Today we’re getting personal with some of my own opinions that are sure to piss off numerous people, but maybe we can argue about it in the comments section. While I’ve never held back my opinions on this channel, most of them are pretty understandable and lots of baseball fans agree with me. But there are some opinions that seem to be quite unpopular, and today I’ll be going through 10 opinions that always create some fireworks online I share them. Let me know which you agree with, which you don’t, and your own unpopular opinions regarding the great game of baseball. So, without further ado, let’s get into the list...
10. Instead of the ABS System, HOLD UMPIRES ACCOUNTABLE
While the ABS System has been a lot of fun and I don’t hate it at all, certainly not compared to other awful rule changes, I do have another solution that unfortunately will never happen. That solution – make sure that MLB Umpires are actually the best in the world, you know sort of like they do with the players. Sure, the player system isn't 100% flawless. MLB-caliber guys get blocked, or they get optioned down over an inferior player because of roster mechanics. But in general? If you stink at playing baseball, you get demoted or released. If you’re great, you stick around. As powerful as the Players Association is, they can’t guarantee a roster spot for a guy who just can’t hit or pitch anymore.
The Umpire’s Union, on the other hand? Different story. Once an ump reaches the big leagues, they basically have a job for life, no matter how wide their strike zone gets. Sure, they receive performance scorecards, but what good is a report card if there’s no threat of demotion or release?
No wonder people pushed so hard for ABS.
If MLB held umpires to a strict, enforceable performance threshold—where underperforming meant losing your spot to a top AAA umpire—we could keep the human element intact. Mistakes would still happen, but overall calls would be overwhelmingly accurate. Best of all, we’d keep managers arguing, kicking dirt, and getting tossed—a classic part of baseball that’s slowly going extinct thanks to automated systems, replay reviews, and robot umps.
9. I Don’t Like Pitchcom or Electronics on the Field in General
While I know this is a total "old man rant," I’m saying it anyway: while Major League Baseball should use modern technology to enhance the product, I draw the line when players are walking onto the field with electronic gadgets strapped to their wrists and belts. Using iPads in the dugout for research or high-tech cameras to study mechanics? That makes complete sense. But the gameplay itself should not involve electronics. And yes, that includes PitchCom.
Look, I get why it’s there—it stops sign-stealing. But relaying signs has been a core part of baseball strategy for over a century! The ability of a catcher or coach to flash a sequence without giving it away used to be a real, valuable skill. Now? Just press a button. Not to mention, the tech fails all the time. It feels like two or three times a game we have to sit through an awkward delay because a battery died or a headset stopped working. And now that pitchers can call their own pitches, you see them awkwardly contorting their bodies to mash a button on their belt before every single throw, totally breaking their rhythm. It just looks bizarre.
Baseball is a sport, not a video game. I know modern athletics are more high-tech than ever, but once the line is drawn and the players take the field, the game should be decided by athletic ability, brainpower, and pure instincts—not gadgets.
8. Adults Shouldn’t have to give the baseball they catch to a kid!!!
I’m not sure exactly when this trend started, but it definitely wasn’t a thing when I was a kid. Growing up and going to games at Candlestick Park, I watched dozens of adults snag foul balls and home runs, and never once did they turn around and offer it to me—or any other kid, for that matter. And nobody expected them to!
Don’t get me wrong, tossing a ball to a nearby kid is a super cool and kind thing to do. But it shouldn’t be treated as a mandatory requirement where you're automatically labeled a jerk if you don't.
Everyone at the game is a fan. Adults love baseball just as much as kids do—and let's be honest, they’re the ones paying the big bucks to get into the ballpark! If they catch a ball and want to keep it, I have zero issue with that.
Now, if you barrel over a kid to get to a ball, or you stick your glove right in front of their face to steal a catch—yeah, you're a jerk. That’s a totally different scenario. But if a ball is hit right to your seat and you make a clean catch? That’s your ball. I’d even argue that many adult fans will actually treasure it more—they’ll remember exactly who hit it, the pitch, the inning, and the context of the game.
Plus, even if we take the stance that only kids should get the ball, how does anyone in that section know that adult isn't bringing it home to give to their own son or daughter?
The rule should be simple: You catch the ball, you keep the ball. If you want to make a kid's day by giving it away, go for it—that’s awesome. But no one should be peer-pressured to hand it over.
7. The Unwritten Rules Are STUPID & CHILDISH
With very few exceptions, I despise the "unwritten rules" that have plagued baseball history.
Now, full disclosure: I am obviously not, and never have been, a professional athlete—so maybe I just don’t get it. But for the life of me, I cannot imagine getting my feelings hurt because the opposing team stole a base with a big lead, or because a guy bunted to break up a no-hitter.
