For years prior to his passing my dad always bitched that "they" were ruining baseball. For him, it started with pitch counts. Suddenly a starter couldn't throw more than 80 or 90 pitches before being replaced by a reliever. Old time pitchers threw complete games routinely and didn't even know how many pitches they threw. My dad hated that they had 12 or 13 pitchers on the roster and no one to pinch hit. I'd always smile and say, "That's just how they play the game now."
Well, four years after he died, I wish I could tell him he was absolutely right - they are ruining baseball. Now I hate the new trends in the age-old game as much as he did. Here are a few of the current issues that would have my dad turning over in his grave (if he was in a grave instead of scattered over Sea Ranch in northern California with my mom):
Designated hitters - the American League has had them for years but it has been adopted throughout Major League Baseball this year. It takes a lot of strategy out of the game. Pitchers are players, too, and need to have the occasional opportunity to shine at the plate. I'll bet Madison Bumgarner (a great power hitting pitcher) is really pissed off.
Defensive Shifts - it has become common for teams to study "analytics" and put 3 infielders on one side of the field if a batter rarely hits to the other side. Or move an infielder back as a shallow outfielder. It screws up scorekeepers and potential double plays when players are out of position. And it's just not right.
Bullpen games - for some reason even with an abundance of pitchers, most teams sometimes don't have enough starters so it becomes a bullpen game. They use one pitcher every inning or two regardless of how well they pitch. It stands to reason if you play 6 or 8 pitchers one or two of them will have a bad day. it's rare that a reliever pitches more than one inning in any situation anymore.
Extra innings - they now put a runner on second base at the beginning of each half inning in a tie game after the ninth to speed up the games. It's unfair to the pitchers who didn't give up a hit to put themselves that situation. The occasional marathon game loved by true fans is a thing of the past.
Pitch com - to prevent sign stealing an electronic device (pitch communicator) is strapped to the catcher's leg and he punches in the type of pitch to throw which is transmitted to the pitcher and middle infielders through a receiver in their caps which can be set to English or Spanish. In my opinion the jury is still out on this one. Might be a helpful tool if it works right.
Position players pitching - the current trend when a game is out of hand in late innings is to put in an outfielder or catcher or whoever wants to give it a shot to pitch. They lob it up there often giving up hits, homeruns, etc. I absolutely hate this one. It is especially egregious because it makes a mockery of America's Pastime.
Stats and Analytics - baseball has always been notorious for too many statistics and it has only gotten worse. Who cares how fast the ball left the bat or how high the homerun was? A hit is a hit and a homerun is a homerun. Managers play the numbers without taking into consideration that human beings play the games.
In closing my dad was right, they are ruining baseball with all the above changes and many others. But there is hope on the horizon since MLB just voted to make the current shifts illegal next year. A team must have two infielders on each side of second base and all infielders must have at least one foot on the infield dirt. I'm one hundred percent in favor of that rule.
They are also adding a pitch clock giving a pitcher so many seconds to start their wind up. Another good idea which will definitely speed up the games. Both are a step in the right direction but I'm afraid baseball as all of us old folks knew and loved it is gone forever. Thank goodness we have our memories of the good old days.
