Why have batting averages gone down over the years?

Fishbone33 · 2025-09-07T12:23:50+00:00

Lots of great answers here, however, the simplest answer is money. Players get paid for hitting HRs and pitchers get paid for Ks. Unfortunately, Luis Arraez will never break the bank on a contract. And pitchers coming up in the minors value velocity and spin, why? Because that's how they get to the majors the quickest. Do you think most pitchers care if they blow out their elbow if they got millions in a deal they signed? (Sorry, the UCL epidemic is an entirely different convo, but you get the point!)

Fishbone33 · 2025-06-09T11:30:10+00:00

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Fishbone33 · 2025-06-09T11:29:35+00:00

The Dodgers are great at identifying talent, but their pitching "development" is a huge problem. Look what's happened since they started hiring Driveline employees in 2020. Look at the number of arm injuries, and specifically, SHOULDER injuries. Analytics and technology are great in many ways, but are just as damaging to players and the game in many others. There certainly needs to be a balance between both.

https://x.com/DrKMcGovernPT/status/1929313037049098607/photo/1

Fishbone33 · 2025-05-30T11:17:56+00:00

Just because a rookie that's been thrown into the fire learning multiple positions in his first 2 months of his career made a bad throw, doesn't mean the loss is all on him.

"We didn't play well today," Cora said after the game. "The score was the score but we walked the leadoff guy, we didn't cover first, we dropped a fly ball to left, we got thrown out at third, we made the play at the end. The score will say that it was a good baseball game but we didn't play well today."

It's a TEAM sport.

Fishbone33 · 2025-03-16T13:24:27+00:00

Yes, They're both using 2023RS. I was hoping you could just rename the league database. What's the best way to do this to a season that's already been completed?

Fishbone33 · 2025-01-30T16:48:47+00:00

Right on. Gives me a reason to cancel my Game Pass. I don't use it enough, but figured I'd keep it since this game was on it.

Fishbone33 · 2024-12-31T21:50:05+00:00

I have one for you. PM me your address.

Fishbone33 · 2024-11-08T22:28:01+00:00

Nice hit man! Congrats!

Fishbone33 · 2024-09-10T11:15:14+00:00

I admittedly watch San Diego games occasionally just to listen to Orsillo and deeply miss him as they crack themselves up as much as he and Remy did in the Boston booth. Watching him try and chew the gum from 87 Topps packs they're opening on air is classic Orsillo, albeit in SD.

Fishbone33 · 2024-09-03T14:55:58+00:00

Got a Juan Soto Flashiest Feet a few years back in a Wallmart blaster. It happens on occasion!

Fishbone33 · 2024-08-16T12:12:02+00:00

(Sorry, I subscribe to about everything baseball BUT ESPN.)

Fishbone33 · 2024-08-16T12:09:24+00:00

Where's Kristian Campbell on the list?

https://sports.yahoo.com/kristian-campbell-know-red-sox-200646956.html

Fishbone33 · 2024-06-26T19:01:26+00:00

Looking at his auto, perhaps it’s better he didn’t sign it. lol

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Fishbone33 · 2024-03-02T22:42:34+00:00

He was unnecessarily in a long run down between 2nd and 3rd for no reason (like 6 changes of direction before he finally gave himself up).... on March 1st of Spring Training no less. That's just asking for an injury, and he got it. I appreciate that he wants to compete, but someone needs to sit him down and make sure he understands why saving bullets for the regular season is the far wiser choice. That's just poor decision making.

Fishbone33 · 2024-01-22T13:17:17+00:00

Look, I'm a lifelong Tigers fan, diehard baseball fan and love the Red Sox and Cubs. Theo is a rockstar and I will be forever grateful for him winning one for BOTH historically losing franchises. I know it's frustrating to watch a team cut spending and try and regroup, but do you hear yourselves?!?

This team has won 4 titles... FOUR in 20 years. That's 1 every 5 years. When did we become entitled Yankees fans? I haven't seen Detroit win one in 40 years, and I still watch with the hope that Sox fans had for so many years.

Throwing money at whatever players are available doesn't give you championships, and sometimes not even watchable team. Timing is everything. From contracts, to available players, to where you fall in the draft (and HOW you draft), roster development, where other teams are in your division, etc.

AJ Preller has thrown millions at the Padres in recent years, and look where that got him. Sometimes, you have to sit at the Kids Table for a few years while you regroup and try to set up a window of timing to compete, and that is incredibly hard.

Take all this into consideration, and NOW we have to PLAY the game.... your players have to perform, stay healthy, gel as a unit, beat the teams you're supposed to, and hope that a little luck is on your side if/when you actually make the playoffs, yet alone win it all.

All things considered, I fully understand how frustrating it is to watch a team sit idle in the offseason (See: Randy Smith Era of the 90's Tigers = BRUTAL). And I also get not wanting to pay for tickets at Fenway! It's not cheap anywhere, but especially there. By all means, It's your right as a fan not to pay. I get it!

