Other Sports New baseball commissioner Rob Manfred open to defensive-shift ban - Page 5

scho63 · 01-26-2015, 10:24 AM

OH BROTHER!

Another asshole commissioner on his way to screwing up an entire sport! WTF is wrong with the morons? They are becoming worse than politicians.

============================================

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-bi...172529801.html

New baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has been in office a little more than 12 hours and he's already making some interesting waves. In an interview that aired on ESPN on Sunday morning, Manfred made it clear that examining the pace of the game is first on his list of priorities, but not far behind will be finding ways to "inject additional offense into the game."

Without being prompted for an example, Manfred specifically mentioned he'd be open to pursuing the elimination of defensive shifts, which he says give the defensive team a competitive advantage.

Defensive shifting is something we've seen implemented more and more in recent years as teams begin to shift — pun most certainly intended — to more sabermetric based research. It's more regularly reserved for strict pull hitters, which in most cases could be identified without a ton of research, but we're also seeing more creative — and even extreme — uses of defensive positioning that go beyond such tendencies. In some ways, it has become as important as pitch selection, which is sometimes influenced by positioning.

Now, this is a shift. pic.twitter.com/55I1lXERop
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) August 30, 2014

How Manfred would go about proposing the change and what his suggested guidelines would be are unclear. He'd almost have to create a specific zone that each defender has to stay within when each pitch is delivered. If that's the case, does that mean we'd see more lines drawn on the field, or is it up to umpire discretion? Can a defender creep in anticipating a bunt, or is that unfair? We'd be opening up a whole new can of worms here.

Those questions aside, Yahoo's Jeff Passan has learned that key figures within the game, including general managers who believe in sabermetrics, are actually open to such changes.

This is very telling: I ran Rob Manfred's idea to limit defensive shifts by two sabermetrically inclined GMs -- and both said they agree.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 25, 2015
Both essentially said same thing: The game is better when the casual fans gets the product they want. Big concern baseball isn't delivering.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 25, 2015
To paraphrase: Who do casual fans want to see compete, Clayton Kershaw and Mike Trout or Andrew Friedman and Jerry Dipoto?
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 25, 2015

So perhaps the potential change has traction, but we're not entirely sure it's a change fans would get behind. Would more offense be great? Of course it would. Most would agree to that. But fans also enjoy the strategy that goes into the game, and eliminating something like the shift takes away one layer of discussion and second-guessing that we all like to engage in.

Which side of the argument are you on? Do you think the shift belongs in baseball, or would you like to see it banned?

**lewdog** · 02-24-2015, 06:07 PM

**** THIS COMMISSIONER!!!!

Just Passin' By · 02-24-2015, 06:08 PM

Another commissioner who should be forced to step down. That's 4 for 4 right now, I think. It's as if these assholes are actively hoping to ruin their sports.

eDave · 02-24-2015, 06:11 PM

Please don't **** with baseball. Thank you.

**lewdog** · 02-24-2015, 06:13 PM

Some of the things to shorten games I can see being ok if they are implemented correctly. Some of it is just messing with the game too much. If there is one thing baseball fans like, it's the simplicity of a game without a ton of rules or rule changes.

**Buehler445** · 02-24-2015, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Another commissioner who should be forced to step down. That's 4 for 4 right now, I think. It's as if these assholes are actively hoping to ruin their sports.

Haven't pId attention much but I thought silver was pretty well liked. Is he not?

Hootie · 02-24-2015, 07:11 PM

We're freaking out about a hypothetical 8 games !?

Deberg_1990 · 02-24-2015, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scho63

It never ends with these power hungry assholes!

=========================================

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-bi...013719129.html

If we've gleaned anything about Rob Manfred as he approaches two months in Bud Selig's commissioner's chair, it's that almost any idea is a possibility. He's wide open to change, it seems, whether that's the notion of banning defensive shifts that he brought up in January or shortening the MLB season.
Manfred addressed the latter Monday, saying it's certainly a possibility that MLB could shorten its season, but it's not a priority to him at the moment.

He told ESPN's Darren Rovell:

"I don't think length of season is a topic that can't ever be discussed," Manfred said. "I don't think it would be impossible to go back to 154 [games].
"We already have some of our record books which reflect a 154-game season and obviously some of it reflects a 162-game season," Manfred said. "So there's some natural flexibility there. But if anyone suggests to go to something like 110 games, then there's a real problem. That will throw all our numbers out of whack."

MLB moved from 154-game seasons to its current 162-game format in the early 1960s. Shortening the season might be beneficial to players, considering baseball's grueling schedule. But the more games a team plays, the more money it stands to make from tickets, concessions and advertising.

