What drives me crazy...MLB

Does it drive you crazy when...a hitter takes this HUUUUGE swing on an 0-2 pitch to strike out? What about all the gauking they do when they hit ANYTHING in the outfield? What about slowing down to look over their shoulder as they pull in to 2nd base? Or when they should slam the bat down on a dropped 3rd strike?

I guess I'm OLD SCHOOL but, what happened to shorten up and just make contact? What about drop the bat and run? What happened to picking up your 3rd base coach as you approached 2nd base? Doesn't he have a PERFECT view of the entire field? Or put the pressure on the defense to make a throw and catch to get you out? Isn't it the "little things" that are supposed to make the difference in a close game? If it is, then I don't know how either team wins a close game because nearly every single ball player in the entire MLB does every one of these things seemingly every chance they get.

These strikeout totals today are just absolutely out of control. In 1998, Sammy Sosa won the NL MVP with CRAZY good numbers including 66 HRs, 158 RBIs, and 134 runs scored. He was 2nd in HRs but led in RBIs and runs. Did you know he also led in Ks with 171? That's OK - he certainly wasn't alone as Bobby Abreu finished 10th with 133 Ks. In 1978, Dale Murphy led the NL in Ks with 145 while two guys tied for 10th with 103.

So what am I trying to say? There have ALWAYS been guys that strike out a lot; it's just that today, EVERY guy seems to strike out a lot. If you look at the league leaders year-by-year, there are a LOT of Hall of Famers (Reggie Jackson, Willie Stargell, Mike Schmidt, and Mickey Mantle just to name a few) on that list so striking out, even if you do it a lot doesn't make you a bad ball player. It's just that the art of choking up and putting the ball in play has been replaced by the mentality that "chicks did the long ball". There seem to be so many times when you see a guy up with the bases loaded chasing 1 run trying to hit the walk-off granny instead of just getting a 2-run single to simply win the game without the extra flare.

How many long singles off the wall is Aramis going to hit for the Cubs while admiring his warning track power? That would maybe happen to me once...ONCE. This guy seems to do it at least once a month. I don't necessarily mind guys admiring a cannon shot that lands in the upper deck or out on Waveland or Sheffield, but when the ball is caught or maybe lands in the basket or first couple rows in the bleachers, RUN!

Don't these guys learn in Little League that you are supposed to listen to your base coaches as it is much slower to run with your head turned all the way around? I've been coaching my kids now for 7 years now and I've been preaching that since t-ball. It only happens on our team every once in a while now, but you see it in every game in MLB - guys craning their necks into RF as they are approaching 2nd base deciding whether or not to try for the most exciting play in baseball - the triple. Had they been hustling out of the box, they'd be there, but admiring the long fly ball from the box and then turning your head around holds them to a double. Ah, what could have been especially if there's less than 2 outs.

And didn't the White Sox push toward a pennant and eventual World Series title on a dropped 3rd strike? OK - so the ball never hit the ground, but still...had AJ just done what every other ball player does and whip the helmet to the ground and walk out to his position rather than drop the bat and run, that World Series title may have never happened. Instead he was called safe at 1st and the momentum of the series swayed heavily toward the Sox and they took full advantage.

It's the little things boys that make the difference in the game. You already know this and yet, you still do it all wrong. What's up?