I'm torn between shouting at clouds and embracing some much-needed change if baseball is to remain relevant. I do like the idea of automatic balls and strikes, it seems to go complement the pitch clock and batter's box rules. But the change I am most excited about is ending the shift. While genius, it is what I blame for the game becoming a monotonous series of strikeouts punctuated by the occasional homer. Small ball is much more exciting than people remember and I think it'll return this year. Good piece!
Fans will cheer when their star player hits a home run, and jeer when their top reliever gives up the winning hit.
That’s exactly what they signed up for — to be the guys in those high-leverage situations.
But any umpire will tell you they’re happiest when nobody notices them, and I’d wager that they’re happiest when the right calls are made — whether by themselves or by a robot.
I'm torn between shouting at clouds and embracing some much-needed change if baseball is to remain relevant. I do like the idea of automatic balls and strikes, it seems to go complement the pitch clock and batter's box rules. But the change I am most excited about is ending the shift. While genius, it is what I blame for the game becoming a monotonous series of strikeouts punctuated by the occasional homer. Small ball is much more exciting than people remember and I think it'll return this year. Good piece!
Fans will cheer when their star player hits a home run, and jeer when their top reliever gives up the winning hit.
That’s exactly what they signed up for — to be the guys in those high-leverage situations.
But any umpire will tell you they’re happiest when nobody notices them, and I’d wager that they’re happiest when the right calls are made — whether by themselves or by a robot.
I think fairer application of the rules forces the athletes to be better.
Great piece!