Quote:
Originally Posted by jaxmagicman
It isn't a good point though. A strike-out for a batter is just an out(sometimes it is better for a batter to strike-out than put the ball in play, such as double play balls). For a pitcher it is the only out they fully control. Once the ball is put into the play they have little control over whether it becomes an out or not.
|
But a good pitcher can control how well a ball is put in play. Good pitchers get hitters to swing badly by changing speeds and location. Bad swings mean pop ups and grounders which turn into outs. Sure, there will be those that fall in, but by in large if hitters don't get good swings they don't get hits.
Your point about double plays reinforces the notion that what is bad for a hitter is good for a hitter. Double play: Bad for hitter therefore good for a pitcher. In that situation the strike out is bad for the pitcher and "good" (insofar as only one out was recorded) for the hitter.