Quote Originally Posted by Rex54 View Post
That's fine, stay anti-intellectual. Some guy's get off my lawn opinions vs the standard practice league wide. Do you truly not think that the players and organizations aren't approaching hitting the way that they are because that's what is required to maximize run production? Do you think there is just a league wide "durrr I'm just gunna swing for the fence and pull ball because going oppo is weak"? Do you think teams are actively trying to not win games?

Brunswick firmly in the small brain camp.
You couldn't be more wrong. It's not about a strategy - it's about lack of skill. Where Mattingly is spot on is that this is an issue that started 15 years ago. What has happened in baseball is the same thing that has happened in basketball - youth leagues became about travel and winning and not learning the game and fundamentals. So, as fundamentals eroded, the only options have become swinging for the fences. Both baseball and basketball are seeing those impacts now. I'm anything but closed minded about new approaches and analytics - there is a lot of good in them. But two sports that used to be about skill are only about flash and it's going to kill both sports.

Question for you - did you actually play baseball beyond little league?