So your solution is to make a rule governing where fielders can play, the result of which would produce a few more ground ball singles.
Rather than...
Letting batters adjust by hitting the ball the other way...for a few more ground ball singles.
The shift is not the problem with baseball. It's actually about as interesting as discussing defensive strategies in football like the 4-3 vs 3-4, nickel vs dime, and prevent. The problem with baseball is 25 seconds between pitches and 4 hour 9 inning games that nobody under the age of 25 can sit through. The fact making a rule about the shift is even on the radar of MLB shows they are completely out of touch with the issues around selling the game to younger demographics.
Last edited by Enscheff; 12-05-2018 at 12:39 PM.
JohnAdcox (12-05-2018)
It's hard for hitters to adjust and go the other way when the pitcher pitches to the defense. What I fear is making baseball less interesting is that it's becoming glorified slow-pitch softball. I respect everyone's take, but we've got too many marginal guys going for the pump and becoming one-dimensional hitters as a result, which leads to a dull game.
Last edited by 50PoundHead; 12-05-2018 at 01:21 PM.
So your logic is that the baseball player population as a whole can make changes to hit HRs, but can't make changes to go the other way (or simply bunt) to beat the shift? Pitchers can make hitters pull the ball into a shift, but they can't make them hit grounders to avoid HRs? The real data suggests otherwise.
The actual facts are that power is more valuable than singles, and Ks don't matter any more than any other out. Players and team decision makers are finally understanding this, and are adjusting accordingly.
Making a rule against the shift isn't going to make more players slap more singles around the field. It's an asinine suggestion made by dinosaurs who are grumpy about the modern game, and nothing more. The middle infielders will just play right on the edge of whatever boundary is put in place, and then move across it as soon as they are allowed. It will change nothing.
Last edited by Enscheff; 12-05-2018 at 01:40 PM.
The problem is they can't successfully make adjustments to hit HRs, but they are trying it anyway. Too many guys with warning track power are going for the downs. Guys who shouldn't be able to spell "launch angle" are buying into it wholesale. Granted, one HR equals three singles, so the cost/benefit to hitting HRs is clearly there for guys who are consistent power threats. But I fear baseball is going to devolve into countless Rob Deer's and Gorman Thomas' and that translates to unwatchable baseball.
3 years from now, the Nats will be trying to dump Corbin’s salary. Just thought I’d throw that out there. :)
JohnAdcox (12-05-2018)
Where is all this Real Muto coming from all the sudden. I thought it was completely dead??
I guess that means we’re about to make a trade somewhere that we have heard nothing about.
I hope we can get the home run sculpture in the deal if it’s true though....
I see no data that suggests the overall MLB population is "going for the downs" despite warning track power. Anecdotes about Albies and Inciarte are not data.
FOs know better than ever what wins baseball games, and they are adjusting accordingly. There's a reason we've heard numerous stories about guys increasing their launch angle for more success, and zero stories of guys decreasing their launch angle for more success. I have literally never seen a story that says a guy decided to hit more grounders and his career took off.
Again, HRs and Ks are exciting. Seeing a guy hit a ball 400', throw a pitch 98 mph, or snap off a nasty slider is exciting. Watching a pitcher bunt, or a 150 lb IFer slap a single the other way is not. Waiting 25 seconds between pitches, or a watching guy adjust his batting gloves after every single pitch during a 4 hour game is excruciating. MLB needs to address the real issues that prevent new young fans from watching, not chase the rantings of dinosaurs stuck in the past.
Last edited by Enscheff; 12-05-2018 at 04:13 PM.
The shift will die off on it's own soon enough as more and more hitters adjust.
Cards are close to getting goldy. HUGE move for them
bravesfanforlife88 (12-05-2018)
Weaver, Kelly, Young and draft pick go to Arizona for Goldy, teams announce
[TW]1070439223713423360[\TW]
That’s a HUGE price
That is an enormous haul for one year of Goldschmidt. Holy cow.
Hmm.
Coppy
Get off my lawn!