strike outs in order to give up the walks? Just be average in both? I think they go hand in hand. You could get a pitcher that is just a machine, throwing down the middle every time. No walks. It also means easier pitches to judge, and more hits. I think stats show we have riskier pitchers. Throw more questionable pitches, more likely to strike out, less likely to hit, but more walks if the batter can judge correctly. You have to take the good with the bad. I say if you have the pitching talent (and by the strikeout number we do) it’s a good strategy. Besides trading walks for strikeouts, you are more difficult to hit. That shows itself in our low era, despite the walks.