We've just entered the second month of baseball and I'm really enjoying this young season. So much so that I ended up staying awake till 5:45 A.M. last night to write this article. Anyways, after discussion with the other baseball writers on this blog, we decided that we will do "monthly takeaway" articles where each of us are assigned a different month to share our insight of what's going on in the baseball world. I get to hit lead-off for this so hopefully I don't disappoint.
These articles could vary from player/team analysis, rumor talks, or even media focuses. The possibilities are endless! In this piece though, I share the first three thoughts that come to mind when someone asks me what's going on in baseball nowadays.
Thought 1: Bryce Harper continues to impress, and the argument that he's best in the game is sound.
Harper's been the center of much hate since he entered the league. People constantly claim he's arrogant, brash, and a straight up jerk. But let's not let our personal opinion of his character cloud our judgment when we're trying to assess his talent as a baseball player. To put it simply, he's phenomenal and may actually be the best player in the MLB... at only 23 years old. The Mike Trout/Bryce Harper debate has always been the focus of baseball since the two entered the big leagues, and I think it's time to give the younger stud a little more credit. Harper's grown into his frame as he ages and a power surge has come with this. On top of that, Harper is improving his at-bats by getting fooled on pitches less often, something that's probably come from experience and studying how pitchers approach him. What's really catching my eye this year though, is Bryce's advances outside of the batter's box. He's showing better speed on the base path as he's already stolen five bags. On top of that, he looks fully comfortable in right field as he confidently judges fly balls much faster.
It's still too early in the season to make a verdict on who is better, but let's not sleep on Harper because one may not be a fan of his personality. People are quick to discount him simply because they don't like what attitude he embodies. You certainly don't have to become a fan of the guy, but just admit that he's a damn good player.
Thought 2: A-Rod's age may finally be catching up to him.
I think I just like talking about unpopular players. Anyway...
Alex Rodriguez enjoyed a really successful season last year where he hit over 30 home-runs. A lot of his return to relevance was due to the fact that he used his baseball I.Q. to successfully guess pitches better than he ever has in his entire career. However, this year he's struggling mightily at the plate and is even averaging over a strikeout a game (1.12)! Based on the eye test, I'd guess that his problems come from a slowed bat speed that's giving him a hard time to catch up to pitches.
Now there are a couple of ways to look at this:
1. I'm placing too much emphasis on one figure. A-Rod has had a history of striking out a good amount. In fact, even in his successful 2015 campaign Rodriguez still amassed 145 strikeouts. But was that a bad season? Not at all! This could just be a small sample size and a rough month.
or...
2. His reduced bat speed points to a larger issue of him not being as physically capable as before - which would make complete sense. He's already 40 years old and will be hitting 41 in less than two months. If his body is starting to fail him now, it could end up being a long season with a lot of disappointing trips to the dugout.
Right now I'm leaning towards the second option, but it's still too early for me to confidently support that claim. People have good and bad months all the time (in any sport really). Who knows? Maybe he'll hit mid-season form soon and go back to clearing fences again. It'd be foolish of me to automatically give up on someone as talented and learned as Alex Rodriguez.
Thought 3: Traditionalists are more annoying than ever
Maybe I'm the one who is just too radical, but traditionalists just seem to have a problem with absolutely everything. From enforcing unwritten rules, to disregarding sabermetrics, and now refusing to accept adjustments simply because it's a form of change is asinine to me.
The first of my complaints was brought to light when Bryce Harper started his "make baseball fun again" campaign. While I admit Harper is walking the line of disrespecting opponents, his intention is to bring more emotion into the game so that players and fans alike get heavily invested (something I mentioned in an earlier article). I'm certainly not a fan of teams or players that try to show their opponents up, but I honestly don't see what's wrong with what Harper has to say. He should be commended for trying to save his sport, but traditionalists are too busy holding onto old ideals to even care for that. The average fan of baseball is 55 years old. That's not a formula for sustainability so something has to change.
Another thing traditionalists have a problem doing is adapting to sabermetrics. I'm not saying every team has to embrace them, but why does there need to be a war between traditionalists and those who study sabermetrics? In my mind, there's absolutely nothing better than the eye test when it comes to analyzing the talent of a player. But sabermetrics assist in helping us understand what our eyes see, and may even point out things that would have gone unnoticed otherwise. As a fan, it educates me and gives me a better understanding of the game and the players in it. There really shouldn't be a problem with that.
Lastly, the "Chase Utley rule" has caused uproars in the baseball community. Traditionalists find this rule change despicable and are quick to condemn all those who support it. I, however, couldn't disagree more.
