NFR 2022 Baseball Thread

[Canuck from Kansas]

I'm a purist, and right there with @PhilR and @iveofione, the DH is an abomination to mankind; DH lovers, what the game was no good prior to the DH rule? HAH. The only reason the pitchers are currently no good with the bat is because the DH starts in highschool and they're certainly not taught how to handle a bat in the minors. The bunt is a lost art because it's not taught in college or the minors, because of the DH. Baseball is a metaphor for life, there's no one hitting for me, no DH, I have to take all my own licks, so should pitchers. The DH an abomination and should be wiped off the face of the earth, and that is that!

cheers

 

[Mumbles]

Why? There are written rules in place to handle that. What about the closer? He won't be stepping in the fucking box.

Pinch hitter and change arms, within the rules.

 

[kerrys]

The DH is here to stay.

What I hate in baseball today is the shift. Not the shift specifically but that hitters can’t or won’t go the other way. Kyle Seager comes to mind. He couldn’t hit the other way so he tried to hit more home runs and he is gone.

I want to see players go the other way and hit for base hits not home runs. I want see someone try to hit in the upper .300 average for the year. I want to see speed both on the bases and in the field. I want to see someone challenge Hugh Nicol’s single season stolen base record. Call balls and strikes tighter. No more it caught the corner. The strike zone has gotten to big.

 

[_WW_]

Pinch hitter and change arms, within the rules.

So is the DH.

 

[Nick Clayton]

I'm a purist, and right there with @PhilR and @iveofione, the DH is an abomination to mankind; DH lovers, what the game was no good prior to the DH rule? HAH. The only reason the pitchers are currently no good with the bat is because the DH starts in highschool and they're certainly not taught how to handle a bat in the minors. The bunt is a lost art because it's not taught in college or the minors, because of the DH. Baseball is a metaphor for life, there's no one hitting for me, no DH, I have to take all my own licks, so should pitchers. The DH an abomination and should be wiped off the face of the earth, and that is that!

cheers

Pitchers prior to 1973 were not averaging over 92 MPH with their fastball. How many guys were throwing 98-100+ consistently back then? Of course it was much easier for pitchers to hit.

Some interesting statistics in this article. The point that really jumps out at me is how can a pitcher who is in the game every 5 days ever supposed to acclimate and become even halfway decent hitting 98 mph stuff?

Funny how everyone is so passionate about the DH but little is being discussed about the change in drug testing. I'd rather watch a DH than a bunch of roided up douche bags swatting every other pitch out of the ballpark.

 

[BigJohnJohn]

I'd agree if something is going to put an end to the game it will be another era of PED's.

As someone that grew up playing, watching, and coaching a lot of baseball, I used to also think the DH was an abomination. The reality is the game has changed. For better or worse (probably both), Moneyball changed the game. While at the same time breaking the mold of what the "ideal" baseball player was, it also delivered to us a game focused on pitchers that consistently throw mid to upper 90's with cut fastballs and sliders phasing out 12-6 curves and other offspeed pitches and batters that focus on launch angle and homeruns over batting average. Baseball changes like everything in life, which for me is ultimately what I think is still special about baseball.

 

[cody-]

x

I'd agree if something is going to put an end to the game it will be another era of PED's.

As someone that grew up playing, watching, and coaching a lot of baseball, I used to also think the DH was an abomination. The reality is the game has changed. For better or worse (probably both), Moneyball changed the game. While at the same time breaking the mold of what the "ideal" baseball player was, it also delivered to us a game focused on pitchers that consistently throw mid to upper 90's with cut fastballs and sliders phasing out 12-6 curves and other offspeed pitches and batters that focus on launch angle and homeruns over batting average. Baseball changes like everything in life, which for me is ultimately what I think is still special about baseball.

Speaking of Moneyball, did you all see that Jeremy Giambi passed (ruled a suicide) last week? Aged 47.

