QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Q: Is the defensive shift more popular now than in the past because players in the past would accept the gift and drop down a bunt, something they don’t do today? — TIM, Indian Lake.
A: The shift was first used by Cleveland Indians manager Lou Boudreau against Boston’s Ted Williams. And he refused to bunt but still hit .344 for his career. He did once say that had he bunted against the shift he might have added 20 points to his career stats, but he was stubborn. I shake my head when I see the shift, leaving third base completely open, and the hitter grounds out to the second baseman in short right field. To me it seems not only stubborn, but selfish.
Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy knows a thing or two about our nation’s pastime. Tap into that knowledge by sending an email to halmccoy1@hotmail.com.
Q: Wouldn’t baseball save a lot of time by banning the old-school windup used by Ross Ohlendorf? — DAVE, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek.
A: You, of all people, should love Ohlendorf’s full windup because it goes back to the days of “real baseball.” And banning it because of Ohlendorf wouldn’t save time because he isn’t in games long enough. They should ban the home runs he gives up because of the time it takes for runners to circle the bases.
Q: Do you see the National League adopting the designated hitter because the NL is at a disadvantage when it plays in American League parks? — FRANK, Centerville, Ind.
A: That’s something that has to be negotiated between the owners and players. The current basic agreement expires after 2017 and there is talk the players want the DH adopted in both leagues. That means more jobs. Right now the leagues play different games with the DH in one league and not the other. I wish the owners would hold out to eliminate the DH entirely, but the owners never beat the players in negotiations, so get ready for the DH in the NL.
Q: Wasn’t the designated hitter rule suggested a long time before it was put into play? — MARIO, Austin, Tex.
A: It almost appeared in the National League in 1928 when NL president John Heydler proposed it. But the owners in both leagues quickly shot it down. Too bad those same owners weren’t around when the American League adopted it in 1973.
Q: Any chance the Reds weren’t trying their best when they lost three straight to the Mets because they would rather see the Mets and Jay Bruce make the playoffs than the Cardinals? — CHRIS, Dayton.
A: No chance. Yes, the Reds loved Jay Bruce, but they liked former teammate Mike Leake of the Cardinals, too. They’ve now lost 14 straight to the Mets and that’s embarrassing enough to be an incentive to win. But if the Mets beat out the Cardinals for a wild card spot the Mets should send the Reds some free tickets to Fiddler on the Roof, because the Reds certainly fiddle around against the Mets.
Q: Have you ever seen a team look so good one day and so bad the next like the Reds? — WORDMAN, Troy.
A: All the time. As players like to say, “That’s baseball.” Most of the time it is pitching, who the Reds face one day and who they face the next. And it is also who the Reds pitch one day and who they pitch the next. As I tell my wife, Nadine, all the time, in baseball, the worst team can beat the best team on any given day, but not all the time.
Q: Given that it is another decrease of freedom for the sake of safety, how do you think fans will react to more protective netting stretched behind home plate, limiting their chance at ruining $30 slacks for a $3 baseball? — PAUL, Kettering.
A: Let me know where you shop to get a nice pair of slacks for $30. And baseballs these days cost $30, not $3. MLB uses 900,000 balls a year at a cost of $5.5 million. But I digress. A fan who attends Dayton Dragons games told me the extended netting bothered him at first, but he soon adjusted and watched games without realizing he was watching through a screen.
Q: Why don’t major-league teams use the squeeze play more often? — CURT, Dayton.
A: It is one of baseball’s more exciting plays, but you seldom see it. The risk factor is high — a pitchout, the batter missing the ball or missing the sign and swinging away. Most managers would rather take a chance on a sacrifice fly, a grounder to the right side or a hit. Unfortunately, today’s game is more about power than finesse and too many major leaguers can’t bunt.
Q: Can you project the Reds’ 2018 Opening Day lineup? — RICK, Cincinnati.
A: 2018? I can’t even project the 2017 lineup. Nobody can. There are too many factors. There are more trades to be made, some free-agent signings at hand, career-ending injuries, development of minor league players. You can’t even project a starting rotation, let alone a lineup. If you can, please apply immediately for the general manager’s job.
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