The game within the game.

That’s what makes baseball so wonderful for those of us who know a bit about baseball and are learning more all the time.

Specifically, Boswell discusses the ‘huge importance of the ball-strike count,’ especially the power of strike two.

As Boswell lays it out:

*With less than two strikes, the AVERAGE MLB hitter is a .339 hitter, a Stan Musial, and a .549 slugger, a Hank Aaron.

*In the eight hitter counts with less than two strikes, here’s last year’s MLB AVERAGE:

        Count            Average

          0-0                 .339

          1-0                  .340

2-0                  .368

3--0                 .395

0--1                 .317

1-1                   .332

2-1                   .339

3-1                   .352 

*But when the count reaches two strikes, here’s what happens:

         Count            Average

0-2                   .156

1-2                    .171

2-2                    .189

3-2                    .233

*Half of the plate appearances go to strike two, and the MLB AVERAGE drops to .186.

*The most transformational count is 2-1. If it goes to 2-2, the AVERAGE MLB batter becomes no better than a back up player. But if it goes to 3-1, the AVERAGE MLB player suddenly is better than anyone save Babe Ruth or Ted Williams.

*Sum: With less than two strikes, an AVERAGE hitter is equal to Musial or Aaron. A GOOD hitter is equal to or often better than RUTH. But get to two strikes and even the best hitters are no better than back up players.

Boswell’s details all of this, including the ‘why’s,’  and a bit more in his column.

To truly understand the game, he says, “You don’t wait for the action. You anticipate it – through the count.”

If you don’t know Tom Boswell, in my alleged mind, you’re missing one of the truly great sports writers/columnists of our day.

Click Here to read Boswell’s full column.