~2022 MLB Thread~

[Cincydawg]

Some of the greatest did, and would, but folks wouldn't shirt on them.  Some of the greatest also pulled the ball most of the time.

You'd shift on Ruth and not Cobb, both among the greatest hitters of all time.  I wouldn't shift on Williams, I would on Aaron.  Barry Bonds I'd walk.

[ELA]

I understand that and I still think they taking away one of the best defensive tools a team has

with no apparent need to MLB pitching ERAs have really not improved over the last 10 years

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/pitch.shtml

No, but the manner in which those runs are scored I assume have.  I'd be curious to see the percentage of RBIs as a product of HRs over time.  Steals are down, bunts are down.  Sacrificing an out it turns out, is stupid.  But it can be fun

[Cincydawg]

It may seem obvious that the shift was designed to neutralize pull heavy hitters, but it has evolved into a precision defensive tactic that can take away quality batted balls that were once considered automatic base hits. It's amazing how far production on ground balls up the middle has suffered in recent seasons:

• 2014: .344 avg
• 2015: .312 avg
• 2016: .337 avg
• 2017: .304 avg
• 2018: .302 avg
• 2019: .299 avg
• 2020: .254 avg
• 2021: .236 avg

[Cincydawg]

As a left handed hitter, I agree it's a "tax" on lefties.

[longhorn320]

not only will the shift be taken away but the DH rule will be in the National league also

It just seems like they are over favoring the hitters 

[OrangeAfroMan]

The shift is tougher on left-handed hitters because of the arbitrary fact that runners go counter-clockwise around the bases.  Limiting it balances out the game.


As for the universal DH, it's due to pitchers being utterly useless as batters.  Back in the 60s, some pitchers were genuinely good hitters.  That's no longer the case.  So instead of having pro athletes do something in games that they don't even practice doing, they're eliminating it. 
The DH vs no DH debate has been replaced with an attitude of "I don't care, just make it the same in both leagues, either way."
So they have.

[FearlessF]

Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris relaxing at Spring Training, February 25, 1961.

[OrangeAfroMan]

I've been going to spring training games for only about 10-12 years, and it's only changed for the worse.  Thanks to demand (I guess), prices have skyrocketed.  Not just that, but they do the "premium" games bullshit, too.  So if your team is playing a rival, it costs more, even though the game doesn't count and the starting players MIGHT play 6 innings. 

The average ticket price has tripled.  The cheapest outfield berm (lawn) ticket in some places is $40.

10 years ago, you could walk up at game time, get a ticket for $8-10, and sit wherever.  Thanks to scalpers, mainly, you have to order them online 2 months ahead, paying 3x as much, plus fees and what not.  
Keep in mind, that's for the bad seats.  

This year's pricing is better, though.  Due to the uncertainty of the season beginning and (I assume) LOTS of canceled trips from out-of-towners, demand must be way down.  

Anywho, the people in charge are dumb.  

[FearlessF]

hah, I can remember walking up and buying a ticket to a real game in season for $10

[OrangeAfroMan]

My history is more recent than yours, lol.


Out here in Arizona, they've all built these huge compounds.  Beautiful campuses, really, with a bunch of full-size fields and massive clubhouses - especially for the shared ones (White Sox-Dodgers, Padres-Mariners, DBacks-Rockies, Rangers-Royals, Reds-Guardians). 

The Cubs moved to a spot adjacent an existing city park that was already nice.  The A's were cheap and moved into the Cubs' old place.  The Angels and Giants have been in their spots for a long time.  The Giants are smack-dab in the middle of old-towne Scottsdale and can (and do) charge whatever they want, and the retirees will gladly pay.

The Brewers just redid-their whole spot, right in the ghetto, where I lived a year ago.  Good on them, I guess?  No night games, lol. 

Eh, my biggest gripe about baseball here isn't even with spring training, it's that the AZ Fall League doesn't really have evening games at all. 

[FearlessF]

Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel, and Mickey Mantle talking before a game, 1960s

[MarqHusker]

Good call on Fall league.  Great experience but I don't ever recall a night game, maybe 1 or 2.   

Still love Maryvale.   Lifetime ban for Giants and Cubs parks.   I haven't been down since 2019, for obvious reasons.  

[FearlessF]

“This is a moody ball club.” - Lou Piniella (1977)

[FearlessF]

Bob Gibson pitching to Al Kaline in the first game of the 1968 World Series.