2021 MLB Regular Season thread

the shift has been around for 100 years. adjust.

 

The shift is to baseball what the 3 pointer is to basketball.

Nothing good.

 

The shift is nothing if you knew how to hit. Williams beat the shift. Hornsby beat the shift.

I agree, the 3pt shot sucks now.

 

For all the "they should just hit to beat the shift," aren't the analytics telling you "shift or no shift, we're still better off if you blast a two-run homer, instead of chopping a single down the third base line"?

I'm not saying I disagree with the "just hit to beat the shift," thoughts, because it's frustrating to see your favorite player roll over another ground ball to second base when there's no one on the left side of the infield; I'm just saying I feel like there's a chance the number guys have looked at it and said, "Nope - still better to just try to blast one out of the park."

 

I respected John Cusack a lot less after he turned up at that '05 World Series in White Sox gear, doing an in-game interview where he downplayed his longstanding and well-known Cubs fandom.

 

Learn to do both; hit with power and to all fields. That’s what I’m saying.

 

Gee, I wonder if big league ball clubs have thought of that

 

Nah, it was the Tigers theme song back into the 40s, I believe. Marching band music was standard for all sports radio back to the early days. The old Movietone newsreels did it too.

 

launch angle

 

When baseball was first invented and in its infancy, the 1st-2nd-3rd basemen played right on the bases. The shortstop generally played a short center field. Shortly enough, some smart guys started noticing balls were being hit in different areas. And that was the first "shift."

 

I kinda see the shift from both angles. On the one hand, I think they should take what the defense gives them. If there’s no third baseman, bunt or slap the ball down there and take first base. Do it until they shift back, then do your normal hitting. Put guys on base and put pressure on the other team. Treat each bunt slap like a glorified walk.

But at the same time, it depends on the situation. If you’re down by 3 with two guys on in the ninth and one of your power guys is up, swing away no matter where the defense is. Might as well.

My two cents.

 

Learning to hit to the opposite field is the baseball version of shooting free throws...it seems like something a professional athlete should have mastered along the way.