MLB

[spike]

Go Nats

[philpritchard]

Go Nats

I'm feeling the Nats for some reason.

[PHATJ]

Baseball is forever changing. Two, three, and four inning specialists are the future of baseball. It’s beginning NOW.

Within a decade we will see a massive decline in traditional starting pitchers in MLB. Each team will be happy to employ 1-2 “Aces”, 3 if they are lucky. Every team will feature a bullpen full of powerful relievers designed to pitch to approximately nine batters (3 innings worth of outs).

Teams are currently starting to understand how much more difficult it is for a batter to adjust to 3-4 pitchers a night, than it is to adjust to one pitcher after seeing him 3-4 times. There will remain elite arms that can dominate for 15-18 outs, and they will be considered “Aces”. But they will never approach the 8-9 inning starts of yesteryear.

The rest of the pitchers will all be groomed to get a minimum of three outs (baseball’s pitching rules change next year - requiring relief pitchers to face three batters minimum), and many will be able to stretch out to 6-9 outs (“Openers” and “Closers”).

Terminology will get away from the importance of innings thrown by pitchers, and begin to focus on outs recorded.

The complimentary response on the offensive side is that lineups will be built for flexibility and defensive versatility. And most importantly, POWER.

Power and the ability to score runs on one swing will become the absolute premium. Rallys will be limited and homers are a more efficient way of scoring. Managers will have to invent new strategies to keep competitive as the evolution of the game always pushes forward.

Baseball is in a fascinating and wonderful era.

Ever changing, and more exciting than ever.

[spike]

like josh hader?

[Norah]

That was fun.

[spike]

so was your mom

[Chris_H_2]

for as amazing as the brewers played in the month of september, they sure did manage to shit the bed when it mattered over the last 4 games.

[MadTIGERmaN]

Baseball is forever changing. Two, three, and four inning specialists are the future of baseball. It’s beginning NOW.

Within a decade we will see a massive decline in traditional starting pitchers in MLB. Each team will be happy to employ 1-2 “Aces”, 3 if they are lucky. Every team will feature a bullpen full of powerful relievers designed to pitch to approximately nine batters (3 innings worth of outs).

Teams are currently starting to understand how much more difficult it is for a batter to adjust to 3-4 pitchers a night, than it is to adjust to one pitcher after seeing him 3-4 times. There will remain elite arms that can dominate for 15-18 outs, and they will be considered “Aces”. But they will never approach the 8-9 inning starts of yesteryear.

The rest of the pitchers will all be groomed to get a minimum of three outs (baseball’s pitching rules change next year - requiring relief pitchers to face three batters minimum), and many will be able to stretch out to 6-9 outs (“Openers” and “Closers”).

Terminology will get away from the importance of innings thrown by pitchers, and begin to focus on outs recorded.

The complimentary response on the offensive side is that lineups will be built for flexibility and defensive versatility. And most importantly, POWER.

Power and the ability to score runs on one swing will become the absolute premium. Rallys will be limited and homers are a more efficient way of scoring. Managers will have to invent new strategies to keep competitive as the evolution of the game always pushes forward.

Baseball is in a fascinating and wonderful era.

Ever changing, and more exciting than ever.

but most flexible players that have high defensive versatility tend to be average / none power hitters (at least traditionally)
If anything, this should shift the game back to contact hitters who can steal bases. Speed doesn't go in slumps.
The problem is MLB is using juiced balls that allow lazy fly balls to wind up in the cheap seats. If they go back to the old balls, managers will definitely have to shift the strategy from the homer or nothing approach. AAA started using the same balls as MLB this year and also saw a record number of homers.

As for the Brewers... That was two incredible September runs they've had now.
They were 7.5 back in early September just crazy. Gonna be an interesting off season with Moose and Yaz both free agents I believe, and Cain and Braun clearly nearing the twilights of their long careers.

[Bammer]

Baseball is forever changing. Two, three, and four inning specialists are the future of baseball. It’s beginning NOW.

Within a decade we will see a massive decline in traditional starting pitchers in MLB. Each team will be happy to employ 1-2 “Aces”, 3 if they are lucky. Every team will feature a bullpen full of powerful relievers designed to pitch to approximately nine batters (3 innings worth of outs).

Teams are currently starting to understand how much more difficult it is for a batter to adjust to 3-4 pitchers a night, than it is to adjust to one pitcher after seeing him 3-4 times. There will remain elite arms that can dominate for 15-18 outs, and they will be considered “Aces”. But they will never approach the 8-9 inning starts of yesteryear.

