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Corey Kluber throws a no-hitter against Texas Rangers (Original Post) Drum May 2021 OP
Hate the Yanks, But you have to love the effort. nt OAITW r.2.0 May 2021 #1
Hahaha! MontanaMama May 2021 #2
Man, oh man True Dough May 2021 #3
Gee, can't have that -- no scoring is boring! I know ... Auggie May 2021 #4
It doesn't help with the changes they made to the actual baseballs this season True Dough May 2021 #5
Maybe the ball is part of it Auggie May 2021 #7
I would like to see a return to "small ball" True Dough May 2021 #8
I don't want to limit shifts ... Auggie May 2021 #9
Meanwhile, S.F. just scored 9 runs against Cincinnati in the 3rd inning ... Auggie May 2021 #10
Buster Posey True Dough May 2021 #11
Yep Auggie May 2021 #12
I'll defer to the great Clayton Kershaw on this topic, seeing as he's a pitcher himself True Dough May 2021 #6

Auggie

(31,798 posts)
4. Gee, can't have that -- no scoring is boring! I know ...
Thu May 20, 2021, 09:45 AM
May 2021

let's increase the distance between the mound and home plate, ban defensive shifts, move the fences in 50 feet, and increase the number of strikes to five!

We'll call it, ManfredBall!

True Dough

(20,243 posts)
5. It doesn't help with the changes they made to the actual baseballs this season
Thu May 20, 2021, 11:18 AM
May 2021

That's taken away quite a few homeruns.

Overall batting averages are at a historic low. Runs scored are waaaaay down.

Just since you created this thread, we can add Spencer Turnbull of the god-awful Tigers as yet another no-hitter pitcher this season.

It's hardly special anymore.

Auggie

(31,798 posts)
7. Maybe the ball is part of it
Thu May 20, 2021, 12:03 PM
May 2021

But there's so much emphasis on the long ball that it's possible there's too much over-swinging and bad at-bats.

Why are the San Francisco Giants hitting so many home runs this year? That hasn't happened in a while. Something else is up.

I'll admit the shift is likely responsible for taking away a lot hits. But batters can aim for where the defense isn't playing. Yeah, I know its difficult. But its not impossible.



True Dough

(20,243 posts)
8. I would like to see a return to "small ball"
Thu May 20, 2021, 12:10 PM
May 2021

"Launch angle" is definitely all the rage. The players are focused on the wrong metrics.

And, yes, I'd like to see some limits on defensive shifts too.

While the game generally isn't exciting this season, Shohei Ohtani is a blast to watch, whenever I get a chance to see him on the tube.

Auggie

(31,798 posts)
9. I don't want to limit shifts ...
Thu May 20, 2021, 12:43 PM
May 2021

they're just part of an evolution of the game. And they can be defeated with help from ... small ball.

Yeah, you think all those metrics and analytics are screwing with these guys heads? I think it's possible.

BTW, one more thing I hear (from Cleveland) about batting: the cold weather in April and half of May is brutal on their hitters. Maybe we see a change as we enter into June ...

Auggie

(31,798 posts)
10. Meanwhile, S.F. just scored 9 runs against Cincinnati in the 3rd inning ...
Thu May 20, 2021, 12:56 PM
May 2021

two home runs contributed.

"Baseball's weird" -- Buster Posey

True Dough

(20,243 posts)
6. I'll defer to the great Clayton Kershaw on this topic, seeing as he's a pitcher himself
Thu May 20, 2021, 11:20 AM
May 2021

"Well, its not good. I'll tell you that. I think whatever the intention was with the new ball or whatever it may be, it really hasn't done anything. There might be less home runs, which I guess they want, but I don't know the slats on all that. But I do know that strikeouts are the same. I think I saw some stats for April that it was the worst hitting month in the history of something. No-hitters are cool. I have all the respect in the world for Corey Kluber and Bum and all those guys that have thrown no-hitters. But to have one happen every night, it seems like it's probably not good for the game. Fans want to see some hits, I get that and some action, and not many people striking out. I appreciate the attempt that MLB has tried to do but I think it seems like they missed the mark so far. We'll see. I don't know."

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/clayton-kershaw-is-no-fan-of-mlb-no-hitter-surge-says-league-missed-the-mark-with-new-deadened-baseball/

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