“Well Done, Baseball!!” - Rich Eisen Reacts to MLB Banning the Shift in 2023 | The Rich Eisen Show

[@thelordofhellaz]

The shift was only successful because modern batters can't bunt or hit to the opposite field anymore. They're just big hunks of muscle that either strike out or hit a home run.

[@ryanquinn1257]

Man prime Ichiro vs a shift

[@hubertsumlin9697]

@@ryanquinn1257 that would've been glorious

[@norman9291]

You could have added two infielders for Tony Gwynn or Rod Carew and they still would've found a hole to put it through

[@chaserogers2999]

@@norman9291 True but Gwynn and Carew are extremely special players. The precision of spray charts, hitters graphical weak spots and 100Mph 7th inning guys has drastically changed in favor of the low scores. I am fine with them giving some back to hitters. Also if we are being completely fair imagine defenses parking a guy in Gwynn’s favorite hole to hit. Sure he could have adjusted but who knows how difficult it would have been. They had very tractional style defensive structures in the 1980’s.

[@raremage]

@@ryanquinn1257 Prime? He could still hit .345 against it today.

[@kevinwilson9317]

Thank God MLB found a way to speed up the time between ever-increasing commercial breaks.

[@andyshepard4309]

Yes, ban commercials. Next, we should grt all baseball players a pony and ice cream as well, right?

[@vinceinman7832]

Ban the DH if they want to speed up the game.

[@jamesedgar3442]

@@vinceinman7832 What is so speedy about watching a dufus pitcher try to lay down a bunt?

[@sethh5106]

baseball has actually decreased commercials, both in shortening the amount of time between innings and in reducing the number of possible pitching changes

[@joeespin4377]

@@sethh5106 they could even do better by having during t6he mid inning change have the announcers read commercial ad copy for 4 ads and institute a half time in which there would be 11 30 second ads and 1 45 sec. ad followed by a game(s) recap etc.

[@acbower4468]

Imagine making 25 million a year and you cant hit oppo.

[@vinceedwards575]

yep

[@KillenEMsoftly]

imagine dealing with 100 mph splitters

[@davidfox9947]

But for the most part only the guys who can hit or pitch well are getting the big money now days.

[@nufcedkidyup8627]

It starts in college.

[@avacadomangobanana2588]

That’s literally the majority of MLB batters otherwise this wouldn’t even be a conversation.

[@seannetworkblogsandgames7504]

I don't hate the shift - gives us a reason to survey the whole field live - but this is a move to make TV more engaging so I get it. Having been to multiple Aviators games in Vegas, I can tell you the pitch clock is a godsend. Keeps things brisk and cuts out filler

[@blackhawk8920]

yes I like the pitch clock and the other thing get rid of most tv commercials please.

[@60zeller]

Eliminating the shift is not making any huge change. Scoring is up from 20 years ago. It’s all about going for the home runs, strike outs be damned.

[@rl5579]

It sure is exciting to watch a guy go for a 30 second jog, do a little dance and point to the sky

[@aronziegler1814]

The worst part of baseball is umpires screwing up balls and strikes. They can fix this problem right now, but they refuse.

[@blackhawk8920]

Hitters I think would love it and most pitchers would dislike it expect the ace pitchers.

[@rl5579]

I get a kick out of how they justify the replays by saying 'we want to make sure we get the call right'. Then use it for the strike zone? 'Well, it's not that important'

[@dougfir3345]

No.....the worst thing about baseball is the fact that small market teams are just farm systems for the Yankees and Dodgers.

[@Gnofg]

The biggest problem in baseball is no one hits for average. Putting power hitters in the leadoff position shows how advanced analytics destroyed baseball. Joey gallo is the poster boy for the fallacy of OPS.

[@joshuaevans6065]

Baseball isn’t a hitting contest it’s a scoring contest

[@bertchiu9265]

I’m a Mariners fan and BEFORE Ichiro was the lead off hitter who batted .350+ … now our lead off hitter is Julio Rodriguez batting .275 with a high OPS

[@georgesouthwick7000]

Exit velocity and launch angle don’t mean much if you can’t hit the ball. Exit velocity and launch angle are fake stats invented by agents in order to get more money for their clients who have average or below average ability.

[@mattbattey4515]

That’s the point though. The shift basically ruined the vast majority of players ability to hit for average because with analytics all the normal holes in the defense are gone. Instead of driving the ball they went to uppercut swings in fields that got smaller and smaller. I agree with Rich, this very well could be the single best thing to happen to baseball. I can’t wait. Hopefully this brings back stolen bases, hit and run, and everything else that made baseball fun to watch.

