MLB to ban the shift

[moonslav59]

I keep making the point that there are many different opinions out there in Red Sox Nation, because there are, and no other reason, and no I know the difference between opinions, and facts. I’ve even agreed with some of your opinions. Yes it was a lying clown who makes needless changes that’s beyond stupid like the shift would be. Once again needless to you, but not to others.

 

Understood.

[Old Red]

Understood.

 

Why do you think MLB is talking about banning the shift? My view is because of all the bad feedback against it. I applaud your fierce defense of keeping the shift, but it looks like the feedback against the shift will win out.

[moonslav59]

Why do you think MLB is talking about banning the shift? My view is because of all the bad feedback against it. I applaud your fierce defense of keeping the shift, but it looks like the feedback against the shift will win out.

 

Yes, that sounds like the most plausible reason, but that doesn't change my opinion.

 

I am fully aware that my opinion is in the minority. Plus, it's not like like I love the shift, but I see it as always being a part of the game, and there being no need to change it.

 

I understand rules have been changed in the past, like the DH in the AL, which greatly changed the game and nature of stats and records. I can see how many were against that change, too. Many were for it.

 

I'm totally fine with people disagreeing with me, and know there are many of them.

 

I'm not sure why I feel the need to keep saying that. I get the feeling you feel like I think my opinions are fact or undebatable.

[Old Red]

Yes, that sounds like the most plausible reason, but that doesn't change my opinion.

 

I am fully aware that my opinion is in the minority. Plus, it's not like like I love the shift, but I see it as always being a part of the game, and there being no need to change it.

 

I understand rules have been changed in the past, like the DH in the AL, which greatly changed the game and nature of stats and records. I can see how many were against that change, too. Many were for it.

 

I'm totally fine with people disagreeing with me, and know there are many of them.

 

I'm not sure why I feel the need to keep saying that. I get the feeling you feel like I think my opinions are fact or undebatable.

 

Moon I’m not trying to change your opinion, and you are not in the minority on here. Yes the shift has always been part of the game, but not to the extent it is now, and that’s the problem, and not the shift itself. When I saw that chart on TV that applying the shift had gone up over 50,000 times a year in a ten year period I had no idea. Why did that happen? Analytics?

 

My opinions have been in the minority more times than probably anybody since I’ve been on here, and I’m totally fine with that, and like I’ve said many times an opinion is just that, and it doesn’t mean anybody is right, and anybody is wrong. I also said before that I know the differences between opinions, and fact, and I’m always up to a debate.

[Bellhorn04]

Moon I’m not trying to change your opinion, and you are not in the minority on here. Yes the shift has always been part of the game, but not to the extent it is now, and that’s the problem, and not the shift itself. When I saw that chart on TV that applying the shift had gone up over 50,000 times a year in a ten year period I had no idea. Why did that happen? Analytics?

 

And even Theo Epstein said the increasing use of analytics has hurt the quality of the game itself.

[moonslav59]

Moon I’m not trying to change your opinion, and you are not in the minority on here. Yes the shift has always been part of the game, but not to the extent it is now, and that’s the problem, and not the shift itself. When I saw that chart on TV that applying the shift had gone up over 50,000 times a year in a ten year period I had no idea. Why did that happen? Analytics?

 

My opinions have been in the minority more times than probably anybody since I’ve been on here, and I’m totally fine with that, and like I’ve said many times an opinion is just that, and it doesn’t mean anybody is right, and anybody is wrong. I also said before that I know the differences between opinions, and fact, and I’m always up to a debate.

 

I know the shift has increase greatly.

 

I know the reasons why.

 

I think most people don't like it.

 

I get why a change is coming.

 

I'm not so sure the extent that analytics has hurt the game is as bad as many think it is, but I can see how many see it that way.

[mvp 78]

And even Theo Epstein said the increasing use of analytics has hurt the quality of the game itself.

 

I would say his thoughts were given more credence than "posters on other message boards."

[Old Red]

I would say his thoughts were given more credence than "posters on other message boards."

 

Or on this message board for that matter.

[Old Red]

I know the shift has increase greatly.

 

I know the reasons why.

 

I think most people don't like it.

 

I get why a change is coming.

 

I'm not so sure the extent that analytics has hurt the game is as bad as many think it is, but I can see how many see it that way.

 

I don’t watch nowhere near the amount of baseball like I used to, because to me the game is not as good. Games are to long, and slow paced, the over use of the shift, openers for starting pitchers, and starting pitchers that can’t face a batter for a third time through the order liking taking Snell out of the WS a few years ago, because they were afraid of what might happen to me is not good baseball. I’ve said before I liked the way the game was played in the 60’s. DH, or no DH I don’t care, but to only have it in one league all these years to me also is mind boggling. I still watch the Red Sox just don’t watch every game, but keep up with being a box score junkie. Give me an old Sporting News with all the box scores, and I’d read it for hours.I don’t know how much analytics has to do with the change of the game, but it definitely has. If the pitch clock, and banning the shift is put in I will definitely watch more.

[moonslav59]

I don’t watch nowhere near the amount of baseball like I used to, because to me the game is not as good. Games are to long, and slow paced, the over use of the shift, openers for starting pitchers, and starting pitchers that can’t face a batter for a third time through the order liking taking Snell out of the WS a few years ago, because they were afraid of what might happen to me is not good baseball. I’ve said before I liked the way the game was played in the 60’s. DH, or no DH I don’t care, but to only have it in one league all these years to me also is mind boggling. I still watch the Red Sox just don’t watch every game, but keep up with being a box score junkie. Give me an old Sporting News with all the box scores, and I’d read it for hours.I don’t know how much analytics has to do with the change of the game, but it definitely has. If the pitch clock, and banning the shift is put in I will definitely watch more.

