Most Overused Strategy In Baseball

[Loneranger]

On the optimistic side, the shift can force a hitter to confront their weaknesses, or else. But yeah, for a few guys, the shift is going to pretty much thrash their batting averages.

I don't know of a guy who has addressed this as a weakness he has to work on. Instead it's treated more as a goal or reward. It still amazes me. IMO this really boils down to plain stupidity on the part of the hitter(s).

 

[Loneranger]

Detroit just shifted against Jaso to start the game. I think 6 of his 10 hits coming in were to the opposite field.

He promptly goes the other way for a double.

God Bless America!

 

[thedddd]

Detroit just shifted against Jaso to start the game. I think 6 of his 10 hits coming in were to the opposite field.

He promptly goes the other way for a double.

I was going to bring that up. Basically if a hitter doesn't like the shift, make the team pay for keeping part of the field open.

 

[Villain]

The shift only takes away singles.

 

[JohnU]

It's a whole lot easier to tell a hitter to go oppage against the shift than it is to actually accomplish it. Sure, he can dribble a bunt that way but depending on the situation, all that does is make the defense wiggle a little. Pitchers aren't actually throwing pitches that are easy to bunt for guys who don't bunt much.
If your tendency is to pull the ball, it's how you hit because it's how you see the ball and how your batting approach works. It seems so easy to just poke one over there but ... the pitchers are throwing ... hard pitches that have spinny and windy stuff on it.
A few hits a week will result in bunting against a shift.