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Is the game of Baseball destined to be broken someday


Malfatron

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It seems like in baseball, that most groundouts beat the runner by only a step.

If people get faster, and throwing speed doesnt increase, maybe someday players will beat the throw to most routine grounders.

What would be done if this happened?

A rule change?

Move the bases farther apart?

Or just roll with it and change the common defensive alignment?

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53 minutes ago, bigbadbuff23835 said:

I think that if it hasn’t happened in the last 150 years it’s not gonna happen ever.

And also it’s foolish to think players will get faster but arm strength will remain the same.

Pretty much this

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6 minutes ago, MathMan said:

Its a thought experiment 

Lets just say it happens.

Except this isn't how baseball works. Nothing happens in a vacuum. If players start getting faster and are able to bunt successfully more frequently, team will adjust by playing better defenders at 3B and 1B instead of prioritizing power like they do now.

Baseball is a constant series of adjustments. For players it's AB to AB. For baseball ops staff it's roster to roster. We aren't going to wake up tomorrow with an army of Billy Hamiltons, so teams are going to have time to adjust accordingly.

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If you have players with the speed to beat out ground balls. Pitchers will just have to pitch to them differently where it is extremely hard to hit a clean ground ball where the throw will be beat. Can always change the way the infield is set up. Maybe we see a shift where you have the outfields play near the edge of the grass and you have the infield play closer so they field the ground ball quicker and can make the throw faster. If a player is set on nothing but ground balls it might be hard for them to hit a clean line drive to take advantage of the outfield being in. Its reasonable when some hitters cant poke the ball down the line when a major shift is on.

Just like in all sports, when one thing changes, adaptations will take over.

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6 hours ago, ramssuperbowl99 said:

Except this isn't how baseball works. Nothing happens in a vacuum. If players start getting faster and are able to bunt successfully more frequently, team will adjust by playing better defenders at 3B and 1B instead of prioritizing power like they do now.

Baseball is a constant series of adjustments. For players it's AB to AB. For baseball ops staff it's roster to roster. We aren't going to wake up tomorrow with an army of Billy Hamiltons, so teams are going to have time to adjust accordingly.

Now I just want to see what a lineup of only Billy Hamiltons looks like.

Thanks @ramssuperbowl99

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Aside from the above you are underrating how good fielders are. The ball only beats them by a step because the fielders take all the time they need and know just how long they have. The notion that routine grounders are only getting players out by a step just isn't true. If the fielders wanted to they could easilly get them out by a good 10 feet. 

Players are also playing further back right now. They could come in a bit if needed. It would lessen their range a bit so a slight increase of groundball singles would occur, but that's it.

This may just be a thought experiment but it is ultimately unattainable.

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