[@hotbobbysauce950]

@@mattbattey4515 The shift doesn’t prevent anyone from hitting for average. Any player who hits for average can beat the shift by sending a base hit down the opposite side of the plate. The shift just lowers the average of power hitters who can only pull the ball to their side of the plate; that is to say, batters who don’t try to hit for average in the first place. In fact, the shift actually challenges these batters to hit for average by laying down a bunt to beat the shift instead of swinging for the fences. Banning the shift will increase the batting average of those power hitters who pull the ball in one direction. But that isn’t the same as batting for average. In fact, it has the opposite effect: making power hitters even more viable than contact hitters.

[@WellnessWizdom]

What's next, banning curve balls to batters who can't hit curves?

[@blackhawk8920]

or any non fast ball pitch.

[@rl5579]

"I can't hit a ball high and away. Make the strike zone smaller"

[@huegrizzy676]

What an idiotic comment

[@spencbeats4694]

@Chris Davis I’m just now getting into baseball, and I’m so confused. I keep seeing people say “the hitters should just hit it where the opposing players aren’t?” Doesn’t that combat the shift effectively? Why did the mlb feel the need to ban it

[@joeydoherty368]

@@spencbeats4694 It’s just to make the game more exciting. I’m personally against it, because the rule is purely manufacturing action as opposed to it coming naturally. Same with limited throw overs to first. Other than the pitch clock, I think these new rules are stupid. If baseball is fun, you don’t need to change it. If baseball sucks, rules limiting players potential and strategy won’t make it better.

[@johna1160]

"Strike out, pop out, foul out." My 2022 S.F. Giants in a nutshell.

[@cato256]

It’s been dreadful to watch

[@blackhawk8920]

@@cato256 most years of being a 40 something mariners fan.

[@BullseyeBob1]

Want to increase viewership? After each out, the team does a volleyball shift. Except for pitcher and catcher, all players rotate to a new position after each batter.

[@blackhawk8920]

would anybody really care about that in a positive way.

[@kjhoskins]

How many recently retired pull-hitters are screaming, "Now you ban it???"

[@rivernorthhomes]

So they are going to ban the shift (hit the ball where the players arent) but implement a pitch clock and do nothing about garbage umpires.. If you want action packed, watch hockey. Baseball has never been exciting to watch. Football still has the dumbest overtime rule in all of sports

[@kqatsi]

Baseball is and always has been a leisure sport, and it's better that way.

[@davidfox9947]

All three sports you are very different and people love them for different reasons besides most Football games do not end in overtime anyway , I love Hockey but not a fan of the shootout but it is just for regular season games and causal fans seem to like it so no big deal.

[@blackhawk8920]

cricket now that is a leisure team sport.

[@phillyphan1994]

Yeah it’s not about length of game as much as it is pace of play. My pet peeve is the pitcher that takes 30 seconds to throw one pitch. Glad that’ll be gone.

[@woodside4life]

Exactly! I was hoping Rich would say that. Pace of play is what he was describing.

[@Vic-Vega]

The pace of play sucks in the NFL, too, and you never see anyone complain. Hypocrites, all of ya!!

[@paulyC]

True, but is it the batter or the pitcher that takes longer to get ready? Most batters will step out of the box, readjust their gloves and pads, even if they didn't swing the bat.

[@blackhawk8920]

@@Vic-Vega plenty of people complain about the speed/length/pace of football games.

[@Vic-Vega]

@@blackhawk8920 Who? Where??

[@BigJoshEdwards]

MLB should also consider limiting pitching changes too. Barring injury, pitchers should face a minimum of 3 hitters per inning.

[@demonkingbadger6689]

They already required to face 3 batters

[@ryanpappenfuss]

Are we gonna tell basketball teams they can no longer full court press? No more 1-3-1 zone? No more 2 high safeties in football? This is absolutely ridiculous. If you don’t like the shift then as a PROFESSIONAL baseball player, 1. Learn to hit the other way 2. Drop down a bunt for an easy infield single.

[@gabew7480]

Banning the shift is like telling football teams they can’t blitz. Taking away a huge defensive strategy is only detrimental to the game.

[@noelv1976]

Nah. It’s nothing like that. This is more like removing the holding beyond 5 yards

[@bmla88]

That’s a bad analogy when football had rules for “illegal formations”.

[@joebarr725]

When defenses change in football, coaches and players adjust. Baseball players have been given a few years to adjust. For whatever reason, they have refused to do it.

[@MoMoMyPup10]

@@noelv1976 Not really. His analogy is a pre-snap rule and yours is a post snap rule. It'd be more like banning the zone defense, like basketball did.

