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Thread: Are the Reds too "shiftable"?

  1. #1
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    Are the Reds too "shiftable"?

    By now we all know this team is suffering from an all time low BABIP. One of the key causes of that could be that teams have done a good job of figuring out exactly where to play our hitters on defense. Do we have too many hitters who can't beat the shift and are too shiftable? Is there a stat that I'm unaware of that can tell someone how often a player is shifted and how often they beat it?

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    Winning the Human Race TheBigLebowski's Avatar
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    Re: Are the Reds too "shiftable"?

    Although I fully suspect the universal adoption of the shift has led to lower BABIP across the board, you do raise a good point, and it’s something that needs to be considered heavily regarding roster construction going forward (assuming no new rules harnessing it come into effect). I do think the Reds are very susceptible to the shift.
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    Reds (09-11-2020)

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    Re: Are the Reds too "shiftable"?

    Quote Originally Posted by Reds View Post
    By now we all know this team is suffering from an all time low BABIP. One of the key causes of that could be that teams have done a good job of figuring out exactly where to play our hitters on defense. Do we have too many hitters who can't beat the shift and are too shiftable? Is there a stat that I'm unaware of that can tell someone how often a player is shifted and how often they beat it?
    Reds are third in the NL in plate appearances hitting into “all shifts” (Fangraphs). Reds have 80 more PAs hitting into shift than Cubs who are 8th in NL. Cubs have played one more game than Reds.

    Reds have league low BABIP against “all shifts,” .239, although the DBacks and Dodgers are at .252 and .256, respectively, also low. Reds bad but not such an outlier.

    But - perhaps more telling - Reds have 198 PAs hitting into a “no shift” scenario. This is by far the lowest number in NL. Next is Cards but much fewer games. Then comes Phils with 288 PAs. Giants have a whopping 505 PAs against a no-shift scenario.

    Reds BABIP in “no shift” is an outlier, is very low, .227, well below other teams. But opponents are not allowing Reds to mount sufficient PAs to overcome this - seldom playing Reds with a no-shift defense.
    Last edited by Kc61; 09-10-2020 at 08:19 AM.

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    he/him *BaseClogger*'s Avatar
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    Re: Are the Reds too "shiftable"?

    Who are the Reds players who do not face a shift when they come to bat?

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    Re: Are the Reds too "shiftable"?

    Why not practice hitting away from the shift in batting practice??? Or is that not part of computer data to do that???

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    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Are the Reds too "shiftable"?

    Quote Originally Posted by Redsfan6272 View Post
    Why not practice hitting away from the shift in batting practice??? Or is that not part of computer data to do that???
    From the first day a guy steps onto the professional baseball field after the draft they have entire rounds of batting practice where the only thing they do is hit the ball the other way. Every day. For their entire career.

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    Re: Are the Reds too "shiftable"?

    Winker hits the ball to all fields. I look for him to start to get hot soon. Reds showed better patience last night at the plate. Maybe this offense is about to take off if Winker, Castellanos, Moustakas, Votto, Suarez, get rolling. Hopefully Senzel is about ready to get back.

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    Re: Are the Reds too "shiftable"?

    Quote Originally Posted by dougdirt View Post
    From the first day a guy steps onto the professional baseball field after the draft they have entire rounds of batting practice where the only thing they do is hit the ball the other way. Every day. For their entire career.
    Hell, that starts before high school.

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    Re: Are the Reds too "shiftable"?

    Quote Originally Posted by *BaseClogger* View Post
    Who are the Reds players who do not face a shift when they come to bat?
    Good question. The Reds have only two hitters who have “no shift” PAs numbering over 15 this year. They are Shogo with 40 and Senzel with 24 despite being out most of the season.

    It would be wise for the Reds to add one or two “all fields” type hitters for next year, as well as to emphasize RHH more since shift hurts them less. Reds seem easy to defend, teams are comfortable routinely shifting against almost all their hitters.

    BTW Shogo hitting .350 against the no-shift defenses.
    Last edited by Kc61; 09-10-2020 at 02:13 PM.

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    Re: Are the Reds too "shiftable"?

    Quote Originally Posted by Reds View Post
    By now we all know this team is suffering from an all time low BABIP. One of the key causes of that could be that teams have done a good job of figuring out exactly where to play our hitters on defense. Do we have too many hitters who can't beat the shift and are too shiftable? Is there a stat that I'm unaware of that can tell someone how often a player is shifted and how often they beat it?
    No, we just have too many guys who can't simply put the bat on the ball. Sometimes good things happen when you can hit that little ball. How many called third strikes have there been on our guys this year?


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