which do you prefer

TPM ...

I am tired of the emphasis on the 'long ball' in the game today. Personally I would rather see a team play little ball, singles and doubles that fall into the right spot on the field, getting the bunt down either to advance the runner or get a base hit, etc. Personally I believe that it makes for a great ball game when we can watch the various aspects of the game in the same 9 inings, and it keeps everybody on the field involved as well. I also think that by doing that, the defense doesn't get 'sloppy' because the ball never comes to them, and there seem to be fewer errors.

JMHO FWIW

How you play the game, small ball or power game depends on the talent of the team


Personally I prefer the combination of speed and power

I prefer to have both on my team. Speed , the ability to play small ball at anytime in the order and power. But the fact is you have to play the the strengths of your team. We work on small ball alot even when we have alot of power in our line up. But the fact is you have to play the cards you are dealt.

I like small ball..... maybe if the steroid era is over we will see more of it

I like to see whatever works for a win.

I think small ball is exciting since there seems to be more action. Our team turned a triple play when the other team was trying a bit of small ball. That was fun! A bit of anxiety up to that point though.

But gosh, it is exciting to see a ball disappear behind the wind screen too. Or hoping a runner will beat it out for a triple.

I guess I like it all.

We all know you have to work with the hand you are dealt with.

Pitching and speed. I notice too many college teams that build their strength on power with mediocre pitching and near the end when pitching can't get it done and bats go silent they run into trouble.

I also love it when coaches know teams weaknesses. In this case I think smart coaching won out.

I love small ball...especially when it get the other team throwing the ball all over the diamond. I know this is off topic...but I saw an ESPN Classic game once in a mid-50's WS where the Brooklyn Dodgers were playing it perfect, with guys such as Campanella and Snider laying down bunts to advance runners.

quote:

We all know you have to work with the hand you are dealt with.

TPM ...

My my ... what a brilliant observation ... may I quote you ??? (wink wink)

It is interesting to see how organizations, college and pro, build their teams. As you indicated, TPM, some schools go for the power offense and don't seem to focus as much on the pitching. One of our local D1 schools seemed to do the opposite and emphasize pitching a few years back, not a surprise since the recruiting coach was the pitching coach. The school produced some really good pitchers, but there were times that local fans wondered when they were going to try and balance out the recruiting classes with more offensive players. Sime of their position playsers have had a great deal of success, but it just seemed like the offense was on the backburner of the recruiters thinking process.

Likewise, the MLB teams have 'types' that they draft. When our son was in high school and college, certain teams like the Yankees and the Orioles didn't consider him a viable option because he didn't fit into their prototypical draftee. When he was in short season, and we attended a game in Yakima, there was an Oriole scout in front of us in the stands ... he had seen our son many times in college (he told us) because he was the So Cal scout in our specific area. He told us that he liked what our son could do, but that our son didn't fit the type of draftee the Orioles looked at because they scouted and drafted to be competitors with Boston and New York, something totally different than the Dbacks seemed to do.

Nevertheless, you asked which we preferred, and I prefer a good mix for a well rounded game.

My favorite thing to see is small ball being played. Like FBM though, I like to see that long ball mixed in there in certain situations. A game just full of it though wouldn't be much fun IMO. Love seeing strategy at work with the offense!

Don't get me wrong, love those long balls, but only when a pitcher I know isn't pitching,
And it's one hit from our team.

FBM,

It depends on which of my sons I'm watching... I've got two who fit the "small ball" mode perfectly, both offensively and defensively, and one who's motto is "chicks love the long ball"!

I love to see small ball when it makes the other team fall apart defensively, and love to see it tried against us when we make all the plays. But boy, nothing can change the momentum faster than sending one out of the park... hmmmm...

Honestly, I guess I just LOVE BASEBALL!

Nothing puts more pressure on a team than a team that executes small ball. When I say small ball I mean several things. #1 They will put down a bunt at any time in any count. #2 They routinely get down sac bunts. #3 They drag bunt at any time in any count. #4 They stretch secondary leads and they make you hold them. #5 They advance on every dirtball and make you make plays. #6 They hit behind runners on a routine basis with less than two outs.

The home run may shake a pitcher it may not. But teams that execute small ball put pressure on the other team. It forces them to make plays. It forces them to be fundementally sound. The ones that are not will be in serious trouble when facing a team like this. Teams that are very good in executing small ball baseball are always in games. Even when they are not as talented as the other team. Teams that are very good at small ball are also very good at defending it. Why? Because they defend it everyday in practice.

Before the metal bat that was the only way the game was played at the hs level. It was not called small ball. It was called baseball.

I like action. Offensively, I love a triple as it's a race between the hitter and the defense. And is there anything prettier than the well-executed hit-and-run? Smart baserunung makes me even prouder of a team.

Defensively, it's all beautiful..DP's, caught stealing, pick offs, diving stops/catches.

Dramatic home runs are wonderful. But if they don't change the direction of the game, they're a bit wham-bam. To paraphrase Crash Davis:

"Don't try to hit a home run every time. Home runs are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Hit behind the runner - it's more democratic."

Orlando,
Now that's what I am talking about.

A combination.You need speed on the bases but at the same time you need someone who can change the game with one swing

Same teams another great game.

But now the power hitters are starting to pound out what's left of pitching, definite first rounder hits a 2 run bomb to tie it up.

The long ball has taken over on this one.

TPM

What are you talking about?

Honestly I love defense more than offense. I know there is the old saying that if you can win every game if you have strong defense and strong pitching but I truly love defense over offense.

But since you need to have both and this is about offense the easy answer is to say both because it's true. I just want my guys up there hitting the ball hard wherever it's pitched and attack fastballs. If they get a fastball I want them to get their money's worth and if it goes out then it goes out.

We don't look to bunt unless we have to. Then we expect to get the bunt down and help the team. We typically will not bunt before the 5th inning.

I also love it when teams take advantage of balls in the dirt. It's something we have done really well this year and it's been fun to watch.