Who's not on first now

[JohnU]

NYT article discusses the trend toward shifting defenses and ... as Mark Teixiera said,

"you do it because it works."


Last year there were 8,134 shifts on balls in play. Through the weekend, teams had already shifted 3,213 times, putting them on pace for nearly 14,000 for the season. Teams that shift regularly are lowering opposing teams’ batting averages by 30 to 40 points on grounders and low line drives.


OR WHY BATTING AVERAGES ARE IN THE SINKHOLE.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Seems to be the case for Reds' hitters. Early in the season the opponent seemed to benefit from the Reds' shift, not always hitting it hard but managing to "hit'em where they aint" cliche.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Metrics...they're not just for insurance actuarials and math teachers anymore.

Wow...PED's DID equate to more hits, homers and spouses black eyes.

You gotta score to win, and that's getting harder. Next best thing to scoring is not giving up any runs until you do score. Everyone is looking for an edge. Tracy Jones says if you aren't cheating, you aren't trying. Not just stealing signs or tipping pitches, or crowding the plate or framing a pitch, or even PED's...good old pine tar, sandpaper, Vaseline, cork are staples...technology helps- they shoot a lot of video...its not just for replay, you know.

 

[JohnU]

Seems to be the case for Reds' hitters. Early in the season the opponent seemed to benefit from the Reds' shift, not always hitting it hard but managing to "hit'em where they aint" cliche.

Matt Adams appeared to benefit by dinking a few to left field.
Not sure but what that didn't achieve its goal. Dinks to left field are not the same as rockets into the Moon Deck.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Ill take 3 dinks to left (or bunt singles) in 10 AB's, over 1 mashed over the shift, 3 k's trying and missing, and 6 outs to the shift.

The problem is, hitters think they're Ted Williams, and they're hoping to always get a mistake to mash over the shift. Teddy didnt have to get a mistake, and as the HR derby shows, lotsa guys couldn't hit .250 on homers if they were tossed by their dad, shift or no shift.

You know what is the best buster of the shift ? The bases juiced. The Reds need to try that more often, if they are too cool to bunt or close up for oppage.

 

[JohnU]

What occurs to me is that hitting coaches at the top level are clueless about how to teach people to hit against the shift -- the very tool the guy next to them in the dugout is plotting with every hitter.
When the Padres finally realize that Votto can't hit to left field, they super-shift on him -- and he strikes out three times in a row without much of a loud foul to call his own.
The rest of the Reds lineup will get itself out, so no need to shift there, except for Pena and Barnhart.