Does any MLB team play fundamental baseball anymore?

[Tskware]

Watched some of the Mets Red Sox game last night (at New York). Boston up 3-2 in bottom of 7th, leadoff man for NYM gets single, bring in a really fast PR, with C Wilson Ramos, a RH batter, and no. 9 in the lineup up next.

Boston had 2B shifted all the way standing right on the second base bag, and the 1B is holding on the runner. Had a hole on the right side as big as the Grand Canyon. Naturally, Ramos never thinks about hitting the opposite way to move up the runner. Gets down two strikes, then the PR steals 2B. So, I am thinking, surely this slew footed catcher will hit to the 2B side and move the runner up to third. But of course not. He keeps swinging, obviously trying to pull the ball, finally after fouling 2 pitches off, he hits a routine grounder to SS, who holds the runner and throws him out. Next guy whiffs, and the final guy makes an out, so the Mets don't score, and go on to lose 4-2.

I am no big league manager . . . but WTF is wrong with these guys? Do they not teach how to play the damn game any more?

 

[Comebakatz3]

They've put more value into exit velocity and home runs than in hitting for average. It's why the shift is working. Hitters are no longer taught to drive the ball to all fields. I hope eventually the response naturally comes around that players are again taught to hit to all fields and the shift becomes obsolete. However, I fear that baseball is making too many sacrifices in order to stay "entertaining," one of which is emphasis of the home run.

Local sports radio guys in Knoxville were talking about baseball needing to limit the number of pitchers allowed per game. Advocating that teams could only use like 3 guys per game. All in an attempt to speed up the game and make it more 'entertaining.' Annoys the hell out of me.

 

[CB3UK]

Baseball is more entertaining with action on the base paths, not home runs. Being able to hit to different parts of the field renders the idiotic shift useless.

 

[CliffDweller25]

Agree with all. I'm getting old, but baseball is becoming frustrating to watch and I never thought I'd say that. It's just a different game now.