it appears that many batters in baseball do not like to learn how to hit to the opposite field, hence the defensive shift. don’t ban the shift, simply get the player to hit to the other side. if he can’t, then he shouldn’t be in the major, or allow to succeed at a greater level. the NBA allowed the zone in the early 2000’s and then they found out that three point shots weren’t being defended as well with a zone. so learn how to “hit ‘em where they ain’t” (wee willie keller) or suffer the consequence of a shift.
My suspicions were confirmed by seeing a Joe Maddon on field interview a few years ago, strongly hint he was helpless to change hitters due to ownership; it was one of the last games I watched.
Batters hit to homer; homers make the contract bigger. These days batting average is not as important as OPS, and hitting behind the runner or to the opposite field (intentionally) are not stats so they don’t figure into contract negotiations or analytics. Unless my team is playing on TV, I get my baseball on the radio because the announcers somehow make it tolerable (and I can pretend its the 1960s and better baseball). I’ve changed my view on the shift and now support banning it. Having players play “their position” is like traditional baseball when players could hit ‘em where they ain’t and the defense had to cover the whole field. My main objection to the shift is the 4th outfielder that can turn what used to be a hit into an out. That does take some fun away.
There is too much attention paid to hitting homers and too little to fundamentals. Home runs are important but they are not the only important parts of the game. I am a fan of a great pitchers’ duel. I was watching the Red Sox-Yankees series this weekend and if I heard the name Aaron Judge one more time, I was going to scream. It’s a great achievement, but I was glad that he didn’t get it against Boston. And why did they have to showcase Barry Bonds with Arod on the alternate broadcast. I didn’t watch that because seeing those two cheaters glorified turns my stomach.
Ex-Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz sacked NINE TIMESas the Eagles slaughtered the Washington DC team.
I guess the moral is never to play against somebody who’s read your diary(or some such).When was the last time you lost count on how man times a guy got sacked?
Some batters CAN hit to the opposite side – they’re the ones the defense doesn’t shift against!
Spare a moment to appreciate Wally Moon, a left-handed hitter who figured out how to hit cheap home runs over the left field screen in the LA Coliseum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Moon
November 1950, the Minnesota Lakers vs Fort Wayne Pistons. Final score 19 – 18 Fort Wayne. The NBA finally instituted the shot clock in 1954. A few weeks after the Pistons/Lakers game, the Rochester Royals and Indianapolis Olympians played a six-overtime game with only one shot in each overtime: in each overtime period, the team that had the ball first held it for the entirety of the period before attempting a last-second shot. The NBA tried several rule changes in the early 1950s to speed up the game and reduce fouls before eventually adopting the shot clock. But without it, we would not get these:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfbtRbw4_yE
But, I do not like the idea of a pitch clock. But, I no longer follow baseball. YMMV
jonahhex1 over 1 year ago
TRUE
treutvid over 1 year ago
Analytics has screwed up baseball. Even if it’s accurate it makes the game BORING!
gmu328 over 1 year ago
it appears that many batters in baseball do not like to learn how to hit to the opposite field, hence the defensive shift. don’t ban the shift, simply get the player to hit to the other side. if he can’t, then he shouldn’t be in the major, or allow to succeed at a greater level. the NBA allowed the zone in the early 2000’s and then they found out that three point shots weren’t being defended as well with a zone. so learn how to “hit ‘em where they ain’t” (wee willie keller) or suffer the consequence of a shift.
amxchester over 1 year ago
My suspicions were confirmed by seeing a Joe Maddon on field interview a few years ago, strongly hint he was helpless to change hitters due to ownership; it was one of the last games I watched.
Ellis97 over 1 year ago
Hey batter, batter, batter, batter, swing!
Lotus over 1 year ago
Batters hit to homer; homers make the contract bigger. These days batting average is not as important as OPS, and hitting behind the runner or to the opposite field (intentionally) are not stats so they don’t figure into contract negotiations or analytics. Unless my team is playing on TV, I get my baseball on the radio because the announcers somehow make it tolerable (and I can pretend its the 1960s and better baseball). I’ve changed my view on the shift and now support banning it. Having players play “their position” is like traditional baseball when players could hit ‘em where they ain’t and the defense had to cover the whole field. My main objection to the shift is the 4th outfielder that can turn what used to be a hit into an out. That does take some fun away.
papajim545 over 1 year ago
I’ve always said that…..seriously
tygrkhat40 over 1 year ago
I think a lot of people would be surprised that Wee Willie Keeler dates back to the 90s – the 1890s.
joannesshadow over 1 year ago
There is too much attention paid to hitting homers and too little to fundamentals. Home runs are important but they are not the only important parts of the game. I am a fan of a great pitchers’ duel. I was watching the Red Sox-Yankees series this weekend and if I heard the name Aaron Judge one more time, I was going to scream. It’s a great achievement, but I was glad that he didn’t get it against Boston. And why did they have to showcase Barry Bonds with Arod on the alternate broadcast. I didn’t watch that because seeing those two cheaters glorified turns my stomach.
198.23.5.11 over 1 year ago
Blame this on Ted Williams.He was too stubborn to hit around the shift;“The Boudreau Shift”,and it spread like wildfire.
And the “extra inning runner” has got to go.
198.23.5.11 over 1 year ago
Ex-Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz sacked NINE TIMESas the Eagles slaughtered the Washington DC team.
I guess the moral is never to play against somebody who’s read your diary(or some such).When was the last time you lost count on how man times a guy got sacked?
braindead Premium Member over 1 year ago
It’s all about the INTEGRITY of the game!!!!!!!!!
And the integrity of the game demands Home Runs and Strikeouts!
It’s what the fans want, it’s what TeeVee wants and therefore what the owners want.
.
That’s the definition of the integrity of the game.
.
We can’t have strategies of small ball being successful. Stuff like hitting to the opposite field for a sure single. Boring.
.
Home Runs!
Strikeouts!
Integrity!
Diamond Lil over 1 year ago
Oh so true! Where can I sign up for FABS??
jconnors3954 over 1 year ago
Learn to HIT,
Godfreydaniel over 1 year ago
These days, launch angles are the big thing, whereas I personally prefer launch DIRECTION.
Mark Jackson Premium Member over 1 year ago
Some batters CAN hit to the opposite side – they’re the ones the defense doesn’t shift against!
Spare a moment to appreciate Wally Moon, a left-handed hitter who figured out how to hit cheap home runs over the left field screen in the LA Coliseum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Moon
Uncle Bob over 1 year ago
Laissez-faire ball?
Sailor46 USN 65-95 over 1 year ago
That is a valid point, but the home run boys make the big bucks.
Teto85 Premium Member over 1 year ago
November 1950, the Minnesota Lakers vs Fort Wayne Pistons. Final score 19 – 18 Fort Wayne. The NBA finally instituted the shot clock in 1954. A few weeks after the Pistons/Lakers game, the Rochester Royals and Indianapolis Olympians played a six-overtime game with only one shot in each overtime: in each overtime period, the team that had the ball first held it for the entirety of the period before attempting a last-second shot. The NBA tried several rule changes in the early 1950s to speed up the game and reduce fouls before eventually adopting the shot clock. But without it, we would not get these:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfbtRbw4_yE
But, I do not like the idea of a pitch clock. But, I no longer follow baseball. YMMV