How much baseball do you watch?

[BioCRN]

Speaking of recent stats and recent rule changes...

It may be a coincidence, but .300+ hitters are more of a rare thing since they banned the shift 3 years ago (9, 7, 7).

We don't have the shift, we have less .300+ hitters than ever.

Even before then the .300 hitter was becoming more rare over time.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by BioCRN

Speaking of recent stats and recent rule changes...

It may be a coincidence, but .300+ hitters are more of a rare thing since they banned the shift 3 years ago (9, 7, 7).

We don't have the shift, we have less .300+ hitters than ever.

Strange that outlawing a defensive adjustment should result in batting averages dropping.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Strange that outlawing a defensive adjustment should result in batting averages dropping.

That's a very small data set, and cause-effect is far from established.

As a former data analyst, I'd say the theory is unproven.

[Balticfox]

Indeed. That's why I was skeptical myself.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Mark17

That's a very small data set, and cause-effect is far from established.

As a former data analyst, I'd say the theory is unproven.

Overall MLB batting averages went up .005 the first year of the banning of the shift. MLB batting averages have been declining over the past 8 seasons.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by rats60

Overall MLB batting averages went up .005 the first year of the banning of the shift. MLB batting averages have been declining over the past 8 seasons.

This is why Manfred's going to lower the mound and put it behind second base

[MK]

I used to watch around 150 games a year. This was when the Cubs were on WGN and then there were National games I would also view on occasion. When they began changing the rules, adding a clock, restricting defenses, etc. i completely stopped watching. My collection is now my only connection to the game.

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Strange that outlawing a defensive adjustment should result in batting averages dropping.

I think it's the approach being taught in the minors, with more and more players being taught that approach getting to the majors. I was covering minor league ball for years when I saw a shift in the batter teaching in 2017 I believe. All of a sudden charts with exit velocity were being posted on walls for everyone to see, and a heavy emphasis on launch angle was being spread more. They are teaching pitchers to throw harder for shorter times at the same time they are teaching batters to swing harder with an uppercut swing. It's almost as if they wanted the pitchers to succeed. Baseball has been turned into a two outcome game. You throw hard, I swing hard, you win more often, but homers account for more of the hits.

It's very strange. If you told anyone here that they will get one swing on a 90 MPH fastball and if they hit it, they will win $10,000, the people with common sense will probably choke up on the bat for better control, take a shorter swing and a direct path to the ball. Baseball is emphasizing the complete opposite. Smaller bat, uppercut swing, swing hard.

I don't know who here watches a lot of minor league ball, but the level of play is garbage compared to 5-10 years ago. I watched hundreds of Low-A games during that time, scouting them for my work. The level of play at Low-A was better than High-A is right now. Part of that is MLB cutting down roster spots for organizations in the minors, which eliminated a lot of those low ceiling skilled players in favor of raw tool players. Teams are hoping to develop upside. I don't blame them at all for that approach, but those low ceiling skilled high IQ players made minor league games better. I watch some Low-A games now where it feels like everyone just learned what baseball was a month earlier. It's also why college stars are shooting through the minors quicker.

MLB in 5-10 years is going to be even worse than it is now, and I don't think they care. That's especially true if they expand and increase on the 1,500 players they already use each year. There aren't 1,500 big league quality players now, just like there weren't 1,200 quality players five years ago when that was the typical league usage. They want quicker games, highlighting solo homers and strikeouts and pretending every catch made with a little difficulty is now the "PLAY OF THE YEAR!!!!", even though you saw a better catch made two days ago.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by z28jd

I think it's the approach being taught in the minors, with more and more players being taught that approach getting to the majors. I was covering minor league ball for years when I saw a shift in the batter teaching in 2017 I believe. All of a sudden charts with exit velocity were being posted on walls for everyone to see, and a heavy emphasis on launch angle was being spread more. They are teaching pitchers to throw harder for shorter times at the same time they are teaching batters to swing harder with an uppercut swing. It's almost as if they wanted the pitchers to succeed. Baseball has been turned into a two outcome game. You throw hard, I swing hard, you win more often, but homers account for more of the hits.

It's very strange. If you told anyone here that they will get one swing on a 90 MPH fastball and if they hit it, they will win $10,000, the people with common sense will probably choke up on the bat for better control, take a shorter swing and a direct path to the ball. Baseball is emphasizing the complete opposite. Smaller bat, uppercut swing, swing hard.

I don't know who here watches a lot of minor league ball, but the level of play is garbage compared to 5-10 years ago. I watched hundreds of Low-A games during that time, scouting them for my work. The level of play at Low-A was better than High-A is right now. Part of that is MLB cutting down roster spots for organizations in the minors, which eliminated a lot of those low ceiling skilled players in favor of raw tool players. Teams are hoping to develop upside. I don't blame them at all for that approach, but those low ceiling skilled high IQ players made minor league games better. I watch some Low-A games now where it feels like everyone just learned what baseball was a month earlier. It's also why college stars are shooting through the minors quicker.

MLB in 5-10 years is going to be even worse than it is now, and I don't think they care. That's especially true if they expand and increase on the 1,500 players they already use each year. There aren't 1,500 big league quality players now, just like there weren't 1,200 quality players five years ago when that was the typical league usage. They want quicker games, highlighting solo homers and strikeouts and pretending every catch made with a little difficulty is now the "PLAY OF THE YEAR!!!!", even though you saw a better catch made two days ago.

Fascinating observations. Sounds like you watch baseball with more of an expert eye than a lot of us.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by z28jd

I was covering minor league ball for years when I saw a shift in the batter teaching in 2017 I believe. All of a sudden charts with exit velocity were being posted on walls for everyone to see, and a heavy emphasis on launch angle was being spread more.

Hmmmmm. A couple of thoughts:

1) I wonder if they post similar charts with metrics for hitting the ball where it's pitched and hitting it where they ain't?

2) I wonder what some of the all time great hitters such as Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, Ted Williams, Pete Rose, Wade Boggs and Tony Gwynn would say to suggestions that they give consideration to launch angles and exit velocities when stepping up to the plate?

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Hmmmmm. A couple of thoughts:

1) I wonder if they post similar charts with metrics for hitting the ball where it's pitched and hitting it where they ain't?

2) I wonder what some of the all time great hitters such as Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, Ted Williams, Pete Rose, Wade Boggs and Tony Gwynn would say to suggestions that they give consideration to launch angles and exit velocities when stepping up to the plate?

Ted Williams would have probably given the suggestions an in-depth analysis.

[mortimer brewster]

I don't watch any games.


When it comes to baseball I live in the past. I lost interest when all of the players of my youth retired (early 1990s).

Pre youtube I built up a large archive of radio broadcasts by recording games and trading with other collectors. On a clear night in North Buffalo I used to pick up the Twins and Rangers broadcasts. Now I can barely pick up the Blue Jays 90 miles away. I listen to these old broadcasts regularly.

Nothing like listening to Harwell and Cary. Herb Score, Dave Van Horne, Shannon and Buck, Tom and Jerry and the rest.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by mortimer brewster

Pre youtube I built up a large archive of radio broadcasts by recording games and trading with other collectors. On a clear night in North Buffalo I used to pick up the Twins and Rangers broadcasts. Now I can barely pick up the Blue Jays 90 miles away. I listen to these old broadcasts regularly.

Nothing like listening to Harwell and Cary. Herb Score, Dave Van Horne, Shannon and Buck, Tom and Jerry and the rest.

Have you tried picking up radio broadcasts of baseball games from the internet?

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Ted Williams would have probably given the suggestions an in-depth analysis.

Like here perhaps?