Eliminate shifts? One retired player has a less intrusive idea for solving MLB’s batted-ball problem

When MLB owners convened for their summer meeting on Wednesday, two elements of on-field play topped their list of talking points: infield shifts and pace of play.
From the beginning, Commissioner Rob Manfred wasn’t afraid to say he would consider banning shifts. Unlike limiting how often teammates and coaches can visit the pitcher’s mound, this isn’t a solution looking for a problem. It was a tacit acknowledgment of how one small strategy can impact the game. Beyond the occasi