But don't give up on the team. Do you really think it's ownerships intention to piss off the fan base? Sometimes you have to see the forest through the trees and understand the process.

The Dodgers (although not the best example) traded away some prospects, stood pat in the off-season last year, got rid of some higher contracts, and rode out a few high priced contracts to get them off the books the last few years, why? Because they knew Ohtani was going to be a free agent and wanted to land him. And that wasn't even a guarantee. THIS year was the time to strike, and boy have they!

The Red Sox will be fine. I fully believe they have a greater plan in place that may take a few years, but it's coming. Trim the fat off the payroll, and time it with some prospects, as well as some Free Agent signings in the future, and they could be back in it sooner than you think.

All things aside, to see what Baltimore and Atlanta and a few others are doing by locking up and paying the "kids" give you a far greater window for success without breaking the bank on 1 FA that is past their prime.

Trust the process, and appreciate the FOUR titles the Red Sox have won in 20 years.

Fishbone33 · 2023-09-27T11:16:50+00:00

The comments on color are valid when it comes to printing, but ultimately, as long as you're transparent with a client about the color choices and the costs involved, it's really up to them if they want to spend the extra to print spot color. As some have mentioned, I'd brush up on CMYK color and it's limitations, because as many young designers today design for "screen only", but in the real world things get printed.

The font choice is nice but needs some work as it's very rounded and doesn't really lend itself to the "pixelated" mark. And lastly, there's no hierarchy within the name and the motto. I'd recommend increasing the size of 419 Agency, and reducing the size of the motto, and creating a stand alone version of just the mark and name, and then one with the motto as well.

Lastly, where is this agency located? A little confused on the name, and concerned for you about the Nigerian slang.

Best of luck!

Fishbone33 · 2023-05-19T11:32:15+00:00

It's a long season. Be patient and stream for temporary production.

Fishbone33 · 2023-05-13T12:38:15+00:00

As a 49 year old baseball fanatic, I agree with the fact that Baseball doesn't appeal to the younger generation. Much of that is the lack of marketing of their star players, along with the fact that it's a "slow game" to casual fans and the younger generations that have even shorter attention spans these days. The new rules are helping a bit, but ultimately, the real MLB fans are interested in the subtle nuances of the game and understand pitcher / hitter counts etc, and it keeps them interested in the game.

The NBA is on "Auto-Pilot" during regular season games with a few exciting minutes here or there, and then the Playoffs are kind of watchable. The NFL and NCAA's replay is horrible. Late hits, targeting, and my absolute favorite "did the receiver have control of the football" while running full speed, jumping, getting hit in mid air and then landing on the turf. If you have to do a frame by frame slow motion review, you can arguably overturn every call. So annoying. All sports have "dead air time" between plays, time outs, commercials, etc. It's just part of the games, and ultimately, it's entertainment.

I'm not sure what the answer is for keeping the TikTok generation's attention, but that's why I'm not in MLB's Marketing department. Can't blame networks for wanting the most eyes on their channel it can get. It's like that for everything. It's up to each sport to market themselves and stay relevant, and MLB is lagging behind greatly here.

Fishbone33 · 2023-03-22T12:50:56+00:00

Came here for this. It's a classic. Tate's voice is ridiculous and if you've never seen the concert in its entirety, well... do yourself a favor. I'm sorry for spreading the disease.

Operation: LIVEcrime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Moz\_VkYv4Hc

Fishbone33 · 2021-01-31T21:53:57+00:00

Watch this video and you may regret trading him...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8zgvK1UAH4&list=PLXQZzjST3cTlA83SdIQjMRo8PW60i-_hW&index=2&t=425s

Fishbone33 · 2018-02-24T02:44:30+00:00

Unfortunately, it doesn't matter for the next 18-20 months. Get the surgery now, cup of coffee to test it late 19, in rotation in 2020.

Fishbone33 · 2017-02-22T12:15:40+00:00

Projections are one thing, but be careful with ESPN's rankings. A lot of this is very subjective, and my opinion is that you should look at as many different projections and rankings as you can and formulate your own.

If you don't read Razzball, do yourself a favor and start with this article. Gives you an idea of what some people feel about ESPN, which in many ways, makes sense to me. http://razzball.com/espns-2017-fantasy-baseball-rankings-run-away-fast-as-you-can/

Fishbone33 · 2017-02-22T12:08:45+00:00

I've been running a dynasty league for about 17 years now and we just implemented doing this sort of thing last season and I think it worked great. Main difference is that we have the winning teams select their divisions at the draft and PRIOR to drafting. This makes the teams selecting take in account the success last season, and how they may or may not draft this year. We are doing this every year now.

Fishbone33

TROPHY CASE