 

I'm all for a pitch clock, robo umps and a universal DH.

 

I often tune into a Sox game about 60-90 minutes after it starts. I fast forward the commercials and sometimes between pitches and usually join live by the 8th inning.

[Old Red]

I'm all for a pitch clock, robo umps and a universal DH.

 

I often tune into a Sox game about 60-90 minutes after it starts. I fast forward the commercials and sometimes between pitches and usually join live by the 8th inning.

 

Interesting way to watch a game.

[Bellhorn04]

Interesting way to watch a game.

 

I'm much the same, with all sports now. With a PVR you can cut down the viewing time a ton.

[moonslav59]

I'm much the same, with all sports now. With a PVR you can cut down the viewing time a ton.

 

Football games can be watched in about 30 mins.

[mvp 78]

Or on this message board for that matter.

 

Posting on here has never mattered. It's just screaming into the void. I don't think anyone here is deluded enough to honestly think our discussion here impacts anything outside of this site.

[Old Red]

Posting on here has never mattered. It's just screaming into the void. I don't think anyone here is deluded enough to honestly think our discussion here impacts anything outside of this site.

 

Understood.

[notin]

Posting on here has never mattered. It's just screaming into the void. I don't think anyone here is deluded enough to honestly think our discussion here impacts anything outside of this site.

 

 

Wait?!! What!?!!?

[notin]

There already are a whole lot of arbitrary rules in the game though.

 

The pitcher has to throw the ball from 60' 6" away. That's pretty arbitrary.

 

That’s pretty odd logic to condone banning the shift…

[Bellhorn04]

That’s pretty odd logic to condone banning the shift…

 

The truth is I don't disagree with your argument. I'm just not going to let this bother me.

 

Old Red is right - more people would rather see the shift gone, and that's why it's happening.

[mvp 78]

Wait?!! What!?!!?

 

Except for yours. Your posts will endure forever.

[mvp 78]

The truth is I don't disagree with your argument. I'm just not going to let this bother me.

 

Old Red is right - more people would rather see the shift gone, and that's why it's happening.

 

I need to see your research on "more."

 

https://www.shu.edu/business/news/sports-poll-on-baseball-lockout-rule-changes-and-more.cfm

 

End the Shift?

Prohibiting the overshifting of infielders found only 36 percent of avid fans in favor, with 44 percent opposing a rule change that would stop the shifts. Among all sports fans, even less supported a prohibition on shifts, with only 24 percent in favor of a ban and 41 percent opposed.

[Old Red]

The truth is I don't disagree with your argument. I'm just not going to let this bother me.

 

Old Red is right - more people would rather see the shift gone, and that's why it's happening.

 

I don’t believe I said MORE people, but I did say lots of people like me. Either way MLB has heard enough feedback from fans to make the change, and if it bothers some so bad you can do what I do now, which is not watch as much baseball, or maybe not at all. On the other hand I’ll watch more baseball.

[mvp 78]

I don’t believe I said MORE people, but I did say lots of people like me. Either way MLB has heard enough feedback from fans to make the change, and if it bothers some so bad you can do what I do now, which is not watch as much baseball, or maybe not at all. On the other hand I’ll watch more baseball.

 

I just don't think the feedback about the shift came from the fans at all. I'm not sure MLB looks at ANY feedback from fans.

[notin]

Except for yours. Your posts will endure forever.

 

I will sleep more soundly now…

[notin]

The truth is I don't disagree with your argument. I'm just not going to let this bother me.

 

Old Red is right - more people would rather see the shift gone, and that's why it's happening.

 

I’d rather see the shift gone, too, but not due to a league wide regulation. Make it go away (or at least get used less) by defeating it.

 

I know this doesn’t always work. NFL teams have been crushing the vaunted “prevent defense” for decades now and exploited it for probably hundreds of game-winning field goals. And you still see it. But maybe not as much. Maybe…

[notin]

I just don't think the feedback about the shift came from the fans at all. I'm not sure MLB looks at ANY feedback from fans.

 

If they did, would there still be a lockout?

[Old Red]

I just don't think the feedback about the shift came from the fans at all. I'm not sure MLB looks at ANY feedback from fans.

 

You think the owners are doing this all on their own thinking?

[notin]

I need to see your research on "more."

 

https://www.shu.edu/business/news/sports-poll-on-baseball-lockout-rule-changes-and-more.cfm

 

End the Shift?

Prohibiting the overshifting of infielders found only 36 percent of avid fans in favor, with 44 percent opposing a rule change that would stop the shifts. Among all sports fans, even less supported a prohibition on shifts, with only 24 percent in favor of a ban and 41 percent opposed.

 

My people have spoken!!

 

Only to be put on “ignore”…

[Old Red]

If they did, would there still be a lockout?

 

The Owners have subjective hearing.

[notin]

You think the owners are doing this all on their own thinking?

 

You think people who have accrued enough wealth to own a baseball team actually listen to the unwashed masses?

[Bellhorn04]

You think people who have accrued enough wealth to own a baseball team actually listen to the unwashed masses?

 

I read an article that suggested the move toward banning the shift is from the players. Freddie Freeman was making some comments about how it's not easy to change one's approach to go the other way because of how hard pitchers are throwing et cetera.

 

Then there's our old friend, MLB consultant Theo Epstein, who was hired to assist with possible refinements in the game, and I think this was one of the biggest issues he's been looking at.