Baseball Strategy:Guide to Smart Baseball

Why didn't he pinch hit for him? Does he not know what a double switch is? How many times have you wondered out loud that you could be a much better manager, then oh, say, Grady Little. Well now you can be! ArmchairGM needs your help. Let's put together a Guide to Smart Baseball. When is it appropriate to hit and run? When should you intentionally walk a batter? We are trying to answer this as well as many other questions. Click on the appropriate links below, and then hit the edit link on the top right of each page to add your knowledge.

MLB Template:MLB Top Right

Rickey Henderson swipes third for the New York Yankees in 1985

Chapter 1 Base Running Stealing When to Steal Second When to Steal Third When to Double Steal Tagging Up When to Tag Up to Second When to Tag Up to Third

Chapter 2 Bunting Attempting a Sacrifice Bunt Attempting a Suicide Squeeze Bunting for a Base Hit

Ichiro Suzuki lays down a bunt

Barry Bonds hits game tying pinch hit homerun off Billy Wagner

Chapter 3 Using Your Bench When to Pinch Hit When to Double Switch The Defensive Specialist Pinch Running

Chapter 4 Hitting When to Employ the Hit and Run Batting Counts

The Hit and Run in motion

San Francisco Giants fans keep track of intentional walks totals using rubber chickens

Chapter 5 Pitching Intentionally Walk a Batter Bringing in a LOOGY

Chapter 6 Positioning the Defense Bringing the Infielders In Shifting the Infielders Shifting the Outfielders Playing Five Infielders Guarding the Lines

Infielders discussing strategy

Chapter 7 Lineup Construction Who to Bat Leadoff Who to Bat Second Who to Bat Third Who to Bat Cleanup Who to Bat Fifth Who to Bat Sixth Who to Bat Seventh Who to Bat Eighth Who to Bat Ninth

The ideal leadoff man?

Chapter 8 A Sabermetric FAQ Which stats matter? Who should we sign? What is DIPS, anyway? Does lineup order matter?

Billy Beane, patron saint of Sabermetrics.