 

[jasmillo]

Pitchers are specialists, not everyday players. Why make a guy who might get 50 AB’s (relievers less) a season hit. Not really much strategy at the college and pro level around pitchers hitting - don’t get hurt, don’t burn to much energy In the end, I’d much rather see a top notch pitcher face the likes of Edgar Martinez, David Ortiz or Jim Thome than watch Clayton Kersaw hit…against anyone. Everything else folks have said I agree with though. Too many strikeouts and modern training techniques have guys that would have topped out at 92 throwing 98-99. Modern day diet, training techniques…the new steroids. Modern swing science has more guys concentrating on hitting for power…I assume because modern day metrics say that’s the best way to win games. Certainly the best way to make the most $$$.

 

[Doublebluff]

Why make a guy who might get 50 AB’s (relievers less) a season hit.

I think this is a great point.

 

[Canuck from Kansas]

Why make guys who can't make a free throw go to the line, use a designated free thrower. Maybe a designated putter for the guys who struggle on the green - I'm only being partially facetious

Pitchers didn't used to throw at 95+, tell that to guys who faced Bob Gibson (they lowered the mound because he was so dominant), Sandy Koufax, Tom Seaver, Goose Gassage, Nolan Ryan, JR Richard, Randy Johnson, just to name a few and not to mention Bob Feller and Big Train Walter Johnson - Johnson's fastball "hissed with danger," according to Ty Cobb. Major league hitters can all catch up to the best fastballs, it's movement and location - Maddox in his best years could barely break 90. It's all excuses for not teaching proper hitting, bunting, how to handle a bat.

The DH creates more pitching changes, short starts. I hate the way pitching is used today, 6 innings with 3 runs being a quality start, Baaah. Shorten the roster, or limit the number of pitchers allowed on a roster - let pitcher pitch and hit - play baseball the way it's meant to be played, with all the strategery of old, hit and run, hitting to the opposite field, stolen bases, and yes, bunting!!.

Cheers

 

[Doublebluff]

11 guys on a football field... Should they go both ways? And kick?

 

[Nick Clayton]

Back in MY day there was only one player on each team. They'd walk barefooted to the ballpark every day, uphill both ways, and they'd pitch, field every position, AND hit. And they did it all with a cigarette hanging out of their mouth.

Now days its nothing but punk kids and their rap music!

And stay off my lawn!

 

[jasmillo]

Why make guys who can't make a free throw go to the line, use a designated free thrower. Maybe a designated putter for the guys who struggle on the green - I'm only being partially facetious

Pitchers didn't used to throw at 95+, tell that to guys who faced Bob Gibson (they lowered the mound because he was so dominant), Sandy Koufax, Tom Seaver, Goose Gassage, Nolan Ryan, JR Richard, Randy Johnson, just to name a few and not to mention Bob Feller and Big Train Walter Johnson - Johnson's fastball "hissed with danger," according to Ty Cobb. Major league hitters can all catch up to the best fastballs, it's movement and location - Maddox in his best years could barely break 90. It's all excuses for not teaching proper hitting, bunting, how to handle a bat.

The DH creates more pitching changes, short starts. I hate the way pitching is used today, 6 innings with 3 runs being a quality start, Baaah. Shorten the roster, or limit the number of pitchers allowed on a roster - let pitcher pitch and hit - play baseball the way it's meant to be played, with all the strategery of old, hit and run, hitting to the opposite field, stolen bases, and yes, bunting!!.

Cheers

You’re in medicine, correct? Should a plastic surgeon do orthopedic surgery on professional athletes? Especially if it is only 10% of their practice?

Should a shortstop be forced to pitch 10% of the time? People think it’s the game because that’s how they grew up playing it but at the pro level it’s a whole different……ballgame. A pitcher hitting is a waste of time. Convince me with data that there are less pitching changes in the National League than the American League and I’ll agree with you. I hate that as well. I imagine it’s the opposite though. Pitchers are more apt to be pulled if a manager needs a good at bat in a key situation.

Also, you named every pitcher from 1955 - 2000 who regularly topped 95+ mph .There are probably double that amount who regularly topped 100 mph in 2021 in MLB alone. It’s not just 100 mph fastballs, it’s also 95 mph sliders and 93 mph splitters. I’m exaggerating a bit but increased velocity is a real thing and some of this trend can be traced back to a place here in WA:

The quest for a 100-mph fastball: Can MLB prospects safely develop velocity?

