We are two weeks into the MLB season, and I continue to be amazed at the mistakes I see MLB teams making on seemingly a nightly basis. Despite all the analyics in the world out there being employed, I think MLB is still in the dark ages of basic strategy.
1. Batters are letting the shift beat them.
Teams FINALLY are correctly employing the shift. The shift is tremendously effective; however, this is because batters refuse to adjust. If I have to hear one more announcer saying "they don't pay him to bunt", and see a guy ground out to the right field rover I think I will lose my mind. Especially leading of in the 8th down 3-0, with the wind blowing in. I simply cannot understand why lefty batters don't learn to bunt (or hit grounders through the opposite field infield). Simply doing this effectively on occasion would force the opposing teams to take off the shift.
2. Batters (especially those without power) swing WAY too often on 2-0/3-1 pitches. I cannot tell you how many times I see a lead off hitter go fishing on a 3-1 ball out of the strike zone. Despite all the money ball discussions, batters know it is better for them to hit a single 43% of the time than to get a walk to lead off an inning. Walks look nice on the stats, but batters are still judged primarily by batting average and power.
3. Pitchers walk WAY too many batters still. How many times do you see things like 2-0 count man on 1st, pitcher up, and the pitcher nibbles at the plate. Throw it down the middle, let him bunt it............. most of the disastrous crooked numbers come up when pitchers walk batters.
4. The intentional walk is over used. NL games, two outs man on 2nd, a light hitting no8 man is up, and I often see an intentional walk to a cupcake hitter bringing up the pitcher. While this strategy is fine for THAT inning, it simply cannot be a good move considering the no1 hitter likely leads off the next inning.
5. Outfielders play too deep. Over the course of a game I typically see 2 hits barely fall in. Further, I see 1-2 times a runner barely advances on a single by a stride at most. Contrast that with the times they barely catch a deep fly ball or barely cut a ball off in the gap (maybe 1 time a game). I GET IT. It is easier to come in on a ball.......but outfielders play too deep, and part of that is to avoid being embarrassed on a ball over their heads.
6. Outfielders don't adjust properly based on the situation. I never could understand why MLB 'gets it' for the most part with the infield positioning but not the outfield. The infielders liberally adjust their positions based on the base runner situations, while the outfielders typically don't.
a) They play WAY too deep when the infield is IN,
b) They play WAY too deep with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Here the bloop hit costs you 2 runs........you clearly have to play further in.........
7. Outfielders are WILDLY optimistic about their chance to throw out men at home on base hits.
It is so rare someone gets thrown out........but bases are given away left and right when the left fielder tries to make a 1 in 20 throw to nail a scoring runner....and the batter happily takes second on a single......
8. Managers don't pinch hit enough. Bases loaded one out, tie game, bottom of the 6th and the pitcher bats. They are locked into the idea of letting their starter keep pitching if he is having a good game. It's hard to score in MLB. You have to go for it when you get the chance later in the game, almost every time.
On the handicapping front, I am LOCKED in during these NBA playoffs, 5-1 ATS, and I have plays ON THE NEXT FIVE games! Now is a great time to get my NBA package, but I also have daily packages up for Tues and Wed!
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