The Shift

The shift is a term dreaded by power hitters all around baseball. It was made popular in recent years and used almost instinctively by some managers. The shift was first used against the great Hall of Fame player Ted Williams, but he was so good he hit through it.

The Royals shift for Teixeia 

One of the players in 2012 most heavily effected by the shift is Mark Teixeira. For Mark Teixeira the short stop plays right over the second base bag and the second baseman plays on the outfield grass while the first baseman hugs the line. The only way for Teixiera to be insured a hit is to hit the ball in the spot where they aren't standing or over their head for a home run. Teixeria chooses to hit the home run most of the time, but he could have a much higher batting average if he just chooses to hit the ball to the left side.

The shift is one of the most frustrating things to a hitter and a fan, but it almost always works. It seems like whenever Mark Teixeria makes contact its hit right at a fielder. Its a rally killer. The shift is being used more and more by managers and teams may start training players in the minor leagues to sacrifice power (pulling the ball) for base hits, hence using the whole field. To go back to Teixeira, out of 98 at bats he hit the ball to the right side 47 times and only 15 times was it a hit. He has a total of just 33 hits on the season; 23 as a left handed hitter. 2009 was arguably his best best season with the Yankees and teams did not shift as drastically. That year as a left handed hitter he hit .282. In 2011 as a left handed hitter Teixeira hit only .224. In 2011 Teixeia hit 24 home runs as left handed hitter and 15 as a right handed hitter, so he is still productive.

Teixeira said he would bunt in 2012 if teams continued to do the shift, but he has yet to do it. You have to think, how many hits are you willing to sacrifice for a home run?