I don't care if this is a "soft" view and that baseball is meant for hard and tough athletes. If a sport can find ways to avoid injury, you have to go that direction. These are peoples' careers we're potentially saving by making a minor rule change. Careers that put food on the table for families. Careers that give those families a roof over their head. Careers that people have tirelessly worked their entire lives to reaching.
Some traditionalists fight change so much that its become really worrisome. I believe having some tradition in anything is good, as in some instances it helps you remember your roots and gives something to build upon. But everything in life needs some form of moderation. Don't fight change just for the sake of avoiding change; let things progress so that we can end up with a better game to follow.
* Chengez wrote a really good article on a topic very similar to this that I'd highly recommend reading.
These articles could vary from player/team analysis, rumor talks, or even media focuses. The possibilities are endless! In this piece though, I share the first three thoughts that come to mind when someone asks me what's going on in baseball nowadays.
Thought 1: Bryce Harper continues to impress, and the argument that he's best in the game is sound.
 |
| It was hard for me to expect much improvement from Harper since he just came off of an incredible MVP season, but he sure proved me wrong. |
It's still too early in the season to make a verdict on who is better, but let's not sleep on Harper because one may not be a fan of his personality. People are quick to discount him simply because they don't like what attitude he embodies. You certainly don't have to become a fan of the guy, but just admit that he's a damn good player.
Thought 2: A-Rod's age may finally be catching up to him.
 |
| Has this month simply been a slow start, or signs of a finishing career? |
Alex Rodriguez enjoyed a really successful season last year where he hit over 30 home-runs. A lot of his return to relevance was due to the fact that he used his baseball I.Q. to successfully guess pitches better than he ever has in his entire career. However, this year he's struggling mightily at the plate and is even averaging over a strikeout a game (1.12)! Based on the eye test, I'd guess that his problems come from a slowed bat speed that's giving him a hard time to catch up to pitches.
Now there are a couple of ways to look at this:
1. I'm placing too much emphasis on one figure. A-Rod has had a history of striking out a good amount. In fact, even in his successful 2015 campaign Rodriguez still amassed 145 strikeouts. But was that a bad season? Not at all! This could just be a small sample size and a rough month.
or...
2. His reduced bat speed points to a larger issue of him not being as physically capable as before - which would make complete sense. He's already 40 years old and will be hitting 41 in less than two months. If his body is starting to fail him now, it could end up being a long season with a lot of disappointing trips to the dugout.
Right now I'm leaning towards the second option, but it's still too early for me to confidently support that claim. People have good and bad months all the time (in any sport really). Who knows? Maybe he'll hit mid-season form soon and go back to clearing fences again. It'd be foolish of me to automatically give up on someone as talented and learned as Alex Rodriguez.
Thought 3: Traditionalists are more annoying than ever
Maybe I'm the one who is just too radical, but traditionalists just seem to have a problem with absolutely everything. From enforcing unwritten rules, to disregarding sabermetrics, and now refusing to accept adjustments simply because it's a form of change is asinine to me.
The first of my complaints was brought to light when Bryce Harper started his "make baseball fun again" campaign. While I admit Harper is walking the line of disrespecting opponents, his intention is to bring more emotion into the game so that players and fans alike get heavily invested (something I mentioned in an earlier article). I'm certainly not a fan of teams or players that try to show their opponents up, but I honestly don't see what's wrong with what Harper has to say. He should be commended for trying to save his sport, but traditionalists are too busy holding onto old ideals to even care for that. The average fan of baseball is 55 years old. That's not a formula for sustainability so something has to change.
Another thing traditionalists have a problem doing is adapting to sabermetrics. I'm not saying every team has to embrace them, but why does there need to be a war between traditionalists and those who study sabermetrics? In my mind, there's absolutely nothing better than the eye test when it comes to analyzing the talent of a player. But sabermetrics assist in helping us understand what our eyes see, and may even point out things that would have gone unnoticed otherwise. As a fan, it educates me and gives me a better understanding of the game and the players in it. There really shouldn't be a problem with that.
Lastly, the "Chase Utley rule" has caused uproars in the baseball community. Traditionalists find this rule change despicable and are quick to condemn all those who support it. I, however, couldn't disagree more.
I don't care if this is a "soft" view and that baseball is meant for hard and tough athletes. If a sport can find ways to avoid injury, you have to go that direction. These are peoples' careers we're potentially saving by making a minor rule change. Careers that put food on the table for families. Careers that give those families a roof over their head. Careers that people have tirelessly worked their entire lives to reaching.
 |
| To those who are against the rule change, figure out what's more important to you: safety & livelihood, or a show of acting tough? |
* Chengez wrote a really good article on a topic very similar to this that I'd highly recommend reading.
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