MLB Off-Topic

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Awww let me wipe those man sized tears from Boras' eyes.

This guy seems like the ultimate opportunist who doesn't give a flip about the players he represents until his cut is threatened. Where was this kvetching about how "unfair" it is for Harper a couple years ago when EVERYONE thought he was going to cash in?

BTW shift numbers have actually been shrinking but it's the application of the shifts that are hurting hitters like Harper.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm not as naive as I once was about players signing huge FA contracts...it used to be easy to say "That guys just in it for the money! He doesn't even care about baseball/winning/[things fans care about]." But it's hard to fault a guy for cashing in his (likely only) opportunity to make big time money in a career where the median retirement age is below 40 (and while I don't have data to back it up I would assume it's dropping) and the owners/teams make even more money through their performance.

All that being said, Boras seems like a real jag weed who takes advantage of players to make himself a buck. I don't think he has any reason to poke his nose into these types of conversations

EDIT: By "these conversations" I mean things like shifting or pace of play or other 'state of the game' issues if you will

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Operation Sports mobile app

I mean, he is an agent. No surprises there. Boras, his binders, and Enlightened Takes On The Game of Baseball (TM) though...

[BigOscar]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

To be fair, shifts are incredibly unfair on hitters who refuse to hit properly and instead just swing for the fences every time. Not sure that's something anyone should be worried about though, as really it should encourage hitters to become more rounded and actually concentrate on hitting the ball the other way, which in turn should mean less strikeouts and more action. or they could be morons and keep pulling the ball into shifts, then getting their dad to moan about how unfair it is

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Minimum of three position players on either side of fair territory upon release of the pitch. That's the rule they should institute. Shifts are just embarrassing now. I know there is a strategical advantage, but they just disrupt the sport's general nature.

This would cause an interesting trade-off that players are otherwise not attempting to do in bunting. I wish they would just to piss everyone off (the opposition, the fans, the commissioner's office and really themselves) until Manfred does something about it.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Minimum of three position players on either side of fair territory upon release of the pitch. That's the rule they should institute. Shifts are just embarrassing now. I know there is a strategical advantage, but they just disrupt the sport's general nature.

This would cause an interesting trade-off that players are otherwise not attempting to do in bunting. I wish they would just to piss everyone off (the opposition, the fans, the commissioner's office and really themselves) until Manfred does something about it.

What exactly is the sport's general nature?

Sent from my SM-G920V using Operation Sports mobile app

[DamnYanks2]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I disagree. I think shifting is brilliant. And on the other side of the coin it can be easily beaten. If players don't want to adjust that's on them. And if a FO loads up on natural pull hitters. You guessed it. That's on them.

Actually before shifting became a thing. Our baseball team would always shift on one particular batter. Because he always pulled it. Maybe once, did he ever hit one opposite field. He was dead pull and it worked beautifully.

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Nah, I would hate for Manfred to interfere like that with the game. Can't fault teams for being smart. Hitter has to adjust, that's the nature of the game.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

What exactly is the sport's general nature?

That defensive positioning is dependent upon not only tendencies and situations, but also some form of balance. Most player position names have a designation of some sort that is determined by their general location on the field.

Even the infield fly rule called that destroyed the Braves' chances in the WC playoff game against the Cardinals was predicated upon the fact that the shortstop was close to getting underneath the ball, even though he was way out in left field.

If we start air-quoting position names because the left fielder is now standing in right field with the center fielder and that dude that should be there, it would begin to stand as a mockery for the sport.

In a way I am playing devil's advocate, because I am going to take advantage of shifting so long as there isn't anything restricting it (even when I coach), much like many laws this country has. That doesn't mean I am also in support of it.

Nah, I would hate for Manfred to interfere like that with the game. Can't fault teams for being smart. Hitter has to adjust, that's the nature of the game.

I understand this, but all it takes is a select few stars to begin bunting every single time out that perhaps then he will start talking about doing something else.

That's what I'm afraid of. At some point there will be counteracting, and nobody is going to like it. I actually very much hope lefties begin doing this, just to get that rule created.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

If lefties bunt, I'm pretty sure teams will stop shifting in their own. The game isn't and has never been about balance. If anything, the "nature" of the game is doing whatever it takes to get an advantage. Shifting fits right in with that.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Operation Sports mobile app

[CBoller1331]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Total agree with Jr. Baseball has been flip-flopping between a pitcher's game and a hitter's game ever since it was created. Players & managers have to make adjustments, it's just part of the game

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Add my 2 cents in with the "deal with it" crowd when it comes to shifting. Adapt or die. A part of me thinks this might help "shift" the game ever so slightly back toward valuing guys with top-notch bat control (Tony Gwynn and Wade Boggs types) that can take advantage of the new fad rather than unconscionable mashers.

[canes21]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Once baseball starts to trend away from this boom or bust league it has become with K or bombs and gets back to talented hitters filling out lineups shifts will start to go away a bit. Right now they are so effective because the league is full of guys that can't do anything, but pull the ball. There are fortunately still a number of guys like Inciarte off the top of my head who hardly get shifted because he can put a ball anywhere.



The sport hopefully will soon get out of this awful trend and start valuing contact again and the shifts will start to disappear a bit. Until then, we're going to be stuck with front offices putting together all of these one dimensional hitters and then getting mad when teams shift.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I just wanted to include that I've had that stance on the rule since way before it was commonplace (when they were literally only shifting Bonds and Giambi).

Anyway, debate aside, I have a shifting strategy question for you all:

Say there is a player who literally grounds it to shortstop every time. Like on 100 hits, he hit the ball directly to a straightaway shortstop every single time. If you are an opposing team coming in and decide to want to play this guy a certain way, what do you choose to do?

Do you tell yourself that his M.O. is that he hits it to shortstop every time so you keep him right there (and just maybe even bunch up your 2B & 3B defenders only slightly), or do you tell yourself in a more general sense that "he is a pure pull hitter," and more everybody over more to the left side of the field in extreme fashion, even if it means that you are moving your SS out of his normal position where he generally would have been fielding it with this guy?

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

If he hits it directly to the SS every time, you play your SS at his normal position. Doesn't matter what you do with everyone else because you know exactly where it's going

Sent from my SM-G920V using Operation Sports mobile app

[canes21]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

If you mean he hits it where the SS normally is every time, then obviously I keep him there. If you meant he hits it in the area of the SS every time then I am moving my 2B over to that side of the bag and allowing the 3B, SS, and 2B to form a wall so that no one has to cover much range and the throw can me made quickly. If he's an incredibly slow runner I probably stay in default positioning.