Rod Carew "speaking out - to the commissioner"

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Mark17

If a guy was throwing a perfect game through 9 innings, would a zombie runner ruin it? Suppose the zombie stole third and home to win the game? The pitcher never allowed a batter to reach base (perfect game) yet loses.

How can any baseball purist reconcile that?

I am not disagreeing with you but the chances of this happening is extremely unlikely as pitchers no longer seem to go 9 and as mentioned before with pitch counts and specialist relievers.

[Seven]

The game has lost its way.

"Efficiency" isn't always better in the sake of the sport. I say this as someone that wasn't even alive in the 1970's, go back and watch a game. The game goes on quicker, the pitchers go deeper into games, watching the game is just more enjoyable. Players seemingly played harder, pitchers threw more and a good portion of them had long lasting careers. As a side note, The rule changes against sliding, and blocking the plate took another great aspect out of our game.

Baseball was better when it was more true to its roots. When it was simple, yet strategic. When the quality of play on the ballfield was actually worth the price of admission. Players used to be tougher, I'm not just saying that either. You don't get players that even play all 162 games anymore, they have to be rested because their investments now.

[butchie_t]

Just how long before they reduce balls and strikes to 3 and 2. In the attempt to reduce the game time. I always hated that when they did that crap in softball. Next stop MLB.

Then I am gone, and not that I watch much as it is now. Just no interest in that as there once was. And I agree with every word that Mr. Carew spoke. I don’t give a tinkers damn about WAR and any of that statistical mumbo-jumbo.

Can a batter move a runner if he has to bunt, yes or no. Can a batter hit to the opposite field and score a runner from third, yes or no. Someone puts a shift on, FREAKING LEARN TO HIT THE BALL WHERE THEY AIN’T and quit bitching about the shift……Shelia.

Cheers,

Butch

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by butchie_t

. Someone puts a shift on, FREAKING LEARN TO HIT THE BALL WHERE THEY AIN’T and quit bitching about the shift……

Do you think no one has ever considered this? Have you ever asked yourself why thousands of high level professional baseball people have never tried what you're suggesting? Or is it possible that maybe they HAVE considered it and know that it either doesn't work or actually benefits the defense?

Hint: it's not that they haven't thought of your suggestion.

[Snapolit1]

More pitches. Less contact. Doesn’t have a damn thing to do with bunting or guys not learning (wrong) baseball strategy.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Do you think no one has ever considered this? Have you ever asked yourself why thousands of high level professional baseball people have never tried what you're suggesting? Or is it possible that maybe they HAVE considered it and know that it either doesn't work or actually benefits the defense?

Hint: it's not that they haven't thought of your suggestion.

sometimes it can take years to implement...launch angles were discussed for 20 years and exit velocities as well...heck even analytics for 50 years...cant just flip a switch

you make more money hitting single into the hole of the defense or make more money hitting 25 homers doing it the other way which may not translate to wins perhaps but will make you more money.....

i dont know which way will lead to wins, but i do think you go to give more time to let it play out.. NBA used to have illegal defense rule with a zone defense and got rid of it..

[butchie_t]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Do you think no one has ever considered this? Have you ever asked yourself why thousands of high level professional baseball people have never tried what you're suggesting? Or is it possible that maybe they HAVE considered it and know that it either doesn't work or actually benefits the defense?

Hint: it's not that they haven't thought of your suggestion.

How much do they get paid to hit a ball?

Hint: More than enough to figure it out and do it.

Butch

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by butchie_t

How much do they get paid to hit a ball?

Hint: More than enough to figure it out and do it.

Butch

I mean this in all seriousness: have you ever given any serious thought to why they don't do what you're suggesting?

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by Tabe

I mean this in all seriousness: have you ever given any serious thought to why they don't do what you're suggesting?

Joey Gallo said he gets paid to hit doubles and homers so he doesn't even try to go the other way. I would say that other players feel the exact same way. He wouldn't even need to learn to go the other way. He could bunt for hits a few times and it will stop. Heck, with how far they play him off of the third base line, he could get some doubles on a good bunt. He could even put the odds in his favor by using a bat with a bigger barrel to bunt. Since he's not swinging it, who cares if it is heavier. If they give you a hit, take it. Make them adjust to you.

The shift is easy to beat if you want to beat it, but current hitters have the caveman mentality of swing hard and hope for the best. As someone who gets paid to watch minor league baseball, I can tell you without a doubt that it's only going to get worse. There are very few hitters with a nice approach at the plate and even less who change their approach in situations, and no one ever has a two-strike approach anymore. That mindset doesn't exist.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Tabe

I mean this in all seriousness: have you ever given any serious thought to why they don't do what you're suggesting?

Don't tell that to Wally Moon. In 1958 Moon had an OPS+ of 84 with the Cardinals. In the off-season he was traded to the Dodgers. With the help of Stan Musial, he adjusted his stance to hit to the opposite field to take advantage of the short left field in the LA Coliseum. From 1959-1961 he had an OPS+ of 129, 123, 142. In the LA Coliseum his OPS was .993, on the road .797. When the Dodgers moved to Chavez Ravine, Moon had OPS+ of 83, 117, 74, 69 and had an OPS of .585 at home.

[Tyruscobb]

Originally Posted by butchie_t

Someone puts a shift on, FREAKING LEARN TO HIT THE BALL WHERE THEY AIN’T and quit bitching about the shift

I 100% agree. If a team wants to shift 6 players to one side, when a dead pull hitter is up, it should have this right. A team should have the ability to place players anywhere on the field that it wants.

Lay down a bunt to the other side, or learn how to hit to the opposite field. Adjust, and show you can adjust, and shifts would end. Banning a shift reduces strategy and gamesmanship.

[1952boyntoncollector]

(Sacrifice flies were counted as at-bats in 1941; under today's rules, Williams would have hit between .411 and .419, based on contemporaneous game accounts.[61])

we worried about how they change stats? What arent Sac flies outs? ..so now you want to keep the sac in but they arent out? Seems like encouraging them already....how dare we change what a perfect game can be broken up in the 10th with a runner on 2nd...but changing what makes a .300 hitter doesnt matter..

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

I 100% agree. If a team wants to shift 6 players to one side, when a dead pull hitter is up, it should have this right. A team should have the ability to place players anywhere on the field that it wants.

Lay down a bunt to the other side, or learn how to hit to the opposite field. Adjust, and show you can adjust, and shifts would end. Banning a shift reduces strategy and gamesmanship.

I agree with this however its still a business...just like the off chance someone pitches a perfect game into the 11th..what about if tv ratings and attendence went down 75% because of the shift...i would make the shift illegal to save baseball if too boring etc...again i am against it but in the off chance baseball was in danger to lose huge market share, you got to do what you got to do..not saying thats what happening now...

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

I am not disagreeing with you but the chances of this happening is extremely unlikely as pitchers no longer seem to go 9 and as mentioned before with pitch counts and specialist relievers.

In today's game, yes. But someday there will be a throwback manager who won't be afraid to let his pitchers actually throw the ball more than 80 times a game.

Or a knuckleball pitcher who isn't putting any strain on his arm.

[insidethewrapper]

Another aspect of the game is no more manager/umpire arguments. It's an auto ejection. That was entertaining for the fans.

I still like HR, BAve, On-Base and Runs Scored and RBI's. You win games by getting on base, scoring runs and batting them in.

WAR - How is it calculated after every at bat ? If it was, then it would be more interesting to watch, like the other stats.

Who saves the most runs in the field ? Watch any game and it is the first baseman. Without a good first baseman, there would be a lot more errors from throws from the other infielders.