tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253765398062967868.post7344003135671431038..comments2011-09-19T19:43:00.369-07:00Comments on Ryan's Random Ramblings: Leadoff WalksUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253765398062967868.post-87504741899452240792008-05-29T23:44:00.000-07:002008-05-29T23:44:00.000-07:00Of course leadoff walks are bad. So are leadoff ho...Of course leadoff walks are bad. So are leadoff home runs, leadoff doubles, leadoff singles, triples, HBP, and ROE. Oh yeah, and CI.<BR/><BR/>Now, since it is obvious that leadoff walks are worse than a leadoff out, he must be presuming that a leadoff walk is somehow worse than some other leadoff "non-out" which is clearly not the case. You didn't have to do any research to find that out, did you?<BR/><BR/>Anyway, the funny thing is, from as pitcher's perspective, when you have at least a 2 run lead in the 9th, you never, ever want to walk a guy, since a walk is almost as bad as a HR. Of course, sometimes you can't help it, but your walk total when the batter is not the tying or go ahead run in the 9th should be microscopic as compared to your overall walk rate, as a pitcher. If it is not (in the long run), then you are a stupid pitcher. In that situation, you must throw more fastballs and you must work more towards the middle of the plate. And if you get behind in the count, you pretty much throw fastballs down the middle of the plate (how much of the middle and what percentage of fastballs depends on your control and your control of the various pitches).<BR/><BR/>Anyway, if you absolutely don't want a lead-off walk when you are ahead by 2 or more runs, then you MUST not mind a lead-off walk if you are ahead by only 1 run (or tied). Obviously you would prefer an out, but YOU MUST PITCH CAREFULLY TO EVERY BATTER WITH A 1-RUN LEAD, AND THEREFORE YOU WILL END UP ISSUING MORE THAN YOUR SHARE OF WALKS.<BR/><BR/>So Lance should ONLY be bitching about the "dreaded lead-off walk" in the 9th inning when the pitcher's team has a 2 or more run lead. NOT with a 1-run lead. He should be praising the pitcher for not throwing a "cookie" when he was behind in the count and letting up a homer to tie the game.<BR/><BR/>Just example number 1,847,363 of ex-player commentators who appear to know little or nothing about the strategy of baseball. At least as compared to those of us who still live in our mother's basements.<BR/><BR/>MGL (of course)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com