[@joshlewis575]

The defense dictates the game tho in baseball. The pitcher decides where the ball is thrown

[@christophergibbons2067]

Rich you mentioned the real problem in your banning the shift rant . Strikeout , strikeout, maybe a walk. How putting the ball in play instead of swinging for the fences every time. If I watched a 3 1/2 hour game with ball being put in play. With the runners being put in motion. Instead of watching nothing but swing missing. Both games scored the same 8 runs. First game is enjoyable, 2nd game is torture. That is my analytical analysis of the problem.😎

[@joshuaevans6065]

I agree completely. In no way was baseball meant to be played where the third baseman is in right field.

[@STR33TJESSUS]

Facts

[@seanm3226]

Nine defenders. Stick ‘em anywhere you want them. Batters need to stop swinging for the fences, and learn how to hit it where they ain’t.

[@bradbennett923]

The problem is baseball is a business. Players get paid to hit HR not bat for average. I agree that the batters should learn to hit them where the fielders aren’t. But HR is what sells tickets and pays the bills so guys are gonna swing for the fences every at bat.

[@edlawn5481]

@@bradbennett923 "Chicks dig the long ball."

[@eventwice1981]

If you think that banning shifts will stop players from striking out 200 times, you're crazy.

[@danielrasmussen2167]

By my estimate, there were about 12 outs in Rich's hypothetical inning.

[@SmoothAce420]

Also he said the inning lasted 10 minutes 😂 that's an at bat

[@ShaolinIsland]

Fine with the pitch clock but the shift rule is absolutely bogus. It’s called strategy and you’re penalizing teams who know how to use it.

[@byronservies4043]

The only games that are free to air in my area are the world series games. Haven't watched a game in years and I don't see that changing.

[@rkid727]

Same for hockey and basketball. Only football airs their games for free.

[@byronservies4043]

@@rkid727 Yup. My OTA antenna gets 4-5 NFL games per week. Premiere League 1-2. Sometimes FOX airs MLB, but not always.

[@173jaSon371]

Every game is free to watch, as long as you know which websites to go to

[@jamesedgar3442]

I LOVE the pitch clock. I'm not as anti-shift as a lot of people. Yes, today's game is boring, but baseball in the '90s, when every game was a 10-9 game, wasn't all that great either.

[@kevinrehak7373]

The pitch clock will only complicate things and will reduce an insignificant amount of time from the game

[@josereyes1148]

I think it reduces like 30 min...

[@mikec3949]

Every game wasn't 10-9

[@ObiWanKenobi]

@@kevinrehak7373 it reduced games significantly in the minors

[@blackhawk8920]

steroids was a part of the increased runs.

[@Crusader7077]

I can't wait to see how the batters for the New York Yankees react next year to the implementations with the pitch clock. Over the years, the Yankees have been notorious for taking their sweet time in and out of the batter's box in-between pitches.

[@dme1016]

You're obviously a Yankee hater, bcuz there's no reason to believe what you're yapping about.

[@nikolatesla5553]

I liked football more before the 5 yard chuck rule. I have no idea about eliminating the shift in baseball. My problem with both games is it costs too much to attend.

[@lukelloyd8976]

So, what will be blamed now for games "not being the way they used to be, back in my day"? The weather?

[@stevejohnson6248]

I'm in my 40's and grew up a huge baseball fan, I have not watched a full game start to finish in over 10 years but might actually start watching again next year with these changes.

[@dme1016]

We did just fine without you. Didn't even notice that you weren't watching....

[@stevejohnson6248]

@@dme1016 We? So you own a team? I didn't think so. Because baseball has sure as hell noticed declining ratings and attendance.

[@decoyaardvark2828]

@@stevejohnson6248 Welcome back to good ole baseball!

[@brians7727]

Hey Rich, I've heard that pressuring the qb makes it more difficult to throw for 400 yards and 5 td's...I guess we should ban defensive linemen and linebackers.

[@blackhawk8920]

no ban blitzing schemes.

[@robocles]

I disagree... if they could hit like they could in prior eras, the hitter could, you know, hit to the open field. But they won't... the long ball is all they care about. So keep with the strikeout/hr only guys and watch the game continue to devolve.

[@blackhawk8920]

As a Mariners fan I with they had done that for every ichiro suzuki game.

[@bobqzzi]

Don't like banning the shift, but the clock is great

[@jeremygilby1455]

I'm not a fan of baseball, but I'm also not a fan of crippling a defense. (Baseball is already crippled as it is a sport where the defense cannot score) But boohoo the offense finds the game too hard; change the rules!

[@danstraley1126]

I work in Minor League Baseball.. the clock works great. I wish they didn't have to ban the shift but the fact is the hitters are taught to pull, hit with launch angle swing for the fences.. and power hitters make the cash. The hitters have no incentive to learn to hit then the shift ban is the only way.

