# MLB Regular Season March/April 2023 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [March 27, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730 "2023-03-27T19:51:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/181 "2023-04-17T17:57:14Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > because some batters aren’t skilled enough to adjust to a defense that is overplaying a part of the field, they made a rule to make their lives easier? That’s usually how it’s described, but it’s not accurate. Yes, there are the Joey Gallos of the world that pull the ball 50% of the time. But banning the shift gives an incentive to teams to rely less on launch angle, allowing the slap hitters of old a spot in the lineup. And once they’re on base, they’ve further incentivized base stealing by shrinking the basepaths and limiting the pitcher’s ability to pick you off. The shift ban also creates a need for even more defensively-elite middle infielders. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/182 "2023-04-17T19:19:59Z")
Yes, elite fielding SS like Francisco Lindor really get to shine even more now, and they love it. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/183 "2023-04-17T19:32:44Z")
That’s a good analogy and kinda how I felt. What seems to have happened is that hitters responded to the shift not by trying to hit around it, but by trying to hit over it; i.e. going for a home run every at bat. Which did increase the number of HR’s but also increased the number of strikeouts, which are boring. So maybe if banning the shift results in more balls put in play and more action around the infield it will be worthwhile. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/184 "2023-04-17T19:58:33Z")
Weather takes a more seasonable turn and we’re back to the early season rain/snow outs. Still this season hasn’t been bad with the weather so far and that’s good news for the players as they don’t get stuck with those lengthy stretches of no days off in the peak of the season ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/185 "2023-04-18T22:12:40Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I don’t think throws to first were ever a problem. In a typical game you might see each side do it maybe three times? Another case of solving a problem that didn’t make a lot of difference. Hasn’t this increased the running game? More stolen base attempts? > [@Jasmine](#): > > So, basically, because some batters aren’t skilled enough to adjust to a defense that is overplaying a part of the field, they made a rule to make their lives easier? It could be that no batters could adjust to this with pitching being so good nowadays. Now, I tend to think teams would’ve eventually drafted and trained players to hit 'em where they ain’t. But maybe pitching is so good that this is essentially impossible. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/186 "2023-04-18T22:55:45Z")
I suppose that fewer throws to first help the baserunners but on the other hand, the runner knows that he’s going to see the best move on the first throw. Like the instant intentional walks, it’s a solution in search of a problem. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/187 "2023-04-18T23:13:10Z")
I thought the problem was games taking too long. Both of those things shave time off of the game. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/188 "2023-04-18T23:13:38Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > it’s a solution in search of a problem. It’s been mentioned several times already - it’s to increase stolen base attempts. The “problem” has been “swinging for the fences every single at bat is really boring”. The “solution” is “GMs have min/maxed stolen base attempts for only the elite to attempt them - let’s make them easier to make the game more entertaining and to diversify rosters”. It’s working. Really well. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/189 "2023-04-19T04:34:30Z")
ATTN MLBTV: We do not need an [entire week devoted to Shohei Ohtani vs Aaron Judge](https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1648394017703596032?s=20). That is all. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/190 "2023-04-19T05:01:10Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > - I don’t mind the DH in the American League. I don’t care about the American League much, so what they do is largely irrelevant to me. > - Forgot about the ghost runner. Yeah, Manfred needs to be punished for this farce. I’m thinking about maybe tying him to a pole on the pitchers mound at the All-Star game and letting the pre-game show be every player, coach and batboy/ballgirl getting a chance to fungo a shot at his un-cup-protected balls. > - I like inter-league play. It gives me a chance to boo teams I hate in person rather than just on TV. we need a dodger game dope fest lol that and it means something when the Dodgers beat on the Angels a few times a year and shows Othani the talent he can win with when he moves down the freeway in the next year or two and no self-respecting national league fan wants the dh … The problem is a lot of what baseball trying to fix is the crap they let happen because of trying to repair the damage from the strikes and lockouts and not stopping Sosa, Bonds, and McGwire (with real drug testing)from turning it into a non-stop home run derby but they didn’t and there’s a whole generation or two of fans that think if there’ arent 20 HRs a game well its boring hence the bitching about the clock and shift rules Now the “ghostman” on base rule needs to be only used for that 3rd grade kickball game at recess … ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/191 "2023-04-19T05:07:35Z")
and having looked at the stats … wow things actually look really competitive this year … Arizona can’t keep that record up tho and the Braves and rays are doing something this year … i wonder what the books give on the odds of that series being a possibility … ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/192 "2023-04-19T11:13:45Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > The “problem” has been “swinging for the fences every single at bat is really boring”. Personally, I agree with you. The skilled nuances of the game have been sacrificed because of it; the hit-and-run, stealing, bunting to advance runners or get a hit, etc. However, does the evidence support that? Home run hitters get the glamor and the big contracts that accompany it. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/193 "2023-04-19T13:03:59Z")
You’re absolutely right. We need Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge _together._ Teammates. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/194 "2023-04-19T13:33:57Z")
Yeah, but not on the Yankees, for Christ’s sake. Let ‘em play for Detroit or something. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/195 "2023-04-19T15:39:15Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > However, does the evidence support that? Support what, that selling out for home runs wins more games than “get ‘em on, get ‘em over, get ‘em in”? Yes - that’s why everyone has been doing it. The statistics to back it up are complex, not everyone agrees on the exact measurements, but most everyone\* agrees on the balance. - “everyone” being the analysts, statisticians, front offices, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/196 "2023-04-19T16:17:49Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Support what, that selling out for home runs wins more games than “get ‘em on, get ‘em over, get ‘em in”? Um … no. LOL My statement was in response to the statement, which I quoted, that home runs were really “boring” and that fans wanted fewer home runs. I responded that, personally, I agree with HIM, but asked if the evidence supported HIS assertion. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/197 "2023-04-19T16:26:35Z")
Personally, I’d say that home runs, themselves, are definitely _not_ boring, but they are not common, either. Last season, on average, an MLB team hit 1.07 home runs in a game, so the typical game features two home runs, one per team. The issue is that, with the focus on hitting fly balls (in hopes of a home run), and the concurrent decline in small-ball tactics (hitting for singles, base stealing, hit and runs, bunting, etc.), the home run became one of the only sources of “excitement” during a game, which is otherwise largely station-to-station hitting and baserunning. Two moments of high excitement in a three-hour game isn’t much. I have no doubt that the sabermetrics supported all of those changes in offensive strategy, in the same way that they also supported frequent pitching changes, not letting starting pitchers go late into games, etc. Managers and front-office staff are using the tools at their disposal to maximize their chances of winning, but up through last season, at least, it also led to a product which featured long stretches of not much happening, **even by the standards of a game which has always considered not being fast-paced to be a feature, not a bug**. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/198 "2023-04-19T20:22:14Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > My statement was in response to the statement, which I quoted, that home runs were really “boring” and that fans wanted fewer home runs. Well, it was my statement you responded to, and I still wasn’t sure. I wouldn’t say that people specifically think that HRs are boring, or that they want less. But they have complained about a lack of action, and pace of play. I think ultimately people want a product that relies less on the Three True Outcomes. That would include less HRs, but proportionally it would just mean a lot less strikeouts. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/199 "2023-04-19T20:31:29Z")
Right. It’s not that home runs are boring; it’s that when hitters try for home runs all the time, they end up striking out a lot, and that’s boring. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-regular-season-march-april-2023/981730/200 "2023-04-19T22:47:13Z")
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