Rather primitive, but this is why the team scores runs year in and year out.
The more runners on, the greater the chance of scoring.
Pretty simple, right?
But this is nothing new to us.
Still though, the old school way of thinking seems to dismiss this at times.
The Red Sox lead the league in OBP at .370. Granted, Fenway is beneficial to hitters, but this team would get on base a lot wherever they played. Maybe not this much, but a lot, comparatively.
The most asked question for the offense coming in was, “Where is the power going to come from?”
Well, that or the other question that was asked, “How will Lowell and Ortiz repond after being injured in their decline phase?”
But none of us ever doubted this offense’s ability to reach base.
1st in OBP. 4th in walks. 2nd in Slugging. 2nd in average.
Ok, I understand. This team is getting on base, hitting for power, hitting for average, drawing walks, hitting well with runners on, etc.
All of that is > OBP. But none greater individually. Not when he are speaking realistically.
I mean the team could get on base below the league average, but bat .550 with RISP all season long. But that isn’t going to happen. As we have found out, that “skill” may exist, but is overrated in a sense that hitters aren’t going to hit much better in these situations over an extended period of time.
But so far, the Red Sox are. But players must get on base before they get into scoring position.
And the Red Sox do that better than anyone, currently.