And it will create another arbitrate situation where defense is valued too highly and some GM will realize he can get lumbering power hitters on the cheap all of a sudden. Hard to imagine now, I know, but that appears to be how these cycles work.

The way I like to look at it is this: each plate appearance, and each game, by itself, means nothing. All the plate appearances and all the games put together means everything.

The game is a lot larger than that one at bat you always daydreamed about when you were 10, win-or-lose in this moment. And in your dream you always win, and you idolize the players who do it in real life, who win the games at the end, who hit when it “counts.”

But you’re not 10 any more, and it always counts. Do you get hyped up more than ever for every at bat, like it’s football? Or do you relax more than you used to, accepting the games where we lose at the end because someone failed to come up with a hit in the 9th — perhaps realizing that they turned a key double play in the top of the 9th that even got us to the situation where we could win or lose in that particular at bat? Or do you just continue to “ignore” (not the right word, probably) most of the game and focus highly on those win-or-lose moments, staying a casual fan?

It’s each person’s choice. And there’s no wrong answer. But I feel like when you’re talking about who’s the worst player, you’re talking about their “value to the team.” And a player’s value is a whole lot more than a counter of the times they came through in the 9th inning.

Or are we just going by hitting and ignoring defense and position entirely? Because, you know, that’s not what I’ve been doing this whole time. And on a baseball team, defense and positions are pretty important.

I mean, I’d absolutely rather have Jermaine Dye batting with the game on the line than Punto … but Dye doesn’t play shortstop. He plays right field, badly. So while Dye’s value is higher in that plate appearance, Punto’s is higher over the course of the season.

I do, of course, encourage people to attempt to debate if they want to, but I think it’s pretty clear that I have absolutely no tolerance for that type of idiocy.

But by all means, if you need someone to smile at you while you furrow your brow in a vain attempt to understand, go to the re-education center. It’ll make you feel good and they’ll tell you that you’re trying hard even if you put in no effort to actually understand new things. Just like in junior high! Woo!