[@blackhawk8920]

if homeruns are better then learning to hit singles in a shift keep it. It lead to quicker out and quicker games which is what these people seem to want anyways.

[@chet174able]

Everything moves so fast in life. Why can't we just enjoy our time

[@tombystander]

So because a hitter can't hit to a certain area of the field that's the defenses fault for being aware of it? Don't agree with this one.

[@joshuaevans6065]

Baseball was never intended to be played with a third baseman in right field. The defense has nothing to do with it. The analytics team is the one that tells them where to stand. That never used to be the case back in the day. And don’t you think batting averages would be a lot higher than .300 for really great players if they could just aim where they wanted to hit the ball?

[@kqatsi]

@@joshuaevans6065 Whether a player hits an outside pitch the other way is primarily a matter of hitting technique, not aim.

[@joebarr725]

@megatunnage1 I'm sure you realize that Ted Williams was not your typical hitter.

[@toddkawana7171]

Rich are you going to eventually cover your arm with paracord bracelets? Robo umps next, PLEASE.

[@teg24601]

The shift is a valid tactic and has been used for time immemorial. The problem is that hitters are not taught to hit the ball any other way than pulling. That was what was so dangerous about many of the 90s hitters, some, like Edgar Martinez, could hit the ball anywhere.

[@icy6129]

I like the changes we don’t need to see 2 minutes between every pitch

[@Matthew456E]

That is natural part of the game

[@Yeomannn]

​@@Matthew456E No it isn't. The game was never like that for years. It was 2.5 hours in the 1980's and ballooned up to 4 hours thirty years later. Bloated, boring, and unwatchable.

[@Matthew456E]

@@Yeomannn there could been other ways to speed up the game without the use of a clock. There should be no clock in baseball.

[@Yeomannn]

@@Matthew456E I agree.

[@patrickt6642]

I'm tired of everybody swinging for fences.rose,carew,and gwynn are the players I liked to watch back in the day

[@mramisuzuki6962]

Well they also played in giant astroturf stadiums with guys throwing 87mph.

[@chiniechinchen]

they move the third baseman away and the hitter still doesnt bunt down the third base side

[@ToMaToEsGrOw]

It's all about homeruns brother. Bunch of ego maniacs.

[@GeoffStJohn-kx4fo]

I know I'm a dinosaur but when I played in Little league we were taught to hit in the hole where ever it was. Now we have major leaguers that can't hit outside the shift??? The problem is the batter, not the outfielder. Why don't you shame the "Pro" batter who can't choke up or move bat placement to hit it somewhere else... I do like the time constraints. Maybe we won't see batters incessantly adjusting their batting gloves that evidently don't fit or all the weird habits of pitchers.

[@RyTrapp0]

Hey, ya think it could be because professional pitchers are just a lil bit more difficult to hit off of? Jus sayin...

[@ryanbeckett1175]

@@RyTrapp0 it's only certain hitters that they play the shift against, because there are many other batters that are capable at the professional level to get a base hit if a huge gap is left open. Your argument is flawed. Banning the shift is the first example of participation trophy mentality entering professional sports.

[@RyTrapp0]

@@ryanbeckett1175 You literally compared it to batting in little league - get real with that comparison

[@marksheridan9228]

Hello from the UK Don’t know too much about baseball but god I love a Rich Rant

[@andrews7522]

Season has started now and rich was so right. First time I’ve enjoyed watching the mlb in well over a decade

[@crislee4057]

what's next: soccer rules defining how the defense has to be set up (2 defenders only for more goals?!?!). The more you change the game btw the less you can compare records and all-time achievements, keep this in mind plz.

[@robertott9925]

13-9 minor League game, 2 hours 49 minutes. pitch clock is real...

[@oliverbrauning1586]

I read this headline in Kelsey Grammar's voice

[@timothykozlowski2945]

It's called playing defense and there's nothing wrong with it.

[@mistaTVD3199]

Honestly it even prevents fielders from showing of their "defensive" ability. The metrics know where guys are going to hit and fielder's barely have to move and it prevents great fielder's from showing off their talents or lack their of for some guys. I don't think any fan wants to see the team with the best spreadsheet of defensive metrics win the game.

[@portela237]

I understand his arguments, but why can't these guys just hit to left field? It would be a triple or inside the park hr every time against the shift.

[@camdenkeefer1310]

@megatunnage1 oh yeah? How come you can't make money doing it? Asking for a friend?

[@dustinwells4127]

@megatunnage1 "not that hard to beat the shift" is such an asinine statement. It's very hard at the professional level, not like hitting off a tee smh

[@AzureRaven2]

Cause pitchers are throwing harder and with more movement than ever despite the mound staying in the same place. The fact is, even at the professional level...it's extremely difficult to do with any amount of consistency, so it's been more competitively viable to keep training to launch the ball out of the stadium rather than hit it opposite field.

