The Great Baseball Debate: Sluggers with Speed or Speedsters Who Slug? cover art

The Great Baseball Debate: Sluggers with Speed or Speedsters Who Slug?

The Great Baseball Debate: Sluggers with Speed or Speedsters Who Slug?

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 the timeless debate: in the MLB, is it better to have sluggers with speed or speedsters who slug? It's a quandary as old as the game itself, right up there with the mysteries of the infield fly rule and why on earth anyone would ever wear stirrup socks. So, grab your peanuts and Cracker Jack, because we're diving into the most divisive issue since the designated hitter.

Let's start with the sluggers with speed. Picture this: a hulking behemoth steps up to the plate, muscles rippling, bat in hand. You can practically hear the jaws of the outfielders hitting the turf as they take a few steps back. This guy is the love child of Hercules and a cheetah. When he connects with the ball, it’s not just a hit; it’s an event. The ball soars majestically into the stratosphere, probably disrupting a passing airline flight or two. But wait! This isn’t your grandpa’s slugger who’d huff and puff his way to first base like he’s dragging a grand piano behind him. No, this guy can actually run. He’s halfway to second before the outfielders have even located the ball. He’s like a freight train… if freight trains could steal bases and leg out triples.

On the other hand, we have speedsters who slug. These are the guys who look like they were built more for track and field than baseball. They’re lean, mean, running machines. When they get on base, it’s like watching a gazelle in the wild—graceful, elegant, and likely to steal second before you can say "pick-off attempt." But these aren’t just one-trick ponies. They can swing the bat too. Sure, they might not hit as many moonshots as our Herculean hero, but they’ll line drive you to death. They’re like the Swiss Army knives of baseball—compact, versatile, and always useful in a pinch.

Now, let's mix some sarcasm into this grand debate. Because, why not? Imagine the conversations in the dugout. “Oh, great, another home run. How will we ever cope with adding another run to the scoreboard?” says the manager, rolling his eyes as the slugger with speed rounds the bases. “And he’s fast too? Fantastic. Just what I needed, a guy who can hit and run. How terribly inconvenient for the other team.”

Meanwhile, in the other dugout: “Oh, look at that, another stolen base. How original,” the coach mutters sarcastically as the speedster who slugs stands on second, dusting off his uniform. “And now he’s hitting doubles and triples? Someone stop the madness. Next thing you know, he’ll start pitching shutouts and selling hot dogs between innings.”

But let's not forget the fans. They’re the real winners here. “Do I want to see a home run? Or a stolen base? Decisions, decisions,” they muse, munching on their overpriced stadium nachos. “Oh, who am I kidding? I want both. Give me a guy who can do it all. Is that too much to ask?”

And while we’re at it, let’s spare a thought for the poor pitchers. “Great, now I have to pitch to a guy who can hit a ball a mile and outrun a cheetah. Fantastic,” they grumble, adjusting their caps in frustration. “And the other guy? Oh, he’s just going to slap a single and then steal three bases before I can blink. No big deal. Just another day at the office.”

In the end, the debate between sluggers with speed and speedsters who slug is a delightful conundrum. It’s like choosing between pizza and ice cream—why not have both? Baseball, with its rich tapestry of skills and personalities, has room for every type of player. Whether you’re a fan of the long ball or the stolen base, there’s something for everyone. So, let’s sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. After all, it’s the unpredictability and variety that make baseball the greatest game on earth—stirrup socks and all.
activate_mytile_page_redirect_t1

What listeners say about The Great Baseball Debate: Sluggers with Speed or Speedsters Who Slug?

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com.au reviews

Amazon Reviews
No Reviews are Available
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.