Owners discussing banning shift as part of new rules for next season

[RollyInRaleigh]

BTW...this is my first post on Redszone in many years. I was one of the members from the “Early Days” of the Forum.


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[NeilHamburger]

If they ban the shift Schebler's got his mouth-guard on ready for his big return.

[Coopdaddy67]

I'm against it in theory, but understand why it's being considered. You're potentially looking at the elimination of a lot of left-handed hitters from professional baseball over the long run.

Left-handed hitters are at such a disadvantage and that will continue to be exploited further with every passing season as more data comes in, pitching schemes are adjusted, etc.

[kaldaniels]

I'm against it in theory, but understand why it's being considered. You're potentially looking at the elimination of a lot of left-handed hitters from professional baseball over the long run.

Left-handed hitters are at such a disadvantage and that will continue to be exploited further with every passing season as more data comes in, pitching schemes are adjusted, etc.

I mean if a guy is a natural lefty I suppose I feel bad but if he learned to hit lefty to game the system I don't know what to tell him.

[Roy Tucker]

Frankly, I don’t like the game as much now with these shifts. The game has gotten boring with power pitching and power hitting only. And when hitters get a good barrel on the ball, it’s to the shortstop playing right field. I don’t mind analytics, but it’s taken the game away from its soul.

Sure, tell the batters to go the other way but that’s going to take years. They raised and lowered the mound, they banned the spitter, the strike zone has exapanded and shrunken and moved around. Why not ban the shift?

[RedTeamGo!]

Yes yes yes

[Kc61]

Glad to see this is being considered. I’ve always favored a ban of or limitation on the shift.

The shift operates unfairly against LHH. It causes batters to overemphasize the long ball. And it gives pitchers, already routinely throwing 95 and above, an unnecessary advantage.

For the fan, it’s a much better game to watch without the shift, with more line drives hits and multi-hit rallies. Also more great infield plays when fielders aren’t bunched together.

[mth123]

Reds should pick up a guy like Cesar Hernandez on the cheap. When this rule goes into effect, a whole bunch of guys who are considered second baseman these days will no longer be viable there. The price will probably go up fro guys like Hernandez and kolten Wong.

[757690]

For the record, I agree that the shift is a problem that should be addressed. However, I think banning it is an overly simple solution that likely will have negative unforeseen consequences. It's the typical Manfred response.

[Kc61]

Reds should pick up a guy like Cesar Hernandez on the cheap. When this rule goes into effect, a whole bunch of guys who are considered second baseman these days will no longer be viable there. The price will probably go up fro guys like Hernandez and kolten Wong.

Yes, Reds still have plenty of roster room despite today’s additions of Edgar Garcia and Deivi Grullon. I believe they’re at 34.

[WrongVerb]

So what would a rule like this be like? Maybe this:

"No more than two infielders may be on either side of a line drawn through the pitcher's mound and second base."

[Kc61]

So what would a rule like this be like? Maybe this:

"No more than two infielders may be on either side of a line drawn through the pitcher's mound and second base."

When the pitch leaves the pitcher’s hand.

[KronoRed]

Then as soon as the pitch leaves you have the 2 guys on the left side running to get into position on the right.

Should be a hoot to enforce.

[Coopdaddy67]

Then as soon as the pitch leaves you have the 2 guys on the left side running to get into position on the right.

Should be a hoot to enforce.

Unless they're Superman, they aren't moving at all.

[757690]

Unless they're Superman, they aren't moving at all.

We see something similar all the time. The SS or 2B stays close to the bag to keep a runner on second close, then sprints to a different position as soon as the pitcher starts to pitch. Granted, they don’t go as far as a shift, but if a SS is right at the line, they can move pretty far across it when the pitcher pitches.

Though maybe this still achieves what the rule wants, in that extreme shifts would stop.