Brainstorm Tread

[Cedrique]

So maybe we make the analytics not say 'swing for the fences' quite as much by...

---Deadening the ball more to decrease homeruns
---Possibly raise or move the walls back a bit
(But that hurts hitters, which we counter by...)
---lowering the mound
---moving mound back
---making ball stitches more visible
(all of which should increase BAs)

The hoped for result would be more singles and doubles and less homeruns.
Which means more emphasis on baserunning, strategy, fundamentals.

Every sport has to adapt as time goes by

Yeah making the analytics say "not swinging for the fences" is exactly what would have to happen. In baseball teams have unique ballparks so they can change dimensions, which makes a certain style of play more or less effective. So maybe if a group of small market teams colluded to make their ballparks less home run friendly it may change things. In the 70's and early 80's there were teams that played in places like KC and the Astrodome where homeruns were scarce and doubles and triples and stolen bases were more valuable. But I think since Camden yards opened up, most of the new stadiums have been more homer friendly. (although this year the Orioles moved the left field fence back a good bit.)