How the game is played (baseball)

[Typo_Negative]

*Originally posted by DSYoungEsq *
**I spent last night watching the Cubs - Reds game carefully, and on not one occaision did I see anyone swing at a 3-0 pitch. I felt all vindicated, till I recalled that neither team has a really good hitter … **

Well, the cubbies got that no-talent Sammy Sosa…

[Typo_Negative]

*Originally posted by DSYoungEsq *
First of all, the REASON the pitcher pipes a 3-0 pitch is because you DON’T swing at it (it is stupid to swing at a possible walk pitch when you aren’t really going to be hurt much by taking a strike - force the stupid guy on the mound to prove he can actually put one over the plate).

This is true

** batters who DO swing are taking advantage of this situation, which if ALL batters did would mean that pitchers would try to throw a pitch to MAKE them swing and miss, and as anyone who truly watches baseball (as I have for 30+ years) knows, when you attempt to gain an ‘unfair’ advantage by ignoring the traditional methodology of the game, you become fair game for efforts by the opponents to return you to being a good little boy, e.g. plunking you with a pitch on the butt.**

This is utter nonsense. I can name dozens of players who have an automatic green light on 3-0(guys like Bonds, Big Mac, Sheffield…) If you don’t want the guy to swing at it, walk him intentionally. He is under no obligation to give you a called strike. If you plunk a guy for swinging, you can expect your own slugger to get plunked as well.

Simple solution. Don’t go 3-0.