Overall, having a line-up that works the opposing pitcher deep into the count is a good thing, and the Indians definitely have that, so I don't mind the additional strikeouts that usually go along with the deeper pitch counts.
How does going deep into pitch counts affect one's own starting pitcher as they sit on the bench while the pitcher's teammates bat for a real long time? Inning after inning our own starting pitcher is sitting on the bench for several extra minutes, even when we don't score any runs.
Sure it's great to score a lot of runs, but there will also be innings when a runner or two gets on and we don't score as well. When the game plods on over 3 hours day after day, what is the cumulative affect on the team and the starting pitching?
Maybe Shapiro has found an interesting blend of outfiled vets in the majors and ready to go minor league outfielders in the minors. It appears that players like Dellucci, Michaels and Nixon are such "go for it" and "leave it on the field" kind of players that at some point they will probably get some type of minor injury from either running into the wall or barreling into the catcher trying to score.
As long as our tough as nails veteran outfielders don't hide the type of potential injuries that can come up from playing all out, we get the benefit of their hard play plus the knowledge that we have some good players in the minors who could be brought up if our vets do get injured because they play so hard.
