Is Baseball Changing?

[webjim25]

Are we entering an age of more focus on defense, and less on power hitting? I think we are. Here are my 2 reasons:

 

1. The steroid era is over. Or so they tell us. But I can't think of anyone in baseball that could hit 60 homeruns. Maybe Howard, maybe Fielder, but most likely neither of them top 50...ever. Bonds, Sosa, and Big Mac are all gone. It also just feels like, though I haven't looked up the numbers on this, that there were fewer 25-30 HR guys last season than in, say, 2001.

 

2. Defense is cheaper, and with the economy as it it, that matters. Moneyball made a huge impact on how rosters are made. GMs are out looking for value where other teams missed it. Look, for instance, at the Rays recently. Their bullpen is a reclamation project. Their first baseman was someone that the Tigers gave up on. One of their starters can't dent bread with his fastball. Another was given up on by another organization probably because he threw too many fastballs. On a smaller level, you can even watch Madden position his players in pretty bizarre defensive shapes for each and every batter. It's almost as if they have no "regular" position.

 

2.5. Last season's league average ERA was down. One year does not constitute a trend, and it had been as low as it was last season in some other seasons in the last 15 years, but I still think it might be something. We'll have to wait another two or three years to find out.

 

Anyway, what are your thoughts?

[sweetpeteman]

Maybe Howard, maybe Fielder, but most likely neither of them top 50...ever.

 

 

 

Maybe not in the future, but both of them have had one season of 50 or more homers.

[webjim25]

I know they both have hit 50, which is why I used them for the example. My point is that I see neither of them hitting 60 and likely not even hitting 50 again; and you seem to agree.

[Mephistopheles]

Defense, young pitching and overall team speed has been undervalued on the market for five or so years now and Beane and company have known this and exploited it.

 

FWIW, offense is quite a bit up this season so far.

[jersey cubs fan]

Defense, young pitching and overall team speed has been undervalued on the market for five or so years now and Beane and company have known this and exploited it.

 

They haven't exploited it successfully.

[webjim25]

Defense, young pitching and overall team speed has been undervalued on the market for five or so years now and Beane and company have known this and exploited it.

 

 

 

Dude. Here is the exact John Krunk quote from BBTN last night during highlights of Dexter Fowler stealing 75 bases in that game

Krunk- "Pitching, defense and overall team speed has been tremendously undervalued in baseball. But in these tough economical times, teams are now starting to exploit it."

 

That was said after the game, way after your post. :-k

[fromthestretch]

Defense, young pitching and overall team speed has been undervalued on the market for five or so years now and Beane and company have known this and exploited it.

 

 

 

Dude. Here is the exact John Krunk quote from BBTN last night during highlights of Dexter Fowler stealing 75 bases in that game

Krunk- "Pitching, defense and overall team speed has been tremendously undervalued in baseball. But in these tough economical times, teams are now starting to exploit it."

 

That was said after the game, way after your post. :-k

 

That typo made me laugh.

[Guest]

Defense, young pitching and overall team speed has been undervalued on the market for five or so years now and Beane and company have known this and exploited it.

 

 

 

Dude. Here is the exact John Krunk quote from BBTN last night during highlights of Dexter Fowler stealing 75 bases in that game

Krunk- "Pitching, defense and overall team speed has been tremendously undervalued in baseball. But in these tough economical times, teams are now starting to exploit it."

 

That was said after the game, way after your post. :-k

Meph and Krunk (Kruck) were separated at birth. When one sneezes the other catches a cold.

[hardcorecubfan]

"Chicks dig the homerun!!!" Greg Maddox

[Banedon]

"Chicks dig the homerun!!!" Greg Maddox

 

1) It's Maddux, not Maddox.

 

2) You got the quote wrong.

[jersey cubs fan]

"Chicks dig the homerun!!!" Greg Maddox

 

1) It's Maddux, not Maddox.

 

2) You got the quote wrong.

 

Maddux said long ball, Maddox said homerun.

[rocket]

"Chicks dig the homerun!!! -Greg Maddox" -hardcorecubfan