I first witnessed the shift in the early to mid 60s when it was used against one of the most feared dead pull HR hitters I've ever seen. Willie McCovey. It was appropriately called at that time as, "The McCovey shift. So its been part of the game now for AT LEAST the last 50 years. Now, although I think mgrs get a little carried away when using it against 220 hitters it's still part of the game. Here's a thought to improve productivity, have players swallow there pride & long ball fucking mentality & learn to hit against the shift. I mean ENOUGH with the "Chicks dig the long ball shit" if these teams are GIVING you a free hit, take it assholes, its called being a team player.
Yep, just what MLB needs in 2015 and going forward...a league filled with Matty Alou-s and asswhole N.L. "purists" (who gave us astro turf and domes) calling for the abolishment of the DH. Yessiree.....2 hours and 20 minutes of 3-2 ballgames. Yeah....that's the ticket....and all the kids in the stands will be watching NBA and NFL hi-lights on their phones.
...yup the players need change, not the game itself...the players need to adjust to the game, instead of the game adjusting to the players.
Yeah like I said Steve, putting shifts on 200-220 hitters is ridiculous so yeah it does get a bit excessive at times.
Indeed, whatever happened to place hitting? Or hitting the ball where its pitched? Going back to Little League and advance travel Lg. Players were not only taught how to "Place Hit", but to Switch Hit, or hit n run, delayed steals, et al. My point, Modern Day Hitters need to revert to their basics......and hit the ball where its pitched, or position oneself in the batters box, to hit what would be an inside pitch to the opposite field. IF in the proper positoin, one can do as much....
I remember the 'other' M&M boys, like it were yesterday. Keep in mind I got both M&M boys, Autographs, including Marichal's, (a few others also), by hanging over the dugout I had crawled upon, hanging my Scored Card, & Pen in hand. The Usher/Security, never said a word at all to me, he only prevented the other 20-30 kids from coming down to the field level seats, to try and do as much. An UNIMAGINABLE feat these days...to not get booted out of the game, let alone scolded. During the many Giants and A's games I attended in the late 60s, seems like either Mays or McCovey hit a HR, at the game I was at. 1 game specifically I recall, was: Mays hit a solo shot line drive over CF. McCovey not only hit a solo shot also, but hit a Moon shot Grand Slam, of which NO ONE, saw that ball ever come down, no one....didn't even see it splash in the bay. Like Ted Williams always seeming to hit with a serious shift on, into those gaps and holes still left, despite over crowding the rh side of the field. McCovey in my ancient memory seemed to also hit at will.....!
Yep, I feel that way too. Or, one could say I was a Lucky Kid, even tho' I still got that scorecard.... That was the beginning of a rampant life of collecting autographs. 1st auto I ever got was believe it or not, Johny Unitas. 2nd-those aforementioned..... I still say Stan Musial was by far the best autographer I have ever seen. I got Joe DiMaggio's and Ted Williams both at the same Sports Memorabilia show, and those are great B&W Pics, the one of Joe, was his 56th hit vs Cleveland, during his streak. Joe and Ted were not talkative, understood.....class acts, but nothing like Stan the Man.... The worst two fkrs I wasted my money on getting their autos in 89, was Kirk Gibson and Andre Dawson, both pure 100% Asswipes.....I had Gibson sign the SI of his 88 W.S. 9th inning HR. Yet the fker wouldn't even say a word, not even a "Your Welcome" to anyone at all....thought they were both mutes.....!
As Wee Willie Keeler stated, hit 'em where they ain't. This was discussed on Hot Stove yesterday, the hitters need to adjust.
http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2015/01/to_beat_defensive_shift_yankees_hitters_must_buy_i.html Now I know why Long was fired.
..."the players being willing to adjust" is not exactly news or a new concept...it has been brought up many times that "ultimately, it is up to the players" to apply what is practiced during pregame batting practice. ...players are asked near the end of every BP to not only drop down a couple of bunts, but also at least slap a couple balls the other way. But again, it is up to the players to take that practice to actual game time ABs.
Pentland said: "I have my work cut out for me as far as them getting to know me and stuff ... but if they don't make an adjustment at all, I'm not doing my job." Good. Can't make it a hard rule or anything because of different situations,pitchers,whatever but maybe it can be strongly suggested to, or somehow convince those hitters who are constantly shifted against to committ at least ONE at bat per game....or every other game to hit a ball against the shift. Just try and hit a ground ball (Tex,McCann,ect) in the general direction of 3rd base/SS areas. Those guys must be convinced and buy into the idea that they can get an "easy" hit maybe once a game, or every other game with a simple basic technique, it's called putting a ball in play to the opposite side of the infield with an easy swing. lol In some cases, the "batting coaches" need to be better salesmen.
