Baseball is coming back.  Seems like a good time to restate some fundamental beliefs.

Fielding range and fielding percentage are illusions.  A shortstop who can think fast under pressure is worth five games a season.

Managers aren't in the game to manage players, but to manage outs and acquire them.

A bunt is a waste of a perfectly good at bat.

The threat of a stolen base puts pressure on pitchers, getting thrown out stealing relieves it.

Catchers don't make pitchers better.  Experience makes pitchers better.

Games are won and lost in the 6th and 7th innings.  Closers pitch the 9th.  Do the math.

The 12th pitcher in the NL boxes in a manager in the late innings when he doesn't have an appropriate pinch hitter.

A number one starter whose team wins 70% of their starts can be the difference maker in winning a division.

Bad number five starters can be the cause of not winning a division.

You go with the middle relievers who can get outs, regardless of whether the batter coming up is left handed or right handed.

Sacrificing one batting spot to defense can be wisdom. 

Sacrificing two batting spots to defense steals late inning at bats from your 3-4-5 hitters.

Managers don't make a difference.  General managers do.

Any hitter can be an all-star for six weeks.

Guarding the lines is the baseball equivalent of the prevent defense, with comparable results.

Lefty Gomez was right.  The secret IS clean living and a fast outfield.  (And 3 run home runs).

Nobody ever rebuilds their way to a pennant.

The swinging high strike is a beautiful thing.

Trade fear for extra bases. 

Run courageously through the 7th inning.

The person who invented the DH should be chased through the street by mobs carrying pitch forks and torches.