Thome that predictable?

olerud363 · Apr 2, 2011

Just watching the Twins-Jays game and for Jim Thome's first at-bat the Jays put a shift on him that I don't think I have ever seen. They had the 1B (Lind) in the usual position, the 2B (Hill) in shallow right, the 3B (Nix) at the usual 2B position, the SS (Escobar) at the usual position, and a pretty sizeable hole down the left field line. Thome then lined out to Nix. At the major league level, can't players hit the ball a little better than that, even if they are pull hitters?

- Rod

rebelpawn · Apr 2, 2011

Same thing with David Ortiz. It seems they are too proud to change

scotty21690 · Apr 2, 2011

rebelpawn said:
Same thing with David Ortiz. It seems they are too proud to change

Was going to mention Ortiz as well. It can be frustrating when all they have to do is hit it to the opposite field for a guarenteed base hit and they end up pulling it into the shift.

Even though yesterday was pretty nice seeing him crush it right over the wall, In April I may add.

VizquelCollector.com · Apr 2, 2011

rebelpawn said:
It seems they are too proud to change

I'm not sure you can chalk it up to pride. Regardless it seems to have worked well for Thome and may just get him into the HOF...

saferseas · Apr 2, 2011

olerud363 said:
At the major league level, can't players hit the ball a little better than that, even if they are pull hitters?

- Rod

Most can, but the idea is that the pitcher has this shift in mind, and pitches accordingly. (keeps the ball inside so he has to pull it to make contact.)

notjomommasclint · Apr 2, 2011

dont forget they are pitching them inside. its mighty difficult to hit a ball opposite field when you are a dead pull hitter swinging at a pitch on the inner 1/3rd.

beefycheddar · Apr 2, 2011

One of the first players they ever used the shift on was Ted Williams. Want to complain about his hitting ability?

scotty21690 · Apr 2, 2011

beefycheddar said:
One of the first players they ever used the shift on was Ted Williams. Want to complain about his hitting ability?

The only way they could stop him from getting hits was to add 4 fielders :lol:

smapdi · Apr 2, 2011

Cool Carl Karansky was a victim, too.

ChasHawk · Apr 2, 2011

and Carlos Pena, and Barry Bonds, and Prince Fielder

this shift is employed constantly

olerud363 · Apr 2, 2011

I hadn't considered that the pitchers would be pitching the hitter to pull into the defensive alignment, so the hitter wouldn't get anything that he could drive the other way through a hole. The pull hitters mentioned here, namely Ortiz, Thome, and Ted Williams, also were power hitters. I wonder would it make a difference to put play the defense straight up and just pitch them outside? That way you wouldn't be pitching into their wheelhouse, but I guess the pitcher would really have to be able to paint the outside corners or get the hitter to chase.

What started out just as a comment about a weird defensive alignment in today's Jays-Twins game (i.e. the 3B playing in the 2B position) as got me thinking a little more about hitting. Interesting!

Thanks!

- Rod

All The Hype · Apr 2, 2011

I saw an interview with Ryan Howard last year where he said Barry Bonds once told him not to be discouraged by the shift because if you hit a line drive and it happens to be right at the shift, how can you be upset because you've done your job.

Wrong. Hit the ball into the hole and get on base. That's your job. Exploiting the shift by hitting into the holes a couple times will keep the other team honest and force them to play normal defensive alignment anyway.

Greg Cleveland · Apr 2, 2011

Being a lefty, I've learned how to hit against the shift in softball. Pull the first pitch foul down the first base line, get the shortstop to move closer towards second, then slap the next pitch right where the shortstop was for an easy base hit. Being over 40, you have to use tricks like that.

ronfromfresno · Apr 2, 2011

Why not bunt the ball up the 3B line, force the pitcher to make a nice play to get you out. Do that enough and the other team will have to play you honest.

GiantsSuperCollector · Apr 2, 2011

ronfromfresno said:
Why not bunt the ball up the 3B line, force the pitcher to make a nice play to get you out. Do that enough and the other team will have to play you honest.

They can't run that fast.....

Ryan The Orange · Apr 2, 2011

It's pretty hard to push a 94 mph fastball painted on the inside corner down the opposite foul line.

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