Power of Caring
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Stopping the hit parade

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Posted: Wednesday September 01, 1999 11:43 AM

Smaller ballparks, expansion, and a juiced baseball are making it a banner time to be a hitter. But let me tell you two more reasons why batters are thriving, and pitchers are suffering.

First, I see too many pitchers allowing batters to get hits on 0-2 counts. That's the worst mistake a pitcher can make. An 0-2 count should give a pitcher three or four chances to force the batter to swing at pitches that can't hurt them. Some guys are inexperienced and don't know any better. Others suffer from a lack of concentration. But too many batters are getting hits in a situation where they're at a real disadvantage.

A second reason why hitters are teeing off these days is the equipment. Take a look at Craig Biggio. He comes up to the plate wearing so much padding he looks like he's wearing armor. There are now elbow pads, hand pads, forearm pads, knee pads, ankle pads. Batters might as well put on chest protectors and hit.

Here's where it hurts pitchers. The padding is so thick that guys aren't afraid of being hit anymore. In fact, hit batsmen are up 36 percent since 1990. If they take one off a pad, so be it, they're on first base. That reduces some of the effectiveness of the inside pitch. And that takes a major weapon out of the pitcher's arsenal. The only way pitchers can scare batters now is by throwing at their heads, and we all know what kind of trouble that can lead to.

I think baseball needs to limit the amount of pads a guy can wear, and only allow them for players like Jeff Bagwell, who are just trying to protect old injuries. Put the fear of getting hit back into baseball, and watch the number of hits go down.

 

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