Strikeouts continue to increase, while league-wide batting averages have declined.There's an endless discussion around the importance of situational hitting, of putting the ball in play, and the supposed lack of talent among modern hitters.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.
If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.This "back in my day" thinking is wrong for any number of reasons, including the mountain of data we now have demonstrating it, but it ignores several key factors that have impacted the on-field product.
Major League Baseball, though, realizes that the reduced run scoring environment doesn't always make for the most exciting viewing.And they're right.DODGERS DYNASTY ON THE BRINK AFTER THE MILWAUKEE BABIP MACHINE DIALS UP ANOTHER WIN FOR BREWERSLos Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman reacts after striking out during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis., on Oct.
12, 2026.(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)One of their initial efforts to combat the surge in run prevention was to restrict infield shifting.
For years, infielders were allowed to stand virtually anywhere, including in some extreme cases, in the middle of the outfield.Those shifts significantly reduced the likelihood of ground balls to the pull side turning into hits, as they had for most of baseball history.The league issued some specific guidelines about extreme positioning, essentially requiring shortstops and second basemen to remain on their side of second base, among other changes.
Mostly, it worked.League-wide, batting averages on ground balls surged after baseball instituted new rules.Here's how it's looked since 2018:While still low, the mid-.240's represents a significant increase from the shift era.
Fans though, might not have noticed...