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I tend to agree with this. The proposed ABS challenge system of 2 per game beginning next year is way too few challenges. 10 per game would be a better number. I fully understand if you are correct, the challenge is retained. There are so many bad calls that 10 is a much better figure. I think it will help averages by about .05. So a 245 hitter will get to 250.TXCardsFanX wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 20:43 pm If they did ABS for every single pitch, the hitters would benefit tremendously.
The majority of bad calls go in favor or the pitchers. Hitters have it tough and when a bad call is made against a hitter, they can't predict the strike zone as well.
I've always felt a perfectly consistent zone would allow the hitters to be more selective and pitchers to be more inclined to challenge the strike zone.
well its easier to control and slap a 88 mph straight fastball than a 100 mph bomb thats sinking. or a barely dipping 80 mph alider than a 90 moh slider thats got crazy break.Goldfan wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 20:12 pmThey’re only teaching slug and long ball. Think of all the lower skilled in 2025 as Rob Deers….higher skilled Dave Kingmans….and the few elites as Bonds….Pujols
That’s MLB in 2025
How many guys do you see choke up on the bat? Slap hit to opposite field? It’s the approach and style of hitting not so much the pitching
Agree with this, but also coupled with the fact that hitters' approaches are radically different too. Gone are the days with 2 strike approaches. Every swing is a "do damage" swing, regardless of the count/situation.Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 20:18 pm It was a lot easier to hit when you faced the starter 3 or 4 times in a game instead of 1 or 2 then a parade of high octane throwing relievers with high spin rate stuff come in. Also it used to be a starter wouldn’t throw max out every pitch they would pitch lower then dial it up when they really need to because they knew they had to go deep into games now they go max effort knowing they are only going 5 or 6
Innings.
They don’t win, which is what sports is about. Weird question.opti mist wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 19:41 pm Seriously, look at MLB averages anymore. Very few hit .300, which used to be a marker. Sure, there are a lot of HRs but the swing and miss rate is increased. You read players quotes about how good the pitching is, and I am starting to believe them. Maybe the new goal is .250 for average. If this is true, how does this affect your view of the Cardinal hitters?
Opti
I’ll ask the board d again. ERA is soaring, and batting averages are nose diving. Don’t add up. Seems in this stat, if one goes one way, the other goes the opposite. Not happening.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2025 06:00 am Well you guys explain this phenomena.
Hitters keep getting worse. Ave now down to .245 yet, pitchers ERA are 4 plus.
What gives.
There are still PED's in MLB today.Goldfan wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 20:14 pm2000 you had Roids and elite black athletes still in the gamekscardsfan wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 20:10 pmJust some random numbers.opti mist wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 19:41 pm Seriously, look at MLB averages anymore. Very few hit .300, which used to be a marker. Sure, there are a lot of HRs but the swing and miss rate is increased. You read players quotes about how good the pitching is, and I am starting to believe them. Maybe the new goal is .250 for average. If this is true, how does this affect your view of the Cardinal hitters?
Opti
Year 2000 - BA - .270 -- HR - 5693 - OPS - .782 - K's - 31,356--- Hits -45,246
Year 2012 - BA - .255 -- HR - 4934 - OPS - .724 -K's - 46,426--- Hits -42,063
Year 2025 - BA - .245 -- HR - 5650 - OPS - .719 - K's - 40,365--- Hits -40,140
2025 no roids no elite black athletes
The average pitcher in MLB has more velocity plus more break on sliders and sweepers than ever before - but, only the elite have excellent command and control of these pitches. SO, when the lesser pitchers fall behind in the count and have to throw one down the middle, they give up the long balls. Only the elite are smart enough to know how to pitch to different hitters, even if they do not possess the high velocity.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025 04:57 amI’ll ask the board d again. ERA is soaring, and batting averages are nose diving. Don’t add up. Seems in this stat, if one goes one way, the other goes the opposite. Not happening.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2025 06:00 am Well you guys explain this phenomena.
Hitters keep getting worse. Ave now down to .245 yet, pitchers ERA are 4 plus.
What gives.
Why?
I get that. But if pitchers are so dominant, why does most have such high ERA. Too many walks?12xu wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025 08:09 amThe average pitcher in MLB has more velocity plus more break on sliders and sweepers than ever before - but, only the elite have excellent command and control of these pitches. SO, when the lesser pitchers fall behind in the count and have to throw one down the middle, they give up the long balls. Only the elite are smart enough to know how to pitch to different hitters, even if they do not possess the high velocity.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025 04:57 amI’ll ask the board d again. ERA is soaring, and batting averages are nose diving. Don’t add up. Seems in this stat, if one goes one way, the other goes the opposite. Not happening.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2025 06:00 am Well you guys explain this phenomena.
