Platoon

While a lot of the angst over the bunt against the shift the other day focused on Berrios's none no hitter, the unwritten rules of the game, and Dozier's somewhat confusing statement (see attached) on the bunt in that situation, the actual question of bunting against the shift remains. I always wondered, why not? At the same time I heard pundits like Dan Gladden question it, because you give up the chance for an extra base hit. Supposedly. In theory Danno is correct, in practice it's not that clear. The shift's intent is to prelude not only the extra base hit, but any base hit. The shift is effective in keeping runners off base, and of course producing outs. But it also has what I consider an insidious effect on the game in a more general and negative way. And, to preclude the "sports evolve" discussion I will stipulate that discussion is valid, and frankly true. The question is: Is that change always for the better? For me, the negative impacts the shift has produced are the lessening of the impact a premier defensive player brings to the game. Shortstops no longer are responsible for large areas of real estate, and in many cases neither are center fielders. If you have a "pocket man" your outfielders need less range, and if you are one of three players on one side of the IF, it severely changes your coverage area. Basically, you become a team of hitters, not baseball players. There is of course a second side of this issue. Hitters. You want to eliminate the shift? Go the other way. In theory it's a no brainer. But in the context of that other side of the game, an emphasis on slugging, and a deemphasis on strike outs, it's hard to imagine enough hitters with the talent to perfect opposite field hitting and a power stroke at the same time. In general it's one or the other. Shifting also impacts baserunning, making what used to be no steal scenarios very plausible i.e., stealing third with two outs. It's no longer a cut and dried no-no. It will be interesting to see how the game evolves around this issue. The most obvious deterrent to over shifting is the bunt, but I am sure there will be more to follow. While I hope some day to see the shifts become far less severe and less prevelant, I have no desire to see it done via rule change. There's been enough of that as is. Here is a take on this issue from Ed Thoma's Baseball Outsider blog that I found interesting on the topic. http://fpbaseballoutsider.blogspot.com/ .

I also remember when Rosario took an open third with the shift on. Clean open base.That one sent Molitor into spasms, and I think Rosario either to the bench, or Rochester?

While this discussion will die an early death, I for one, hope teams bunt the shifts to death. I know there is a statistical rationale behind them. But I just think they are getting out of hand. At least for me.

It's so sad I can only like this once.

There's so much cholesterol on this page even my iPad has slowed down..........

Now we are getting just a little personal..........

That's always bothered me....... I wonder if she wasn't really that into him after all?

Well then I won't tell you what happened at the end. .

Oh my, I hope it turned out better than the last time I heard that song? The ship sunk.

IIRC they had him out in that area several years ago?

You need new clients!

. .............the suspense is killing me.......

Which one is Ash?

Xavier would have exceeded the maximum amount of letters in each name by 2.

Having left strict instructions NOT to take the second car out whilst we were out for the evening I was surprised to see it still in perfect position upon our return. The next evening, at supper, I made mention of the luck I had in the morning not breaking my jaw getting into the car. How is that daughter #1 asked? I said it was because she had forgotten to move the seat back after using it the evening before. Lol. So despite putting gas in it, marking the parking spot with pebbles, and readjusting the rear view mirror, they forgot to slide the seat back. They tried so hard, and always were so amazed that they failed so miserably!

Was he the same guy who took out some of those paving stones on Superior St? Or did they have a separate specialist for that?

I made all the kids learn to drive a stick first. No wimpy automatics. The two girls got to the top of the hill in our local town, and could NOT get going after stopping for a stop sign. They ended up rolling back two blocks to the bottom of the hill and starting over. They said they called me every name they could think of!

IF the "same dishwasher for 37 years" was not a reference to marital bliss, and your panel is electronic, there ain't much to fix. I tried to repair my daughters d/w. The panel wasn't repairable, and a new one cost about the same as a new one. And installing a new one is a job for a contortionist with really small hands!

"wasn't the Gophers" isn't a guess! You still have 3 left!

Try "remove control panel, attempt repair, replace control panel, buy new dishwasher". .

Tonight some of the kids came over for homemade Chili. As for tomorrow, I will have to go upstairs and see what is on the menu for tomorrow. It's sort of irrelevant after all these years. I will sit down and eat whatever it happens to be, and complement the chef with sincerity.

I was referring to Garver. And will agree with another poster it was a SSS. But that said, it better be the problem, or he better hit .350, with power!

It will be interesting with Garver. The short benches have made hitting more important in evaluatinf a backup catcher, which is Garvers strength? Turner was said by many to be a MLB ready receiver? Garver a MLB ready hitter? He may or may not hit at this level, he can possibly throw at this level, but I just cannot see any way he can catch at this level. I only saw him catch a few times last year, but it looked like he was using a frying pan for a mitt. From the games I saw it would be very frustrating to pitch to, or ump behind him at the level he demonstrated.

It is game one, game two is today. But game one had a considerable amount of wide open easy to analyze (second guess) managerial decisions. Thats what separates baseball from other sports.

It is one game. But this idea of the team heroically coming back to tie is so "homerish"! It's almost impossible not to score with a kicked ground ball. (Single, lmao) two walks, and a ball hit so poorly the OF can't get to it. Yes, sometime you come back, strike the ball well, and run the bases well. But this wasn't one of them. Baltimore scored two runs for the Twins. And frankly Baltimore didn't exactly shine either. Someone said earlier that you can play well and still lose. You can also play poorly, and still win. .