The Death of the Shift

Is the shift done in MLB? How much did it really effect the game and the league as a whole?

photo by: Greg Rhodes

Reportedly, a portion of the agreed upon sections of the labor agreement between MLB and the MLBPA includes removing the shift by 2023. If this remains, we could see the end of an era of defense that was unprecedented in the league. And while it has it's defenders and detractors, including myself, the shift has served some teams very well. Including the focus of my podcast Stitch By Stitch where we take a deep dive into Rays baseball. With the season delyed, so is the podcast but in the meantime enjoy a cut from an episode last season where I talk about the effects of the shift and how much it has changed the league.