zig, dabods, anyone who knows.
Run support for pitchers. Not only entire season but breakdowns, like 10 game stretches.
Application: Chris Young of Padres.
Again went shutout or low runs allowed innings, this time 6.
Again came away with either loss or no decision. (In last nights case no decision.)
Reliever Clay Merideth throws two out 0-2 middle plate strike. I was always taught in close game, for that matter almost always as pitcher when ahead 0-2 do not throw a strike.
Good things that can happen:
Hitter will hack at virtual unhittable ball and strike out. (yeah yeah you've got your freak Vlad Guererros. Thats not who I'm talking about.)
Hitter will connect, but since you pitched it so out of the stike zone he flies out, fouls out, grounds out, any one these.
Ump may call bogus strike.
In other words, you have nothing but to gain by hurling a ball.
You have everything to lose by hurling a stike, especially a meaty one.