The rest of the pitchers will all be groomed to get a minimum of three outs (baseball’s pitching rules change next year - requiring relief pitchers to face three batters minimum), and many will be able to stretch out to 6-9 outs (“Openers” and “Closers”).

Terminology will get away from the importance of innings thrown by pitchers, and begin to focus on outs recorded.

The complimentary response on the offensive side is that lineups will be built for flexibility and defensive versatility. And most importantly, POWER.

Power and the ability to score runs on one swing will become the absolute premium. Rallys will be limited and homers are a more efficient way of scoring. Managers will have to invent new strategies to keep competitive as the evolution of the game always pushes forward.

Baseball is in a fascinating and wonderful era.

Ever changing, and more exciting than ever.

Who wrote this?

[PHATJ]

Baseball is forever changing. Two, three, and four inning specialists are the future of baseball. It’s beginning NOW.

Within a decade we will see a massive decline in traditional starting pitchers in MLB. Each team will be happy to employ 1-2 “Aces”, 3 if they are lucky. Every team will feature a bullpen full of powerful relievers designed to pitch to approximately nine batters (3 innings worth of outs).

Teams are currently starting to understand how much more difficult it is for a batter to adjust to 3-4 pitchers a night, than it is to adjust to one pitcher after seeing him 3-4 times. There will remain elite arms that can dominate for 15-18 outs, and they will be considered “Aces”. But they will never approach the 8-9 inning starts of yesteryear.

The rest of the pitchers will all be groomed to get a minimum of three outs (baseball’s pitching rules change next year - requiring relief pitchers to face three batters minimum), and many will be able to stretch out to 6-9 outs (“Openers” and “Closers”).

Terminology will get away from the importance of innings thrown by pitchers, and begin to focus on outs recorded.

The complimentary response on the offensive side is that lineups will be built for flexibility and defensive versatility. And most importantly, POWER.

Power and the ability to score runs on one swing will become the absolute premium. Rallys will be limited and homers are a more efficient way of scoring. Managers will have to invent new strategies to keep competitive as the evolution of the game always pushes forward.

Baseball is in a fascinating and wonderful era.

Ever changing, and more exciting than ever.

Who wrote this?

I did.

[Bammer]

Baseball is forever changing. Two, three, and four inning specialists are the future of baseball. It’s beginning NOW.

Within a decade we will see a massive decline in traditional starting pitchers in MLB. Each team will be happy to employ 1-2 “Aces”, 3 if they are lucky. Every team will feature a bullpen full of powerful relievers designed to pitch to approximately nine batters (3 innings worth of outs).

Teams are currently starting to understand how much more difficult it is for a batter to adjust to 3-4 pitchers a night, than it is to adjust to one pitcher after seeing him 3-4 times. There will remain elite arms that can dominate for 15-18 outs, and they will be considered “Aces”. But they will never approach the 8-9 inning starts of yesteryear.

The rest of the pitchers will all be groomed to get a minimum of three outs (baseball’s pitching rules change next year - requiring relief pitchers to face three batters minimum), and many will be able to stretch out to 6-9 outs (“Openers” and “Closers”).

Terminology will get away from the importance of innings thrown by pitchers, and begin to focus on outs recorded.

The complimentary response on the offensive side is that lineups will be built for flexibility and defensive versatility. And most importantly, POWER.

Power and the ability to score runs on one swing will become the absolute premium. Rallys will be limited and homers are a more efficient way of scoring. Managers will have to invent new strategies to keep competitive as the evolution of the game always pushes forward.

Baseball is in a fascinating and wonderful era.

Ever changing, and more exciting than ever.

Who wrote this?

I did.

My man

[PHATJ]

Baseball is forever changing. Two, three, and four inning specialists are the future of baseball. It’s beginning NOW.

Within a decade we will see a massive decline in traditional starting pitchers in MLB. Each team will be happy to employ 1-2 “Aces”, 3 if they are lucky. Every team will feature a bullpen full of powerful relievers designed to pitch to approximately nine batters (3 innings worth of outs).

Teams are currently starting to understand how much more difficult it is for a batter to adjust to 3-4 pitchers a night, than it is to adjust to one pitcher after seeing him 3-4 times. There will remain elite arms that can dominate for 15-18 outs, and they will be considered “Aces”. But they will never approach the 8-9 inning starts of yesteryear.

The rest of the pitchers will all be groomed to get a minimum of three outs (baseball’s pitching rules change next year - requiring relief pitchers to face three batters minimum), and many will be able to stretch out to 6-9 outs (“Openers” and “Closers”).

