I will preface this with the fact I think we have one of the best announcing teams in baseball. BUT:
Something has happened to the definition of a great AB over the last few years. Take Saturday for instance...top of the ninth...Pablo Sandoval at the plate, supposedly their best hitter....tying run on second,....he represents the go ahead run...gets down 0 and 2 in the count, fouls off some pitches, then draws a walk.
Dave Flemming calls that a great AB by Pablo. Excuse me? You can not be serious....
I would call hitting the ball out of the ballpark to give your team the lead a great AB....or even just driving in the tying run a great AB....but a fucking walk? Unbelievable....
I can't count the number of times great AB's are described as a hitter making the pitcher throw 9 or 10 pitches to get him OUT for christ sakes....just stupid stuff.
A ton of BS has been perpetuated by baseball announcers of late......The pitch count bullshit comes to mind....good god they count everything...."oh that's 25 pitches in the inning" "oh that's an 11 pitch AB".....it's absolutely ridiculous....
Lon.....we miss ya.
P.S. I know what you're thinking. A ten pitch AB resulting in an out, IS a great AB for this bunch.