[@laythefoundation2083]

If that's your argument when it's harder to hit a baseball than it is to catch one. Why can't the SS or 2B just have better range going forward?

[@LCSClips22]

If you’re saying it’s easy to just hit it a certain direction, then you’re not very bright as a baseball fan.

[@tomsampson8084]

The shift has made a mockery of the game - especially in this era of encouraging home runs over base hits. Everyone has been saying "why don't players just hit to the area vacated due to the shift"? It is because that generally only nets a single. I am a longtime fan of the game. Back when I was growing up in the '60's the average game was 2 -2.5 hours. I saw many games go under 2 hours. There was plenty of action. The analytics have ruined the game.

[@blackhawk8920]

no commercials.

[@Yeomannn]

Starting pitchers went for 7 innings. It was a better product.

[@KevyB1990]

Well done, baseball...you're paying players more than ever and they need to ban a defensive strategy to help out hitters that can't go the other way.

[@christophermckinney3924]

Great hitters aren't affected by the shift. They hit where the players aren't standing. I dont' know why we are catering to the inability of hitters to hit it where they aren't.

[@mikenew9263]

This is not going to save mlb. “You stand here so I can hit it over there” maybe we can try “ you’re throwing to fast slow it down please” It sucks. Sorry but I am out.

[@MotleySchuh]

Adjusting your defense in a position to prevent the other team from scoring…….. oh the horror!

[@laythefoundation2083]

Every other sport has some rules preventing you from positioning someone wherever you felt like. NFL offsides or offensive illegal formation NBA 3 second rule in the paint Etc etc, it helps those sports (which are funny enough more popular) be more exciting

[@4realjacob637]

@@laythefoundation2083 shifting punishes power hitters and gives Opportunity to contact titters who can hit the ball with some control.

[@Vic-Vega]

@@laythefoundation2083Shows zero sports awareness with that asinine comment. 🙄

[@275Vet-RLTW]

So exactly how far can a baseman move from the base and in what direction and what kind of sunglases should he be allowed to wear and how many innings should the pitcher have to pitch and and and. Let the managers play the players where they want and if nobody is defending the third base line hit there... Or hit into tue shift! Stupid rule!

[@tracyisbest]

Maybe this is a dumb question but what's the penalty if the time clock isn't honored by the pitcher? He's late so it's an automatic ball, the batter takes 1st, what is it?

[@SpecsJigglypuff]

Automatic ball

[@SpecsJigglypuff]

And automatic strike if its the batter who isnt ready

[@rwmorey71]

Banning the shift is stupid! Make guys learn to hit the other way!!!

[@Dizzle0919]

People say oh hit the ball where the opening is...but fail to acknowledge the pitchers are pitching to the scouting report...You think they're going to throw pitches where you can hit it the other way.

[@mbdg6810]

Hitters need to practice the skill. This rule is basically is catering to the hitters that are amateurs at one skill. I understand outfield shifts being banned but infield shifts can be practiced being beaten.

[@richardprescott5939]

Half the pitchers in the league can't throw strikes consistently, never mind pitch where they want too. But to indulge you, If I pitch a pull hitter low and to the outer half of the plate, he is going to pull it weakly into the shift. If he had the brains to poke it the other way, the shift would stop.

[@ToMaToEsGrOw]

That's kinda the point. 🤣

[@BrutusJrThe3rd]

Baseball is so unique in the fact that it’s almost impossible to really change. Basketball, football, etc, things can be added and/or taken away but we live with it. Baseball is too delicate. The pitch clock was a joke to me from the start. DH in both leagues is like arcade mode. Always loved how NL teams strategies differed from the AL because they had a pitcher batting, double switches, etc. Now no shifts? It’s a defensive strategy. I get they have to cater to attention spans, but at what expense of the purity of the game?

[@mikestager9509]

So in your opinion baseball should go extinct like the dinosaurs or dodo? Adapt or die, if these new rules become an abject failure then go back to the old ways, no harm no foul.

[@chrisolivo6591]

Baseball has changed the rules since the beginning of time. You realize they played with a dead ball til 1920? Then some guy named Ruth came along hitting Homeruns and they realized fans loved it, so the whole game literally changed in the 1920’s. Then in 1968, scoring was at an all-time low as Bob Gibson had a 1.12 era. Baseball could feel NFL right behind them so they lowered the mound in 1969 to increase scoring. It’s time for the game to get rid of the nonsense like the shift so it can be entertaining again. Every sport changes to keep entertaining, Baseball is the only sport that gets crap for it.

