Sean's Sports : Preferably with a sacrifice fly?

Preferably with a sacrifice fly?

So I'm watching coverage of the Phillies/Pirates game on MLBN. While the Pirates were batting, the color commentator said:

This is something the Pirates have struggled with, scoring a man from third base with less than two outs. You want to score that runner any way you can, preferably with a sacrifice fly.

Really? Preferably with a sacrifice fly? You'd rather have a sac fly than a home run, or a double, or even a single?

Even though each of those options not only scores the run, but also provides some possibility of scoring more runs in this inning?

I don't buy it. And don't baseball analysts have some responsibility to get things right every once in a while?

A sacrifice fly is a consolation prize for not getting a hit, and is a reason to try to drive the ball in the air to the outfield. It is not, however, a preference. Getting a hit is always the preference, and failing that, avoiding an out by drawing a walk. (I don't think I need to point out that a sac fly gives up an out.)

The state of baseball commentary* remains rather pathetic.

* The televised variety, anyway.

Posted by Sean Schulte at 2009-08-27 18:22:30