MLB Strikeouts

If HRs hadn't exploded over the past two years, running scoring would be completely in the toilet. Homeruns per batted ball is actually higher than the steroid era, all the strikeouts keeps the total slightly lower. It is definitely the "three true outcome" era. I enjoy baseball as much as ever, but if balls in play continue to shrink, it could be a problem for baseball.

Almost 60% of Miguel Sano and Joey Gallo's at-bats end in a strikeout, walk or homer. That's crazy.

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What happened to our grand game?

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Back in the 50s a MLB team carried 8 pitchers. Now they carry 12 or 13. Pitchers throw far fewer innings so they don't need to pace themselves.

Exactly. Sports evolve. WestCoast, you are spot on with basketball. Football has changed too. Passing records aren't as sacred, running backs that tote the ball 25+ times a game are rare, and it's not uncommon to throw on third and 1.

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same thing that happened to basketball. everything is at the rim or behind the arc because of efficiency. people have found out that its ok to sacrifice on batting average if it leads to more power and you can walk more to offset

i personally dont think theres anything wrong with it, its just changing

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This.

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1. Expansion has deluded the talent pool. AAA players are now playing MLB.

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I don't think that is true at all.

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2. Players are swinging for the fences. HR cuts lead to more Ks. Pitchers know this and exploit it. Batting averages are down. The line drive gap hitters are now few and far between because everyone thinks they are a HR hitter.

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That is absolutely true. Velocity has increased and the response from hitters is to swing harder.

Strikeouts are fricking boring. HRs aren't all that great either. Give me a ball in the gap with a runner on first and replay play at the plate.

MLB looks like the Little League World Series. All strikeouts until the big guy hits one over the bushes.

Extra innings are absolutely brutal. Home teams in particular go up there exclusively looking to hit a walk off jack.

This will all change during the postseason when teams put more emphasis on small ball, but during the grind of the regular season it is glorified home run derby.

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If HRs hadn't exploded over the past two years, running scoring would be completely in the toilet.

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I don't have any proof but I firmly believe they''re juicing the balls again. Home run rates last year was at its highest point since 2000 and it's gone up even more this year even though it isn't even summer yet when balls really start to carry.

Teams and players are starting to understand what plays are more valuable and adjusting their strategies to incorporate that. Makes perfect sense to me.

IMO there has been an over correction to 3 outcomes guys. Putting the ball in play puts pressure on fielders to make plays when that pressure is there people screw up.

Having been a fan of a team that has gone from 3 outcomes to a more consistent contact model it is much more enjoyable to watch+getting long innings put together by stringing together hits is fun to watch and completely demoralizing on the opposite side of it(2015 Alds vs the royals)

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Putting the ball in play puts pressure on fielders to make plays when that pressure is there people screw up.

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true at lower levels, but MLB players are the best at what they do

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Carlos Correa committed an error in the 8th of the 2015 ALDS that scored 2 runs and allowed the go ahead run to 3rd. If he makes that play the Royals are eliminated.

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The Royals won the World Series by having a dominant bull pen for the last three innings, and putting the ball in play to make the defense work.

That being said, I don't think this is as big a problem as people are making it out to be in this thread. There are still a lot of great contact hitters in baseball. And there's always a Joey Gallo or two out there.