What do you want - The Shift

[Bourgeois Zee]

When can they bleed over? When the pitcher starts the motion? When the pitcher releases the ball? When the batter swings? What's the line to determine if a player is on the correct side of the bag? Is it the front foot? The back foot? Half the body? How long will it take to review if that player is in the correct position? Is it only for the infield? Can the outfield creep up and play on that side of the bag? If an infielder plays in the grass, can they play on either side? What if the a team decides to play four outfielders officially?

Where does it end? Isn't it easier to just let them play where they want and make the other team adjust at the plate?

They can only move to the other side of the infield after the ball is thrown.

That doesn't seem that hard.

[Danny Serafini]

When can they bleed over? When the pitcher starts the motion? When the pitcher releases the ball? When the batter swings? What's the line to determine if a player is on the correct side of the bag? Is it the front foot? The back foot? Half the body? How long will it take to review if that player is in the correct position? Is it only for the infield? Can the outfield creep up and play on that side of the bag? If an infielder plays in the grass, can they play on either side? What if the a team decides to play four outfielders officially?

Where does it end? Isn't it easier to just let them play where they want and make the other team adjust at the plate?

You're making this more difficult than it needs to be. Two infielders and one outfielder must have their entire bodies to the left of the 2nd base bag until the bat makes contact with the ball. It's not that hard.

[Danny Serafini]

So of course we come up with two different answers . But it really doesn't matter which you pick, either way it's easy to enforce.

[RedsBrick]

Agree to disagree. It's just more unneeded governance, imo. Make players hit the ball where they ain't. That doesn't seem too difficult an ask, either.

[MoneyInTheBank]

Agree to disagree. It's just more unneeded governance, imo. Make players hit the ball where they ain't. That doesn't seem too difficult an ask, either.

We already tell pitchers, hitters, catchers and baserunners where they have to be and fielders have to be in fair territory, this tweak just doesn't seem that oppressive to me. Make the fielders field at their position

[Bourgeois Zee]

So of course we come up with two different answers . But it really doesn't matter which you pick, either way it's easy to enforce.

Right. (On both counts.)

Once the rule is on the books, it becomes a piece of cake to enforce.

Teams aren't going to be in favor of having their players sprint to a new spot as the ball is being hit. That would limit their range to literally one side of their body. (A 2B moving backwards while the pitcher is warming up couldn't go left or right very well either.)

[getfoul]

I’m for defensive rules that increase diversity of types of offensive hitters. It’s time to acknowledge the smart people that have ruined the game over the last decade and adjust back to we can actually enjoy watching baseball that isn’t just our own logo that we like.

[HUHUH]

We already tell pitchers, hitters, catchers and baserunners where they have to be and fielders have to be in fair territory, this tweak just doesn't seem that oppressive to me. Make the fielders field at their position

Then you'll have to carefully define the other seven positions that aren't currently in the rulebook.

[mth123]

My take on this is that if you are smart enough to know where a guy is going to hit the ball, you should be able to play a guy there to make the play. If a guy hits a ground ball to 2B 70% of the time, should we tell the second baseman he needs to play somewhere else to make it fair?

[CaiGuy]

You're making this more difficult than it needs to be. Two infielders and one outfielder must have their entire bodies to the left of the 2nd base bag until the bat makes contact with the ball. It's not that hard.

Yep, and even if it's not strictly enforced (ie the umpire watches to make sure he doesn't cross the line with his arm or something before contact), the fact that they would have to start the play somewhat compliment would prevent the really extreme shifts, which is the only point.

[CaiGuy]

My take on this is that if you are smart enough to know where a guy is going to hit the ball, you should be able to play a guy there to make the play. If a guy hits a ground ball to 2B 70% of the time, should we tell the second baseman he needs to play somewhere else to make it fair?

To me, it's less about making it "fair" as it is making it a little more fun. Less Russell Branyan and more Lious Castillo (the infielder).

[Big Klu]

To me, it's less about making it "fair" as it is making it a little more fun. Less Russell Branyan and more Lious Castillo (the infielder).

Wasn't Luis Castillo (2B) a criminal?

Maybe you could pick a better example.

[MoneyInTheBank]

Then you'll have to carefully define the other seven positions that aren't currently in the rulebook.

Perfect

[MoneyInTheBank]

My take on this is that if you are smart enough to know where a guy is going to hit the ball, you should be able to play a guy there to make the play. If a guy hits a ground ball to 2B 70% of the time, should we tell the second baseman he needs to play somewhere else to make it fair?

No offense but your scenario is a pretty big straw man. The idea is to get rid of these ridiculous shifts on left handed batters that can only be performed on left handed batters.

[CaiGuy]

Wasn't Luis Castillo (2B) a criminal?

Maybe you could pick a better example.

No idea, but insert any speedy guy who could get on base via a contact-driven approach.