JCG posted:
A kid on my son's team this summer has hit into double plays twice with the bases loaded, both times without a run scoring.
What did Earl Weaver used to say? If you feel like you're going to hit into a double play, strikeout instead.
Is a DP worse than a K for the offense? You betcha! But since ball generally has to be hit reasonably sharply for a DP to take place, isn’t it more a matter of luck than something the batter did? A little more to the right or left or a little more slowly could easily have changed those 2 DPs into 2 ROFCs and 2 RBIs. And a little more right or left or even more slowly may well have produced a hit or an error, which is pretty much the best thing that could happen outside of an XBH.
I dug a little deeper and came up with the attached.
It’s not too difficult to see who you don’t want up in a critical situation where a K will kill a rally. Granted there’s not much you can do if it’s a starter, but you can sure pick your pinch hitters. And you can also use that information to help set the lineup.