OT RIP Baseball - You deserve ZERO fans

[Scoe]

Analytics have ruined baseball, this is why the Yankees fired Girardi and hired Boone who is a puppet. Girardi used analytics but wasn’t glued to them. Yankees evaluate guys by WAR and FIB they don’t use the eye test. Mariano Rivera today would probably be in the minors due to analytics.

 

[superjohn]

Did Kershaw complain? I haven't seen but if he did my opinion might change

Doubt there's any video because he pulled him when he was in the dugout. Kershaw said it was the right decision but that's what everyone expects Kershaw to say, he's a nice guy and wouldn't put his manager in a tough spot.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I'll add this. I am no where near being able to see a MLB game but I do have option of AA baseball nearby.
But, what I am really enjoying is local HS baseball. I go to 2-3 games a week and it's fun. Would much rather do that than watch MLB.

Put me in the category of the following:
1. Any extra inning rule which puts runners on base or juices the count when a batter steps in is dumb.
2. I hate the shift but it's up to the batter to learn how to bunt or take an inside pitch to the opposite field.
3. I don't know how I feel about the minimum number of batters pitcher per pitcher. I can probably be convinced either way. My initial thought is, it is another dumb solution in search of a problem.
4. want to speed up the game during at bats? Batter gets one chance to step out of batter's box per at bat. Pitcher can only step off mound once per at bat.

 

[alphasigko]

Kershaw pulled from a Perfect game today

7 IP, 80 pitches


Final straw for me. All I have left now is College hoops and Hockey. And college hoops is changing rapidly

I was done after the Players Strike in 1995. A bunch of greedy Owners and Players who had ZERO thoughts of giving the fans a break.

 

[Deadrody]

To follow up, no pitcher in all of MLB has thrown more than 7 innings in a start. Only 3 other pitchers in baseball have even done that.

For all intents and purposes, that was a complete game

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Baseball is boring and unwritten rules are the dumbest thing I know. Used to love it as a kid but I can't watch for more than 20 minutes now.

 

[superjohn]

I was already depressed about baseball ever since I read this nytimes article a few days ago:

(I agree with a ton of it, but I dont agree with the gov't stepping in, lol)

It's depressing. And then when the current game treated a potential perfect game with disdain today, I flipped.

Opinion | Baseball Is Dying. The Government Should Take It Over.

"Attendance at games has declined steadily since 2008 and viewership figures are almost hilariously bleak. An ordinary national prime-time M.L.B. broadcast, such as ESPN’s 'Sunday Night Baseball,' attracts some 1.5 million pairs of eyes each week, which is to say, roughly the number that are likely to be watching a heavily censored version of 'Goodfellas' on a basic cable movie channel in the same time slot".

"Even the World Series attracts smaller audiences than the average 'Thursday Night Football' broadcast, the dregs of the National Football League’s weekly schedule. In 1975, the World Series had an average of 36 million viewers per game; in 2021, it barely attracted 12 million per game"

"the game is increasingly irrelevant. The average age of a person watching a baseball game on television is 57, and one shudders to think what the comparable figure is for radio broadcasts. Typical American 10-year-olds are as likely to recognize Jorge Soler, who was named the most valuable player of last year’s World Series, as they are their local congressional representative"

"In some parts of the country, participation in Little League has decreased by nearly 50 percent in the past decade and a half."



Baseball was an obsession for me as a kid. It's just sad.

I still like going to games but that's because I like sitting in the sun drinking beer and people watching. The game isn't interesting at all. And it's getting harder to justify going to many games with the ticket prices.

 

[ihatepants]

Nothing wrong with limiting his pitch count because he missed two months last year due to elbow soreness and missed the postseason due to the same issue. He also didn't get fully stretched out during spring.

That said, he should have been allowed to go batter to batter instead of just not letting him start the 8th.

Edit: also Kershaw was consulted about it and was all smiles in the dugout in the 7th.

 

[cohenzone]

Consistent with all the questioning of Hurley decisions, nobody here has a clue why Roberts pulled the guy. But I agree that analytics are way over done not to mention over shifts and batters unwillingness or inability to hit away from the shift.

 

[CTBasketball]

In a word where fast results and lack of commitment exist, baseball is a tough sell to kids.

