Flip side is, of course, I would rather Abreu not swing at multiple pitches out of the zone and ground into a double play in the playoffs.

_________________
Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

With their shaky bullpen, it's going to take a 2005esque starting pitching performance if this team is going to make a deep playoff run. It's been fun thinking about and debating whether they should trade for an outfielder or middle infielder, but at this point I think they should just pursue relief pitching to take some pressure off the starters. Even if they improved their lineup, come playoff time, runs tend to be more scarce and relief pitchers tend to be more important anyway.

Kopech and Cease might be your guys.

_________________
Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

I agree with this overall premise, but I would change one thing. A guy taking a walk-- after fouling off three or four tough pitches for example-- is one thing. A guy going up to the dish with no intent on swinging the bat and looking for a walk is different IMO.

_________________

Top ten career walkers:

1. Barry Bonds (22) 2558
2. Rickey Henderson+ (25) 2190
3. Babe Ruth+ (22) 2062
4. Ted Williams+ (19) 2021
5. Joe Morgan+ (22) 1865
6. Carl Yastrzemski+ (23) 1845
7. Jim Thome+ (22) 1747
8. Mickey Mantle+ (18) 1733
9. Mel Ott+ (22) 1708
10. Frank Thomas+ (19) 1667

Seems like if you're a good hitter you are a good walker as well.

For no reason here is an insane stat line from Barry Bonds. 120 intentional walks!
Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB
2004 39 SFG NL 147 617 373 129 135 27 3 45 101 6 1 232 41 .362 .609 .812 1.422 263 303 5 9 0 3 120

_________________

Are we going to be able to use them like normal relief pitchers down the stretch and in the playoffs, or is it going to be "Kopech pitched yesterday, don't so much as look at him for the next two days"?

Well, the one thing you have to understand is, that if you're going to walk, you have to do it on at least four pitches. Nobody can walk on three pitches. And if you want to talk about two, then we can talk about the base in which I played at, and which I was great at, certainly better than number two and number three, but you can't walk on number two or on number three and that's why you have to see at least four pitches before you can take, or draw, a walk.

_________________

I'm pretty sure Vlad Guerrero was a better hitter than Yasmani Grandal.

_________________
The Court will accord substantial deference to the government's immigration policies, particularly those that implicate matters of national security.

As Jimmy Piersall would say "They were a bunch of horny broads."

Actually, in this case "How the hell should I know."

_________________
Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

Plausibly

_________________

White Sox are the best team in the AL and Charlotte is the second best

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.