What's the big deal with HRs

[DamnYanks2]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

Yep, exactly. There was a article I read the other day that explained how Ketel Marte became a home run hitter. He was just a singles hitter with Seattle. He completely changed his approach to hitting the baseball.



Now I have no doubt the balls fly farther. Manfred, and Torre are full of ****. But the approach has changed too. There are more flyballs then ever. Nobody wants to hit it on the ground anymore. Its K or get it in the air.

It's a combination of a lot of things. It's not as black and white as the balls are juiced.

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[Blzer]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

You're kidding yourself if you don't see more carry on the balls than before. I don't know if it's a matter of faster exit velocity or what (sadly we didn't have Statcast ten years ago), but it has only promoted this swing type more. People are seeing more success doing what they're doing because of it.

And that's an interesting article. I don't think any players should be swinging like Marte used to, even the traditional #1/#2 hitter types of yore. A "short, low finish"? What good does that do for anybody? Quick to the ball is certainly nice, though: Bonds was the best at it and the best you'll ever see. Not to mention I say "strong top hand" to my own players as well, but by that I'm referring to extension through contact, so either the article is contradicting themselves or they don't have a good way of indicating to the reader what that means.

Earlier today I saw Bellinger ground into a double play. He is swinging up, so why did the ball go down? Because he topped it. Not because he swung over it per se, but rather his bat was lifting higher and higher till the barrel ended up over the ball from his timing. Creating leverage doesn't have to be by your bat angle, and can just be from hitting the bottom half of the ball. Do it right, and you can keep that ball in the air longer with backspin. Many players are successful doing it this way (like Bregman), and even though he hits many home runs I would never call him a home run hitter.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

Well yea they are going farther. There's no doubt about that. They moved the fences in too. Remember Tals hill in minute maid park? That used to be an impossible drive. Now it's much easier launch one out.

Petco used to be a place where homeruns used to die. They moved Seattle's dimensions in. They have these stupid yellow lines in Anaheim. If it goes over even if it hits the wall it's a homerun. Doesn't even make sense. They try to intrigue people with the launch angle and exit velo. That's no coincidence.

Clearly MLB wants more homeruns and rigged it that way. As they always have. The game of baseball changes every decade. Nothing new.

80s was about speed, 90s and mid 2000s was about steroids and home run records. Then we went back to a deadening of the ball and hrs. Now its home run bonanza.

That's baseball for you. And sports in general these days. Football, basketball and baseball are all rigged for more offense and as result these athletes adapt even more to the environment.

Its rigged for the masses. Although MLB admittedly is the absolute worst at marketing. Like the masses get excited about statcast measures [emoji1787][emoji1787]

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[Blzer]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

Well yea they are going farther. There's no doubt about that. They moved the fences in too. Remember Tals hill in minute maid park? That used to be an impossible drive. Now it's much easier launch one out.

Petco used to be a place where homeruns used to die. They moved Seattle's dimensions in. They have these stupid yellow lines in Anaheim. If it goes over even if it hits the wall it's a homerun. Doesn't even make sense. They try to intrigue people with the launch angle and exit velo. That's no coincidence.

I'm well aware of all field dimensions that have changed. It pisses me off. There is word they are going to do that at Oracle Park next year, too (and it makes more sense that they got Gennett at the trade deadline if their plan is to somehow shorten RCF). Any time I watch a highlight reel, I figuratively tally every home run that "would not have been" in places like Comerica and Citi Field before they changed things.

Clearly MLB wants more homeruns and rigged it that way. As they always have. The game of baseball changes every decade. Nothing new.

80s was about speed, 90s and mid 2000s was about steroids and home run records. Then we went back to a deadening of the ball and hrs. Now its home run bonanza.

That's baseball for you. And sports in general these days. Football, basketball and baseball are all rigged for more offense and as result these athletes adapt even more to the environment.

Its rigged for the masses. Although MLB admittedly is the absolute worst at marketing. Like the masses get excited about statcast measures [emoji1787][emoji1787]

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This is all good and dandy, but they are denying any involvement in changes to the baseball. So if this just so happened to be some happy accident that was later "corrected" somehow without their knowing, what would they do about it then? Go to the manufacturer? Be okay with a change back to where things were? I'm uncertain at this point.

