Post by BuckyPost by Tim MA walk's as good as a hit! (actually, no, it isnt)
Why not? Do you mean if there are baserunners? Or are you counting
extra-base hits? Or is it because a walk is *better* than a single
(causes the pitcher to expend more pitches)?
Well OK, if no one is on base, a walk is as "good" as a single. But
not really. Because in youth baseball, there are way too many walks
anyway. Walks are boring, they aren't much fun for anyone, they don't
test the defense, they don't ever lead to an error which might get you
another base.
And, there are always the kids who are afraid to swing and miss or make
an out, so they go up there and crouch way down and hope for a walk.
When I played little league, "a walk is as good as a hit" was yelled to
batters who were afraid to swing, making them feel better about lucking
their way to a walk. This isn't good baseball.
Of course, to become a good hitter, you need to learn not to swing at
bad pitches. Thus, good hitters will tend to draw lots of walks. But
they don't go up there WANTING to walk, they want to hit a line shot
someplace. No one ever yells that phrase to the team's top hitter.
Major Leagues? Boggs' bases loaded walk in the 1996 World Series? Now
THAT was a great walk.