MLB Off-Topic

[reyes the roof]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I’m curious to see if teams start building their roster differently now. Infielders with good range and hitters that put the ball in play should be in higher demand now

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Will be interesting to see how game times and games overall wind up.

This is the lowest batting average season since the 60s. Shifts do play a part in that.

And game times being above 3 hours again this year. The last decade has been bad in terms of game times, so let's hope the pitch clock can bring it down. We haven't seen game times under 2hrs and 40 mins in almost 40 years! We have a shot of finally seeing that in 2023.

Umpires may provide extra time if warranted by special circumstances. (So if, as an example, a catcher were to be thrown out on the bases to end the previous half-inning and needed additional time to put on his catching gear, the umpire could allow it.)

This reminds me slightly of my league growing up.


If there were 2 outs and the catcher is on base, whoever was the most recent batter to get out would be allowed to be the pinch runner so the catcher has time to get their gear on. Of course, if you bat around with 2 outs, then the catcher had to take their gear off (usually whoever was catcher would just go to the batters box with their kneepads on in case the batter before gets out).

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

This is the lowest batting average season since the 60s. Shifts do play a part in that.

Is BABIP the lowest since the 60s as well? I have a feeling strikeouts are playing a bigger role.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Stats shared by Tom Verducci in regards to BA on ground balls since 2015

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Is BABIP the lowest since the 60s as well? I have a feeling strikeouts are playing a bigger role.

Past few seasons we've seen around 24 balls in play (balls that were playable for defenses in fair territory). The 60s that number was around 27.

For reference, prior to 1997, there had been no season in MLB history where the balls in play number was below 27. Now, ever since 2008, that's been the case every year.

Just some numbers for fun

AVG:
1960s-.249
1970s-.256
1980s-.259
1990s-.265
2000s-.265
2010s-.254
2020s-.244

OBP:
1960s-.315
1970s-.323
1980s-.324
1990s-.334
2000s-.335
2010s-.320
2020s-.317

OPS:
1960s-.689
1970s-.700
1980s-.711
1990s-.743
2000s-.758
2010s-.728
2020s-.725

SO:
1960s-5.70
1970s-5.15
1980s-5.34
1990s-6.12
2000s-6.56
2010s-7.82
2020s-8.57

BB:
1960s-3.14
1970s-3.30
1980s-3.22
1990s-3.43
2000s-3.34
2010s-3.10
2020s-3.24

R:
1960s-4.05
1970s-4.15
1980s-4.30
1990s-4.67
2000s-4.76
2010s-4.39
2020s-4.49

Now we do see more "hit or miss" approaches, but it's interesting that despite strikeouts going way up, walks has actually stayed around a similar number throughout the decades.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Not sure about the step off stuff, need to read more about it. The only thing I definitely don't like are the shift restriction.

NBA created illegal defense and added the paint circle where charges aren't called. I think the shift makes sense to me.

[phenom1990]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I’m just happy there is a pitch clock. I loved watching Cliff Lee and Mark Buehrle pitch partly because of their pace.

[dubcity]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The shifts have been a pet peeve of mine. And I'm definitely pro pitch clock at this point, even though I'm not sure it fixes anything significantly. My issues with baseball are about the obsession with (and general attitude about) specialization and analytics.

[dubcity]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I’m just happy there is a pitch clock. I loved watching Cliff Lee and Mark Buehrle pitch partly because of their pace.

Curt Schilling is another guy who was excellent and moved quickly.

[Caulfield]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

War, huh, yeah, what's it good for?

after a looong 50+ years asking that question, we finally have an answer other than ''absolutely nothing''

MLB has decided it's good for pre-arbitration bonus. gonna be interested how MLB's new official formula for WAR differs from Baseball Reference and Fangraph versions

[Jolly Roger]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm not necessarily anti-WAR, but I'm no WAR monger either. I still use OPS. I don't imagine there's a huge difference between the two in most cases. For pitchers I look at WHIP and take a glance at their BABIP (same with hitters).

Hate the shift ban. Hit it where they ain't. All I can say is, anti-shifters would not like cricket. Pitch clock, good. Throw the damn ball.


One thing they could think about doing with the 2 step-offs rule is having a chalk hash mark somewhere to the right of each base that the runner can't go beyond before the pitch is thrown.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

One thing they could think about doing with the 2 step-offs rule is having a chalk hash mark somewhere to the right of each base that the runner can't go beyond before the pitch is thrown.

One-way leads would turn into easy steals. They could literally walk their way into running or become like a track runner waiting for the starting gun.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Runners can't automatically go to 2B though. Pitchers are allowed 3 pickoffs. It's just that the 3rd pickoff is an all or nothing move. If you're right, he's out. If you're wrong, he gets 2nd base.

I also wonder if that means more guys would try getting back to 1B if caught in a rundown. Imagine being caught in a rundown and safely getting back to to 1B, and the reward of the unsuccessful pickoff is you going to 2B.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Runners can't automatically go to 2B though. Pitchers are allowed 3 pickoffs. It's just that the 3rd pickoff is an all or nothing move. If you're right, he's out. If you're wrong, he gets 2nd base.

The chalk line idea sounded like that they can't step off/pick off if they don't cross the line.

And again, what is the threshold of the runner "going" or not? If they're moving at all?

Better yet, are we saying if they pick off and he's safe on it, then he gets second base... but if he's out in general, then he's out?

I think this is a stupid rule and isn't fixing anything. I'm glad they removed the 5-3 pickoff when they did, but this doesn't accomplish anything productive.

[Jeffrey Smith]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The chalk line idea sounded like that they can't step off/pick off if they don't cross the line.

And again, what is the threshold of the runner "going" or not? If they're moving at all?

Better yet, are we saying if they pick off and he's safe on it, then he gets second base... but if he's out in general, then he's out?

I think this is a stupid rule and isn't fixing anything. I'm glad they removed the 5-3 pickoff when they did, but this doesn't accomplish anything productive.

Agreed. Pickoff attempts are not an issue in my opinion.


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