The Bernstein Brief: MLB's Smart To Focus On Low Strike Zone
By Dan Bernstein-
CBSChicago.com senior columnist
(CBS) The strike zone is too big, they finally have figured out.
While MLB officials scratched their heads over declining offense, analysts have been making the powerful case that the low strike has been the difference. The zone's bottom boundary has gone from above the knee to below, with PITCHf/x tracking data providing hard evidence.
Batters are swinging at more hard-to-hit stuff, assuming called strikes. Catchers are framing low pitches better than ever.
A Yahoo report detailed the long-overdue awareness of this issue by the Playing Rules Committee, explaining that it will be examined this year for possible adjustment in 2016. The problem baseball has is that they are already trying to speed up games, and the increased offense they desire works against that effort.
The point may be that the long games feel longer with less action -- high K rates and fewer balls in play. It may be worth the time spent for a more interesting product with more action on and around the bases instead of only at the plate.
That MLB has quantified and identified part of the problem with the game is very good news.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. Follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.
