Quote:
Originally Posted by Grandstander
Lou Gehrig:
See above. It was not randomness. It involved randomness.
As for the accomplishment itself, can you tell me one thing about it that in any manner, contributed to the Yankees winning more games than they would have won had Dimaggio had the same offensive season but without the streak?
DiMaggio getting 193 hits was not at all random, those hits arranging themselves as they did....that was what was random.
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Yes, I can. What effect did the Yankees wins in June and July have on the pennant race? You present your position effectively, but you do not address any other positions.
The Tigers in 1984 won the pennant after the first 40 games. The rest of the American League teams were beaten early.
DiMaggio's streak helped the Yankees win, and that could have (did affect, but since the variables cannot be controlled, definitive statements should not be made) discouraged the other contenders.
I can't stand it when Joe Torre, after a Yankee has failed but done well, such as a pitcher pitching 7 innings, allowing 4 runs, and losing, 4-3, says that "He should feel good about himself." But there is some validity to that. DiMaggio's streak may have helped the other Yankees win a game they might not have otherwise won.
Now, getting hits is NOT random. Players do NOT concentrate all the time. How many times have you heard it said that "He doesn't give at bats away.?"
Well, implicit in that statement is the inference that other players DO give at bats away. You can see it at times when a player's mind is elsewhere. "See that blonde in the first row?"
Baseball is much more than statistics.