PYS 2011 - Hitting Tips

[swaldo]

Re: PYS 2011 - Hitting Tips

It's all about personnel. If you just got hired as a manager and you inherit a team with little power but have good defense, speed, bunt & contact skills you bet I'll be small-balling! However, if you're team has good power but cant do the little things then you go for the 3 run homers.

Look at all the legendary managers & coaches who lasted 25+ years. They stuck around that long because they were not tied to one philosophy, instead they used their teams strengths to the best of their ability.

[sgt pepper]

Re: PYS 2011 - Hitting Tips

It's all about personnel. If you just got hired as a manager and you inherit a team with little power but have good defense, speed, bunt & contact skills you bet I'll be small-balling! However, if you're team has good power but cant do the little things then you go for the 3 run homers.

Look at all the legendary managers & coaches who lasted 25+ years. They stuck around that long because they were not tied to one philosophy, instead they used their teams strengths to the best of their ability.

Swaldo's absolutely right, if your team doesn't have much power you're not going to hit homeruns. Same goes for speed, you'll end up with weak double play grounders and you won't even make their defense break a sweat. Speed is the ultimate equalizer, and the best way to utilize that is by playing small ball! And if that's not your thing the Carp is not the team you're looking for, they are THE fastest team in NPB and absolutely make a living on small ball and defense.

[Cyphre]

Re: PYS 2011 - Hitting Tips

I want to know how many titles did Bill James win using his philosophy? Oh, that's right NONE, ZERO, ZIP, NADA.....because he's is a historian of the game.....that's kinda like the sports writers on espn sunday mornings that criticize the players because they weren't good enough to actually play at a professional level.

[Super Glock]

Re: PYS 2011 - Hitting Tips

I have to disagree with Bill James as well, small ball all the way for me. I personally think US teams could learn a thing or two from the Japanese teams. But I will also say you need to play to the strength of your specific team not just have one philosophy.

[swaldo]

Re: PYS 2011 - Hitting Tips

Anyone remember the 1982 World Series? The Brewers came in with 216 homers during the season against the Cards measly 67. Guess who won?

I like reading Bill James' work and I think his theory on "small ball" shouldn't be dismissed, but it just doesn't account for intangibles. That's what makes baseball great though - the debates will never end.

[Pielet]

I want to know how many titles did Bill James win using his philosophy? Oh, that's right NONE, ZERO, ZIP, NADA.....because he's is a historian of the game.....that's kinda like the sports writers on espn sunday mornings that criticize the players because they weren't good enough to actually play at a professional level.

My how quickly we forget....

2004 Boston Red Sox
2007 Boston Red Sox

He is a paid adviser to the Red Sox. In addition his work pretty much influences how ALL gms operate in MLB these days.


You'd hate to see the sabremetric analysis in football. Going for it on 4th always, always doing an onside kick, etc. Lol.

[Pielet]

Anyone remember the 1982 World Series? The Brewers came in with 216 homers during the season against the Cards measly 67. Guess who won?

I like reading Bill James' work and I think his theory on "small ball" shouldn't be dismissed, but it just doesn't account for intangibles. That's what makes baseball great though - the debates will never end.

Well we are talking about sacrifice bunting here that kicked this all off, not stealing bases. Memory serves me the Cardinals stole bases like a fiend and the decisive game 6 was a massive offensive beatdown by the Cardinals.

As usual with baseball though what separated the 82 Cardinals was decent starting pitching and a lockdown hall of fame closer whose Cyphres Cubs practically gave away. I guess the Cubs figured a hall of fame base stealer (Brock) being given away to the Cardinals wasn't enough so they let Sutter go as well.

[Cyphre]

Re: PYS 2011 - Hitting Tips

My how quickly we forget....

2004 Boston Red Sox
2007 Boston Red Sox

He is a paid adviser to the Red Sox. In addition his work pretty much influences how ALL gms operate in MLB these days.


You'd hate to see the sabremetric analysis in football. Going for it on 4th always, always doing an onside kick, etc. Lol.

Ha, Ha, Ha.....Bill James took over for Francona when he was went down with the flu and instantly implemented his theory to spearhead that miracle comeback that baseball had never seen. VERY IMPRESSIVE!!! LMAO!!!!

His theory is nothing more than that.....Is P90X really gonna get you ripped in 90 days?.....well in theory, if you strictly follow the guidelines it should......SHOULD!!!! still no guarantee.

How quickly we forget is right......2004 was a miracle that if you ask yankee fans should've never happened....and 2007 was a smaller miracle as they faced a similar situation in the 1st round of playoffs and then just went on a roll.

I remember Bill James' victory speech as if it was yesterday.......LMAO!!!!!!

are you here till thursday?

[Cyphre]

Re: PYS 2011 - Hitting Tips

Well we are talking about sacrifice bunting here that kicked this all off, not stealing bases. Memory serves me the Cardinals stole bases like a fiend and the decisive game 6 was a massive offensive beatdown by the Cardinals.

