Baseball fans love seeing exciting home runs and talented players knocking the ball out of the park. Appreciating strong pitching, as well, it's remarkable how there have been five no-hitters already this season.
But while the pitchers get credit, some concerns are being raised about how so many players are striking out and not getting hits.
According to CBSSPORTS.COM, the current league batting average of .236 will be the lowest league-wide batting average of all-time if it remains that low throughout the season.
Baseball writer, Tim Kurkjian, has an article on ESPN.com about the rising strikeout totals. He writes, “The strikeout dilemma has MLB officials deeply concerned given it is the primary reason for the game's sluggish pace of play and its troublesome lack of action on certain nights.”
Although former legendary pitcher, Nolan Ryan, struck out more batters than any pitcher in history (5,714), he admits that watching all of the strikeouts now "...has turned me off to the game.”
He is also quoted in the article as saying, "It used to be the ultimate embarrassment to walk back to the dugout and rack your own helmet, but it's not like that today.”
Kevin Seitzer, the Braves hitting coach who played from 1986 to 1997 added, “I don't like strikeouts, I've never liked them when I played or now when I coach. Nothing good happens from a strikeout. George Brett used to say, 'The one thing I can't stand is striking out. I hate it.' But I don't feel there's that attitude today towards the strikeout."
The interesting part about the rise in strikeouts is the fact that it’s being accepted by many batters and even managers. As long as guys are hitting home runs, the strikeouts are okay - no big deal. It doesn’t seem to matter as much as it once did that players are striking out rather than consistently hitting the ball all over the field.
Present players don’t seem to be as concerned or upset about stepping up to the plate and missing the ball three times compared to former players. Yet, a call for change is being made among the baseball community to cut down on the high rate of strikeouts infiltrating the game before there are negative long-term effects.
As we unpack the state of strikeouts and the varying perspectives on them, I want to unpack how this parallels our view of sin.
Do we hate “striking out” or do we accept it?
Are we concerned, upset, and repentant of our sin or don't we care?
Do we tolerate “striking out” and think it doesn’t matter as long as we’re “hitting home runs”?
Are we calling for a change in ourselves before there are negative long-term effects?
Are we seeing a rise or decline in our "strikeouts"?
Our mindset and perspective on sin change when we follow Jesus. We know we have grace and forgiveness because of the cross, but we know we’re still going to strike out at times.
However, that doesn’t mean we accept sin, embrace it, or tolerate it. Rather, in light of Jesus' love and mercy and our desire to follow Him, we are grieved by our sins and choose to turn from them.
Colossians 3:1-10 (NLT) reminds us of the new life we now have: “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
"And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires.
"Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
"Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.”
As followers of Jesus, we need His transforming power to help us as we grow and move forward from the “strikeouts.” Thankfully, we have a new life in Christ, so let’s allow the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin to drive us toward repentance and grace.
Today, let’s take sin seriously instead of blowing it off as no big deal...and rely on God to help our “strikeout” numbers to decrease.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please convict me of the sin in my life and show me ways I need to repent. Help me to take Your Word seriously and choose to obey. I pray I wouldn’t take sin lightly and that I’d also rest in Your grace and love. Thank you for saving me and forgiving me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:
Which sins have you taken too lightly in your daily life?
Which sins did you once find acceptable, but God has convicted you to change your perspective?
Comments