Apparently, there's nothing in the rules stating the CFer can't move over to shallow RF (between 1st and 2nd base) with the LFer playing CF. Isn't this practically the same thing? I mean if you can't oppo field to 3rd then what's the chances of hitting oppo to left field? Gallo just had this done to him by Boston https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/red-sox-employ-loophole-to-mlb-shift-ban-against-joey-gallo
So, there is a bit of a difference between a single if you get shifted on on the ground and a triple or inside the park HR if you get outfield shifted on and hit it oppo in the air.
The risk for the defense is higher. In a normal shift, an opposite field or bunt hit will result into a single in most cases since the left fielder is there. Now, if you can hit over the third baseman or first baseman depending on which way they are shifting, it's guaranteed to be a double or triple. They will only employ this on players like gallo who has shown no ability to hit to the opposite field.
always amazed me a professional baseball hitter like Gallo has such a complete inability to adapt to this and do simple things like push the ball
Gallo did adapt. He hit the ball over the fence. I'm not sure the rules making shifts more difficult will help him much as his game was nearly perfectly adapted to defeat the shift (just not in the way people want). Gallo just isn't that great a hitter who had one great season.
For a minute the Rangers looked like they had a perennial MVP candidate in Gallo, but as it often the case with their guys it didn’t stick.
Gallo almost made a new 40 -40 club...40 homers 40 K%. Gallo is just such a weird player in that he gets/got such an extreme amount of his value on homers and defense, but gave most of it away with lack of contact. Almost every other 40 homer guy that didn't put up elite value, lost the value defensively.
In the very early days in the dead ball era, it was not unusual for some teams to forego the 4th infielder for a fourth outfielder. I believe the recent rule changes now requires 4 infielders. But I could see playing a shallow outfielder and repositioning the other two outfielders in an outfield shift now.
No changes post 1920, in your baseball world. I guess you never saw the Ted Williams shift, or the one against Willie McCovey?
Dont... next thing you know, MLB will start drawing lines in outfield and demanding players must stay in between them.
That's really the only way it would be possible. I'm fine with them banning the shift in the infield, though I think it's a little silly. It's not like we were having to suffer through an overwhelming amount of 1-0 games or anything. Offense is fine with or without it. But if they resort to something that literally changes the field of play and the aesthetics of the game, then that's just too far.
I'm 100% against the new rules. I did not see the Ted Williams shift because he was a fisherman for Sears at the time. But I did read about it. And this is precisely the response to shifts that should be made. Change your play, not the rules. The common response was hit em' where they ain't while Ted's response was just hit it past them anyway. Early reference to exit velocity.
