Former Cincinnati Reds legend Pete Ros says that he is not happy when he watches baseball these days.
Former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Pete Rose has a lot of opinions about the game of baseball. From his position on the outside looking in, Rose sees the game from a different vantage point, watching on television just like the rest of us. However, his position as the American Hit King gives him an audience for his various viewpoints.
Sometimes, his views are far off base, such as his dismissal of Ichiro Suzuki as the professional Hit King, as some of those hits came in Japan. Yet, when Rose talks, people listen, especially if they are in line in Las Vegas waiting for him to inscribe an admission of guilt upon a baseball for a specific price.
Since Rose was banned for life due to his wagering on Reds games, a lot has changed. Ballparks are smaller, and home runs are more prevalent. Strikeouts are no longer something to be embarrassed by. Catchers and middle infielders are protected these days, where they cannot be taken out with reckless abandon. Instant replay exists. Naturally, Rose does not like it.
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Some of Rose’s points are certainly valid. There are far too many bad teams, with at least three teams on pace to lose 100 games this season. Heading into Sunday, 12 teams were more than ten games out of their divisional race, signalling that the fire sale was coming. Those fanbases certainly do not have a reason to head to the ballpark, causing those attendance woes that are such a concern around the game.
Yet, some of his ideas to improve the product on the field just do not hold weight. He wants the game to revert to what it was when he played, when pitchers threw inside without care, when catchers could be run over like when he took out Ray Fosse, and when middle infielders were essentially target practice. Instant replay needs to go away, allowing for players and managers to argue with the umpire.
Rose does have a couple of points in his favor. He feels that players need to focus more on making contact, and not swing for the fences every time they are at the plate. Such a focus on contact, and theoretically, defense, would make for a more exciting game. And, that is the formula the Royals followed to head to consecutive World Series appearances in 2014 and 2015.
However, the idea that the game will go backwards on player safety is ridiculous. The days of Fosse being barreled over, or Chase Utley sliding hard into second, are gone. We will never see a situation like George Brett punching Graig Nettles in the face in a playoff game, with both players allowed to remain on the field afterwards. The game has changed, whether or not Rose wants to accept it.
Cincinnati Reds legend Pete Rose has some ideas as to how to fix the game. While a couple have merit, his angst to the evolution of the game makes him sound like an angry old man yelling at clouds.