Defense and statistic metrics have become so important in baseball. Teams can now accurately predict each batter's contact areas, fly ball rates, ground out locations, etc. The extreme shifts on certain pull hitters have become the norm.
But the Astros have taken defense alignment to a new level: the four outfielder set up. As Yahoo Sports noted, it was a success:
The first player to face the Astros extreme shift is one Houston will see a lot of over the years. Rangers slugger Joey Gallo, whose power-oriented approach often leads him to hit the ball in the air, looked out and saw this arrangement before him.
But the Astros have taken defense alignment to a new level: the four outfielder set up. As Yahoo Sports noted, it was a success:
The first player to face the Astros extreme shift is one Houston will see a lot of over the years. Rangers slugger Joey Gallo, whose power-oriented approach often leads him to hit the ball in the air, looked out and saw this arrangement before him.
Astros
third baseman Alex Bregman became the fourth outfielder and essentially
played a straight up left field. Houston puts its three remaining
infielders on the right side, with second baseman Jose Altuve
essentially playing short right field. That wrinkle is included because
of Gallo’s tendency to pull the ball to right field.
After one game anyway, Houston’s extreme shift should be considered a success.
Gallo
hit directly into the shift in three of his four plate appearances. In
the first inning, he lofted a fly ball to the relocated Bregman in left
field. In the fourth, he hit a sharp fly ball that Josh Reddick handled in left-center field. In the eighth, it was a fly ball to right field. Gallo added a strikeout to go 0 for 4.
Here’s a clearer visual of the alignment via Statcast’s Daren Willman.
Here’s a clearer visual of the alignment via Statcast’s Daren Willman.