Hitters keep getting worse. Ave now down to .245 yet, pitchers ERA are 4 plus.
What gives.
Why?
Most batters in MLB today are obsessed with bat speed and power. They do not adjust this approach when they are in 0-2, 1-2 counts - so they strikeout at alarming rates, and their BA is typically lower than .250. There are few batters today who strive to hit the ball to all fields, and who choke up and just to try and make contact with 2 strikes.
The combination of these factors has led to the avg. strikeout rate in MLB has risen to over 8 per game in the last ten years, which back in the 70's and 80's it was around 5.
I’m thinking Greg Maddux and Pedro Martinez would disagree with you…..RamFan08NY wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025 07:15 am No doubt about it. Pitchers today just have too much in their arsenal. The breaking pitches in the high 90s are something hitters didn't see 25 + years ago. Just watch games from back then. Pitchers did work the corners, but they were hittable pitches. Today's pitches break, or drop 15 inches at 95 mph.
While its true that this kind of movement results in most Pitchers eventually requiring TJ surgery, it doesn't help the hitters. This even makes it tougher on the umps. If pitches are fooling hitters at that speed, its also fooling umps.
I dont know what the fix is, but its not because hitters cant hit.
I guess it speaks again to how horrible MO was…..ALL Pitchers today throw 99 with Amazing spin……but the Cards can’t find one SP who does thatsikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025 08:17 amI get that. But if pitchers are so dominant, why does most have such high ERA. Too many walks?12xu wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025 08:09 amThe average pitcher in MLB has more velocity plus more break on sliders and sweepers than ever before - but, only the elite have excellent command and control of these pitches. SO, when the lesser pitchers fall behind in the count and have to throw one down the middle, they give up the long balls. Only the elite are smart enough to know how to pitch to different hitters, even if they do not possess the high velocity.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025 04:57 amI’ll ask the board d again. ERA is soaring, and batting averages are nose diving. Don’t add up. Seems in this stat, if one goes one way, the other goes the opposite. Not happening.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2025 06:00 am Well you guys explain this phenomena.
Hitters keep getting worse. Ave now down to .245 yet, pitchers ERA are 4 plus.
What gives.
Why?
Most batters in MLB today are obsessed with bat speed and power. They do not adjust this approach when they are in 0-2, 1-2 counts - so they strikeout at alarming rates, and their BA is typically lower than .250. There are few batters today who strive to hit the ball to all fields, and who choke up and just to try and make contact with 2 strikes.
The combination of these factors has led to the avg. strikeout rate in MLB has risen to over 8 per game in the last ten years, which back in the 70's and 80's it was around 5.
And if there earned run average is high it would speak to higher averages. But it isn’t happening that way. Both are dropping.
Add that to my point. All that amazement and high ERA. Where are the high averages that forced the high ERA.Goldfan wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025 08:23 amI guess it speaks again to how horrible MO was…..ALL Pitchers today throw 99 with Amazing spin……but the Cards can’t find one SP who does thatsikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025 08:17 amI get that. But if pitchers are so dominant, why does most have such high ERA. Too many walks?12xu wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025 08:09 amThe average pitcher in MLB has more velocity plus more break on sliders and sweepers than ever before - but, only the elite have excellent command and control of these pitches. SO, when the lesser pitchers fall behind in the count and have to throw one down the middle, they give up the long balls. Only the elite are smart enough to know how to pitch to different hitters, even if they do not possess the high velocity.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑01 Oct 2025 04:57 amI’ll ask the board d again. ERA is soaring, and batting averages are nose diving. Don’t add up. Seems in this stat, if one goes one way, the other goes the opposite. Not happening.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2025 06:00 am Well you guys explain this phenomena.
Hitters keep getting worse. Ave now down to .245 yet, pitchers ERA are 4 plus.
What gives.
Why?
Most batters in MLB today are obsessed with bat speed and power. They do not adjust this approach when they are in 0-2, 1-2 counts - so they strikeout at alarming rates, and their BA is typically lower than .250. There are few batters today who strive to hit the ball to all fields, and who choke up and just to try and make contact with 2 strikes.
The combination of these factors has led to the avg. strikeout rate in MLB has risen to over 8 per game in the last ten years, which back in the 70's and 80's it was around 5.
And if there earned run average is high it would speak to higher averages. But it isn’t happening that way. Both are dropping.