The MLB Problem

It’s the Middle of June and while some are complaining about the lack of sports, I am admiring the MLB talent night in and night out. While every season I am impressed by both the consistent vets the emerging studs and the surprise juggernaut teams I can’t help but acknowledge the dark cloud hanging over the state of our modern game. In recent seasons launch angle has become a point of emphasis in baseball at all levels and has become especially pertinent in MLB organizations. In a league where players are being paid based on power outputs, the value of the player has been subjugated to pure sabermetrics. Exit velocity and launch angle have surmounted the importance of the valuable utility player and the game is for the worse. The MLB is evolving towards a strikeout or homer type of league with players such as Joey Gallo receiving the fandom fireworks and finances while players with significantly more impressive WAR numbers remain grossly underappreciated. Here are some eye opening statistics:

In 2008 batters struck out 17.5% of the time, which was then deemed atypical, however, in 2018 that number has inflated to 22.5% of batters (Per ESPN). This statistic reflects the evolving MLB mindset in which a “2 strike approach no longer holds any weight.

This can seem like an isolated statistic, that you might think refers to the so called “scrubs” of the MLB but what is most crazy is that your favorite player is probably a victim of this infectious approach.

Let’s take Bryce Harper: There were specific reports this season of Harper focusing on launch angle and adjusting his swing to apply more power.

The MVP Bryce Harper of 2015 batted .330 and still hit 42 home runs. There was absolutely no need to get away from his roots, but that’s exactly what he’s done in 2018. His 19 Home Runs are certainly impressive but couple that with his incomprehensible .217 batting average and you quickly realize that this is not the same player.

Such trends have plagued players in the 2018 campaign game wide as players continue to make the deal with the devil and sacrifice situational solid hitting in order to set career highs in homers. But in an entertainment business the homers bring in the revenue, so this recent league wide derailing of pure hitting will most likely continue to spiral. I for one am not impressed. Much is the same in the NBA where the 2 point shot is becoming mute the single is becoming underappreciated in the MLB. This is a new game my friends, 2018 will see a new record in strikeouts league wide and man is it tough to swallow.

Written by Paul McGovern