Kirk Herbstreit, a well-known football commentator, recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of Major League Baseball. Herbstreit believes that the game has lost its athleticism and clutch hitting, which he thinks are essential components of the sport.

Herbstreit’s Criticisms

Herbstreit’s comments were in response to a complaint from former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. He stated that the game is missing the athletic ability of players from previous eras, such as Tony Gwynn, Rod Carew, and Wade Boggs. Herbstreit also criticized the modern game’s focus on home runs and launch angles, which he thinks has led to a decline in small ball and athleticism.

However, an analysis of the current state of baseball reveals that Herbstreit’s criticisms may be unfounded. Attendance has increased in recent years, with some teams seeing significant growth in 2026. National television broadcasts have also seen a rise in viewership, with the 2025 World Series being the most watched domestically since 2017.

The game has also seen an increase in athletic ability, with pitchers like Jacob Misiorowski and Mason Miller throwing over 100 mph. Hitters like Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber are also having historically successful seasons, despite facing increased fastball velocities.

Furthermore, the data suggests that the modern game is not lacking in clutch hitting and small ball. The league is averaging 9 runs per game in 2026, which is higher than the 8.26 runs per game averaged in 1989. Additionally, stolen bases are up, with teams realizing the value of speed and aggressive base running.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.