←back to thread

302 points cf100clunk | 2 comments | | HN request time: 0.001s | source
Show context
kaycebasques ◴[] No.43536546[source]
If only the Yankees get access to it (e.g. they patented it and won't let other teams use it) then I could see it as an unfair advantage. In most other areas of America life, though, this innovation would be allowed or even celebrated.

I imagine it will go the way of the brilliant strategic innovation a few years back of shifting defenders heavily depending on the batter's statistical hitting patterns. It'll get banned because it makes the game more boring. If home runs happen all the time, they lose their excitement. I imagine it's quite expensive or impossible to shift the outfield walls back farther in most MLB stadiums.

I actually would love more of a no holds barred evolutionary battle in the MLB [1] but I know it's not gonna happen.

[1] https://youtu.be/gTmLz9B8wls

replies(9): >>43536774 #>>43536821 #>>43536921 #>>43537319 #>>43537857 #>>43539516 #>>43539777 #>>43540404 #>>43540699 #
SkyPuncher ◴[] No.43537319[source]
If only the Yankees get access to this, the rest of the league will simply vote to outlaw it.

You see something similar going on in football, right now, with a play known as the "tush push". It's not a particularly complex play, but for some reason the Philadelphia Eagles can pull it off astoundingly better than anyone else in the league. In response, several teams are petitioning rules to outlaw it. All it takes is enough teams to vote for banning this play and it's gone.

replies(5): >>43537444 #>>43538628 #>>43538823 #>>43538831 #>>43538925 #
adzm ◴[] No.43538628[source]
> the "tush push". It's not a particularly complex play, but for some reason the Philadelphia Eagles can pull it off astoundingly better than anyone else in the league

I looked this up and am still unclear why only the Eagles seem to be able to perform this maneuver effectively, other than having an exceptionally strong person at the front?

replies(5): >>43538679 #>>43538819 #>>43538835 #>>43538837 #>>43539125 #
tedunangst ◴[] No.43539125[source]
Contrary to popular belief, it requires a fair bit of practice to get right, which is why you see hater GMs saying oh, yeah, it's so simple we could do it if we wanted, but then they try it in a game after one practice and it fails. The Eagles spent several years practicing it, so now they're that far behind.
replies(1): >>43539905 #
eszed ◴[] No.43539905[source]
They need to get some rugby coaches in to teach it. That's a super-basic rugby technique, which even I (as only a very casual rugby fan) can see most teams getting wrong.
replies(2): >>43540154 #>>43540997 #
1. panzagl ◴[] No.43540154{3}[source]
The Eagles did- one of their players has a rugby background.
replies(1): >>43543466 #
2. eszed ◴[] No.43543466[source]
Yeah, I think that's their secret sauce. It's curious that other teams haven't followed suit.