At the end of the day, both teams are out there to win and do everything they can to accomplish that. If a team has a six-run lead and steals a base, guess what? They’re trying to add insurance because they know the opposing offense can have a big inning and score six runs. If a hitter gets a green light on 3-0 with the bases loaded and crushes a grand slam, guess what? He knew a meatball was coming, he’s trying to win a ballgame, and he’s trying to build his own career statistics!
Instead of taking offense, you should view it as respect. They're continuing to play hard because they know the game isn't over.
Now, if a team is up by 15 runs in the 8th inning and pulling high-risk, aggressive moves, okay—that’s a bit absurd. But these days, guys get their feelings hurt and claim the other team is "rubbing it in" over a modest five or six-run margin. Give me a break.
As the classic baseball saying goes: If you don’t like it, play better.
#6: Analytics Are Overused and Overrated
While modern data and analytics are absolutely critical for front offices—both for player evaluation and overall strategy—I feel they have become completely overused and overrated.
Computers can crunch an insane amount of data in seconds that used to take weeks or months to pull together. But the one thing an algorithm can’t do is account for the human element taking place on the field every single night.
A spreadsheet doesn’t know how a pitcher feels on a given day. It doesn’t factor in emotion, adrenaline, or momentum. It can't tell you if a guy has extra motivation against a rival, or if he’s locked in, completely dominating, and living inside the head of the opposing lineup.
Instead, the computer just spits out a rigid command: "Pull the starter after the 6th inning because the third-time-through-the-order penalty says so."
It feels like too many modern games are pre-planned by an algorithm. The front office handed the manager a script before the first pitch, leaving him almost no room to manage on instinct.
Of course, not every franchise operates this way, but analytics have taken over to an extreme degree. Only a human being standing in the dugout can read the room, feel the pulse of the clubhouse, know what nagging injuries a guy is grinding through, or spot when a pitcher has his stuff.
Analytics are a valuable tool—but when you let the spreadsheet manage the ballgame, you lose the magic of the sport.
5. The Job of a Manager is COMPLETELY OVERRATED
While I just finished talking about why managers need to be allowed to manage on instinct, I also think a manager’s actual impact on wins and losses is completely overrated.
Now, don't get me twisted—having a good manager is important. You need someone who can manage a clubhouse full of millionaires and big egos, keep 26 guys motivated over a grueling 162-game season, and make common-sense in-game decisions.
The problem is, the entire success or failure of a franchise gets dumped on the manager's shoulders. If a team wins, the manager is a genius. If a talent-deprived roster falls flat, the manager gets kicked to the curb.
Once a manager proves he’s a solid leader—someone the players respect, someone who commands the room and doesn't make boneheaded tactical mistakes—his job is essentially done. The rest is up to the front office and the players.
It’s the front office that builds the roster, negotiates the trades, and makes the cuts. And it’s the players who actually hit, pitch, and run the bases. Yet when the roster under performs, it’s always the manager who takes the heat.
History proves it’s the talent that drives the train. Look at a Hall of Famer like Tony La Russa. Nobody would claim La Russa was a bad manager—he’s an all-time great. But when he was given a thin 1980 White Sox roster with only one All-Star, his team lost 90 games. In the late '80s, when handed an absolute powerhouse in Oakland with Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, and Dave Stewart, he won World Series titles. Years later, with a stripped-down, injured roster, he lost 94 games again, before going on to win two more rings with stacked St. Louis Cardinal teams.
Did Tony La Russa suddenly forget how to manage in the down years? Of course not.
A manager matters, but at the end of the day, their record is a reflection of the talent they're handed. Once you have a capable leader in that dugout, stop firing him over bad seasons—start holding the front office accountable instead.
4. Players Shouldn’t Be Forced To Wear Uniforms That Could Be Against Their Beliefs Or Religion
Major League Baseball teams hold all kinds of theme nights throughout the season—Pride Night, Faith & Family Night, Military Appreciation, and plenty of others. And I have zero issue with teams hosting these events for the fans. Where I have a problem is forcing or expecting the players on the field to wear special uniforms, hats, or patches tied to social, political, or religious causes. The obvious theme night that has caused issues unfortunately is Pride Night, which again, I have no issue with and believe consenting adults should be able to be with whoever they want.
But when a team mandates theme gear—like Pride hats—it puts players with traditional religious beliefs in a very tough spot. Even though players technically have the option to opt out and wear their regular hats, doing so immediately makes them a target for social media outrage, media grilling, and online harassment. It also causes a huge distraction to the team – see the 2026 Giants controversy which dragged on forever and there’s still articles popping up about it. The players job is to play baseball. We don't ask them who they vote for, and honestly, most Giants fans probably wouldn’t wanna know who some of these guys voted for. But the truth is we shouldn't expect a roster of 26 guys from all different backgrounds, cultures, and religions to share the exact same worldview. They come together to win games, not to serve as billboards for social causes.
