I think there are fewer than 10 people in the upper deck in left field. Seriously. Hard to get a full view but piecing together multiple looks I'm reasonably confident.
Yeesh
I wonder if the broadcast crew staying through the half inning is because they couldn't sell the ad time. That's been happening regularly recently. I don't remember that much in any previous season.
And I believe with 1 out it's absolutely the correct play.
YMMV.
Edit: you often see the contact play with no outs and runners on 1st and 3rd.
Force the defense to make a choice...turn 2 or cut off the run and have 1st and 2nd, 1 out
Why?
People in all walks of life put themselves through career changes in their 20's, 30's, 40's.
Playing baseball for a living when you're young doesn’t entitle you to a lifetime of retirement.
Current hitters aren't "so much better."
And Palmer would have the same training and data used to increase velocity today that others do. He was tremendous because he could pitch. He'd have the same ability today.
He just wouldn't get to pitch as much. Modern baseball theory is hopelessly lost in many respects. "Pitchers cant be allowed to pitch" is one example.