Terminology will get away from the importance of innings thrown by pitchers, and begin to focus on outs recorded.

The complimentary response on the offensive side is that lineups will be built for flexibility and defensive versatility. And most importantly, POWER.

Power and the ability to score runs on one swing will become the absolute premium. Rallys will be limited and homers are a more efficient way of scoring. Managers will have to invent new strategies to keep competitive as the evolution of the game always pushes forward.

Baseball is in a fascinating and wonderful era.

Ever changing, and more exciting than ever.

Who wrote this?

I did.

My man

You agree? Thanks, Bammer.

[surfndestroy]

Baseball is forever changing. Two, three, and four inning specialists are the future of baseball. It’s beginning NOW.

Within a decade we will see a massive decline in traditional starting pitchers in MLB. Each team will be happy to employ 1-2 “Aces”, 3 if they are lucky. Every team will feature a bullpen full of powerful relievers designed to pitch to approximately nine batters (3 innings worth of outs).

Teams are currently starting to understand how much more difficult it is for a batter to adjust to 3-4 pitchers a night, than it is to adjust to one pitcher after seeing him 3-4 times. There will remain elite arms that can dominate for 15-18 outs, and they will be considered “Aces”. But they will never approach the 8-9 inning starts of yesteryear.

The rest of the pitchers will all be groomed to get a minimum of three outs (baseball’s pitching rules change next year - requiring relief pitchers to face three batters minimum), and many will be able to stretch out to 6-9 outs (“Openers” and “Closers”).

Terminology will get away from the importance of innings thrown by pitchers, and begin to focus on outs recorded.

The complimentary response on the offensive side is that lineups will be built for flexibility and defensive versatility. And most importantly, POWER.

Power and the ability to score runs on one swing will become the absolute premium. Rallys will be limited and homers are a more efficient way of scoring. Managers will have to invent new strategies to keep competitive as the evolution of the game always pushes forward.

Baseball is in a fascinating and wonderful era.

Ever changing, and more exciting than ever.

Who wrote this?

I did.

My man

It is pretty awesome.
I feel the same about hockey and how it's evolving with speed.

[Mickey]

Baseball is forever changing. Two, three, and four inning specialists are the future of baseball. It’s beginning NOW.

Within a decade we will see a massive decline in traditional starting pitchers in MLB. Each team will be happy to employ 1-2 “Aces”, 3 if they are lucky. Every team will feature a bullpen full of powerful relievers designed to pitch to approximately nine batters (3 innings worth of outs).

Teams are currently starting to understand how much more difficult it is for a batter to adjust to 3-4 pitchers a night, than it is to adjust to one pitcher after seeing him 3-4 times. There will remain elite arms that can dominate for 15-18 outs, and they will be considered “Aces”. But they will never approach the 8-9 inning starts of yesteryear.

The rest of the pitchers will all be groomed to get a minimum of three outs (baseball’s pitching rules change next year - requiring relief pitchers to face three batters minimum), and many will be able to stretch out to 6-9 outs (“Openers” and “Closers”).

Terminology will get away from the importance of innings thrown by pitchers, and begin to focus on outs recorded.

The complimentary response on the offensive side is that lineups will be built for flexibility and defensive versatility. And most importantly, POWER.

Power and the ability to score runs on one swing will become the absolute premium. Rallys will be limited and homers are a more efficient way of scoring. Managers will have to invent new strategies to keep competitive as the evolution of the game always pushes forward.

Baseball is in a fascinating and wonderful era.

Ever changing, and more exciting than ever.

Who wrote this?

I did.

My man

It is pretty awesome.
I feel the same about hockey and how it's evolving with speed.

...to have more CTE?

[surfndestroy]

Baseball is forever changing. Two, three, and four inning specialists are the future of baseball. It’s beginning NOW.

Within a decade we will see a massive decline in traditional starting pitchers in MLB. Each team will be happy to employ 1-2 “Aces”, 3 if they are lucky. Every team will feature a bullpen full of powerful relievers designed to pitch to approximately nine batters (3 innings worth of outs).

Teams are currently starting to understand how much more difficult it is for a batter to adjust to 3-4 pitchers a night, than it is to adjust to one pitcher after seeing him 3-4 times. There will remain elite arms that can dominate for 15-18 outs, and they will be considered “Aces”. But they will never approach the 8-9 inning starts of yesteryear.