At least for the time being, Manfred's focus isn't the length of the season but the length of games. The league introduced a number of pace-of-play rule changes Friday in hopes of reducing the average length of a game, which crept above three hours for the first time in 2014.

Owners will never agree to shorten the season. Would any business owner want to give up revenue????

**lewdog** · 02-24-2015, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

We're freaking out about a hypothetical 8 games !?

Not it's about the slippery slope of all these ideas he keeps throwing out. Is he gonna pull a Goodell and change the whole makeup of a sport?

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 02-24-2015, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewdog

Not it's about the slippery slope of all these ideas he keeps throwing out. Is he gonna pull a Goodell and change the whole makeup of a sport?

Agreed. The fact he even proposed banning defensive shifts was troubling too me. Why? Emphasize skill, ****face!

Mr. Laz · 02-24-2015, 08:12 PM

Bud Selig sucks!!

GloucesterChief · 02-24-2015, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Haven't pId attention much but I thought silver was pretty well liked. Is he not?

The first thing when he got the job was piss off Seattle.

01-26-2015, 10:24 AM
scho63 Politically Incorrect Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $2861110	New baseball commissioner Rob Manfred open to defensive-shift ban OH BROTHER! Another asshole commissioner on his way to screwing up an entire sport! WTF is wrong with the morons? They are becoming worse than politicians. ============================================ http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-bi...172529801.html New baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has been in office a little more than 12 hours and he's already making some interesting waves. In an interview that aired on ESPN on Sunday morning, Manfred made it clear that examining the pace of the game is first on his list of priorities, but not far behind will be finding ways to "inject additional offense into the game." Without being prompted for an example, Manfred specifically mentioned he'd be open to pursuing the elimination of defensive shifts, which he says give the defensive team a competitive advantage. Defensive shifting is something we've seen implemented more and more in recent years as teams begin to shift — pun most certainly intended — to more sabermetric based research. It's more regularly reserved for strict pull hitters, which in most cases could be identified without a ton of research, but we're also seeing more creative — and even extreme — uses of defensive positioning that go beyond such tendencies. In some ways, it has become as important as pitch selection, which is sometimes influenced by positioning. Now, this is a shift. pic.twitter.com/55I1lXERop — Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) August 30, 2014 How Manfred would go about proposing the change and what his suggested guidelines would be are unclear. He'd almost have to create a specific zone that each defender has to stay within when each pitch is delivered. If that's the case, does that mean we'd see more lines drawn on the field, or is it up to umpire discretion? Can a defender creep in anticipating a bunt, or is that unfair? We'd be opening up a whole new can of worms here. Those questions aside, Yahoo's Jeff Passan has learned that key figures within the game, including general managers who believe in sabermetrics, are actually open to such changes. This is very telling: I ran Rob Manfred's idea to limit defensive shifts by two sabermetrically inclined GMs -- and both said they agree. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 25, 2015 Both essentially said same thing: The game is better when the casual fans gets the product they want. Big concern baseball isn't delivering. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 25, 2015 To paraphrase: Who do casual fans want to see compete, Clayton Kershaw and Mike Trout or Andrew Friedman and Jerry Dipoto? — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 25, 2015 So perhaps the potential change has traction, but we're not entirely sure it's a change fans would get behind. Would more offense be great? Of course it would. Most would agree to that. But fans also enjoy the strategy that goes into the game, and eliminating something like the shift takes away one layer of discussion and second-guessing that we all like to engage in. Which side of the argument are you on? Do you think the shift belongs in baseball, or would you like to see it banned?
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02-24-2015, 06:07 PM	#61
lewdog Mod Team Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Valley of the hot as **** Casino cash: $1991900	**** THIS COMMISSIONER!!!!
Posts: 45,555

02-24-2015, 06:08 PM	#62
Just Passin' By In Search of a Life Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $5460524	Another commissioner who should be forced to step down. That's 4 for 4 right now, I think. It's as if these assholes are actively hoping to ruin their sports.
Posts: 69,748

02-24-2015, 06:11 PM	#63
eDave Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Casino cash: $9998560	Please don't **** with baseball. Thank you.
Posts: 53,803

02-24-2015, 06:13 PM	#64
lewdog Mod Team Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Valley of the hot as **** Casino cash: $1991900	Some of the things to shorten games I can see being ok if they are implemented correctly. Some of it is just messing with the game too much. If there is one thing baseball fans like, it's the simplicity of a game without a ton of rules or rule changes.
Posts: 45,555

02-24-2015, 07:11 PM	#66
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	We're freaking out about a hypothetical 8 games !?
Posts: 56,356

02-24-2015, 08:12 PM	#70
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	Bud Selig sucks!! __________________
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