The average fastball rose from 90.1 mph in 2005 to an all-time high of 92.1 in 2015.

amp.usatoday.com

That said, my all time favorite pitcher ever was Maddox. Give me a 2-1 Maddox win where he pitched 8 innings any day over a 9-7 slugfest filled with 15 strikeouts and 5 HR’s. That guy was an artist.

And yes, I wish I never had to watch Shaq shoot a free throw. That might be the most painful thing I have ever had to watch a pro athlete do. Outside of maybe watching Carl Lewis throw out a first pitch…

 

[swimmy]

That said, my all time favorite pitcher ever was Maddox. Give me a 2-1 Maddox win where he pitched 8 innings any day over a 9-7 slugfest filled with 15 strikeouts and 5 HR’s. That guy was an artist.

And just for fun

 

[Divad]

Dust off that mitt and stretch your arms, ‘22 roster try outs will happen at a high school near you!

 

[ThatGuyRyRy]

Some guys are a single leg injury away from being passable in the field. Think Edgar, one of the best hitters ever couldn't get his legs to work well enough anymore. We are Missing out on some fine baseball if a single injury derails a who players career.

 

[Doublebluff]

As a fan, this is one of the best innings I have ever experienced.



(Canuck should like this)

 

[iveofione]

Well, today is the make it or break it day for MLB. With the players making less for each of the past 4 years it is clear that the billionaires are winning, beating down the hapless millionaire players. This isn't going to end well for the players. I wonder what advice should be given to a player that has a minimum wage of $575,000 a year but probably makes at least a couple of million. I am probably not a good example but at this point if I was a player that had accrued several million dollars before the age of 30 I think I would book reservations to Cancun, Belize or Christmas Island for the month of March and when I got home start looking for a job that would sustain me for the next 50 years. A few thousand ultra rich individuals and family's control over 71% of the wealth in this country leaving the other 330 million of us to divvy up the remaining 29%. It is a no win situation for the bulk of us as the rich buy the politicians and lawyers to keep us in place. A baseball player with his high initial salary has the luxury and probably name recognition to do a thorough job search and in all likely hood nab a pretty damned good job. Not baseball money perhaps but enough to sustain him as a member of the 29%.

Hard to feel sorry for guys that have a $575,000 minimum wage but I kinda do. The average career of an MLB player is 5.6 years, billionaires go on until they die then their kids get the money...

 

[Peyton00]

Tick... tock.....

.....at least agree to a pitch clock.

The new fan base they need to survive doesn't want to watch a 2+ minute at bat. Stay on the mound and stay in the batter's box.

 

[cedarslug]

Well, today is the make it or break it day for MLB. With the players making less for each of the past 4 years it is clear that the billionaires are winning, beating down the hapless millionaire players. This isn't going to end well for the players. I wonder what advice should be given to a player that has a minimum wage of $575,000 a year but probably makes at least a couple of million. I am probably not a good example but at this point if I was a player that had accrued several million dollars before the age of 30 I think I would book reservations to Cancun, Belize or Christmas Island for the month of March and when I got home start looking for a job that would sustain me for the next 50 years. A few thousand ultra rich individuals and family's control over 71% of the wealth in this country leaving the other 330 million of us to divvy up the remaining 29%. It is a no win situation for the bulk of us as the rich buy the politicians and lawyers to keep us in place. A baseball player with his high initial salary has the luxury and probably name recognition to do a thorough job search and in all likely hood nab a pretty damned good job. Not baseball money perhaps but enough to sustain him as a member of the 29%.

Hard to feel sorry for guys that have a $575,000 minimum wage but I kinda do. The average career of an MLB player is 5.6 years, billionaires go on until they die then their kids get the money...

Yeah, I'm with you. The grind that it takes to get out of minors is awful. The owners and league should be paying the minors leaguers a livable and sustainable wage.