Posted by bad_luck on 9/21/2016 3:33:00 PM (view original):
I don't know if it's selfish or not in softball, but in baseball, you're usually playing for more than just one run.
Situations where you need just one run are relatively rare, so it's almost always better to either walk or crush the ball than it is to hit a soft groundout.
This was your point in the sac fly argument too. The goal is always to get the run in from third base. As an Orioles fan, this ****** me off more than anything. They almost never bunt and I guarantee they lead the league with pop ups and strikeouts with a man on third and less than two outs (especially Mark Trumbo). Situational hitting is a gift, and they don't have it.
Yes, being able to crush homers is great, but even the best hit 50 a season. That leaves a lot of other at-bats. It's better in those situations to just put bat on ball and groundout to the right side or shoot one into the outfield for a sac fly than swing out of your shoes at every strike and hope it goes 500 feet.
That's why the term "productive out" was coined.