[@RyTrapp0]

You're completely missing it... no one said that "baseball" is or needs to change - the MLB is what needs to/will be changing. When the NFL changes their rules - like every damn season - it doesn't impact "all of football". It doesn't impact anything but the NFL. The NCAA doesn't blindly adopt NFL rules, grade school football doesn't blindly adopt NFL rules. These are 2 completely different segments of the sport, frankly there's the professional level - aka the for-profit consumer entertainment side of the sport where the best of the best go - and then there's everything else. 'Purity' is killing the MLB(and the decline of the MLB is hurting baseball...) - if you want purity, go to a college game. The mass general public is watching professional sports for the entertainment, not for the 'purity'. We have a pretty clear relationship with, say the growth of the NFL as they've evolved their rules for entertainment purposes vs the relationship between the MLB not changing a meaningful thing and declining over years and years and years. Evolve or die, there's no other way to put it

[@mikestager9509]

@@RyTrapp0 thank you, I misspoke when I generalized "baseball" I meant Major League Baseball.

[@BrutusJrThe3rd]

Lol okay

[@ki11atj49]

That's literally like banding double teams in basketball or banding a certain defensive style in football. It's ridiculous if you cannot hit to a different side of the field You deserve to be out

[@thedarkemissary]

Bro. There's plenty of banned strategies in football. It's literally called an "illegal formation" penalty.

[@joshuaevans6065]

It’d be like banning offensive lineman from playing receiver. Sure there’s a ways to do it but it’s not a regular thing. Third baseman should be near third base. Wanna play right field then be a right fielder.

[@ki11atj49]

@@thedarkemissary that isn't a banned strategy if it was always against the rules

[@The_Real_Kal-El]

@@ki11atj49 because someone banned it early and made it a rule to not allow for such formation.

[@RyTrapp0]

@@ki11atj49 ...which rules? Do you understand how different modern day football actually is from early era football? Baseball might as well be a carbon copy over the duration of football's existence, compared to how different football is. It's almost unrecognizable.

[@jstew4075]

I don't like baseball anymore but no shifts? What a joke, is the NFL gonna ban blitzes? You're literally banning a defensive element to the game because a batter is so bad he doesn't know how to push the ball to opposite field rather than pull it .

[@tonyc8752]

Football in both NFL and NCAA have bent over backwards banning defensive setups and plays and changing rules to create more offense

[@97NikeSb]

Guys hit the ball up the middle dead center and it’s snagged by the SS or 2B. Or when they hit a gapper in the outfield and it’s an easy lineout. Also pitchers are hitting their spots to have guys pull and hit into the shift.

[@3D50N90]

banning the shift annoys me, learn to hit the other way....as a coach i should be able to put my players where ever i want.

[@jofi4580]

Baseball is boring. This rule change won't fix that.

[@hayfielddraw4364]

You're boring. Being a troll won't change that.

[@pianoman9421]

So if NFL teams ultimately completely abandon the run and every defense starts running a new scheme called "the penny"--where they abandon linebackers and flood the secondary with 8 defensive backs in a deep zone--are we going to outlaw that? If you're a professional athlete, you should be able to adjust to tactics! As a former college hitter I really don't understand how people can't learn to direct their hitting. It's a challenge, but these are incredibly talented players--coach people to beat the shift and teams will back off once weak grounders go through massive gaps in the infield.

[@carlingram8316]

If they can adjust to the shift, why do you think they haven't? You make good points, but these are also the best pitchers in the world throwing ridiculous speeds with crazy movement.

[@Buckincrazy]

There is such a MASSIVE difference between college and the pros that this comment is just down right silly 😂

[@josereyes1148]

I think major league pitching is harder to hit.. just guessing..

[@josereyes1148]

Exactly

[@jeffs4483]

They need to do way more. Increase the pitcher's mound distance by 5 feet, aluminum bats, reduce game to 7 innings, if you hit 4 fouls at bat, you're out, allow celebrations, allow marketing of players, pitch clock, ditch the Umps for tech, no more stepping out of the batters box to waste time, salary caps, more team parity, reduce season games below 100. Speed it up, it's too boring already. Evolve.

[@NewEarthSon]

I agree with everything you said to an extent. You forgot one more thing though ... Cheerleaders!

[@xaviercopeland2789]

Nah, I agree with most except the reduce innings and the bats.

[@jeffs4483]

@@xaviercopeland2789 Well, increasing the pitchers mound distance will allow more hits, so longer innings. 9 innings would take too long.

[@jeffs4483]

@@xaviercopeland2789 Corked bats might be a great idea, instead of aluminum.

[@NewEarthSon]

@@jeffs4483 that's what I was thinking.Aluminum bats might actually kill some one. To much power. I disagree with salary cap. A league needs historic teams like the yankees and Money Ball braniacs that try to combat them.