As usual with baseball though what separated the 82 Cardinals was decent starting pitching and a lockdown hall of fame closer whose Cyphres Cubs practically gave away. I guess the Cubs figured a hall of fame base stealer (Brock) being given away to the Cardinals wasn't enough so they let Sutter go as well.

LOL....Can't come up with facts to defend the Bill James Theory so we have to involve the Cubs....let me tell you alot of us Cub fans became inmune after the bartman incident......we just run on loyalty now......but we still follow the game by learning from poeple who actually played the sport and not he guys that came up with the billy goat curse......because it's a myth, just like Bill James' theroy.....OUCH!

[swaldo]

Re: PYS 2011 - Hitting Tips

He is a paid adviser to the Red Sox. In addition his work pretty much influences how ALL gms operate in MLB these days.

The Angels didn't get the memo. Scioscia is regarded as one of the top managers in the league, and won a World Series small-balling in the AL (who would've thought?) Even Jim Rome was like "You've got to be kidding me, how the hell did he pull that off?"

How many times did the underdog Angels bump off great Yankee teams in the playoffs? Their fuming GM admitted they went out looking to find guys who could help them beat the pesty Angels. Just like the 2004 Red Sox were probably built to beat the Yanks.

A reporter once asked Scioscia why he's so fixated on small ball? He said he wasn't...he just uses the tools he has available. Although he does demand his minor league coaches emphasize to the players they are expected to do the "little things." He gets it, and will probably be managing forever.

[Cyphre]

Re: PYS 2011 - Hitting Tips

The Angels didn't get the memo. Scioscia is regarded as one of the top managers in the league, and won a World Series small-balling in the AL (who would've thought?) Even Jim Rome was like "You've got to be kidding me, how the hell did he pull that off?"

How many times did the underdog Angels bump off great Yankee teams in the playoffs? Their fuming GM admitted they went out looking to find guys who could help them beat the pesty Angels. Just like the 2004 Red Sox were probably built to beat the Yanks.

A reporter once asked Scioscia why he's so fixated on small ball? He said he wasn't...he just uses the tools he has available. Although he does demand his minor league coaches emphasize to the players they are expected to do the "little things." He gets it, and will probably be managing forever.

Yeah....not to mention he is maybe the only manager in MLB that has a lifetime contract with a team....everyone esle is on pins and needles......never once have I heard that Scioscia's job was in jeopardy......he is the only manager in baseball that I believe can turn around the Cubs 102 year slump....he is hands down the best manager in baseball....and wins even when he lacks superstars to compete in the AL....even veteran players know they have to play his way .....and he makes his players perform thier best.

[Pielet]

Keep touting the Angels as "proof". 1 World Series versus say a non small ball team we can use as
"proof": 27 World Series and 40 pennants.

Small ball doesn't win championships no more than hopping home runs. As usual it's hot pitching (no different than usually hot goaltending in the NHL) more often than not.

Where are your facts Cyphre other than rhetoric followed by an OUCH? The great Cardinals small ball teams had 1 title in their run with Whitey and the system. All these teams employing small ball tactics are more flash in the pans than consistent champions (including my White Sox with Ozzieball in 2005, but let's be honest ANY style would have won with what the White Sox starting pitching staff accomplished).

[Pielet]

Swaldo the 2002 World Series was awesome from a fans perspective. One of the best I've seen especially following the 2001 one which was phenomenal too.

Lots of respect for Angels then and now. Garret Anderson would kill the White Sox with Percival slamming the door in the 9th.

Again this topic was about sacrifice bunting which I still think is overvalued. Of course you have base stealers you will hit and run with guys who can put the ball in play, Bill James isn't dismissing that. He's dismissing 0-0 in the 3rd and bunting someone over with someone who has a 1 in 4 shot of getting a base hit.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: PYS 2011 - Hitting Tips

Thats cause the American League isn't a small ball league not cause the Rangers follow that philosophy.

No one is saying to dismiss it. Mathematically it's simply not the greatest run generator out there, that's all.

Actually, it is because the Rangers follow that philosophy. You can almost set it like a clock when Andrus, Borbon or Kinsler is up that there will be a bunt to advance runners.

[Pielet]

Re: PYS 2011 - Hitting Tips

Actually, it is because the Rangers follow that philosophy. You can almost set it like a clock when Andrus, Borbon or Kinsler is up that there will be a bunt to advance runners.

Andrus has 5 SH's in 35 G
Borbon has 3 SH's in 32 G
Kinsler has 1 SH in 37 G

Texas ranks in the second half (#19) in all of MLB in sacrifices. #13 last year.

What kind a clock are you setting? It's needs winding. Are you seeing what you want to see and reading into things that really aren't true? Perhaps you're getting a contact buzz from Washington over the tv?