It’s probably the hardest sport to play really well and excel at. It requires a ton of concentration and ability - most kids fail once and quit.

 

[methodology]

I at least have some hope (after chatting with a few minor league coaches) that MLB is at least considering getting rid of the shift in the future

That will at least get that part of the game back to somewhat normalcy

The extra inning runner is dumb.

Miss watching hitter like Tony Gwynn, ichiro, Sean Casey, Frank Thomas, Jeter use the whole field to hit

 

[Waquoit]

I still like going to games on a nice day. The Yard Goats are fine by me.

 

[Rich]

Kershaw missed most of last season with an elbow injury. Added to his persistent back troubles this was an EXTREMELY prudent course of action, in the name of the remainder of the season. He's 34 years old with over 2200 innings in his arm. This isn't 2017 anymore.

The Dodgers cannot afford to lose another starting pitcher, after Bauer (yuck) and Scherzer departed.

 

[EnochRoot]

Consistent with all the questioning of Hurley decisions, nobody here has a clue why Roberts pulled the guy. But I agree that analytics are way over done not to mention over shifts and batters unwillingness or inability to hit away from the shift.

The problem with analytics (and the shift is a freakin perfect implementation / case study of this) is that they go searching for problems without any regard for the ramifications of their solutions.

I mean, yeah, put an extra guy in shallow RF between the second baseman and the first baseman. Because in the aggregate, people choose to pay high ticket prices to watch that well-positioned SS gun Bryce Harper down at first than they do Harper hit a line drive that might turn into extra bases.

I'll echo what a few here have already said: baseball used to be my absolute passion. The three true outcomes sport the game has devolved into is just a sad state of affairs. To the folks who say the money is still there? Nonsense. It'd be here in spades if the game were more interesting to watch.

 

[Scoe]

I hate the shift but not for banning it, not against any strategy, move fielders any where you want to on the field, its on the hitter to adjust. I wish there was more base stealing.

 

[Scoe]

If it wasnt for any baseball you streamers I wouldnt watch any games. Good Yankee content is Jomboy and NYY News.

 

[cohenzone]

The problem with analytics (and the shift is a freakin perfect implementation / case study of this) is that they go searching for problems without any regard for the ramifications of their solutions.

I mean, yeah, put an extra guy in shallow RF between the second baseman and the first baseman. Because in the aggregate, people choose to pay high ticket prices to watch that well-positioned SS gun Bryce Harper down at first than they do Harper hit a line drive that might turn into extra bases.

I'll echo what a few here have already said: baseball used to be my absolute passion. The three true outcomes sport the game has devolved into is just a sad state of affairs. To the folks who say the money is still there? Nonsense. It'd be here in spades if the game were more interesting to watch.

I think the minors, not sure if at all levels, are requiring two infielders on either side of second base and not in the outfield. Not sure if it’s meant to
be a transition to a similar rule in the majors. Most people like to see runs scored. The shift, coupled with the advent of 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th inning relief specialists who all throw 98 plus and pretty much limit big comebacks. have taken the fun out of the game. The rule requiring relievers to face at least 3 batters is an attempt to improve scoring chances. Even then, a reliever can come in to get a last out of an inning without having to come out and face 2 more batters. I saw one no hitter in person decades ago and the reality is they are pretty boring until at least the 7th inning unless the other team is having a decent day, which they weren’t at the game I went to. I’m not against pitching duels, but within limits. Having seen The Mick hit several HR in person (I’m old) nothing like it and also saw the hardest HR live I’ve ever seen by Conseco for As vs NY hit the facing of the upper left field deck in old Yankee Stadium where upper deck left field was pretty much unreachable. I think it got out in 2 seconds.

 

[methodology]

I hate the shift but not for banning it, not against any strategy, move fielders any where you want to on the field, its on the hitter to adjust. I wish there was more base stealing.