[@ryanbeckett1175]

Rich is 100% wrong. Professional batters all are given the same amount of field to hit a fair ball. Changing rules to account for 1 dimensional hitters to achieve undeserving results it's just wrong and weak, catering to the inept. Participation trophy mentality enters Professional sports. Absolutely pathetic.

[@andyshepard4309]

Nice use of buzz words. I almost had BINGO there for a sec

[@jseiter1]

Next we need to widen the court and raise the basket.

[@codycomer4623]

If they really want to make baseball nationally relevant then get some balance in the league. It’s hard to care about 30 teams when 20 of them are just trying to field the cheapest roster possible and then collect the profits from the other 10. Why should I care about those 20 teams if their own owners don’t?

[@user-nz1lh1jk7c]

If the problem with baseball are strikeouts then perhaps they should get better hitters?

[@gheller2261]

You couldn't be more wrong about the shift. How about hitters learning how to hit to the opposite field or just learning how to make contact instead of striking out every third or fourth at bat.

[@ToMaToEsGrOw]

They want more money in their contracts for that.

[@timoegan]

Now, just cut the number of regular season games in half

[@rahndo3534]

You want more offense? Play without gloves.

[@d_boss_mxk9712]

I think it's stupid. Defenses should be allowed to position however they want. Why don't the batters adjust? If there is nobody at third base any decent bunter should be able to achieve an OBP north of .600 probably more than that. Its the hitters burden and so far they have been unwilling to do what they need to do to beat the shift.

[@ericw712]

Yes, let’s extend the careers of Adam Dunn, Sean Casey, & Ryan Howard types 🙄

[@Zalis116]

Are we still going to have 47 attempted pickoff throws between every pitch?

[@ToMaToEsGrOw]

They get 2. Then you can just walk to second.

[@NeilTruick]

Tell major leaguers they are playing tee ball without telling them they are playing tee ball.

[@investorbettor505]

Imo if you can’t hit to the opposite field you can not hit. Then again I was hitting 65 mph fastballs, not 95 mph fastballs

[@97NikeSb]

The problem here is you think these guys can hit the other as if pitches aren’t spinning faster than before and hitting velocity not seen consistently before. It’s hard to hit it the other way when pitchers are purposely hitting their spots to make the hitters pull pitches

[@The_Real_Kal-El]

@@97NikeSb you might be making too much sense for him bro

[@97NikeSb]

@@The_Real_Kal-El Mfs are dumb. These guys are throwing inside to lefties with speed and they want them to slap it the other way when batters have to speed their swing up to even make contact

[@mistaTVD3199]

Honestly I think its more complex than that. Its not just they can't hit to the opposite field. They can if that was their goal. Nowadays with the big velocity and strikeouts, teams can't string hits together, so sure you hit it to the opposite field for a single. Now your teammates have to get probably get 2 more hits to score you. Its much easier to go for power against these power pitchers (that most pitchers are now) where you only need to string together one or two hits, which is more manageable. When you go for power, you generally need to pull it. MLB certaintly incentived this approach with the juiced ball era

[@investorbettor505]

@@mistaTVD3199 yep good points for sure. Although unfortunately it just makes me feel like they’re fixing the issue with the wrong solution when it comes to removing shifts. Pitch timer is a much better step in the right direction

[@Erikk87]

Imagine if batters actually learned to hit where the shift isn’t

[@Vic-Vega]

@Erik How old are you, 2? Hitters used to beat the shift *constantly* in the '80s, '90s, and '00s. It's just not being taught now, pure & simple.

[@dvhughesdesign]

Not everyone can be Jeff McNeil.

[@KanbaruS4n]

@@Vic-Vega Thats not the issue tho. The issue is that its easier to practise pulling the ball and hitting home runs to beat the shift and that's exactly what is happening. Banning the shift will make other options that don't include hitting dingers more viable again

[@Vic-Vega]

@@KanbaruS4nPeople need to learn how to bunt again. "Problem" magically solved.

[@billybrown555]

It’s a shame players leave il up to the league to change the rules rather than learning to expose the defenses weakness.

[@subreel12000]

Need to go to 1 minute breaks between half innings and pitching changes instead of 2 mins & 30 seconds, will speed up every game by 30 mins

[@Kenneth_Mullen89]

They said the infielders are banned from shifting. They never mentioned the outfielders.

[@godzillatimmy]

I've been to a couple of Yankees games where Gleyber Torres was a fourth outfielder vs certain hitters. He's been in right AND left this year! Glad they're banning the shift

[@rl5579]

If you can't hit the other way, maybe you should learn how instead of pulling the game down to your level

[@ToMaToEsGrOw]

@R L sadly that's what it is.

