Goodnight, sweet prince. The infield shift had a good run, but it’s over now with MLB reportedly moving to ban the practice beginning in 2023. MLB will also institute a pitch clock (14 seconds with bases empty, 19 with runners on) in an effort to speed up games.
The shift’s effectiveness is undeniable with virtually every team employing some version of it to combat pull hitters, especially left-handers. Phillies great Ryan Howard appeared to be on a Hall-of-Fame trajectory until teams started shifting him, neutralizing the former MVP by stacking the right side of the infield. It’s had a similarly negative effect on All-Star outfielder Joey Gallo, who jokingly updated his LinkedIn profile to reflect this shortcoming.
Once news broke of MLB’s plans to do away with the shift, it didn’t take long for the Yankees slugger to start trending on social media with the Twitter peanut gallery cracking plenty of jokes at Gallo’s expense.
MLB’s emphasis is clear, prioritizing offense to keep fans engaged as the sport seeks to reinvent itself amid a decline in popularity. Some, including Dodgers ace Trevor Bauer, see the shift ban as an overreaction, believing players at the major league level should be capable of hitting to all fields (Matt Carpenter once famously beat the shift by rolling a bunt down the third-base line for a rare infield double). However, others view it as an improvement to the game’s aesthetic, making for a better and vastly more entertaining on-field product.
With teams now prohibited from crowding the right side, Gallo should see his batting average rise north of the Mendoza line after sinking to an anemic .199 last season.
Related
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram