Just when I had a whole article written about Spencer Tunrbull’s no hitter making it the fifth of the season, Corey Kluber came out and threw another one the next night. After the back to back no-nos, baseball has to be in a state of panic that pitching is going to ruin the game.
No Hitters so Far:
Jose Musgroves Padres (April 9)
Carlos Rodon White Sox (April 14)
John Means Orioles (May 5)
Wade Miley Reds (May 7)
Spencer Turnbull Detroit (May 18)
Corey Kluber Yankees (May 19)
Madison Bumgarner Arizona (not official)
Consider this: It is currently May 20, we are 50 games into the MLB season, there have already been six (seven if you count Bumgarner’s) no hitters. The most no-hitters ever in a season is 8, and we are on track to have over 20 with the current pace . Completing a no hitter has always been a huge accomplishment, something the baseball world only gets to celebrate a few times a year, but we’ve seen them so often this season they are rapidly losing value.
In recent years baseball has taken a turn towards a pitchers game, and in 2021it has gone that way further than ever before. In April, there were 1,092 more strikeouts than hits. The average batting average and number of home runs are down. We are seeing more strikeouts than ever before. This pitching dominance takes away the fun of baseball. Seeing constant 2-0, 3-1 games are not what fans want. No one wants to spend four hours watching a game only to see constant strikeouts, pitcher changes, and slow play.
The lack of hits but ever lengthened games are driving viewers away. An MLB executive said baseball is in an existential crisis: “In the next five years we’ll either be the national pastime or a niche sport.” It has become increasingly clear that MLB leaders need to take some kind of action. I am not sure what exactly this action is, but they have to figure out a way to get batters hitting again and game times down.
Rob Manfred and the MLB have been attempting some new ideas in the minors to see if they would work in the big leagues. Limiting the shift is a major rule change that would open up more holes for singles and doubles, bringing back some offense. It should also appease fans that complain of long game times because they will begin to see much more action. They are also enlarging the bases to encourage stealing.
One reason games have been taking so long is because of the increasing time between pitches. To fix this and help keep the game on track, a pitch clock is needed. Although pitchers would likely be against the clock, they will just have to accept it. A timed clock is not some kind of crazy idea, it is around in plenty of other sports and works. In the NFL you can’t just wait around forever to snap the ball and in the NBA you can’t just dribble the ball out. Implementing a pitch clock would be good for the game of baseball.
Baseball also needs to find a way to stay relevant in American culture. Every American, even non football fans, knows who Tom Brady is. However if you ask them if they knew who Mike Trout is, baseball’s best current player, very few non baseball fans would have any idea. The NFL has figured out a way to market their players, something the MLB lags in. Fernando Tatis Jr and Shohei Ohtani are some of the most fun MLB players. MLB needs to find a way to market the heck out of these guys, especially with younger fans, to draw more viewers in.
Baseball is in a crisis right now because of the lack of hitting and pitching dominance. Pitchers have all the power and are taking away the fun of the game. Baseball needs to get it together fast or they will be caught looking on strike three.
Comentários