Ace Rothstein wrote:Perralta’s family write the OOTP program?

PSUsarge wrote:Got sucked into watching old games on ClassicPhilliesTV's YouTube channel (great background noise / visuals on my second monitor while working).

The difference in the approach of hitters and overall pace of the game is remarkable. I know it's been beaten to death as a discussion topic in recent years but this is the first time I've gone back and actually taken in a game from the 90s, start to finish.

First few innings of Phillies vs. Yankees on 9/1/97 (Schilling 16 K's on Labor Day game) featured a hit and run, stolen base, 10 hits (like, actual hits, only one HR, most hits on the ground). Batters and pitchers alike moving at a much more urgent pace. It's refreshing.

Also, as I am typing this. Midre Cummings just got picked off at 1st.

PSUsarge wrote:The latter element was the other biggest thing I've noticed in watching these old games. I think it plays to an element of familiarity / relatability / whatever you want to call it with fans. "Hit a lot of home runs" dumbs down the entire concept of the game.

Wolfgang622 wrote:

PSUsarge wrote:The latter element was the other biggest thing I've noticed in watching these old games. I think it plays to an element of familiarity / relatability / whatever you want to call it with fans. "Hit a lot of home runs" dumbs down the entire concept of the game.

Yeah, and this is to me where the statistical revolution has swung too far the other way. I like statistics very much and the mathematical analysis of baseball, but to an extent I think you are starting to see the tail wagging the dog. Pitchers don’t control the outcomes of balls put in play and all settle in around a the same BABIP over the long haul, so what matters is how little the ball can be put into play. Hitters are judged by getting on base and slugging percentage, so they are looking to walk or launch one. The three true outcomes. The problem is the three true outcomes leads to a (literal) arms race pm the end result of which are watching hitter swing through, foul off, take, or occasionally blast one 97mph fastball after another, and if they are lucky take all the change ups they see. This is dull.

And it takes longer to do it.

MoBettle wrote:

Great game was great to watch, also the rockies mascot was a total choch behind the plate in the ninth.

MoBettle wrote:I’d be on board with a pitch clock, would need to carefully phase it in over multiple years though. Would profoundly change the whole dynamic of pitching and bring an injury risk that you’re not adding with a shot or play clock.

Uncle Milty wrote:Nice little read by Doug Glanville

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/290 ... eturn-fans

Wolfgang622 wrote:

Uncle Milty wrote:Nice little read by Doug Glanville

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/290 ... eturn-fans

Doug Glanville was my favorite player for a time in the late 90s. He really had two very fine season here.

But even if he hadn’t, I enjoy what a fine person he is. That was lovely.

JFLNYC wrote:

Wolfgang622 wrote:

PSUsarge wrote:The latter element was the other biggest thing I've noticed in watching these old games. I think it plays to an element of familiarity / relatability / whatever you want to call it with fans. "Hit a lot of home runs" dumbs down the entire concept of the game.

Yeah, and this is to me where the statistical revolution has swung too far the other way. I like statistics very much and the mathematical analysis of baseball, but to an extent I think you are starting to see the tail wagging the dog. Pitchers don’t control the outcomes of balls put in play and all settle in around a the same BABIP over the long haul, so what matters is how little the ball can be put into play. Hitters are judged by getting on base and slugging percentage, so they are looking to walk or launch one. The three true outcomes. The problem is the three true outcomes leads to a (literal) arms race pm the end result of which are watching hitter swing through, foul off, take, or occasionally blast one 97mph fastball after another, and if they are lucky take all the change ups they see. This is dull.

And it takes longer to do it.

And this is why a pitch clock is, at best, a band-aid. The game has changed and a pitch clock isn’t going to change the approach of hitters and pitchers who have had the three true outcomes drilled into them. It will take somebody going against the new book and doing it successfully to even begin to change things and even then they probably won’t change until a new generation comes along, if ever.

All these little changes like no pitches for an intentional walk, having to face multiple batters, a pitch clock do nothing to get to the core of how the game has changed. If anything they just move the game away from the more subtle and interesting game it used to be.

Maybe it’s just a “get off my lawn” moment for me but, after 50+ years of loving the game it’s become a sideshow to me. At this point they may as well just count up the number of HR’s and strikeouts in a game and be done with it.