It's Not Your Father's Game Anymore (9-17-2021)

As the 2021 baseball season approaches the home stretch many believe that the Philadelphia Phillies chance of reaching the post-season is a lost cause. Last night's Phillies' game was an abomination. The Phil's fell behind seven to nothing after three innings of play. It appeared as if it was time to switch to the classic re-run channel. Or was it?

In a league that has become sub-par, no lead is insurmountable. In the past, starting pitchers took pride in completing nine innings. Managers generally did not look to their bullpen until the seventh inning. Today the fourth inning is the new seventh. Pitchers rarely throw a complete game. When a pitcher is removed early in the game several hurlers must then be used to complete the game. This increases the likelihood that one or more will not have their best stuff and fail.

For the most part, relief pitchers are pitchers who could not make the starting rotation. Therefore, they are asked to do very little. Usually just pitch one inning. If they are successful and complete that inning, they are often given the next day off to recover. For this they are paid handsomely. Not a bad job if you can get it.

It is hard to believe that Phillies pitcher Robin Roberts once tossed eighteen innings. He also completed thirty-six games. Steve Carlton logged over five thousand innings. Harvey Haddix of the Pirates pitched twelve perfect innings only to lose in the thirteenth to the Milwaukee Braves. In 1953 Haddix completed nineteen games. Ten years later in what would become known as "the Greatest Game Ever Pitched", Juan Marichal and Warren Spahn dueled for fifteen shutout innings until the Say Hey Kid, Willie Mays homered off Spahn in the sixteenth.

Today's fielders are not much better. In the latter innings of a Phillies game the broadcaster will feature the defensive play of the game. Last night's gem was the second baseman running towards the pitching mound to catch a pop-up. It has become more frequent that infielders boot ground balls. If the ball is hit with any velocity the official game scorer will charitably score it a hit. Regardless of how it is scored it is a play should have been executed. It is hard to believe that with the size and strength of most big-league outfielders few are able to throw accurately to home plate. Many times, the ball falls well short and is cut-off by an infielder or it is wide of the target. I can remember a time when most teams had an outfielder with a "gun" that players would not dare run on. Where have the Dave Parkers, Dwight Evans, Dave Winfields, and Glenn Wilsons gone?

It's hard to imagine that there was a time when big-league hitters did not wear a batting helmet. Many did not use batting gloves. Compare that with today's game where players approach the plate in a suit of armor as if they would be jousting before King Arthur. I vividly recall Pete Rose sprinting to first base after drawing a walk. Before a player today can proceed to first base after a base on balls, he must first remove his shin guard and elbow pad. After which he replaces one of his batting gloves with an over-size oven mitt. This is to protect his hands when sliding.

Probably the most ridiculous piece of equipment introduced into today's game is the notepad. Many modern- day players now carry a small cheat-sheet in their back packets. This enables them to access information reviewed during pre-game meetings on their opponents' tendencies. I wonder how long it will be before they bring their cell phones on to the field as well.

What I find most troublesome is the inability of pitchers to field a simple ground ball. Many times, I have witnessed swinging bunt ground balls hit to the pitcher only to be juggled or thrown into right field. The problem occurs because many pitchers are off balance after they deliver the ball. This is the result of overthrowing as they attempt to reach ninety-five plus on the radar gun. Perhaps pitchers should study Jim Kaat who won sixteen Gold Glove awards. It also would not hurt if they adopted Kaat's fast tempo.

To their credit the Phillies announcers often site how it would be better for a pitcher to hit the corner of the plate at ninety miles per hour than throw one ninety-five over the middle. Ironically as the broadcast proceeds these same announcers continue to stress when the pitch reaches the high nineties.

In the many games I have attended I always enjoy getting to the park early to watch batting practice. It recently occurred to me that I have never witnessed fielding practice. Is this something that occurs in Spring Training then is forgotten once the season is underway? Judging by the amount of miss played balls that seems to be the case.

Today's game is lacking the competitive spirit of the past. The first base bag has become a place of social gathering where a player who has drawn a walk can kibitz with the opposing teams first baseman. Recently, I witnessed the bullpen pitchers of the Pittsburgh Pirates playing a game of corn hole during the third inning of a game. It's hard to believe that this is the same game where Pete Rose barreled through one of his closest friends Ray Fosse in an all-Star game.

Currently the Phillies are three games behind the Braves and one game over five-hundred. They have lost the last three series to weaker teams. Two nights ago, after blowing two leads in the late innings, they were gifted a win when the opposing team's catcher dropped the incoming pitch allowing the winning run to score from third base.

Because of the poor opponents the Phillies will be facing in the next couple of weeks I expect them to win the division. This is in spite of the fact they have recently struggled against the likes of the Nationals(.416, last place), Diamond Backs (.318, last place) and Rockies (.464). As bad as these teams were, the Phillies will be playing against weaker opponents such as the Pirates (.373, last place), Orioles (.318, last place), and Marlins (.418).

Last night's Cub's pitcher was not able to complete four innings despite being given a seven-run lead. After going to the Cub's bull pen the Phillies went on to overtake the cubs lead and eventually blow them out by a score of seventeen to eight.