It's not just the Giants

[msgkings322]

Just heard on morning radio that Jayson Stark wrote in his monthly review column that the whole league is only batting .235, and in April there were 6900 strikeouts and 5800 hits, by far the biggest disparity in history.

The pitchers today are just light years ahead of where they used to be, with throwing 95 mph being no big deal and tons of relievers used. Not to mention everyone has 4-7 different types of pitches they can throw.

This is why they are considering rules changes again to help the hitters like they did in 1968. Babe Ruth never faced pitching like this.

So our amazing pitching and anemic hitting is sort of part of the trend. Still nice to see the pitching of course, we are still among the best in baseball so far.

 

[LHG]

Just heard on morning radio that Jayson Stark wrote in his monthly review column that the whole league is only batting .235, and in April there were 6900 strikeouts and 5800 hits, by far the biggest disparity in history.

The pitchers today are just light years ahead of where they used to be, with throwing 95 mph being no big deal and tons of relievers used. Not to mention everyone has 4-7 different types of pitches they can throw.

This is why they are considering rules changes again to help the hitters like they did in 1968. Babe Ruth never faced pitching like this.

So our amazing pitching and anemic hitting is sort of part of the trend. Still nice to see the pitching of course, we are still among the best in baseball so far.

Didn't MLB change the composition of the baseball again this year?

 

[msgkings322]

Didn't MLB change the composition of the baseball again this year?

I wouldn't even know where to start looking for that

 

[Carnzo]

I wouldn't even know where to start looking for that

Yes they did.

MLB to alter baseballs for '21 season

Major League Baseball will alter the baseball slightly in 2021, though changes to the ball will be subtle. According to the Associated Press, a memo sent to all 30 clubs last week cited an independent lab that found the new balls will fly one to two feet shorter on balls

www.mlb.com

 

[msgkings322]

Yes they did.

MLB to alter baseballs for '21 season

Major League Baseball will alter the baseball slightly in 2021, though changes to the ball will be subtle. According to the Associated Press, a memo sent to all 30 clubs last week cited an independent lab that found the new balls will fly one to two feet shorter on balls

www.mlb.com

Is that why the league is hitting .235 though?

 

[Carnzo]

Is that why the league is hitting .235 though?

I think so but I never made it out of Little League.

 

[msgkings322]

I think so but I never made it out of Little League.

Shoulda tried being a pitcher!

 

[LHG]

Is that why the league is hitting .235 though?

The baseball supposedly was changed prior to the 2019 season and home runs were hit quite a bit more often as a result, although MLB denied that they altered the baseball.

MLB study says balls weren't intentionally juiced in 2019; home run spike credited to seams, launch angles

More home runs were hit in 2019 than any season in MLB history

www.cbssports.com

New Ball Has Made 2019 A Season Unlike Any Other — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America

Explaining just what the new baseball in Triple-A this year has wrought.

www.baseballamerica.com

2019 Was the Year We Learned the Baseball Was Lying to Us

The juiced and dejuiced balls may have exposed a flaw in the stories we tell ourselves about the game

www.theringer.com

Yes, the baseball is different — again. An astrophysicist examines this year’s baseballs and breaks down the changes

Any one of these changes would cause the ball to fly farther; together, they have made the current home run surge inevitable.

theathletic.com

 

[tzill]

Is that why the league is hitting .235 though?

No. The league is hitting .235 for several reasons:

1. Obsession with launch angle -- more HRs, more fly balls, more Ks. Less singles and doubles
2. The shift -- the few ground balls that are hit are turning into mostly outs RIP ground ball single
3. Pitcher training/mechanics -- more velocity, spin rate, movement. More specialization.

It's never been harder to hit than it is now.

I'm starting to think that banning the shift might be wise.

 

[msgkings322]

No. The league is hitting .235 for several reasons:

1. Obsession with launch angle -- more HRs, more fly balls, more Ks. Less singles and doubles
2. The shift -- the few ground balls that are hit are turning into mostly outs RIP ground ball single
3. Pitcher training/mechanics -- more velocity, spin rate, movement. More specialization.

It's never been harder to hit than it is now.

I'm starting to think that banning the shift might be wise.

Certainly a better and less disruptive idea than moving the mound back...

 

[Carnzo]

I think you guys are right, the shift may be the easiest way to improve the game for the fans.

 

[LHG]

No. The league is hitting .235 for several reasons:

1. Obsession with launch angle -- more HRs, more fly balls, more Ks. Less singles and doubles
2. The shift -- the few ground balls that are hit are turning into mostly outs RIP ground ball single
3. Pitcher training/mechanics -- more velocity, spin rate, movement. More specialization.

It's never been harder to hit than it is now.

I'm starting to think that banning the shift might be wise.

Good points but point number 1 still possibly plays into the composition change of the baseball. I haven't seen any reports on how the ball flies, but its possible that last year's home runs on the old ball could result into a long, deep fly out with the new ball.
And to point 3, how has that improved so rapidly in just one year? It may play a part, but I think the biggest reason is the ball.