Baseball

...the average of 3 years prior to the rule change.
Still way longer than the 50s, 60s, & at least half the 70s, but much shorter.
I agree with you on the shift, but part of what screwed things up was the refusal of hitters to hit to the opposite field. Perhaps, with a more aggressive running game, that tactic would have been employed more, but hitters just tried harder to pull and lift, defeating the shift with a home run. Geez a simple bunt down the first base line would be nearly an automatic single.
They needed to change the rule because hitters & managers were too stubborn.
I'm ambivalent on the ghost runner, since only about 1 in 12 games go to extra innings. I'm not nuts about the rule, but I think the impact is minimal.
I too, am good with pitcher checks.f