No shift settings

perez24 · 05-04-2022, 06:25 PM

Anyone have any thoughts on what the settings should be when the shift is abolished? I made it through 2022 (glorious 68 wins for the Reds!) and I think it's going away in MLB next year.

MathBandit · 05-04-2022, 06:33 PM

In League Settings -> Stats & AI, there's an option near the bottom on the left for "Ban Infield Shifts".

Pelican · 05-04-2022, 06:36 PM

Yes. I banned IF shifts, because I think they make a mockery of the game. OF shifts are fine, and have always been part of the game.

You must be a genius to win 68 games with this Reds team! Did you make trades?
Sign free agents? Change ratings?

perez24 · 05-04-2022, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelican

Yes. I banned IF shifts, because I think they make a mockery of the game. OF shifts are fine, and have always been part of the game.

You must be a genius to win 68 games with this Reds team! Did you make trades?
Sign free agents? Change ratings?

Nick Senzel may have gotten a little boost and didn't get hurt once! Actually I didn't tweak anyone else. Votto remained below the Mendoza line the whole year and Moustakos (sp?) went nuts at the end and got up to ~.230 BA. Didn't really trade for anyone because no one wanted any of the guys I wanted to trade.

Did you do any adjustment to the league offense settings?

MathBandit · 05-04-2022, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelican

Yes. I banned IF shifts, because I think they make a mockery of the game. OF shifts are fine, and have always been part of the game.

You must be a genius to win 68 games with this Reds team! Did you make trades?
Sign free agents? Change ratings?

Aren't we at the point where IF shifts have been in the game for 100 years now that they've "always been part of the game"?

MikeS369 · 05-04-2022, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelican

Yes. I banned IF shifts, because I think they make a mockery of the game. OF shifts are fine, and have always been part of the game.

You must be a genius to win 68 games with this Reds team! Did you make trades?
Sign free agents? Change ratings?

I like the shift as long as the infielders have their toes on the dirt. I watched a Seattle/Houston game where Seattle placed an infielder as a 4 outfielder. Not the second baseman in shallow right but a legit outfielder. Oh and they did have a guy in shallow right with the third baseman playing on the 2B side of 2B.

MathBandit · 05-04-2022, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeS369

I like the shift as long as the infielders have their toes on the dirt. I watched a Seattle/Houston game where Seattle placed an infielder as a 4 outfielder. Not the second baseman in shallow right but a legit outfielder. Oh and they did have a guy in shallow right with the third baseman playing on the 2B side of 2B.

Toronto does that for seemingly at least 20% of opposing hitters. I love it.

md40022 · 05-04-2022, 07:48 PM

The obnoxious IF shifts where infielders are playing short outfield and entire halves of the field are open all goes away really fast if hitters could learn to get down a bunt.

When those crazy shifts are on, they are literally gift wrapping 1st base for the batter if he could get a bunt down...... but bunting's not sexy, so he prefers to swing away and hit the ball exactly where they know he's going to hit it. I have trouble feeling any sympathy for offenses in those circumstances.

In the NFL and NBA as an offense or defense makes a change the opposing side of the ball is constantly evolving their philosophy to counter-act. Baseball does the same thing with pitcher / hitter matchups. It's all a game of chess..... until it comes to beating the shift, at which point the offense stops playing chess and goes back to the caveman days with a big club, beating the ball right into the shift.

Go 3 for 4 in game 1 of the series with 3 bunt singles to the side of the field where nobody is within a mile of and the shift stops. If it doesn't stop, go 3 for 4 in game 2 of the series with 3 bunt singles...... and then the shift definitely stops.

MikeS369 · 05-04-2022, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MathBandit

Toronto does that for seemingly at least 20% of opposing hitters. I love it.

Your right. I think it was Toronto. I'm not a fan of a 4th outfielder.

perez24 · 05-06-2022, 05:16 AM

Thanks for the replies!

Would it make sense the league offensive settings should have to change, e.g., more singles or higher BA or something? If so, did any of you change it?

MathBandit · 05-06-2022, 08:07 AM

I will never be banning the shift in my games so can't comment on that.

I believe I saw a post from someone who tested it though and they said it was a VERY small bump to Batting Average, which is about what I expect in MLB as well - taking away the ability to play strategically for basically no change to the result.

Syd Thrift · 05-07-2022, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perez24

Thanks for the replies!

Would it make sense the league offensive settings should have to change, e.g., more singles or higher BA or something? If so, did any of you change it?

I believe someone did look at offenses with and without the shift; the difference was around 5 points of batting average. This is pretty well in line with real life, given that BABIP is like 10 whole points lower now than it was when nobody used shifts circa 2016.

perez24 · 05-07-2022, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

I believe someone did look at offenses with and without the shift; the difference was around 5 points of batting average. This is pretty well in line with real life, given that BABIP is like 10 whole points lower now than it was when nobody used shifts circa 2016.

Thanks. I may just move settings back to 2016.

05-04-2022, 06:25 PM	#1
perez24 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: various Posts: 203	No shift settings Anyone have any thoughts on what the settings should be when the shift is abolished? I made it through 2022 (glorious 68 wins for the Reds!) and I think it's going away in MLB next year.

05-04-2022, 07:48 PM	#8
md40022 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 740 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	The obnoxious IF shifts where infielders are playing short outfield and entire halves of the field are open all goes away really fast if hitters could learn to get down a bunt. When those crazy shifts are on, they are literally gift wrapping 1st base for the batter if he could get a bunt down...... but bunting's not sexy, so he prefers to swing away and hit the ball exactly where they know he's going to hit it. I have trouble feeling any sympathy for offenses in those circumstances. In the NFL and NBA as an offense or defense makes a change the opposing side of the ball is constantly evolving their philosophy to counter-act. Baseball does the same thing with pitcher / hitter matchups. It's all a game of chess..... until it comes to beating the shift, at which point the offense stops playing chess and goes back to the caveman days with a big club, beating the ball right into the shift. Go 3 for 4 in game 1 of the series with 3 bunt singles to the side of the field where nobody is within a mile of and the shift stops. If it doesn't stop, go 3 for 4 in game 2 of the series with 3 bunt singles...... and then the shift definitely stops. Last edited by md40022; 05-04-2022 at 07:53 PM.

05-04-2022, 06:33 PM	#2
MathBandit All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 1,445	In League Settings -> Stats & AI, there's an option near the bottom on the left for "Ban Infield Shifts".

05-04-2022, 06:36 PM	#3
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,909	Yes. I banned IF shifts, because I think they make a mockery of the game. OF shifts are fine, and have always been part of the game. You must be a genius to win 68 games with this Reds team! Did you make trades? Sign free agents? Change ratings?

05-06-2022, 05:16 AM	#10
perez24 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: various Posts: 203	Thanks for the replies! Would it make sense the league offensive settings should have to change, e.g., more singles or higher BA or something? If so, did any of you change it?

05-06-2022, 08:07 AM	#11
MathBandit All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 1,445	I will never be banning the shift in my games so can't comment on that. I believe I saw a post from someone who tested it though and they said it was a VERY small bump to Batting Average, which is about what I expect in MLB as well - taking away the ability to play strategically for basically no change to the result.