ESPN broadcast is weird with the ump cam and then talking to a SS during the middle of the game is stupid
Just read a Drellich article with Manfred quotes basically saying we're never getting robot umps. Best we're going to do is a challenge system where teams get to challenge 3-4 pitches per game. That's disappointing.
Manfred's reasoning is basically that the player feedback in the minors is the technology calls the strike zone too literally compared to human umps, and also that the PA doesn't want to go strictly with technology because that might take jobs from catchers who are good at framing pitches. The former seems like it could be tweaked if they really wanted. The latter seems like it goes against the point of a process centered around actually wanting strikes and balls to be called more accurately. That's like the NBA saying they can't ban flopping because some players are really good at doing it to draw bogus fouls. Like, no shit, that's why you want to ban it in the first place.
It’s also stupid because it doesn’t cost any jobs, it just redistributes them from Jeff Mathis to Evan Gattis. It probably prolongs careers, and gives those jobs to people who produce more readily measured and accepted statistics which can also be monetized.
Do you think the pitch clock will have a prolonging of catchers careers? Has anyone seen an estimate on the hours it will save their knees each year?
Especially when they've gone to great lengths talking about the increase in stolen base attempts with the bigger bases/rules changes, and that changes the importance for defensive catchers already. And one would think the skill set of framing catchers generally crosses over well with guys who throw well.
I’ve never played catcher so what do I know but I’m thinking they’re not necessarily overlapping - positioning vs arm strength and mechanics - but obviously Yadi comes to mind as being elite at both. I do think catchers might set up entirely differently without being responsible for balls and strikes, and obviously everything about throwing a baserunner out is objectively measurable.
I'm basing it on the baseless theory that catchers who can't hit generally have to be good at most/all aspects of defense to play.
If we’re not gonna do an automated K zone. At least use the graded on the umps for something. They should have to meet a certain threshold to call games behind the plate. Not just rotate in for the sake of it. Seems like a decent compromise to me
That's two entirely different skills. Think range and arm for an OF. There's lot of guys with one and not the other.
I was a catcher. It’s hard for me to fathom how some of these guys are so bad at framing. They all have been reading the ball out of the pitchers hand for their entire lives. You’d think at some point they’d get moved out the position if they can’t receive the ball.
I know I’m an idiot but Seager hit .056 into the shift last year and it never occurred to him to try to hit opposite field?
He's gonna be posting +6-WAR seasons for the next decade or so with good health and a moderate jump in his BB%
Do you think is possible to elect to hit it the other way against today’s pitching? If that’s your approach do you think that it will be more valuable than hitting it over them?
1. I’m an idiot 2. I’m not talking about aiming hits I’m just saying adjust your approach so you aren’t trying to dead pull everything
Given that degrom lasted like 3 innings and they were down big early, pretty amazing the rangers ended up taking every game in that series
Tomorrow is when the sports talk radio/tv shows make their bones by declaring a team dead 3 games into a 162 game season. Arguably as bad as politicians who know they're lying and will defend their lies to their death.
There were many singles in the games I watched that would've been outs last year. Wouldn't be shocked to see the risky outfield shift get used more going forward.
My brain is having to be retrained bc there's been several balls off the bat that I just assumed were outs and now they aren't. I love all of the changes so far. The game is more fun to watch.