Platitudes

[sharksrog]

Announcers often say things that seem reasonable on the surface, but just aren't true.

I'm sure others will come up with more, but the one that sparked my thought here is the saying about a fast base runner, "walking him is like giving up a double."

Well, yes it is, except for at least three things:

. If there are runners on base, a walk doesn't advance them as far as a double does.

. If they reach base, as often as not, they don't try to steal, or the batter hits the ball.

. Sometimes they are thrown out trying to steal, which makes the succession of plays more like a guy thrown out trying for a double than like a double itself.

Others you think of?

[allenreed]

I think you're taking it far moe literally than it is meant. It' just a colorful way of saying the guy is fast and could well steal.

[sharksrog]

Allen -- I think you're taking it far moe literally than it is meant. It' just a colorful way of saying the guy is fast and could well steal.

Rog -- Perhaps it would be better to say "a walk could be as good as a double" or "a walk might be as good as a double with this guy."

In the scouting report on Hunter Pence, perhaps the scout was simply saying that Hunter was a bit of a flake.

Or as I would say about the "walk is as good as a double" thing, poetic license isn't a license to steal.

One of my favorite vanity plates is "POETIC."

A colorful way to say a guy is fast and could well steal might be to say, "He's the thief of bags, dad." "Trying to throw him out stealing is like throwing out your neighbor's trash. You just aren't going to do it." "If he were any faster, it would already be tomorrow."

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