By Eddie Sapienza
MLB's new commisoner Rob Manfred may want to ban the shift. In this article I will explain if the shift should stay in baseball or not and how it will effect guys on the Yankees. So in 2014 we saw way more shifts than we did in 2013 and previous years.
The way the shift works is against left handed hitters all the infielders move closer to first base. So what happens is the third baseman is at shortstop the shortstop is at second base and the second baseman plays in the start of the outfield grass.
This shift has worked with the Yankees and against them and no matter what way it works I think it ruins the game of baseball. The shift has caused many left handers to dip their batting average. A solution to the shift is to hit the other way. Although that is hard for some hitters like Mark Teixeria and Brian McCann.
McCann has tried to go the other way but Teixeira puts no effort into that and keeps pulling the ball as usual. So now I'll say if the shift should stay or not.
No I don't think the shift should stay in the Major Leagues because it ruins the game of baseball completely and makes offenses not hit well. Previous MLB commisoner Bud Selig never thought or at least said anything about banning the shift. One thing I'm wondering if the shift is prohibited and a team just ignores the rule what would happen?
Now I'll move onto how this will effect the Yankees. The shift works in both ways when in effect and works both ways when it's out of effect. So if their is no more shift expect to see better seasons from McCann and Teixeira.
Although the Yankees will give up more hits. I rather have the Yankees give up more hits instead of them hitting less and by banning the shift more hits from guys on the Yankees. These are my thoughts on the shift and if it should be banned or not.
What do you guys think
ReplyDeleteI disagree, as people probably said the same thing about raising the pitchers mound, the DH, and a number of other rule changes that have occurred in baseball.
ReplyDeleteDefense is part of the game too.
Sorry, Bryan...you did mean to say; 'Lowering the pitchers mound', right?
DeleteI don't get the chance to correct any of you guys very often! LOL
Umm... sure
DeleteI disagree as well. A team is allowed 9 fielder's and can place them wherever they want. If you're going to specify where a defender can play, you would need fielding boxes. If you didn't those, your opening yourselves up to too many interpretations of the rules, and umpires screw up enough as it is. People like Teixeria and McCann just need to realize that they are no longer "power hitters" and learn how to situational hit.
ReplyDeleteI also disagree. For every hit the shift took away from McCann and Teixeira it saved twice as many for the Yankees infield. That may have something to do with a little over 1000 shifts by the defense and less than that in at bats from those two men but who is counting.
ReplyDeleteIt's part of the game, for better or worse.
Evolution has been a part of the game forever. The better players "Adapt & Improvise", or fall by the wayside.
ReplyDeleteI think a better solution would be to raise the pitcher's mound back to what it was, for many reasons. It would save a pitcher's arm and make it more competitive with the NEW strike zone so small they need something to help them out. The zone is in the book as; Arm Pits (letters) to the Knees, but they call it as the belt to the top of the knees!
If it would cut down on all the Tommy John surgeries then I am all for raising the mound back. Also they need to raise the strike zone. Vlad Guerrero is not in the league anymore and Tiger Woods never was, balls way too low are being called strikes nowadays.
DeleteI see what you guys are saying. The final decision is up to Manfred though as we all know.
ReplyDeleteManfred can't do anything (much of anything anyway) without cooperation from the MLBPA...
Delete