Saw on TV (not TWC) that the Dodgers have already shifted more times in 2015 in Kershaw starts than they did all of last season and opponents are hitting .560 against the shift. I have no opinion on shifts. What do you make of this? Small sample obviously but just found it interesting.
In favor of shifts but if Kershaw doesn't want it for reasons that we don't know like the way he sequences pitches then I wouldn't shift
The shift against LH batters has become pretty common, with an extra infielder loaded to the right side of the diamond. What I don't get then, is why are there not more shifts against RH batters where the second baseman plays left of the bag? Shouldn't it work just as often on a percentage basis? Regarding that stat vs Kershaw, I'm not sure if it's a relevant sample size yet, but it sure catches my attention.
shift should be banned when Kershaw pitches, he did just fine without it the last four years, don't need to be fucking with him.
Hopefully when they shift they aren't just looking at the hitter's tendencies, but also looking at the pitcher's tendencies. Shifts typically play against the hitter's strengths. I'm sure it varies from pitcher to pitcher, but I would think in general "the better the pitcher, the less need for a shift". If hitters have a hard time squaring up against a pitcher you would rather play straight up and have more of the field covered. To be honest though, I haven't paid close enough attention to notice if the shift has been allowing hits against Kershaw, or if this is just coincidence within a small sample.
He did just fine with Hanley at SS, Ethier in CF, Gordon at 2B, and Ellis at catcher, but it doesn't mean they shouldn't have upgraded defense like they did. Simply put: if the shifts improve the defense, it's worth it. It's helped him at times that go unnoticed and it's hurt him at times that seem frustrating. But if over a longer period of the time the better positioning improves the defense it's worth it
I forgot which reporter posted it on Twitter but he showed a summarized sheet they have of shifts and it has it not jsut by hitter, but by hitter against every pitcher and even in different counts with each pitcher. So, they factor in hitter and pitcher which is what should be done
