Yeah! How dare teams try to get the other team out! That shouldn’t be allowed!In all seriousness, the only thing that annoys me about defensive shifts is how batters no longer try to adjust for it. I was watching a game (won’t name names here) where the 3B was playing a deep shortstop and everyone else was between second and first. The batter should have choked up and tried to hit to the left side. A soft grounder would have gotten him a double or more. Instead, he’s swinging hard and lobbing fouls into the 1b side until he finally hits a fly ball to deep RF. It’s like players think the only way to beat the shift is to hit a homerun.
Ape, I couldn’t agree more. I see it all the time when Matt Carpenter bats. It frustrates the hell out of me that he won’t (or can’t) just poke one down the LF line. He’d get a double every time! Then again, he’s got enough power to hit one out, as his recent streak has proven.
Let’s face it, The Shift has always been with us. It’s only in the last few years that it’s been taken to the extreme. As long as batters refuse to adjust to it, managers will continue to do it. Those who want to outlaw The Shift—this is for you, Mr. Manfred—should just get over it.
Want the shift to go away? Implore your favorite sluggers to learn and embrace the inside-out swing, and to be comfortable with the idea that they don’t have to hit a home run every time they come to the plate.
If a batter isn’t able to adjust to target the hole left by the defensive shift, then I’d say he deserves any strategy that the opponents care to dish out.Players like that should be sent back to the minor leagues until they learn some flexibility.
HouseApe almost 6 years ago
Yeah! How dare teams try to get the other team out! That shouldn’t be allowed!In all seriousness, the only thing that annoys me about defensive shifts is how batters no longer try to adjust for it. I was watching a game (won’t name names here) where the 3B was playing a deep shortstop and everyone else was between second and first. The batter should have choked up and tried to hit to the left side. A soft grounder would have gotten him a double or more. Instead, he’s swinging hard and lobbing fouls into the 1b side until he finally hits a fly ball to deep RF. It’s like players think the only way to beat the shift is to hit a homerun.
paperphrique almost 6 years ago
Ape, I couldn’t agree more. I see it all the time when Matt Carpenter bats. It frustrates the hell out of me that he won’t (or can’t) just poke one down the LF line. He’d get a double every time! Then again, he’s got enough power to hit one out, as his recent streak has proven.
Let’s face it, The Shift has always been with us. It’s only in the last few years that it’s been taken to the extreme. As long as batters refuse to adjust to it, managers will continue to do it. Those who want to outlaw The Shift—this is for you, Mr. Manfred—should just get over it.
fretlessman71 almost 6 years ago
Want the shift to go away? Implore your favorite sluggers to learn and embrace the inside-out swing, and to be comfortable with the idea that they don’t have to hit a home run every time they come to the plate.
LJZ Premium Member almost 6 years ago
The DH rule did more wrecking to half of MLB than any strategic fielders moves.
Atanwat over 5 years ago
If a batter isn’t able to adjust to target the hole left by the defensive shift, then I’d say he deserves any strategy that the opponents care to dish out.Players like that should be sent back to the minor leagues until they learn some flexibility.