And this applies across the board, not just to one specific issue. Just as I wouldn't expect a team to force players to wear a cross on their cap for Faith & Family Night, I don't think players should be expected to wear cause-based gear on any other night either. As a veteran who served eight years in the U.S. Army, I appreciate MLB honoring our troops—but I don't need or expect every single player on the field to be gung-ho about the military, nor do I think they need to wear camouflage uniforms honoring the military. Theme gear and promotional hats should be for the fans in the stands to enjoy and support. On the field, let the guys wear their standard home and road uniforms—or fun team concepts like City Connects—and just play ball.
3. I HATE EXTENDED NETS (Although I ADMIT IT’S NECESSARY)
Here’s another hot take, even though this change was strictly for safety and makes perfect sense in 2026. The expansion of protective netting was an absolute necessity due to two modern realities. First, players are stronger than ever, generating historic bat speeds and off-the-charts exit velocities. Second, casual fans are increasingly distracted by their phones and social interactions, making them vulnerable to incoming line drives. When you add young children and infants into the crowd, the danger is undeniable. To protect fans, MLB mandated that all teams extend netting to the ends of the dugouts for the 2018 season. They later pushed those nets even further, running them close to—or directly into—the foul poles. While I completely support the safety aspect, from a selfish point of view, I can’t stand the freaking nets.
I always loved sitting along the foul lines for the clean, unobstructed views of the action. Those seats also gave you a great chance at catching a foul ball or getting a toss from a player ending an inning. Now, the view is compromised by a giant net. Furthermore, player-to-fan interactions have plummeted. Tossed balls are rare because players have to launch them over the high mesh, and pregame autographs are tougher than ever. So, because of the nets, the live game has suffered for sure, not to say they completely destroy the experience – of course not, but I definitely miss the nets not being there. Unfortunately, until technology creates an invisible force field that can activate on first pitch, extended nets here to stay.
2. It’s OKAY TO BRING YOUR GLOVE TO THE GAME As An Adult
For some reason, this opinion has become wildly controversial in recent years—at least online. While I don't think everyday fans sitting at the ballpark are glaring at grown adults with gloves thinking, "Look at that absolute loser," social media love to claim that bringing a baseball glove past the age of 12 is totally pathetic.
I couldn’t disagree with that take more.
First off, it’s usually baseball fans driving this narrative! So let me get this straight: It’s fine to pay huge money to watch grown men play a child’s game. It’s fine to wear another adult man's jersey and cap. It’s fine to scream, cheer, and have your weekend ruined when your team loses... but the second you bring a leather glove to catch a ball coming your way, that’s where we draw the line? Why, exactly? Nobody ever gives a real, logical reason why it’s suddenly "childish."
Second, it’s just common sense and self-preservation. Baseballs fly into the stands at insane speeds. A glove exists for a very specific, practical purpose: to protect your hands and make the catch!
Even if you’re sitting further out in home run territory where the ball isn't coming in at 100 mph, you look way sillier missing a fly ball with your bare hands—having it ricochet off your knuckles into someone else's lap—than you do just making a clean catch with a glove.
I don’t bring my glove to every single game—it depends entirely on where I'm sitting. But if I’m in a section with a high chance of a foul ball or a home run? You better believe I’ve got leather on my hand.
#1: The Intentional Hit-By-Pitch Is Cowardly and Outdated
This has been part of baseball for over a century, and most hardcore fans—old-school and modern alike—not only accept it, but embrace it as a way for players to "police the game."
Pitchers throw at guys intentionally for all kinds of reasons: retaliation for a hit teammate, punishment for breaking an unwritten rule, or payback for a pimp-job home run. But I’ve never been able to make sense of it.
People love to compare it to hockey fighting, but in hockey, two guys drop their gloves and face off in a relatively fair fight. In baseball, an intentional HBP is completely cowardly. A hitter steps into the box in good faith, preparing to hit a pitch around the plate. Turning a rock-hard baseball into a weapon and hurling it 90-plus miles an hour at an unsuspecting human being is insane. In any other walk of life, that's called assault and battery!
Imagine having a beef with a coworker because they celebrated too hard when they got a promotion over you. So in retaliation, you launch a stapler at their head as hard as you can. You’d be fired and thrown in handcuffs. But on a baseball field, we wave it off as "just part of the game."
If a pitcher is really that furious with a hitter, don't hide behind a 90 mph fastball while standing 60 feet away. Go up to him man-to-man and start a fight if you're that mad.
Pitching inside to back a hitter off the plate is fine—that’s strategy. But hitting a guy on purpose? It's chicken-shit, it gives the opposing team a free base, and then—even though every single person in the stadium knows it was intentional—the pitcher puts his hands up, acts innocent, and lies to avoid a suspension.
It has no place in modern baseball, and it’s time we stop pretending it’s some honorable code.