Yup, the Yankees have a hitting lineup consisting of piss-poor batters. However, it's not just a Yankees phenomenon. It's an MLB problem. A perfect reflection of a relatively recent trend of relying way too much on analytics, and why baseball has become a dull and boring game. The acceptance of the 3 outcome at-bat. In 1962, the Mets set the standard in hitting futility. The team average was an unheard-of .240. Going into Saturday's games, almost 2/3 of the teams, 19 in all, had team averages of .240 or less, much less with Seattle bottoming out at .184.....184! Yet Manfred and the rest of the shortsighted executives on 6th Avenue see no problem at all. At least in 1969, after pitchers dominated the season before, they were wise enough to lower the mound by 15 inches and reduce the strike zone. Like Hal Steinbrenner, they see no intrinsic problems with the sport as long as they're raking in the money. It's analogous and a sad commentary on the current state of America.
I still think they should never have lowered the mound and shrunk the strike zone. Things would have worked out. That kind of pitching didn't trigger wholesale changes before. Hitters adjust or die.
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And by the by, yes, I had Austin Wells in the Fantastic Five pick 'em. I'm so proud.
ReplyDeleteYup, the Yankees have a hitting lineup consisting of piss-poor batters. However, it's not just a Yankees phenomenon. It's an MLB problem. A perfect reflection of a relatively recent trend of relying way too much on analytics, and why baseball has become a dull and boring game. The acceptance of the 3 outcome at-bat.
ReplyDeleteIn 1962, the Mets set the standard in hitting futility. The team average was an unheard-of .240. Going into Saturday's games, almost 2/3 of the teams, 19 in all, had team averages of .240 or less, much less with Seattle bottoming out at .184.....184! Yet Manfred and the rest of the shortsighted executives on 6th Avenue see no problem at all. At least in 1969, after pitchers dominated the season before, they were wise enough to lower the mound by 15 inches and reduce the strike zone. Like Hal Steinbrenner, they see no intrinsic problems with the sport as long as they're raking in the money. It's analogous and a sad commentary on the current state of America.
I still think they should never have lowered the mound and shrunk the strike zone. Things would have worked out. That kind of pitching didn't trigger wholesale changes before. Hitters adjust or die.
ReplyDeleteBut whatever.