MLB to ban the shift

[moonslav59]

Why wouldn't shifting work exactly the same against RHH?

 

I think his point was there just aren’t many dead pull only RHB’s in MLB, and this is all about just a few power hitting lefties.

[Bellhorn04]

He didn’t do it.

 

A couple times and that was it.

[Bellhorn04]

 

I think his point was there just aren’t many dead pull only RHB’s in MLB, and this is all about just a few power hitting lefties.

 

And why would it only affect power hitters? The shift generally results in ground ball outs.

[mvp 78]

 

I think his point was there just aren’t many dead pull only RHB’s in MLB, and this is all about just a few power hitting lefties.

 

I don't think that's it. The problem with shifting on RHB is that it pulls 1B way off the bag. You still see the shift from time to time though.

[notin]

Why wouldn't shifting work exactly the same against RHH?

 

Could be done but it’s safer to leave 3b exposed than 1b..,

[a700hitter]

He didn’t do it.

Not regularly, but he did do it.

[a700hitter]

 

Should the game cater all its rules around left-handed sluggers? Are LHH now upset that their once advantageous genetic quirk has now been normalized?

Did LHBs have an advantage because of the positioning of defenders (making a living off the 4-3 hole) or did they have an advantage because they see predominantly RHP and see it better than RHB do? If a lefty hits a ball to the right side, the fielder has a much shorter and easier throw for the out than if a RHB pulls the ball to the left side. The lefty does get an advantage running to 1st base.

[notin]

Did LHBs have an advantage because of the positioning of defenders (making a living off the 4-3 hole) or did they have an advantage because they see predominantly RHP and see it better than RHB do? If a lefty hits a ball to the right side, the fielder has a much shorter and easier throw for the out than if a RHB pulls the ball to the left side. The lefty does get an advantage running to 1st base.

 

 

Largely due to the abundance of RHP. But yes, they do also start closer to 1b. Good point about shorter throws on pulled hits.

 

But overall, it seems they do have an advantage and a disproportionate number of lefties rank among the game’s best all time hitters…

[moonslav59]

I don't think that's it. The problem with shifting on RHB is that it pulls 1B way off the bag. You still see the shift from time to time though.

 

How often do you see the 2Bman on the left side of the IF?

 

There are less pull righties than lefties and most of the pull lefties tend to be power hitters.

 

IMO

[mvp 78]

How often do you see the 2Bman on the left side of the IF?

 

There are less pull righties than lefties and most of the pull lefties tend to be power hitters.

 

IMO

 

2021 Pull % Leaders

Jose Ramirez S

Altuve RHB

Polanco S

Soler RHB

Semien RHB

India RHB

McCutchen RHB

Arenado RHB

Betts RHB

Tatis RHB

Ohtani LHB

Escobar S

Donaldson RHB

Santana S

Duvall RHB

[Bellhorn04]

2021 Pull % Leaders

Jose Ramirez S

Altuve RHB

Polanco S

Soler RHB

Semien RHB

India RHB

McCutchen RHB

Arenado RHB

Betts RHB

Tatis RHB

Ohtani LHB

Escobar S

Donaldson RHB

Santana S

Duvall RHB

 

Another myth destroyed.

[moonslav59]

Another myth destroyed.

 

Why do we never see the 2Bman playing SS vs RHBs?

[Bellhorn04]

Why do we never see the 2Bman playing SS vs RHBs?

 

Others have explained that shifting against a righty is more hazardous because you don't want the first baseman that far off the bag. Which seems like a pretty good point...

[notin]

Another myth destroyed.

 

Proportionately, howeve, it’s closer. A straight total will always favor RHH.

 

MLB has only about 35% LHH and 28% LHP.

 

So that list of 15 hitters has one lefty and 4 switch hitters. If you look at each switch hitter as .72 RHH, then it becomes 3.88 LHH, which makes for roughly 25%. So yeah, still low. Need 2 more switch hitters to make it right…

[jacksonianmarch]

There is a reason why the shift needs to be banned. It was the reason for the launch angle change which turned the game into a snoozefest of all or nothing baseball. Listen, the game is different than it was 50 years ago. Pitchers throw WAY harder. Analytics is able to discern where hitters hit the ball and then the pitchers pitch to that part of the plate. The shift removed the old adage of hitting it where it is pitched. You cannot do that anymore lest you end up batting around the Mendoza line. Pitchers are dropping 95 mph hammers inside on all hitters and watching them pull the ball into the shift. If the batter hit it out, so be it. Most geekfest s*** in sports usually makes for better offense which makes for more excitement. Instead, the geekfest s*** decidedly shifted the power to the pitcher.

