Kemp's silly cycle and quote yesterday

[DaClyde]

In this particular instance, "helping the team" would have just meant a score of 10-5 instead of 9-5. Given that both scores only grant the team a single win, how does that extra run, from a HR instead of a 3B, really help the team?

[freakhappy]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

In this particular instance, "helping the team" would have just meant a score of 10-5 instead of 9-5. Given that both scores only grant the team a single win, how does that extra run, from a HR instead of a 3B, really help the team?

That's kind of an unfair assessment, don't ya think? I mean, we can always look back at any given final score and make these sort of assumptions. The goal is and always has been to score as many runs as possible. So, yes, ten runs would have definitely been better than nine runs because it would have improved their score. What if the home team would have reached nine runs and tied the ball game? Kemp and the Padres would have been glad that they got that extra run to help them win the game. Never leave anything on the table or take any team for granted.

It's been said many times over on this board...a cycle is celebrated because it's a statistical anomaly and it usually occurs less than a no hitter does each and every year....just very tough to achieve. But in the grand scheme of things, a two homer, two double game is definitely better than a cycle as it should produce more runs.

[DaClyde]

Originally Posted by freakhappy

That's kind of an unfair assessment, don't ya think? I mean, we can always look back at any given final score and make these sort of assumptions. The goal is and always has been to score as many runs as possible. So, yes, ten runs would have definitely been better than nine runs because it would have improved their score. What if the home team would have reached nine runs and tied the ball game? Kemp and the Padres would have been glad that they got that extra run to help them win the game. Never leave anything on the table or take any team for granted.

I get where you're coming from, and agree for the most part. I've never understood the "running up the score" complaint sometimes heard in a clear blowout. As far as I'm concerned, if one team is playing so poorly that their opponent can score at will, why not go ahead and do that? Bring your A game or go home. Still, more people will remember the cycle than a random 10-5 win. But as was said earlier, it's not like Kemp actually chose the triple over a homerun.

[freakhappy]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

I get where you're coming from, and agree for the most part. I've never understood the "running up the score" complaint sometimes heard in a clear blowout. As far as I'm concerned, if one team is playing so poorly that their opponent can score at will, why not go ahead and do that? Bring your A game or go home. Still, more people will remember the cycle than a random 10-5 win. But as was said earlier, it's not like Kemp actually chose the triple over a homerun.

In history, you are right. More people will remember the cycle than a random 10-5 win. But that's the point...we are very statistics driven, that we (and some players I'm guessing) want to see these "feats" rather than what's more important. I have no problem if a guy needs a triple or a double to complete the cycle and he tries to stretch to get one of those and is called out or safe. But if he stops at a base when he can clearly take an extra base, then that cycle would be tainted IMO. Play the game right and if an opportunity arises to achieve something special, by all means go for it...but don't cheat the game, yourself or your team in the process.

[glenv]

Why not apply the same philosophy to card collecting? Since Babe Ruth was the best player of his generation, why collect cards of any other player???