[@ilsleetli259]

kind of weird that players would vote against banning the shift seeing as how the shift only screws the players

[@blackhawk8920]

no it only screws some hitters and it helps the pitchers and defense.

[@anthonykology1728]

the umpires need to speed the game up

[@SingleMaltMac]

Well, we have two issues. The shift AND the inability for hitters to adjust to hit the ball where the fielders are not. As a former college baseball player, I am happy that the shift rule change was made, but I am disappointed that the current hitters can not or will not make adjustments to hit the ball away from the defense. Stop trying to pull the ball with every swing. Ok, rant over.

[@thomaswinston5927]

Not that simple - when the shift is in place pitchers pitch in such a way that the hitter will most likely pull the ball.

[@PaulMcElligott]

If teams would just emphasize bunting, they could render the shift irrelevant. If the third baseman is in right field, a clean bunt down the third base line is practically an automatic hit.

[@thomaswinston5927]

@@PaulMcElligott you want your big home run hitter bunting?

[@PaulMcElligott]

@@thomaswinston5927 A bunt against the shift can be an easy double. If the bases are empty, why not?

[@thomaswinston5927]

@@PaulMcElligott question - do you think big lefty hitters practice bunting a lot? The answer is no. Also, a bunt is a favor for the opposing team.

[@bmla88]

Rich Eisen: I can do this all day.

[@Vic-Vega]

Yeah, he can give myopic, garbage takes all day. And he does.

[@xxmarsr]

When they shift, they are giving you HALF the field EMPTY to hit it to. You want to beat a shift, hit it where they are not standing. The fact that modern day hitters refuse to do this and instead keep trying to hit home runs is what is wrong with baseball

[@stephenshumate8851]

Hitters need to use the whole field. where would analytics have fielders play Rod Carew.

[@gamefacesports6704]

Even if there’s only 2 players to each side they can still play in the holes

[@ThanosMahomes]

Worst part about baseball is the lack of cap

[@Neckrollios18]

I knew this was coming the minute I heard the news lol

[@knifejail]

Keep the shift! Ban bad umpire calls and allow challenges at least. Fire umpire with bad calls.

[@justinbb7467]

The players said no? What a surprise

[@newsomzack7014]

I understand the rule change and how it may make it more exciting but I think its bigger then this. The inequality between small market teams and large market teams hurts the sport.

[@Andrew_M_Ward]

The meandering lollygagging pace that has crept into the game has sucked the life out of MLB... Watch the 84 world series where the pitchers threw a pitch every 10 seconds

[@johnnypalooka]

If I rewatch the 1984 World Series will my Padres win it this time? I wish they'd slowed that one down a bit. Intentional walk to Gibson would have been a good start.

[@velocitytransport9599]

Wake me up when the electronic strike zone comes in…

[@georgewashington1106]

If there's 3 guys standing to the right of second base, hit it to the left.

[@donpietruk1517]

Basically we are banning the shift due to analytics. Analytics dictate going for the home run instead of a single. In order to hit the home run the hitter foregoes using batting techniques that allow them to hit to the opposite field. So instead they end up pulling the ball or striking out. Because the defense recognizes the hitters are more likely to pull the ball they shift to take that away from the hitter, reducing excitement. So yeah they are now introducing rules to compensate for the problems caused by analytics in the first place.

[@twistedspine7300]

Let's make one thing perfectly clear; you are not a fan of baseball if you think banning a strategy that a team implements to increase their odds of winning is a good thing. If you aren't willing to put in the effort to learn to take advantage of the opening the defense is giving you, you deserve to be out. There is no other logical or reasonable conclusion to draw from this. Competition is and has always been about making adjustments, and often times the team that makes the better adjustments wins. If you are in favor of things like making the DH universal which ruined NL baseball, a pitch clock because you have the attention span of a goldfish, or banning the shift because you think it's unfair, you are not and were never a fan of baseball.

[@johnnypalooka]

So you're saying AL baseball has been ruined since 1973? I'm sure all those AL teams who've won the World Series since then would disagree. How about AL fans? Would you renounce your championships because your team played a ruined game?

[@tylerwarner3677]

MLB is more profitable than NBA. Basketball is only more popular in TV land, because there are more watchable highlights.

[@MossadJShilling]

NBA is more mainstream simply because ESPN and FOX Sports do everything they can to shove it down everyone's throats.

[@hoseman121]

And the pitch clock are ruining pitchers arms look at Rodin . All ok before spring training then with clock injuries

[@GD-rd6ig]

Wanna sped up baseball? Eliminate the Home Run trot. Complete waste of time. Especially since the batter is still in the box when the ball clears the fence.