The rest of the pitchers will all be groomed to get a minimum of three outs (baseball’s pitching rules change next year - requiring relief pitchers to face three batters minimum), and many will be able to stretch out to 6-9 outs (“Openers” and “Closers”).

Terminology will get away from the importance of innings thrown by pitchers, and begin to focus on outs recorded.

The complimentary response on the offensive side is that lineups will be built for flexibility and defensive versatility. And most importantly, POWER.

Power and the ability to score runs on one swing will become the absolute premium. Rallys will be limited and homers are a more efficient way of scoring. Managers will have to invent new strategies to keep competitive as the evolution of the game always pushes forward.

Baseball is in a fascinating and wonderful era.

Ever changing, and more exciting than ever.

Who wrote this?

I did.

My man

It is pretty awesome.
I feel the same about hockey and how it's evolving with speed.

...to have more CTE?

Risk vs Reward. Not my brains on the line.

[Mickey]

Dan Carcello should have known that he'd want to drive a stake through his heart at age 45 when he made the leap to juniors.

[PHATJ]

Bring it back to baseball, Mickey.

[doug rr]

Baseball is forever changing. Two, three, and four inning specialists are the future of baseball. It’s beginning NOW.

Within a decade we will see a massive decline in traditional starting pitchers in MLB. Each team will be happy to employ 1-2 “Aces”, 3 if they are lucky. Every team will feature a bullpen full of powerful relievers designed to pitch to approximately nine batters (3 innings worth of outs).

Teams are currently starting to understand how much more difficult it is for a batter to adjust to 3-4 pitchers a night, than it is to adjust to one pitcher after seeing him 3-4 times. There will remain elite arms that can dominate for 15-18 outs, and they will be considered “Aces”. But they will never approach the 8-9 inning starts of yesteryear.

The rest of the pitchers will all be groomed to get a minimum of three outs (baseball’s pitching rules change next year - requiring relief pitchers to face three batters minimum), and many will be able to stretch out to 6-9 outs (“Openers” and “Closers”).

Terminology will get away from the importance of innings thrown by pitchers, and begin to focus on outs recorded.

The complimentary response on the offensive side is that lineups will be built for flexibility and defensive versatility. And most importantly, POWER.

Power and the ability to score runs on one swing will become the absolute premium. Rallys will be limited and homers are a more efficient way of scoring. Managers will have to invent new strategies to keep competitive as the evolution of the game always pushes forward.

Baseball is in a fascinating and wonderful era.

Ever changing, and more exciting than ever.

nicely written phat..you left out the most important part..at least for me and millions of others that don't watch anymore or show up at games....4 hours

[PHATJ]

Baseball is forever changing. Two, three, and four inning specialists are the future of baseball. It’s beginning NOW.

Within a decade we will see a massive decline in traditional starting pitchers in MLB. Each team will be happy to employ 1-2 “Aces”, 3 if they are lucky. Every team will feature a bullpen full of powerful relievers designed to pitch to approximately nine batters (3 innings worth of outs).

Teams are currently starting to understand how much more difficult it is for a batter to adjust to 3-4 pitchers a night, than it is to adjust to one pitcher after seeing him 3-4 times. There will remain elite arms that can dominate for 15-18 outs, and they will be considered “Aces”. But they will never approach the 8-9 inning starts of yesteryear.

The rest of the pitchers will all be groomed to get a minimum of three outs (baseball’s pitching rules change next year - requiring relief pitchers to face three batters minimum), and many will be able to stretch out to 6-9 outs (“Openers” and “Closers”).

Terminology will get away from the importance of innings thrown by pitchers, and begin to focus on outs recorded.

The complimentary response on the offensive side is that lineups will be built for flexibility and defensive versatility. And most importantly, POWER.

Power and the ability to score runs on one swing will become the absolute premium. Rallys will be limited and homers are a more efficient way of scoring. Managers will have to invent new strategies to keep competitive as the evolution of the game always pushes forward.

Baseball is in a fascinating and wonderful era.

Ever changing, and more exciting than ever.

nicely written phat..you left out the most important part..at least for me and millions of others that don't watch anymore or show up at games....4 hours

Thanks doug. Game length has always been an issue. I recently read a newspaper story from the 1960s decrying the pace of play and lack of patience and attentiveness of younger “fans”. People that aren’t diehard baseball fans will never understand or respect the nuances of the game enough to not complain about the pace of play. That said, the new pitching rules in 2020 are designed in an attempt to speed up the game. Only time will tell if the strategy actually works at all.

[Norah]

"Everything is right with baseball!" says fan of 2019 Minnesota Twins