Which is more impressive: striking out a batter swinging or looking?

[DirtyKash]

Simple question. Which is more impressive for a pitcher: striking out a batter swinging or striking out a batter looking?

[Rockiesfan_H]

I say looking. That means you probably completely fooled the batter. Just my opinion.

[HollywoodLeo]

If he strikes out swinging odds are you completely fooled him as well, as he was expecting it to break when it didn't, or expecting it not to break when it did, or was expecting a change up and saw a fastball or vice versa.

I think both can look equally impressive.

I went with "looking" cuz I had to choose, and seeing the opposing batter stand there with a dumbfounded look on his face as strike 3 is called is pretty hilarious.

But, on the flip side, this could just as easily happen because the ump has a wide strike zone.

The more I think about it, though, the more I want to change my pick. Because nothing's better than seeing a major league baseball player take a hack at a Jake Peavy slider that makes him look like a little leaguer.

[Rockiesfan_H]

If he strikes out swinging odds are you completely fooled him as well, as he was expecting it to break when it didn't, or expecting it not to break when it did, or was expecting a change up and saw a fastball or vice versa.

I think both can look equally impressive.

I went with "looking" cuz I had to choose, and seeing the opposing batter stand there with a dumbfounded look on his face as strike 3 is called is pretty hilarious.

But, on the flip side, this could just as easily happen because the ump has a wide strike zone.

The more I think about it, though, the more I want to change my pick. Because nothing's better than seeing a major league baseball player take a hack at a Jake Peavy slider that makes him look like a little leaguer.

I hear ya, but I figure if the guy swings he at least THOUGHT he had a chance. If he's just standing there looking stupid, you fooled him completely.

I can see your points though.

[HollywoodLeo]

I hear ya, but I figure if the guy swings he at least THOUGHT he had a chance. If he's just standing there looking stupid, you fooled him completely.

I can see your points though.

If he thought he had a chance but didn't (cuz the ball slides way out of the zone) can't you say you fooled him just as much?

Trevor's change up makes hitters look like little leaguers sometimes.

[Pronk48]

I voted swinging.

If a batter swings, then he thinks he had a good chance of at least making contact.

If he's struck out looking and just looks dumbfounded, many times it's because the ump either (a) is using a rather large strike zone, or (b) called a certain pitch a strike that he was calling balls before that time.

However, sometimes a batter strikes out looking because the pitch was just unhittable and the batter didn't wanna look like an idiot swinging at it.

Me? I swung every pitch so I always struck out swinging.

I'm also the dumbass that didn't duck when the pitcher threw at my head.