Double-digit score games don't excite me much. The Brewers-Nats game last night became exciting because of it being tight, nothing to do with the home runs that were hit (look at today's boring game with like twelve home runs).

Anyway, yeah some home runs just feel cheap now. When they hit it, I'm always thinking in my head that it was well assisted. I'll still give them a little something, but when the MLB Tonight crew is going bonkers over something as if to compare it to a previous era's home run that it went as far as, I think they kind of need to comment on it with the same kind of footnote that people get when hitting a ball out in Colorado.

Speaking of which, this might sound a bit contradictory, but I wish they didn't humidify the balls in Colorado or Arizona. If the park plays like that, then so be it.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

I'm well aware of all field dimensions that have changed. It pisses me off. There is word they are going to do that at Oracle Park next year, too (and it makes more sense that they got Gennett at the trade deadline if their plan is to somehow shorten RCF). Any time I watch a highlight reel, I figuratively tally every home run that "would not have been" in places like Comerica and Citi Field before they changed things.









This is all good and dandy, but they are denying any involvement in changes to the baseball. So if this just so happened to be some happy accident that was later "corrected" somehow without their knowing, what would they do about it then? Go to the manufacturer? Be okay with a change back to where things were? I'm uncertain at this point.



Double-digit score games don't excite me much. The Brewers-Nats game last night became exciting because of it being tight, nothing to do with the home runs that were hit (look at today's boring game with like twelve home runs).



Anyway, yeah some home runs just feel cheap now. When they hit it, I'm always thinking in my head that it was well assisted. I'll still give them a little something, but when the MLB Tonight crew is going bonkers over something as if to compare it to a previous era's home run that it went as far as, I think they kind of need to comment on it with the same kind of footnote that people get when hitting a ball out in Colorado.



Speaking of which, this might sound a bit contradictory, but I wish they didn't humidify the balls in Colorado or Arizona. If the park plays like that, then so be it.

Oh they always know what's going on. I'll never buy that. How can you be the commissioner of a sport and be oblivious to these things? If you are truly unaware that homeruns have spiked significantly then why do you have that position?

Same **** with Bud Selig, I'll never buy for a second he didn't know about steroids running rampant through baseball. There's no way you can be that uninformed. Did he just read the Canseco book and Tom Verducci ramblings and begin to figure it out? I mean come on lol. Then the mitchell report and the witch hunts to save his own *** and the higher ups. It's not even a conspiracy.

Back on topic. The current trend is blatant. More homeruns, pimping them, statcast, fences moved in, forcing launch angle and exit velo down our throats, either Manfred is straight up lying or a clown. Probably both. These are strong opinions but I'm just being honest.

We baseball purists don't love the high scoring games. But your casuals sure do. And that's where the interest is.

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[TheMatrix31]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

Leads to a cookie cutter game. But that's what people want. They want the league to be more like other sports leagues with no game variance. They're too lazy to explain how and why all aspects of baseball are cool and contribute to it being the best sport, not just balls going over the fence. Appeal to the lowest common denominator. Works in all aspects of life.

Just wait til the next homer. It's not too far away.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

Leads to a cookie cutter game. But that's what people want. They want the league to be more like other sports leagues with no game variance. They're too lazy to explain how and why all aspects of baseball are cool and contribute to it being the best sport, not just balls going over the fence. Appeal to the lowest common denominator. Works in all aspects of life.

Just wait til the next homer. It's not too far away.

Like basketball and football. Everyone wants to shoot the three ball now, superstar calls. High scoring. Football; they protect the quarterbacks and offensive players, like they are national treasures. There's no real way to hit the QB anymore.

And they want crazy offensive record breaking explosions like the chiefs rams last year.

Offense, offense, offense. That's what its about.

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[NYJets]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

It's happening in all sports now, as they all embrace analytics and use them to influence play styles there's very little variety in style of play. Players/teams all trying to do the same thing

[Caulfield]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

if you know where to look, you can find highlights of non-homers. but the song remains the same: chicks still dig the longball.

