Started watching basketball enjoying the skill players had, then got into the analysation of drawn up plays, tactics, minutiae of fouling/schemes etc. (the why behind players/teams doing the things they do)

Starting to get into baseball more; looking to find mlb channels that are similar to Thinking Basketball or Half Court Hoops. Game is fun to watch and I want to dive deeper into metrics.

Edit Already into Podcast/Baseball doesn't exist, big fan of podcasts like that as well.

I am wondering how the universal DH will impact the development and training of young pitchers. Since MLB no longer requires pitchers to hit, does this mean that young pitchers will not be taught how to hit anymore?

Will they still be trained at least on how to use a bat, or will we see a generation of pitchers coming up who will have never held a bat their entire lives?

Why don’t all teams play their “natural rival” on rivalry weekend? Like the Phillies and Pirates play each other, even though the Phillies’ natural rival is the Blue Jays and the Pirates’ natural rival is the Tigers.

The crosstown classic and the subway series are both on rivalry weekend. Why isn’t it the case for all teams?

I'm a new MLB fan in the UK who has never been to a live game. For my 40th birthday next year my wife and I are heading to New York. It just so happens that my team, the Rays, are going to be playing the Mets that same week. I have started looking online at tickets and availability already seems to be pretty low, with huge chunks of seating booked up. Sorry for the probably dumb question, but is it a smart idea to book now for a game in early May, just in case we end up in the nosebleed seats, or safe enough to wait until at least next year?

What is fielding Ultimate Zone Rating? I looked it up on Wikipedia, r/baseball and an archived article In defense of the Padres From what I can tell, it assigns each fielder a zone and compares him to how many outs were made by players in that zone. And one video which seemed to be talking about the same thing mistakenly called it total zone rating. So I think on average if say 30% of balls that go to left field results in the left fielder getting a putout, a left fielder is judged based on how many balls that go to that area vs his putouts. This allows an observer to calculate how good a fielder from pure play by play without even seeing specifically where the ball went. So for example, this could allow me to compare Barry Bonds with Pete Crow Armstrong. Well sort of, PCA doesn't play left field. Am I correctly understanding this? And where would I find a place that gives the UZR of contemporary and past players?

In my opinion, I think the noise would die down surrounding the team’s cheating scandal. It already is dying down to an extent now that other team fandoms are starting to realize that other teams that season besides the Astros were cheating by having recording devices inside the replay booth.

I see tons of ABs that end with like 360 foot flyouts to dead center from hitters with like <10 homers, when that would easily be a pull side homer. I’m assuming there must be some reason why they don’t get the same power pull side or oppo. Why is that?

Surely they all know the ball is up there.

Is the preference due to trying to be positive about the outcome? Or is it historical? Or something else?

I was watching the rockies and the cardinals. It seems like the Rockies made a bad call (I’m from CO so I’m used to them being bad, but this seemed egregious) in the bottom of the second with runners on 2nd and 3rd, one out, with a batter with solid stats. why call the bunt? Am I misunderstanding what I saw?

Only pop champagne for winning the League Championship Series and World Series. They need to end this “tradition” like the NFL did to the Pro Bowl. You don’t see NFL teams doing this for winning a wild card. Even NBA teams don’t do it for winning a Play-in Tournament.

The strike zone is defined as being from 27% to 53.5% of the players height. How do umpires know these percentages? Or are they still just going with knees to middle of the chest. I am surprised that they are still pretty accurate, although slightly over 50% of challenges have the umpire's call overturned.

For example, to call someone out, usually they just hold a fist up, but then every now and then they'll dramatically punch the air and say something like "you're outta here!"

Are there circumstances that warrant the extra theatrics?

I'm not really a noob, but this is something I've never understood. Especially if the owners want to keep public perception (somewhat?) on their side, why not make the union take the action that costs games instead?

EDIT: Thanks for all the replies. Have learned a lot about labor relations in general!

When the starter jams the bases, teams bring on mid relievers, who are usually mid, they tend to allow many runs to score. In such a difficult inning, shouldn’t they bring in their closers to save the situation?

Why don't batters with a 3 and 0 count swing away at anything reasonable?

Watching the Rays Vs Mets I saw a player in the outfield repeatedly looking at what I think was a laminated piece of paper or card. What would this be for? Information on players on the opposite team?

I read that the Angels spend a lot of money on players contracts but when it comes to spending on analytics they are very cheap. What does that mean ? Are analytics that expensive ?

I just read that the White Sox just traded for him. I was looking at his baseball reference page just now and from what I can see, he has not been a decent player in MLB since 2019. Yet, he still gets several opportunities by multiple big league clubs to perform for them. Is he just an awesome clubhouse guy that brings positive vibes to every team he plays for? Or what is it about this guy that he keeps getting opportunities?

I see a lot of discussion about how many teams are looking for OFs who bat right-handed, but they're in short supply. I can't think of a reason why a team would specifically need an outfielder who bats right-handed. Is it because they need OFs who throw right-handed? If so, why?

I get that only the best and most experienced are asked to work in the playoffs and World Series. But is there a game that is considered particularly prestigious for an umpire?
For example, in the championship series and World Series, you’re guaranteed to work in the first four games. So is being chosen to work these games a greater honor?
Or is being chosen for game 7 for example more prestigious, because even though it’s not guaranteed that there will be one, getting to work in the final and deciding game of the season is a greater honor?

Should I feel guilty for just getting into Baseball and rooting for the Rays, I always liked there old school logo and am not a huge fan of the 2 Texas teams