?. Do you think in my life time that anyone will flirt or hit for a 400 average in MLB.

[LionJim]

Most definitely. Especially for left-handed hitters (which is against whom the shift is most often implemented). The shift is a HUGE disadvantage for a lefty hitter (and the stats bear this out). The shift has been absolutely killing off lefty hitters - there are far fewer of them in the bigs ... and the percentage is dropping, and it's because of the shift.

Most pitchers are right-handed. Lefty hitters have more time to react to a RHP's pitch, so they are pull hitters. Additionally, since lefties can only pitch, play 1B or an OF position, they are usually bigger-bodied power hitters ... who also tend to pull the ball. So all a pitcher needs to do is pound them inside to get them to pull into the shift, or occasionally drop a pitch on the outside corner to get a pull-hitter to roll over and weakly pull an outside pitch, and with the shift set up, the typical LHB stands just about no chance.

Killing the shift will mark the return of the LHB, thankfully, and greatly increase BA all around.

Baseball's most endangered species: Pure lefties

Part one of a two-part investigation into lefties in baseball. Read part two, on pitchers, here. Where have all the lefty hitters gone? This is the wrong question, actually. But it's where this starts, and trust us, it's going to take us to the right place. Take 2009, for example.

www.mlb.com

 

[lions1995]

For ***** and giggles, 2 career MLB records that will never be broken:
Career stolen bases - Ricky Henderson 1406. Current active leader Dee Strange-Gordon at 336.
Career wins - Cy Young 511. Current active leader Justin Verlander at 241. (Although Verlander is married to Kate Upton which trumps every record!)

Consecutive Games Played - Cal Ripken Jr 2,632, Current active leader Matt Olson at 228.

 

[Woodpecker]

Lefty hitters have more time to react to a RHP's pitch, so they are pull hitters.

You make it sound like hitters aren't able to control their own actions.

 

[BobPSU92]

Growing up, I liked Carew, Boggs, and Gwynn for their pure hitting ability, but my favorite player was Don Mattingly in his prime. He could hit for power and average. Great player. It’s a shame that a back injury cut his career short.

 

[MacNit]

For ***** and giggles, 2 career MLB records that will never be broken:
Career stolen bases - Ricky Henderson 1406. Current active leader Dee Strange-Gordon at 336.
Career wins - Cy Young 511. Current active leader Justin Verlander at 241. (Although Verlander is married to Kate Upton which trumps every record!)

Hits

 

[marshall23]

Some but not much as they still will ‘shift’ just not as far. No more 2nd baseman 50 feet in to right will allow for hits but the SS will still play almost on 2nd. Plus as mentioned before, the pitchers throw hard and for shorter lengths so you face more arms who aren’t as tired in your last ab of the game

Another factor will be if the infielders are required to remain positioned "on the dirt" of the infield. Second baseman playing short right field certainly cuts down on hits as well.

 

[marshall23]

Growing up, I liked Carew, Boggs, and Gwynn for their pure hitting ability, but my favorite player was Don Mattingly in his prime. He could hit for power and average. Great player. It’s a shame that a back injury cut his career short.

Mattingly was indeed "the hit man," and he could crank on enough pitches to hit 25-35 dingers. I thought he'd waltz in to the HOF. My boys idolized him. In his final season, all he had to do was stick his head out of the dugout to get a standing ovation. One of the most beloved Yankees of all time.

 

[Jason1743]

Hits

I will respectfully disagree. While I don't expect the MLB hit record to be broken any time soon, I think it is possible. Pete Rose has 4,256 hits. Derek Jeter recently retired with 3,465 hits. Ichiro, who retired in 2019, had 3,089 hits in MLB and 1,278 hits in Japan for a grand total of 4,367 - MORE than Rose.

 

[Bison13]

Another factor will be if the infielders are required to remain positioned "on the dirt" of the infield. Second baseman playing short right field certainly cuts down on hits as well.

Yeah thats a big 'if'. Not sure if both items are in for next year or not

As a former pitcher, I love the shift, proves batters are too macho (or dumb) to try and just get on base with the bunt.

 

[marshall23]

Yeah thats a big 'if'. Not sure if both items are in for next year or not

As a former pitcher, I love the shift, proves batters are too macho (or dumb) to try and just get on base with the bunt.

I've seen very little high school baseball since I retired. I do get involved in the post season (merely serving as a site director) and it might be my imagination, but I thought I saw more bunts this year than in the past 20 of so. Just wondering if recent limits on BESR is bringing more "small ball" back into the game.

 

[Bvillebaron]

No more Tony Gwynn or Boggs type players seem to come down the pike anymore. Just Dingers matter I assume.

In a word—no.

 

[bdgan]

No more Tony Gwynn or Boggs type players seem to come down the pike anymore. Just Dingers matter I assume.

Not the way things are going. There are fewer contact hitters these days. Almost nobody bunts. The shift is taking hits away from players who don't hit to all fields.

 

[Bison13]

I've seen very little high school baseball since I retired. I do get involved in the post season (merely serving as a site director) and it might be my imagination, but I thought I saw more bunts this year than in the past 20 of so. Just wondering if recent limits on BESR is bringing more "small ball" back into the game.

I havent seen it down here, maybe just some coaches who were former pitchers

 

[uh-Clem]

Another possible factor against someone hitting .400 again is the preponderance of night games. Until the 1960s most games were still being played in the sunlight. I think it was in the late 60s that the World Series started to be played under lights. While I am unaware of any evidence of studies in batting averages in daylight vs artificial light, my guess would be batters would have an advantage in daylight. The exception to this would be in those parks that in later afternoon, have shadows between the pitcher's mound and the plate.