[moonslav59]

Others have explained that shifting against a righty is more hazardous because you don't want the first baseman that far off the bag. Which seems like a pretty good point...

 

The 1Bman, yes, but why not the 2Bman?

[Bellhorn04]

The 1Bman, yes, but why not the 2Bman?

 

I'll let notin handle this matter.

[notin]

I'll let notin handle this matter.

 

If the 2b is playing SS and the SS is in short left field (thus mirroring a shift vs LHB), then the 1b has to cover the entire right side of the infield and still be able to take a throw at 1b. In a shift vs LHB, the third baseman doesn’t have that same level of responsibility. Sure he has the entire left side, but he doesn’t also have to cover 3b…

[notin]

Also most 2b lack the same throwing arm as shortstops, meaning that just fielding the grounder makes for a more difficult play…

[Bellhorn04]

Here's an Fangraphs article on the righty shift.

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-righty-shift-has-petered-out/

[notin]

I’m going to start an online petition to reinstate the shift…

[redsoxrules]

This is great news! I'm tired of watching these ridiculous shifts. It's like I'm watching slowpitch softball with a rover in the outfield. You have a position for a reason. What's the point of being a 3rd basemen if you're playing over half your position at shortstop/second base? It's dumb. Why name positions then if you want to allow the shifts? And people say , well the hitter needs to learn to hit the other way. This is MLB where pitchers throw 90+ with junk. It's not easy to hit the other way. Just making contact is hard. Play your darn position.

[Swiharts Ghost]

Offer Papi 150 million over 5.....kinda joking

[Kimmi]

There is a reason why the shift needs to be banned. It was the reason for the launch angle change which turned the game into a snoozefest of all or nothing baseball. Listen, the game is different than it was 50 years ago. Pitchers throw WAY harder. Analytics is able to discern where hitters hit the ball and then the pitchers pitch to that part of the plate. The shift removed the old adage of hitting it where it is pitched. You cannot do that anymore lest you end up batting around the Mendoza line. Pitchers are dropping 95 mph hammers inside on all hitters and watching them pull the ball into the shift. If the batter hit it out, so be it. Most geekfest s*** in sports usually makes for better offense which makes for more excitement. Instead, the geekfest s*** decidedly shifted the power to the pitcher.

 

It turns out that banning the shift will, on the whole, improve BABIP by only a couple of points over the season, about 6 extra hits per 1000 balls put in play, a difference that viewers will not even notice. The number of hits is not going to drastically increase by banning the shift. What will change is that some of the balls put into play that we think should be a hit will now be a hit rather than being an easy out to a shifted infielder.

[moonslav59]

It turns out that banning the shift will, on the whole, improve BABIP by only a couple of points over the season, about 6 extra hits per 1000 balls put in play, a difference that viewers will not even notice. The number of hits is not going to drastically increase by banning the shift. What will change is that some of the balls put into play that we think should be a hit will now be a hit rather than being an easy out to a shifted infielder.

 

The thing is, it will affect only the hitters who had the shift used against them, and I would assume there would be varying degrees of affects among those players, as well.

[redsoxrules]

The league batting avg is 233.

A lot of this has to do with these shift. If they don't ban it it will just keep getting worse and worse. Players are too focused to hitting HR so they won't bunt to get on base.

[Northern Star]

You don't know that. What made players think swinging for more home runs and striking out a lot more was the way to go all of a sudden?

 

The number of zeros on the latest megacontracts.

[Northern Star]

Here's a question that also ties into the deadened ball - what is the optimum amount of offense for a baseball game, on average, and over 162 games? Because they've been tinkering with stuff like adding the DH, lowering the mound, now banning the shift, to boost it, while also juicing the ball.

 

So, what's the optimum, how do you get to that point while keeping an honest contest between hitter and defense? I'm asking because I genuinely don't know. I do know the amount of HRs nowadays is ridiculous and skewing the contest. But who decides how much is enough and what to do about it?