Very interesting.

I wonder if the thing about the shift costing them three net runs this year is correct. I'm skeptical -- I can't see how you could know that's true.

I also liked this: "To be clear, the use of shifts doesn't completely correlate to whether an organization relies on analysis." That's right, obviously, and also, nobody really knows to what extent the various teams rely on analysis.

Joe Madden invented fire, and is now worried other cavemen are using it? Your genius is a blessing and a curse, Joe.

Good piece, now if the Yankees could only learn how to hit against the shift. Or is old school malarkey to punch a ball to opposite field, where the guys with gloves ain't?

[2] You're not allowed to hit against the shift. It's right there in black and white in the Great Book of Unwritten Rules.