With practically everyone being capable of hitting home runs,has the home run become boring to some people?

Question

Unless it leads to a rally.Players seem to bunt more,choke up on the bat more(remember Bert Campaneris?),steal third and home more say,over twenty years ago.Long time fans could really elaborate on this.

Answer 1

its not much fun to hit home runs all the time, but i would not know i wish i could hit a homer hehe

Answer 2

Yeah - small ball can be effective. Japanese players traditionally play that way, and look what they did in the World Baseball Classic. Yet in a 7 game series, the long ball will tend to win. Earl Weaver said the best play in baseball is a 3-run homer - and I think that's only because you don't often load the bases ;) His Oriole team went to Japan after winning the series in 1970 and crushed those teams - they've come a long way since.

Everything depends on the situation - sometimes it is best to hit the long ball, sometimes scratching out a run is what you need. Bunting does seem to be a lost art and can be just what is needed at times.

I think an open field makes the best game actually - make someone run the bases to get a home run (these days it is a home trot or even a walk-off). That would never be done though for many reasons - it would take 20-some thousand fans away from the crowd, much of the thrill of home runs would be gone - the green monster in Fenway, etc., and the records would go back to the days that Ty Cobb led the league with 9.

Answer 3

Of course there are more home runs than there were 20 years ago, due to a combination of factors - bigger and stronger hitters, diluted pitching, smaller ballparks, possibly an altered baseball. With so many home runs being hit, playing "small ball" - bunting, hit-and-run, stealing bases - isn't an approach that's likely to win a lot of games.

I don't think, however, that homers are boring. They're still the quickest, most effective way of scoring runs, and that's what the game is all about. Sure, I like to see triples and steals of home, but the home run is a more effective manner of posting runs.

As for those things that aren't big in the game anymore like the steal or hit-and-run, I can't say I miss them all that much. John McGraw said almost 85 years ago that the hit-and-run had seen its better days, and I tend to agree - it looks good when it works, but it can also kill a rally. Same for the stolen base - you need to be at 70% before it's worthwhile, and not a lot of guys can do that.

I guess I'm a fan of the modern game, although I really would like fewer teams and better pitching. Nothing worse than seeing your team blow a 7-0 lead because of a serious lack of middle relief.

Answer 4

Although my favorite team is in the AL (born Yankees fan), I'm no fan of the DH and I like watching NL ball better for the very reason you mention. The NL still plays a small ball strategy game. Look at Beltrans first run in the All Star game; that's small ball at it's best, something you seldom see anymore. Home runs CAN be fun, but a slugfest is boring. I really dislike games where all the runs are home runs. Although I will say that, for a slug-happy team, the Yankees seem to be pulling the bunt more this year than they have in the past.

Answer 5

I don't think home runs are boring in the least. And now that MLB is starting to become aware of the steroid/enhancement situation that has been plaguing the game, home run totals are leveling off. We are now seeing a much more modest number.

Answer 6

It still is as exciting as it was the first time. For me at least.