I didn't want to clutter up the Mariners season thread with this, so I'll try a thread of its own.
It sure seems like teams, including the Mariners, are using the shift in their defensive alignments a LOT this season. I'll admit that I haven't been a full time watcher of BB games the past few years, and I'll assume this is something that has been developing over time. I know I used to see the shift once or twice a game, maybe, or maybe only once every few games. Now it seems to be on half the time or more. Am I crazy here?
It seems to me to be getting to where it is overused. Have hitters declined to where they can't pull the ball to beat the shift? Really. It sure leaves some huge holes in the infield defense that a hitter like Ichiro was would exploit like a bad man.
I guess it's all based on stats and player scouting and such, but it sure seems to be kind of a risky strategy to be used so much.
I'd welcome some comments.
It sure seems like teams, including the Mariners, are using the shift in their defensive alignments a LOT this season. I'll admit that I haven't been a full time watcher of BB games the past few years, and I'll assume this is something that has been developing over time. I know I used to see the shift once or twice a game, maybe, or maybe only once every few games. Now it seems to be on half the time or more. Am I crazy here?
It seems to me to be getting to where it is overused. Have hitters declined to where they can't pull the ball to beat the shift? Really. It sure leaves some huge holes in the infield defense that a hitter like Ichiro was would exploit like a bad man.
I guess it's all based on stats and player scouting and such, but it sure seems to be kind of a risky strategy to be used so much.
I'd welcome some comments.