The (Sad) State of the Game

We’re keeping the gas on the pedal because I have more to say about several of the subjects touched on last week.

I’ll also address some specific comments I heard, including a ridiculous jab from the commissioner.

Plus, I want to explain why I’m celebrating the news that Arte Moreno is selling the Angels.

But first, I have one more thank you. It goes to everyone who supported the 26th annual Rod Carew Children’s Golf Classic.

We had a phenomenal turnout on Monday.

I look forward to hearing the final tally of how much we generated for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.

Of all my accomplishments, one of my proudest is having raised over $4 million for this organization in memory of my daughter Michelle.

– RC

I’m all for changes – when they’re for the better. My problem is that many of the changes in recent years have turned MLB into an inferior product.

Do you watch as often as you did a few years ago?

I don’t. I can’t.

I know that it’s far too simplistic to say that “analytics” have ruined the game. But I do see it at the root of the problem.

The people who think the game can be played with spreadsheets have twisted the game in knots.

The most obvious example is offered up pretty much every at-bat.

After each pitch, the batter steps out, walks around and goes through all sorts of rituals.

Many of them are just stalling as they try to remember what the coach said in the pregame meeting about what pitch might be coming next. Meanwhile, the pitcher is slowly going through his routine.

The pause gives his body time to reload so he can keep pumping pitches with all he’s got, knowing that if his gas tank runs empty, a parade of other arms are lined up to take his place.

That’s because the numbers-crunchers say it’s more efficient for a starter to go fewer innings and to avoid a third trip through the batting order.

In trying to defend himself against my comments, Rob Manfred said he can’t do anything about analytics. He can do plenty to regulate the changes stemming from analytics.

It’s great that he’s got Theo Epstein on the case. I just hope we can start seeing a difference soon.

I understand the game at a deeper level than most. I spent 29 years in major league dugout, so I know how the game works.

Yes, stats are good, when used to inform. Overreliance on them is my issue.

You’re probably familiar with baseball scouts talking about the five tools: Hitting, hitting for power, running, fielding and throwing.

Ken Griffey Jr. is among the rare guys to live up to the description of being a “five-tool player.” Byron Buxton has often worn the label, too.

I like to talk about the sixth tool. The one between a player’s ears.

You’ve got to know how to think. This goes in how a player approaches the game in general, and his game more specifically.

He’s got to know what he can and can’t do. He’s got to absorb coaching and be hungry to improve.

I see too many players – both young and established – who are lacking fundamentals. This includes how they think about situations, a problem that often manifests in poor baserunning.

Here’s another place where I think analytics has hurt. Guys are thinking about the wrong things.

They’re focused on algorithms instead of tuning into the rhythm of the game.

On July 9, he was hitting a majors-best .355.

At the All-Star break, he was still leading the majors with an average of .338.

As I write this, he’s down to .319. He’s no longer leading the majors, but he is tops in the AL. (Only five AL players are over .300, and he’s the only one above .310!)

Based on what I’m seeing, Arraez is slumping because he’s trying to hit homers, not line drives. He’s upper-cutting too often.

I’ve talked to him about it. I can’t say whether he’s simply fallen into bad habits or intentionally going for the long ball.

I can say that he needs a better idea of who he is and what his strengths are. He’s got to be the best version of himself.

He had four homers at the time he was hitting .355. He has three since. Is the tradeoff worth it?

I would like Arraez and more young players to watch a video of Hank Aaron. Hank didn’t have to swing up. He swung down on the ball most of his career and he ended up hitting 755 home runs.

· Manfred claims I violated trust by sharing what happened at our Hall of Fame dinner. None of my fellow Hall of Famers have told me they thought that. He doesn’t have the right to tell me what I can and can’t talk about.

· I’m going to keep talking about whatever I think needs to be discussed, no matter what the commissioner says. He should be pointing his efforts toward making the game better, not taking shots at people who are trying to help.

· I’d like to see more players chiming in about the state of the game today. If you don’t like it, speak out. There’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s just your opinion, and your opinion matters.

· I see a lot of teams hiring hitting and pitching coaches who never played the game, at least not professionally. I would’ve had trouble taking advice from someone like that. If this makes me too old school, then I plead guilty. It’s probably because in my era, people with that kind of resume couldn’t have gotten those jobs.

I didn’t want to voice my frustrations. I felt that would be disrespectful, even though a lack of respect is at the root of my dissolved relationship with the Angels.

This isn’t personal to Arte himself, but rather to the people he’s employed, especially in recent years.

But, ultimately, the top guy is accountable. So getting a new leader is great news.

During the pandemic, the Angels furloughed me and others. When games resumed, we were told our services were no longer needed. This wasn’t about my performance as an ambassador.

This was about them no longer seeing the value in what guys like me could provide. I’m more confused than bitter.

Even after Mike Scioscia banned me from talking to players, I still enjoyed interacting with fans.

Team employees knew they could count on me to represent the club at various events, and – if my schedule allowed – I gladly did.

The only Angels game I attended this year was when the Twins were in town. I was a guest of theirs, so I wore Twins gear. Some fans noticed – and didn’t like it. I shrugged.

This was my subtle signal to the world that something wasn’t right between the organization and me.

Gene Autry treated me like a prince. Even Disney treated me nicely. Arte did, too, at first.

I look forward to meeting the new regime. Angels fans deserve someone good.

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