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David

By David,
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Irrelevant Dude Knoxville Smokies

Irrelevant Dude

Old-Timey Member
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On one hand, expanded playoffs are likely the Cubs' only chance at success for the foreseeable future. On the other hand, expanded playoffs suck.

 

There is nothing interesting about a .500 or sub-.500 team making a playoff run. This isn't the NCAA Basketball Tournament. I fear that Pandora's Box has already been opened though and the owners see money that they aren't going to leave on the table.

 

Stepping back a bit though, the relationship between players and owners is an absolute mess. I don't think there is any way they can come to terms on a new CBA without a significant strike. As much as I hate to miss out on baseball, it is time for the players to play hardball. The union should be advising everyone to save their 2021 money in preparation for a long work stoppage, because that is the only way the owners are going to come to their senses. A work stoppage won't be good for the game, but it is probably better than continuing on the current trajectory.

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Cubswin11 All-Star

Cubswin11

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The 7 inning double headers make sense with pitchers facing innings limits they ordinarily wouldn’t have with the shortened year last year, imo. But so stupid they aren’t keeping the DH and keeping the runner on 2B rule. Edited by Cubswin11
Andy GOAT

Andy

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Huh?

 

 

Nothing sums up MLB like keeping the 2 stupid-ass rule changes from last year and not keeping the one that actually made sense.

stitchface First Round Pick

stitchface

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I would far prefer a dead ball to the blurnsball we've been getting. Doubly so this year since pitchers will be fighting greater fatigue as the season goes on.

 

so, reduces home runs without decreasing strike outs? Seems pointless to me. strike outs are boring - home runs aren't.

Transmogrified Tiger All-Star

Transmogrified Tiger

Community Moderator
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I would far prefer a dead ball to the blurnsball we've been getting. Doubly so this year since pitchers will be fighting greater fatigue as the season goes on.

 

so, reduces home runs without decreasing strike outs? Seems pointless to me. strike outs are boring - home runs aren't.

 

Those things don't happen in a vacuum, Home runs and strike outs are correlated even if it isn't a perfectly linear relationship.

jersey cubs fan GOAT

jersey cubs fan

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
I would far prefer a dead ball to the blurnsball we've been getting. Doubly so this year since pitchers will be fighting greater fatigue as the season goes on.

 

so, reduces home runs without decreasing strike outs? Seems pointless to me. strike outs are boring - home runs aren't.

 

Those things don't happen in a vacuum, Home runs and strike outs are correlated even if it isn't a perfectly linear relationship.

strikeouts have gone up because teams are more willing to strikeout than they were in years past. Rosters are built with that in mind. Deadening the ball will hurt power, but it's not going to prevent strikeouts from happening until teams start recalibrating their rosters to get more slappy contact guys.

stitchface First Round Pick

stitchface

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
I would far prefer a dead ball to the blurnsball we've been getting. Doubly so this year since pitchers will be fighting greater fatigue as the season goes on.

 

so, reduces home runs without decreasing strike outs? Seems pointless to me. strike outs are boring - home runs aren't.

 

Those things don't happen in a vacuum, Home runs and strike outs are correlated even if it isn't a perfectly linear relationship.

 

yes, but softening the ball won't do anything to reduce strike outs unless you believe hitters will adjust to make more contact. Don't see that happening quickly so this change will likely result in the same strikeouts but fewer home runs. assuming they turn into outs, which may not be the case, this will make the game even more boring. for me, walks and strike outs are boring. home runs are good, although triples are more exciting.

Bertz Knoxville Smokies

Bertz

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

 

so, reduces home runs without decreasing strike outs? Seems pointless to me. strike outs are boring - home runs aren't.

 

Those things don't happen in a vacuum, Home runs and strike outs are correlated even if it isn't a perfectly linear relationship.

 

yes, but softening the ball won't do anything to reduce strike outs unless you believe hitters will adjust to make more contact. Don't see that happening quickly so this change will likely result in the same strikeouts but fewer home runs. assuming they turn into outs, which may not be the case, this will make the game even more boring. for me, walks and strike outs are boring. home runs are good, although triples are more exciting.

 

The consensus for how to "fix" the issues with lack of action is starting to coalesce around "deader ball, smaller zone." Looks like deader (and more consistent) ball is coming now, and I imagine smaller zone would come next year? I wouldn't be surprised if a new CBA is considered the more appropriate occasion to adjust the rulebook zone.

Bertz Knoxville Smokies

Bertz

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
how does smaller zone result in more balls in play? Sounds like just more walks and the end of Kyle Hendricks.

 

More walks (and probably K's) in the very short term, but in the longer term less area for hitters to cover means more contact. You basically want both changes because they should work in concert to better incenivize balls in play.

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