Thanks David - I don't understand the banning of the shift to be quite honest. If the players really wanted to beat the shift they would. You are telling me the best hitters in the world can't hit the ball to the opposite field? Of course they can, its just that money comes from the power numbers and the best way to do that is to pull the ball. Until players get paid via average that won't change. I'm not sure why you penalize the defense for something the players are capable of doing but just choose not too. Seems like the offensive guys want their cake and to eat it too here. If the approach isn't going to change then I'm not sure the results will change much. We will still see just as many strikeouts and three true outcomes as before. Maybe Santana hitting .210 it will now be .220. This isn't to say that hitting is easy....of course its not, but the best hitters in the world can certainly hit the ball the other way and beat the shift if they wanted to. That I'm convinced of...its just not advantage to do so.
I've stopped paying attention to the day-to-day labor negotiations, so this draft pick inducement proposal to address service time manipulation is new to me. Devil's in the details, but it sounds like it could be really beneficial for the Royals, with the large number of MLB-ready (or nearly ready) prospects they have. Maybe this is what gets Pratto on the opening day roster? Melendez?
It looks like both sides (especially the owners, way to go players for standing up, especially for the younger "slave labor" early major leaguers) are finally getting serious about getting a reasonable deal done, and that if they can tweak it a bit, and the players have no serious objection to including the international draft, that it will get done today, or close enough to today, to have the full season with the players getting full pay. Personally I would like to see that the minimum salaries and the $40 million bonus pool up some more (and hope it covers not just a few but quite a few, enough with giving more to the guys that got millions to sign in the first place, and reward more who finally made it), to further help the young major leaguers, but am okay with how far they got the CBT up as, if it is true, that tends to benefit the big spenders more so than the smaller market teams like ours. Not a perfect CBA, but one that shows that the owners are done dominating with their greed and shady negotiation tactics. Glad to see that the players are being seen by more and more as the reasonable ones who deserve a reasonable deal. Personally, I have no problem with limiting the shifts. I would much rather see singles than ground outs, and think it helps good baserunning and keep the line moving teams like the Royals. Let's get this done! Pitch clocks and bigger bases fairly soon, and automated strike zones as soon as possible. And, I am okay with MLB making better use of the college route, as NFL and NBA does, to have them as more of the "minor leagues," letting others pay for those guys to get into MLB life. Let's go!
I'm a fan of baseball without the shift, because I love the beauty of baseball which is partly its symmetry and also partly its tradition. I respect different opinions on that matter though, within reason (see: overtime rules for an example of unreason).
We tried the approach of letting the players work it out, and for the reasons you mentioned it didn't happen. Hopefully, they will address the other issues with the lack of action in the game. Unfortunately, I've no confidence in Manfred or his people to come up with good or imaginative solutions. Instead we'll get a pitch clock, which is probably the second worst thing to happen to baseball ever.
I'm sorry. If players can't deal with the shift then find another occupation. I'm surprised MLB doesn't do away with pitchers and just place a ball on a T and let the batters swing until they hit it. Don't need a pitch clock if the umpires keep the batter in the batter's box. Players should stop wearing batting gloves, etc. if they have to adjust every pitch whether they have swung or not. The DH...whatever. Enlarged bases - good grief. 7-inning games...don't get me started. That's all for now. My wife and I really enjoy your columns.
Thanks David - I don't understand the banning of the shift to be quite honest. If the players really wanted to beat the shift they would. You are telling me the best hitters in the world can't hit the ball to the opposite field? Of course they can, its just that money comes from the power numbers and the best way to do that is to pull the ball. Until players get paid via average that won't change. I'm not sure why you penalize the defense for something the players are capable of doing but just choose not too. Seems like the offensive guys want their cake and to eat it too here. If the approach isn't going to change then I'm not sure the results will change much. We will still see just as many strikeouts and three true outcomes as before. Maybe Santana hitting .210 it will now be .220. This isn't to say that hitting is easy....of course its not, but the best hitters in the world can certainly hit the ball the other way and beat the shift if they wanted to. That I'm convinced of...its just not advantage to do so.
I've stopped paying attention to the day-to-day labor negotiations, so this draft pick inducement proposal to address service time manipulation is new to me. Devil's in the details, but it sounds like it could be really beneficial for the Royals, with the large number of MLB-ready (or nearly ready) prospects they have. Maybe this is what gets Pratto on the opening day roster? Melendez?
It looks like both sides (especially the owners, way to go players for standing up, especially for the younger "slave labor" early major leaguers) are finally getting serious about getting a reasonable deal done, and that if they can tweak it a bit, and the players have no serious objection to including the international draft, that it will get done today, or close enough to today, to have the full season with the players getting full pay. Personally I would like to see that the minimum salaries and the $40 million bonus pool up some more (and hope it covers not just a few but quite a few, enough with giving more to the guys that got millions to sign in the first place, and reward more who finally made it), to further help the young major leaguers, but am okay with how far they got the CBT up as, if it is true, that tends to benefit the big spenders more so than the smaller market teams like ours. Not a perfect CBA, but one that shows that the owners are done dominating with their greed and shady negotiation tactics. Glad to see that the players are being seen by more and more as the reasonable ones who deserve a reasonable deal. Personally, I have no problem with limiting the shifts. I would much rather see singles than ground outs, and think it helps good baserunning and keep the line moving teams like the Royals. Let's get this done! Pitch clocks and bigger bases fairly soon, and automated strike zones as soon as possible. And, I am okay with MLB making better use of the college route, as NFL and NBA does, to have them as more of the "minor leagues," letting others pay for those guys to get into MLB life. Let's go!
I'm a fan of baseball without the shift, because I love the beauty of baseball which is partly its symmetry and also partly its tradition. I respect different opinions on that matter though, within reason (see: overtime rules for an example of unreason).
We tried the approach of letting the players work it out, and for the reasons you mentioned it didn't happen. Hopefully, they will address the other issues with the lack of action in the game. Unfortunately, I've no confidence in Manfred or his people to come up with good or imaginative solutions. Instead we'll get a pitch clock, which is probably the second worst thing to happen to baseball ever.
Yeah, two months ago and I could have confirmed or denied your theory that In'n'Out Burgers were the real deal or not :) . Oh well.
I'm sorry. If players can't deal with the shift then find another occupation. I'm surprised MLB doesn't do away with pitchers and just place a ball on a T and let the batters swing until they hit it. Don't need a pitch clock if the umpires keep the batter in the batter's box. Players should stop wearing batting gloves, etc. if they have to adjust every pitch whether they have swung or not. The DH...whatever. Enlarged bases - good grief. 7-inning games...don't get me started. That's all for now. My wife and I really enjoy your columns.