Unless you are stealing at 70%+ you are not creating a net positive and are giving away outs which is the most important thing in baseball

Analytics are a big part of that. Not sure how to combat that because it’s all about the base runner getting the pitchers timing down

 

[methodology]

I think the minors, not sure if at all levels, are requiring two infielders on either side of second base and not in the outfield. Not sure if it’s meant to
be a transition to a similar rule in the majors. Most people like to see runs scored. The shift, coupled with the advent of 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th inning relief specialists who all throw 98 plus and pretty much limit big comebacks. have taken the fun out of the game. The rule requiring relievers to face at least 3 batters is an attempt to improve scoring chances. Even then, a reliever can come in to get a last out of an inning without having to come out and face 2 more batters. I saw one no hitter in person decades ago and the reality is they are pretty boring until at least the 7th inning unless the other team is having a decent day, which they weren’t at the game I went to. I’m not against pitching duels, but within limits. Having seen The Mick hit several HR in person (I’m old) nothing like it and also saw the hardest HR live I’ve ever seen by Conseco for As vs NY hit the facing of the upper left field deck in old Yankee Stadium where upper deck left field was pretty much unreachable. I think it got out in 2 seconds.

They typically experiment with rule changes in the minors before bringing to the majors

 

[Fishy]

I still like going to games but that's because I like sitting in the sun drinking beer and people watching. The game isn't interesting at all. And it's getting harder to justify going to many games with the ticket prices.

I think your experience is not unique. I know a lot of people who go to games when free corporate seats come their way, but never on their own dime. (Personally, I haven’t paid for an MLB ticket in a bazillion years. I do buy HV Renegards tix though. That’s a great night out.)

And yet revenues keep increasing.

Otherwise I agree.

It increases until it doesn’t.

At some point, the decrease in attendance and the decrease in ratings will bring a reckoning. Nothing is permanent.

 

[Connecticut13]

This.

He‘s done it four or five times already.

Except this wasn’t a stupid decision. It was a smart one, albeit not a popular one. It’s April, it’s cold and there was a short spring training. He’s looking long-term rather one game.

I remember Johan Santana never being the same after being stretched out to get a no hitter. And I know that was a ton more pitches - but a Dodgers fan should appreciate Roberts being safe here. The short spring training as a result of the lockout, combined with Kershaws recent injury history, made this the right move.

 

[navery12]

Unless you are stealing at 70%+ you are not creating a net positive and are giving away outs which is the most important thing in baseball

Analytics are a big part of that. Not sure how to combat that because it’s all about the base runner getting the pitchers timing down

I'm not sure how effective it would be, but limiting pickoff attempts could help. I know they tested it in the minors but not sure if the results actually showed that it does

 

[YellowMamba]

 

[ColchVEGAS]

I think the minors, not sure if at all levels, are requiring two infielders on either side of second base and not in the outfield. Not sure if it’s meant to
be a transition to a similar rule in the majors. Most people like to see runs scored. The shift, coupled with the advent of 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th inning relief specialists who all throw 98 plus and pretty much limit big comebacks. have taken the fun out of the game. The rule requiring relievers to face at least 3 batters is an attempt to improve scoring chances. Even then, a reliever can come in to get a last out of an inning without having to come out and face 2 more batters. I saw one no hitter in person decades ago and the reality is they are pretty boring until at least the 7th inning unless the other team is having a decent day, which they weren’t at the game I went to. I’m not against pitching duels, but within limits. Having seen The Mick hit several HR in person (I’m old) nothing like it and also saw the hardest HR live I’ve ever seen by Conseco for As vs NY hit the facing of the upper left field deck in old Yankee Stadium where upper deck left field was pretty much unreachable. I think it got out in 2 seconds.

They are testing this change in the minors. I heard during the Braves broadcast the other day that they are hearing the change to the shift rule in the majors will be that all the infielders need to have their feet in the dirt. No more short right/left on shifts. You can move infielders to either side of 2nd but they will not be allowed to be on the outfield grass. I guess it is a step in the right direction. While I hate the shift I think the bigger issue is the way hitting is taught now. Nobody cares if you strike out anymore because an out is an out. When I was playing it was all about putting the ball in play. Make the defense make a play. Very rarely, if ever, will you see somebody reach base on a K with an error. Put the ball in play anything can happen. Alec Bohm just made three errors in the first few innings the other day on what would typically be routine outs.

 

[ColchVEGAS]

As for Kershaw, you hate to see it happen especially to somebody HOF bound like Kershaw, but it was the right call given his recent history and the shortened Spring Training. The Dodgers have a long road ahead of them and how terrible would it have been if he aggravated an injury this early that could sideline him for the year and possibly career.