tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34989425.post712921172804271367..comments2023-07-08T06:36:52.942-07:00Comments on Two guys who, like, never agree: Smallball, con'tDieselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02736353413710315191noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34989425.post-58144306789724823852007-02-27T03:57:00.000-07:002007-02-27T03:57:00.000-07:00I feel like this post is a microcosm of all the ba...I feel like this post is a microcosm of all the baseball talk on this blog -- I agree with a lot of what you say, but you're clearly taking your argument too far. There's absolutely no way to justify saying that anything is more valuable in baseball than a run. In essence, by saying that an out -- an opportunity to score -- is more valuable than actually scoring, you're saying that a possibility is more valuable than a certainty. Which doesn't make any sense. If outs were more important than runs, the score would be measured in outs.<BR/><BR/>You're also still ignoring the entire defensive side of baseball with your statement that the two goals of managing are to preserve outs and to score runs. Which, I think, is what Ryan was getting at with his defense/pitching argument. Obviously half of baseball is making outs and preventing runs. Your argument oversimplifies the issue by neglecting that altogether.<BR/><BR/>Is the hit-and-run stupid? Yes. Is stealing with Juan Pierre stupid? Definitely. But outs are not more valuable than runs, and defense and pitching are probably the two most important aspects of baseball. Lots of teams with great offenses miss the playoffs every year. Just look at my Phils for an example.Sthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16688861685748385179noreply@blogger.com