Tanaka didn't look good all night. Leaving balls right over the plate and getting hit hard. He's lucky it was the Cubs or it would've been a lot worse. Yes, it was bound to happen so the only thing you can do is put it behind you and get ready for the next start.
I agree. I've never ever seen anything like it in the 50+ years of watching MLB. I recall 20 yrs ago, when MLB Teams were obtaining data, stats, sabr metrics on hitters, and pitchers. Charting every pitch, every hit, every swing and miss, then trying to apply the data to the game or individuals to make adjustments. So why all the sudden 20 years later, do they shift, saying if a hitter hits in these locations 80 percent of the time, then we will shift on him to those locations. Take that, with the A's vs. Astros' a well laid down bunt on the 3rd base line, when the shift was on, and a riot damn near ensued. If teams can shift, then what is wrong with batter's laying down a bunt on the open side. As much, why aren't more batter's learning to inside out the ball, hit the ball where its pitched, or hit to the opposite (non-shift side)....Why did it take MLB this long, to come up with this ridiculous concept. Not every hitter is Ted Williams, besides Williams damn near hit at will against the shift. 2ndly-MLB analysts have shown over a dozen teams literally hit another 50 points for a higher average, with the shift on. I don't mind, the new rules: *Instant Replay, long overdue *10 Second Pitch Counts-should of been that way decades ago. *No blocking of the plate, also long overdue, and alot more runs seem to be scoring. If Mike Sciosca had to live by this rule, when he was the Bums backstop, he would of only been a mediocre Catcher. What's next....????
When I was a kid "THE SHIFT" was reserved for only a handful of players. The first time I heard was when the announcer said, they're putting on the McCovey shift. Because he was a dead pull hitter. I don't mind them putting it on for players that are known pull hitters that could hurt you, guys like Teixiera. But come on it, when I see them putting the damn thing on for guys that are barely hitting 200 its a joke.
