Baseball DIY

Last month, some lame-brained yahoo (OK, it was me) suggested that hitters should run the bases clockwise. This, the lame-brained yahoo claimed, would raise the batting averages of right-handed hitters because they would be two or three steps closer to first base, which a lot of times is the difference between an out and a single as the game is currently played. A .400 hitter (or five or ten) would be the natural result.

The only thing wrong with this theory is that it is completely illogical.

If anything, making third base "first base" would lower batting averages for right-handed hitters. All of those grounders to third and short that they strive to beat out now would merely be nonchalant flips to first. Left-handed hitters are more likely to benefit from clockwise base-running; in effect, they'd be the new right-handed batters.

So, of course, the only solution is to have base-running direction and base order determined by the batter's handedness in order to give the batter the maximum chance of success.

Or, we could just keep playing the game the way we always have. It must be said that, when he put his mind to it, Alexander Cartwright could really come up with a good idea or two.