Also, fewer strikeouts do not correlate to more run production in an open environment, but I was referring to a situation in which all else is kept equal.

And I don’t get why you would choose the batter with fewer strikeouts, given that fewer strikeouts does not correlate (for a batter) with more run production.

But anyway, just about game time…

I wonder if it might show that offense has increased alongside the feast or famine counterpart, the strikeout.

[2] The logic behind the divergence is K are a fielding independent component for pitchers, while for batters, they’re just another way to make an out. While I agree that Ks are more predictive for pitchers, I don’t think they’re an irrelevant consideration for hitters. More simply, if allowed to choose between two hitters of comparable ability, I’d take the one with fewer Ks.

One thing you (William) don’t mention is that today’s wisdom tells us that striking out is not so bad, for a batter, but also that it is particularly good, for a pitcher. That is, if you want a stat that gives you a measure of underlying ability, with predictive power for the future, etc., then you should be looking at pitchers’ strikeouts, but you shouldn’t be looking at batters’ strikeouts.
This is a really weird fact. I don’t know what to make of it.