Why its easier to throw a no-hitter

[Auggie]

I've been posting my own thoughts in other threads, but S.F. Chronicle beat writer John Shea (condensed from a published article) takes it a lot further:

The disappearing single: The homer-or-bust attitude is prevalent among MLB hitters. Entering Saturday, just five teams had more hits than strikeouts: the Astros (plus-111 differential) and Red Sox (plus-20), plus three others that could fall into the minus at any moment: Padres (plus-5), Blue Jays (plus-4) and Nationals (plus-2). Exit velocities and launch angles are critical for hitters to get the ball over the outfielders’ heads, while hitting singles is becoming a lost art.

Shifts work: Teams are now very good at defensive positioning — even if it means drastically shifting a group of fielders to a certain hot spot — so good that MLB is experimenting in Double-A this year with limiting shifts in an effort to create more action.

Hitters refuse to beat the shift: Alex Dickerson (Giants) hit a beaut Friday night. After Trevor Bauer (Dodgers) retired his first five batters, with two outs and a 2-2 count in the second inning, Dickerson used an inside-out swing to ground a ball up the third-base line. No defender was close, and Dickerson got a hit. That strategy is rare.

The Mariners, Rangers and Indians can’t hit: The Mariners entered Saturday hitting .197 as a team — .197 as a team. How is that even possible? That would blow away the record for lowest average in a season, belonging to the 1888 Washington Nationals (.207), and that’s pathetic. The Mariners are one of the three teams to get no-hit twice. The others are the Indians, whose .212 average was second lowest in the majors, and the Rangers, who perennially are among the swing-and-miss leaders and this year apparently hit only fastballs. Anything with break baffles them, which is why Kluber threw just 25 fastballs in his 101-pitch no-hitter. These three teams all have designated hitters and can’t blame their lack of hitting on pitchers stepping into the box.

And ...

The two-strike approach is no longer a thing: Choke up with two strikes? Go the other way with two strikes? “Just make contact” with two strikes? As if.

Technology (Pitchers seem to benefit from modern gadgetry more than hitters).

Foreign substances (!)

and finally ...

It’s a different ball

Okay, the ball is part of it, but don't blame it entirely. Power is emphasized (and encouraged) over finesse. Hitting strategy is becoming a lost art.

LINK (probable paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/shea/article/How-baseball-evolved-to-where-no-hitters-are-no-16196530.php