobs. If Milwaukee's lineup was able to "manufacture" runs they'd be running away division leaders. Yankees make some of the worst outs by swinging for homers. Strike outs are bad outs. Bad outs, by my definition is an out where base runners do not advance. No one advances on a strikeout. In a ground out, runners often advance into scoring position or score runs. Same can be said with with long fly balls.

Batters striking out is part of baseball. Always has been, always will be. I'm suggesting coaching staffs are not emphasising in strong enough terms putting the ball in play offers their teams more opportunities for success. For a fan there's nothing more frustrating than watching your favorite team not score when they load the bases. There's almost no excuse for not executing one run in this situation. Batters must be taught or reminded to put the bat on the ball. It's baseball 101.

An astounding 100 players are currently on pace to reach or surpass 100 strikeouts!

I've often been asked how strikeouts have become acceptable these days? It's a complex answer. Perhaps it's due to players believing they'll get paid more to hit 30+ homers a season. History has shown sluggers, no matter their batting average, get paid. In some cases it might be suspected PED users coming back to life. There are quite a few not even coming close to their steroid era numbers. I'll also point fingers at managers. What ever happened to position players bunting? From suicide squeezes to advancing runners into scoring position. It's become a lost art.

The most consistent teams play fundamental baseball. Los Angeles Dodgers, Angels, Cardinals, Blue Jays and young Marlins seem to have things under control by knowing how to score runs. Smart hitters up and down these lineups. They may not all hit 30 homers or bat .300. When the game is on the line they hit.

Funny looking around the league at various teams hitting instructors. Not many were consistent. Many K'd plenty. It's amazing how they think there's something to offer younger players. It certainly isn't by example.

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