Banning defensive shifts was a radical and fairly idiotic idea, but Major League Baseball’s latest proposal to boost offense could please baseball purists and casual fans alike.
The MLB reportedly is considering altering the strike zone, specifically on the lower end, sources told Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan. The concern is that low strikes have been stifling offense in recent years.
Banning shifts would remove a strategic element from baseball, but there are actual numbers that show that a 1996 change in the strike zone affected offensive production. Runs per game fell to 4.07 in 2014, the lowest they’ve been since 1981.
“Since 2009, the average size of the called strike zone has jumped from 435 square inches to 475 square inches, according to (The Hardball Times’ Jon) Roegele’s research,” Passan wrote. “The results: Pitchers are throwing more in the lower part of the zone, and hitters are swinging at an increased rate, knowing the tough-to-drive pitches will be called strikes.
“Roegele’s study estimated 31 percent of the offensive drought could be attributed to the strike zone while (Florida professor Brian) Mills estimated it’s between 24 percent and 41 percent.”
That change almost two decades ago moved the strike zone from above the knee to below the hollow of the kneecap. At first, it was to encourage umpires to call strikes at the knees. But as technology got better and umpires essentially were graded every night with in-game strike zone graphics, they started calling lower strikes, and pitchers took advantage of that.
The MLB Playing Rules Committee will pay close attention in 2015 to see if low strikes affect the game the same way they did last season. If they do, Passan says we could see a rule change as early as 2016.
However, if the MLB does find a way to increase offense, the next order of business certainly will have to be shortening games.
Thumbnail photo via Scott Rovak/USA TODAY Sports Images
