Changes in pro baseball in the last 10-15 years

Here is my top 3 MLB changes as I see them over the last 15 years:

1) Adoption of offensive and defensive Sabermetrics in evaluating talent, productivity, big contracts, and game time decisions.  Computational analysis has become the language of the MLB front office and MLB managers must fit their style to what the front office wants.

2) MLB's position on steroids and PEDs.  They finally admitted they had a problem and did something about it.

3) Further internationalization of the MLB game.  Talent is being sought and evaluated at a younger age and across the globe not just the western hemisphere.

Visually, the defensive shifts.  Replays.  Trackman type visuals of pitched and batted balls.  HD instant replay of how close plays really are, and how skilled the players are.

Go44dad posted:

Visually, the defensive shifts.

The defensive shifts are huge with incredibly impact. Reason: it reduces the reliance on the fielding capabilities of a position player. This was discussed on MLB Network yesterday, using Robinson Cano as an example, where you no longer see the numerous outstanding plays from Cano. Implication: you'll take a mediocre defensive player with excellent hitting skills over the opposite. 

All of the above.

For me, most visible is the defensive shifts taking away well-hit balls (hits); has been a big impact.  

Replay huge, go back to that (not) perfect game a few years ago on missed call at 1st base.

joemktg posted:

Go44dad posted:

Visually, the defensive shifts.

The defensive shifts are huge with incredibly impact. Reason: it reduces the reliance on the fielding capabilities of a position player. This was discussed on MLB Network yesterday, using Robinson Cano as an example, where you no longer see the numerous outstanding plays from Cano. Implication: you'll take a mediocre defensive player with excellent hitting skills over the opposite. 

I don't think the shift reduces the reliance of the fielders, they still have to field the ball and make the throw. I also don't see taking mediocre defenders who can hit. Hitting is king of course but most young stars in baseball now are good to excellent defenders

also I would not overestimate the effect of the shift. The shift is probably stil used in less than 20 percent of all plays and I don't think it reduces the Babip by much more than 10 percent. That is big in such a game of inches of course but it is not like the shift is on every play against lefties ( although righties like Bautista and pujols get shifted too) because runners also play a role and the shift gets beaten too.

it is probably also to a large part a mental thing for natural pull power hitters, they get their natural alley to RCF covered and have the choice to hit the ball there hard and maybe lose 10-15 on base percentage points or try to go the other way and lose slugging and home runs. 

Personally I think that going with his strengths and hit the ball hard to right center in the air and subsequently accept a little drop in on base percentage but keep the power. The best of course is to have natural power to center away but then again you would not be shifted if you were such a hitter

Or be able to lay down a drag bunt when the shift is on.  

Catcherdad posted:

All of the above.

For me, most visible is the defensive shifts taking away well-hit balls (hits); has been a big impact.  

Replay huge, go back to that (not) perfect game a few years ago on missed call at 1st base.

 

In a recent article was an analysis on the effect of shifts on David Ortiz. The researcher determined the hits he lost by fielders in a shift versus playing within normal distance of their position. It was determined since shifts became a regular habit he's lost 12-20 hits per season.

I see two big changes. One is back to the future. The return of traditional baseball parks shifting away from all purpose, cavernous stadiums. The second is having analytical nerds in charge of the front office over traditional baseball people. This has a lot to do with many of the changes some have mentioned.

i still enjoy attending baseball games. I find watching on tv more boring than it used to be. Maybe it's due to too many ads. I tend to have the Sox game on if I'm home. But I have to read or be doing a project while watching until the late innings. I have the MLB package. I'll watch the late innings of a close game between two good teams.

Add: To be called a seven inning pitcher used to be an insult. To be called a six inning pitcher was a huge insult. Now it's an innings eater.

Hitting has become more important than ever.  Even the most skilled positions have to be able to hit.  Years ago good middle infirlders and catchers were having long careers despite that fact they couldn't hit.  Now days they don't want a second baseman that can't hit.

The most noticable difference has been pitching velocity.  And it has changed a lot at every level.  20 years ago when we would see a HS kid touching 90 it was exciting.  Now days it's just interesting.  The ammount of pitchers that have touched 100 mph or more is amazing.

Sabermetrics is another big change.  Every club now has their own analytical dept. I don't think there was any 20 years ago.

Scouting has changed dramatically. The draft has changed. No more draft and follows.

College baseball has grown a lot.  especially at the higher levels.

Someone mentioned steroids, yes that's another thing, but trying to beat the system probably will never end.

The equipment has changed. Baseball was played forever with batting helmets that were tested for 65 mph impact.

When we started it wasn't easy getting wood bats.  There were only a few places manufacturing wood bats.  Now there must be a 100 or more.

Training has improved dramatically.

I could go on and on, but the one thing that makes me happy is the game itself is still the same game for the most part. To me it is the greatest game there is.

One more thing... The advancement of Tommy John surgery has saved so many pitchers that used to be cast off to the side.  I know some see it as a bad thing, I actually see it as a gigantic medical breakthrough.  Not that having TJ surgery is a good thing at all, but the fact that it exists has been very good for many.

PG you have a PM.

 Baseball information, its everywhere and its fast. Now days in just a few seconds you can look up old players, new players, prospects, and high schoolers,  Even this website is a example of what is at our finger tips.

Btw what do you think is the biggest reason for the decline in hitting? League on base percentage is about 25 points lower than 2000 and league ops is 60-70 points lower. 

Is it just the lack of steroids? Bigger strike zone like some suggest? Better pitchers? Worse hitters?

Dominik85 posted:

Btw what do you think is the biggest reason for the decline in hitting? League on base percentage is about 25 points lower than 2000 and league ops is 60-70 points lower. 

Is it just the lack of steroids? Bigger strike zone like some suggest? Better pitchers? Worse hitters?

All of the above. 

Dominik85 posted:

Btw what do you think is the biggest reason for the decline in hitting? League on base percentage is about 25 points lower than 2000 and league ops is 60-70 points lower. 

Is it just the lack of steroids? Bigger strike zone like some suggest? Better pitchers? Worse hitters?

I'll posit better pitchers at the top of the list.  Check out the velocity rise over the last two decades.  RJM hit on it, although it wasn't his point.  When "men were men" baseball being replaced by decision making sciences.  Better relief pitchers, more 95+ arms in the bullpen.  Pitchers training to be pitchers and better training methods.  Analytics, trak-man data, shifts work more toward the pitcher's benefit than hitter.

".400" goal for a hitter and his agent. The goal is not a hitter' objective

for contract time. unfortunately I started it with Area Code games. Each year 1987 - 2004 we placed 50 of our pitchers over 90 mph. 6 games in 5 days will determine the Bat.

Bob