Werth: "Super-Nerds" are killing baseball

[JC]

My least favorite part of modern baseball is the multiple pitching changes in the same inning. I'd like to see a rule addressing that. It could be as simple as making every pitcher face two batters instead of one.

Can you limit the amount of pitchers per roster? I would prefer that to a minimum batter requirement. It would force starters to go longer, I think.

 

[poindexter]

My least favorite part of modern baseball is the multiple pitching changes in the same inning. I'd like to see a rule addressing that. It could be as simple as making every pitcher face two batters instead of one.

It's brutal.

Just to be flat honest, I do not have the patience to watch a complete MLB game, first pitch to last out. Years and years ago.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Can you limit the amount of pitchers per roster? I would prefer that to a minimum batter requirement. It would force starters to go longer, I think.

I like this idea better. Making pitchers face two batters takes a little strategy out of the game. Limit the number of pitchers on a roster to maybe 11. I remember a kid, teams had 9 or 10 pitchers on the roster. Now they have 12 or 13.

Having less pitchers may also encourage managers to keep pitchers in longer, and if pitchers have to stay on longer, maybe they'll want to ration their pitches a little more and not throw 98 mph the whole tone.

 

[LongTimeListener]

With the state of pitcher health, I don't see anyone going for an idea that makes them throw more pitches.

 

[Spartan Squad]

I like this idea better. Making pitchers face two batters takes a little strategy out of the game. Limit the number of pitchers on a roster to maybe 11. I remember a kid, teams had 9 or 10 pitchers on the roster. Now they have 12 or 13.

Having less pitchers may also encourage managers to keep pitchers in longer, and if pitchers have to stay on longer, maybe they'll want to ration their pitches a little more and not throw 98 mph the whole tone.

There was also a time when you threw maybe two or three pitchers the whole year. Obviously with advancements in health tracking clubs aren't going to be happy about extending work loads.

That said I loathe the one batter and done habit. Perhaps they could mandate teams go with a six-man rotation which would reduce bullpens from 7/8 to 6/7 which doesn't seem like much but could help. Hell teams are already flirting with the idea of 6 starters.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

With the state of pitcher health, I don't see anyone going for an idea that makes them throw more pitches.

True, although I do wonder if they are getting hurt more because they're throwing too hard.

 

[Alma]

It's brutal.

Just to be flat honest, I do not have the patience to watch a complete MLB game, first pitch to last out. Years and years ago.

I’ll watch full games in the playoffs. But that’s about it.

The chess match between pitcher/defense and batter is a lot of fun. I do like that.

 

[swingline]

Can you limit the amount of pitchers per roster? I would prefer that to a minimum batter requirement. It would force starters to go longer, I think.

I could get behind this, but I'd want a 5-day DL as a way to protect overworked relievers, cycling one out and one in every week. If nothing else, it could save pitchers from a Matheny-like manager who rides relievers until they're burnt toast.

 

[cjericho]

And in the 1990s, the way to play pro basketball was to beat the other guys up until they succumbed, and to slow the game down until 90 points was a winning score. People hated watching it. So the NBA changed the rules.

Baseball has this hallowed spot in our sepia-toned memories, so nothing can change about the game ever. Even the stuff that's patently obvious -- like the Astros and lots of other pitchers doctoring the ball -- they won't do anything about it. But unlike in the past, skills and (especially) strength have developed and will continue to develop far beyond the point where the game balances out.

Except if a Golden Boy like Buster Posey gets hurt. Then MLB becomes a bit like Little League.

 

[ThomsonONE]

This is all so easy to fix - deaden the baseball. Home runs are way too easy to hit, which is the root of all these problems. Deaden the ball so the HR leader in each league ends up in the high 30's and occasionally in the low 40's and all the problems will go away. Too many guys that would have been line drive hitters decades ago are swinging for the fences, striking out, trying to hit HRs over shifts etc., all stops if they can't hit HRs.

 

[DanOregon]

In some respects Werth is correct. The "nerds" are focused on making the game as efficient as possible, removing the "luck" out of it. People aren't going to come and watch a game where 2 plus 2 always equals 4. We even have replays now that take bad calls out of the game. In short, the game has become more science than art.

 

[hondo]

I love the shifts, and it would be fun seeing batters devise ways of beating it.

You mean like close your stance and swing inside-out to take it to the opposite field?
It's not hard. They're athletes. They should be able to figure it out.

 

[hondo]

Move the mound back 18 inches.

Or just raise it to pre-1969 level.

 

[poindexter]

You mean like close your stance and swing inside-out to take it to the opposite field?
It's not hard. They're athletes. They should be able to figure it out.

I'm not going to claim to know the specifics of a major league swing, but it isn't always that easy. The pitcher is throwing you a specific pitch that may not be conducive to it.

 

[hondo]

I'm not going to claim to know the specifics of a major league swing, but it isn't always that easy. The pitcher is throwing you a specific pitch that may not be conducive to it.

So, as base coaches have yelled for centuries, "get your pitch."

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

I'm just amazed that after years and years of coaches telling players to stop trying to hit home runs and they'll come to you, now the prevailing strategy is, try and hit home runs.

 

[DanOregon]

Seems the key to beating a shift (at a team level) is getting people on base. I don't understand the tolerance of players whiffing. Not putting the ball in play negates the chance for errors. You get on base, it impacts the shift, opens up more of the field.

 

[LongTimeListener]

So, as base coaches have yelled for centuries, "get your pitch."

You should tell them that. Sure, these are the best hitters in the entire world, but they're probably all forgetting that.

It's easy. Hitting is easy.

 

[JC]

You should tell them that. Sure, these are the best hitters in the entire world, but they're probably all forgetting that.

It's easy. Hitting is easy.

And the pitchers have nothing to do with it.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

The game is more interesting than it was when Werth made his debut.
If anything he should thank the nerds for an intellectual premium on the things Werth did best.
People are talking about the usual nerd rant from an old player, but the more interesting part of that podcast was an inside view of how Amaro Jr. destroyed the quasi Phillies dynasty.