Cubs' Baez 'really mad' about MLB banning use of video
Javy Baez had 3 hits Monday to increase his batting average to .205, but did some venting after the game about Major League Baseball decision to ban the use of video during games this season.
That means players have not been able to study their swings between at bats. This practice has become a staple of modern baseball, particularly the BATS (Baseball Analysis and Tracking System) which provides four angles of each pitch.
"To be honest, it's stunk," Baez said after the game. "I make my adjustments during the game. I watch my swing, I watch where the ball was, where the contact was. I'm mad. I'm really mad that we don't have it."
The reasons for the change aren't completely clear. MLB might say it's for safety reasons, not wanting players to congregate around a video screen during pandemic conditions. But many believe it's also in response to the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal.
"To be honest, with all due respect, we didn't cheat and we're not cheating and we've got to pay for all this?" Baez asked. "But I know a lot of other players are struggling too, a lot of stars are struggling. I'm just one more.
"The way that it is is not the way we play baseball. I need video. I need video to make adjustments during the game. It doesn't matter if we have all the police that MLB wants to set up. We need video back."