So why do people poh-poh Walsh? The White Sox' pitcher?

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Posted By: David

Most overrated baseball statistic: Pitchers' strikouts .... I don't care how you get the guy out, just get him out. Nolan Ryan might have ranked up there with Walter Johnson and Warren Spahn if he wasn't so worried about his strikeout totals.

I'm not suggesting strikeouts are meaningless-- with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, it's not a bad idea to put in a closer who can throw heat, and obviously strking guys out never hurth Sandy Koufax and Randy Johnson--, but many people put the stat on par with win-loss (which can also be overrated) and e.r.a. To me it's a glamour stat, closer in worth to a NBA's slam dunk ration that it is a pitcher's ERA.