I'm in agreement here. Let the managers put the players wherever. Let them figure out what works. How hardcore would it be codified? Could the SS not line up in the outfield grass? In late inning games with runners on, when you need a DP, could you not bring one of the outfielders in? Who gets to decide what's a standard array of fielders and what's a "radical shift?" You're overreacting to this. They'd just enforce that a team would have to put 2 players on each side of 2nd base...there's not some arbitrary "too radical" evaluation to be made. Players will be free to make other defensive adjustments, further out...further in...no doubles...etc. I don't think it'd be a big deal. I don't know that it's necessary immediately...give it a few years here to see if batter start to adjust to it.