Good pitching vs. good hitting

[soxfan[$]]

It's baseball's version of the immovable post/unstoppable object question: does good pitching always stop good hitting, or vice versa?

I know what I think ... but I'll wait to post until others have had their say.

Ailsa

[mrisch[$]]

Case in point, the Colorado Rockies in any year of their existence. Big bats, no defense = lose much of the time.

[pluckyduck]

A good pitcher, in the zone, is unstoppable. This is what no hitters are made of.

Good question!!

Andrea

[taurusmoon]

For a case in point see today's thread about the Red Sox's devastating loss to the "hated" Yankees

Sara
Who is not gloating, just illustrating a point

[soxfan[$]]

No, Sara, that's a case of bone-headed pitching (Arrojo, Schourek, Beck) against good hitting.

Ailsa

[taurusmoon]

Not really. I'll give Pedro his props. The game took a turn after he was pulled and weaker pitchers relieved him. (Ergo the hits)

And let's not forget that Mariano was off his game. (Ergo Manny's 3-run homer.)

The game was ultimately won by a utility hitter. Not a slugger.

Sara
Still not gloating

[kuuleimomi]

Yay! I was the only one to support good hitting! Homerun Queen, yeah, baby

[erik_kosberg]

I voted for Good pitching will always stop good hitting even though I think that usually would be more appropriate than always. This year‘s Twins are a case in point; they’re 37-18 because of their pitching. With very few exceptions, their hitters are having a lackluster year. There have always been a few hitters (Ted Willams for example) who’ve had such a good eye for the ball that they’ve done well against even good pitchers. By and large though, good pitching beats out good hitting.

[soxfan[$]]

Add me to the list of those who picked pitching over hitting. There are a few reasons:

-- The pitcher has eight other guys waiting to catch the ball. The hitter's on his own.
-- The pitcher, more often than not, will know where he's putting his pitch. The hitter, at best, can guess.
-- Even if the hitter knows where the ball's going, he won't necessarily catch up with it or hit it where it won't be caught. Golfers have a hard enough time hitting a stationary ball where they want it to. Try hitting something that's dipping and diving or blasting past you at 90mph.

Of course there are players who prove the exception -- some hitters will so dominate a game it doesn't matter who's up on the mound. But the odds are still with the hurlers.

Ailsa

[eplovejoy]

So far it is 9 out of 13 in favor of good pitching over hitting.

Now that we've shown how good we are at answering the unanswerable, perhaps we should apply our collective wisdom to that nagging one about angels and pins:

How many angels can pitch from the head of a pin?

[erik_kosberg]

Unless they get a special dispensation exempting them from the rules of baseball, only one at a time.

How many angels can pitch from the head of a pin?

[frazzledspice]

How about "Bad fielding will help good hitters more than good pitchers."

[Psychovant]

I went for good pitching, but then again all I have to go by is the Seattle Mariners. *wink*

Shannon ...

[eplovejoy]

Hey, Shannon got the "right" answer even though she doesn't have much to go by. Well done.

Since it's her birthday, maybe we should get Shannon a better team. I mean besides the EA team, of course, because there isn't a better one.