[CBoller1331]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

It's happening in all sports now, as they all embrace analytics and use them to influence play styles there's very little variety in style of play. Players/teams all trying to do the same thing

As a math minded person I like the use of analytics in sports--especially baseball--as it has helped me understand the game(s) better. But this is definitely a side effect of relying on statistics, the game becomes more of a computer simulation. You can just plugs the numbers into a formula and it will spit out exactly what will happen and it takes the human element out of the game, which just isn't entertaining.

[Blzer]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

Oh they always know what's going on. I'll never buy that. How can you be the commissioner of a sport and be oblivious to these things? If you are truly unaware that homeruns have spiked significantly then why do you have that position?

Same **** with Bud Selig, I'll never buy for a second he didn't know about steroids running rampant through baseball. There's no way you can be that uninformed. Did he just read the Canseco book and Tom Verducci ramblings and begin to figure it out? I mean come on lol. Then the mitchell report and the witch hunts to save his own *** and the higher ups. It's not even a conspiracy.

I'm not saying they aren't aware, I'm just stating they're denying it. I don't know why they choose to, but honestly I don't think we had to worry about things before like extended nets and such until this time.

Back on topic. The current trend is blatant. More homeruns, pimping them, statcast, fences moved in, forcing launch angle and exit velo down our throats, either Manfred is straight up lying or a clown. Probably both. These are strong opinions but I'm just being honest.

Eh, the numbers themselves aren't terrible. I think exit velocity means quite a bit, in fact. I just wish they didn't call it "exit velo." Do we seriously have to be that young sounding?

I don't like that we rely on Statcast so much that we are blind to the actual things, though. You know that I of all people will call out Statcast when it is assuredly wrong. Then people jump on here and tell me: "Herp derp Statcast noez @ll n kant be rong." I have no problem defending myself, because I don't think players deserve credit where it isn't due, that's for damn sure. It's just helping spread more misinformation and provide credence to a sometimes wonky, inconsistent system and format.

As far as pimping home runs, I'm hearing this is part of the "Let the kids play" campaign, which to me is stupid on many fronts (one is, just like pace of play, once we have to literally talk about it, then it loses its luster of happening at that point), but then I see a kid in Ronald Acuña Jr. walking and admiring a home r...... wall scraper. There he is on first base, thinks he owes everybody second base (which he does), and gets thrown out stealing. The other irony about this "kid" playing thing is that it should be the grownups who are playing, because he was not acting like a grownup there, nor was he when he didn't catch Bellinger's ball over the fence. It's not cute to watch, and is not the kind of emotion that I care to see when it doesn't deliver for my team.

You want to show excitement for hitting a home run? I don't care, please do it... though it seems to have a lessened effect now with the way the ball takes off these days. Should it be choreographed or showing up the other team or pitcher? No. It should be authentically spontaneous, and it should be for actual home runs. I think it's hilarious when a color commentator says during the replay of their trot: "Look at that, he knew it as soon as he hit it." I'd love to say that for Acuña when he ended up only on first base for his hit.

We baseball purists don't love the high scoring games. But your casuals sure do. And that's where the interest is.

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I love that anything can happen in baseball, but I love when rarities also stay... well... rare. It is no longer special when it's a common occurrence.

I don't bat an eye anymore at a home run. If it happens and helps my team, then yay. It will never make me do a double-take anymore, though. I'm left emotionless for the home run now itself, just the runs that score as a result of it. It's just too bad. I don't know if chicks really do dig the long ball anymore if everyone can do it at a decent clip.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

It's happening in all sports now, as they all embrace analytics and use them to influence play styles there's very little variety in style of play. Players/teams all trying to do the same thing

Yup. And ultimately it's going to prove detrimental.

[Chip Douglass]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

It's interesting that even with all of the HRs, no one's going to come particularly close to Maris' 61, let alone Bonds' 73.

[Majingir]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

Home runs are like slam dunks in basketball or long TDs in football. It's most exciting way to score.

[Caulfield]

Re: What's the big deal with HRs

‘‘what's the deal with homeruns?’’ - sounds like a Seinfeld bit... not that there's anything wrong with that