I Want the Blue Jays to play small ball

[Slider]

Why can't the Blue Jays play more small ball? They usually can only score runs when they hit home runs and when they don't hit home runs..they can't score and can't win games. They should know they have to play small ball more often then not to score runs which they would have learned how to do way back in Little League baseball as kids. Why does it seem they forgot how to play small ball? It would have really helped them out.

[Nox]

If there was one thing wrong with the Toronto Blue Jays' 2014 season, it was definitely the lack of bunts. Definitely.

[o2cui2i]

If there was one thing wrong with the Toronto Blue Jays' 2014 season, it was definitely the lack of bunts. Definitely.

 

http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131107230939/glee/images/7/72/Sarcasm_tbbt.gif

[RealAccountant]

Team is inept at manufacturing runs because it has no hitting depth. Manufacturing runs require experienced veteran hitters who make great contact

 

The manager also struggles with any adverse thinking

[jays4life19]

If there was one thing wrong with the Toronto Blue Jays' 2014 season, it was definitely the lack of bunts. Definitely.

 

Bunting: The new market inefficiency.

[Boxcar]

Team is inept at manufacturing runs because it has no hitting depth. Manufacturing runs require experienced veteran hitters who make great contact

 

The manager also struggles with any adverse thinking

 

What does manufacturing runs even mean. What a stupid phrase.

[Deadpool]

What does manufacturing runs even mean. What a stupid phrase.

 

Pretty much any run where a sacrifice is involved. Runs taste sweeter when they're the result of outs.

[Boxcar]

Pretty much any run where a sacrifice is involved. Runs taste sweeter when they're the result of outs.

 

Yeah but if a guy walks, the next guy hits a home run, does he not manufacture those two runs?

[Deadpool]

Yeah but if a guy walks, the next guy hits a home run, does he not manufacture those two runs?

 

Not at all, because... uhhh... scrappy... old school... reasons?

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Your 2015 starting 2nd baseman:

 

John McDonald

[G-Snarls]

What does manufacturing runs even mean. What a stupid phrase.

 

It is

 

I always took it as scoring without getting big hits/home runs.

 

Singles, walks, stolen bases, bunts, advancing the runners on ground outs, sacrifice fly, etc. Some combination of the above.

[BTS]

Basically when bad players somehow manage to score runs without extra-base hits, it's small ball.

[Boxcar]

It is

 

I always took it as scoring without getting big hits/home runs.

 

Singles, walks, stolen bases, bunts, advancing the runners on ground outs, sacrifice fly, etc. Some combination of the above.

 

No, of course. When some old idiot like Joe Morgan or Rick Sutcliffe talk about manufacturing runs I understand what they mean. Using the word "manufacture" just doesn't make any sense. Which fits the rest of their mantra I suppose.

[TheHurl]

Manufacturing runs require hitters who make contact

 

ftfy

[Chappy]

Updated the misleading thread title.

[CHRIS]

Yeah but if a guy walks, the next guy hits a home run, does he not manufacture those two runs?

 

Yes, but not grittily.

[Jim_Ackers_balls]

If the Blue Jays don't hit home runs, they don't win.

 

And small ball is about doing more with the bat other than laying down a bunt. Things like the hit and run, stealing bases, advancing runners on outs. IIRC, the Jays were doing at least some of these things (in addition to getting pitching) when they went on their two big win streaks during the year.

[G-Snarls]

If the Blue Jays don't hit home runs, they don't win.

 

And small ball is about doing more with the bat other than laying down a bunt. Things like the hit and run, stealing bases, advancing runners on outs. IIRC, the Jays were doing at least some of these things (in addition to getting pitching) when they went on their two big win streaks during the year.

 

And they've definitely done it better than last year

[jaysblue]

Chicks dig the long ball guys...

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iBwFahDbK_M/S09RxopZ1hI/AAAAAAAABfk/mqYO729Z1mA/s320/05_athletes_04.jpg

[jaysblue]

[Jim_Ackers_balls]

And they've definitely done it better than last year

 

I was hoping they would be doing it all of last year and this year. If you look at their opening day lineup, they had more of an NL lineup at least in terms of stealing bases. All that was missing was "small ball".

 

I wish there was some sort of statistic that would measure runners advanced or runners advanced on outs. The evaluation of players would change and maybe strikeouts would go down.

[Boxcar]

Every year the Jays lose a disproportionate number of one run games and extra inning games and every year this board downplays the importance of being able to manufacture runs.

 

Because chicks and homosexuals dig the long ball.

 

Did you actually just use the term "homosexual" as an insult?

[Dr. Dinger]

I was hoping they would be doing it all of last year and this year. If you look at their opening day lineup, they had more of an NL lineup at least in terms of stealing bases. All that was missing was "small ball".

 

I wish there was some sort of statistic that would measure runners advanced or runners advanced on outs. The evaluation of players would change and maybe strikeouts would go down.

 

We have two of the most elite power hitters in baseball, why the f*** would we play small ball? No other team in baseball has a power tandem that can match ours.

[Mikeleelop]

I was hoping they would be doing it all of last year and this year. If you look at their opening day lineup, they had more of an NL lineup at least in terms of stealing bases. All that was missing was "small ball".

 

I wish there was some sort of statistic that would measure runners advanced or runners advanced on outs. The evaluation of players would change and maybe strikeouts would go down.

 

there are statistics and studies that show sacrifices lead to fewer runs scored

[KingKat]

Every year the Jays lose a disproportionate number of one run games and extra inning games

 

 

Evidence?

[KingKat]

I was hoping they would be doing it all of last year and this year. If you look at their opening day lineup, they had more of an NL lineup at least in terms of stealing bases. All that was missing was "small ball".

 

I wish there was some sort of statistic that would measure runners advanced or runners advanced on outs. The evaluation of players would change and maybe strikeouts would go down.

 

Actually base running is calculated into WAR. It's one of the reasons Mike Trout was favored over Miguel Cabrera as MVP in sabermetric circles. It's the old school crowd that wanted to give more credit to the guy who hit the most homeruns.

[G-Snarls]

We have two of the most elite power hitters in baseball, why the f*** would we play small ball? No other team in baseball has a power tandem that can match ours.

 

Good point. The 1 and 2 guys just need to get on base.

 

I would like to see some creativity with our pathetic 6-9 guys though.

[Deadpool]

Good point. The 1 and 2 guys just need to get on base.

 

I would like to see some creativity with our pathetic 6-9 guys though.

 

Can't really hit and run when you can't make contact on pitches, and can't steal when your obp is .006...

[Jim_Ackers_balls]

We have two of the most elite power hitters in baseball, why the f*** would we play small ball? No other team in baseball has a power tandem that can match ours.

 

Ok? And?

 

There are times when even Joey Bats and E5 can help the team by going the other way. A righty that pulls and gets outs doesn't advance anything. When Bautista goes into his stretches where he tries to swing the bat so hard that you know he's only thinking of home runs, the team doesn't benefit. Players have to do more than hit home runs. Striking out less and putting the ball in play more couldn't hurt either.

 

They're still good players, but I think they could even be doing more with their outs.

[jaysblue]

http://www.rantsports.com/clubhouse/wp-content/slideshow/2012/09/15-hottest-baseball-wives/medium/Baseballwives.jpg

 

Tell these chicks about bunting and they'll slap you silly...