Here is a very good Associated Press article about strikeouts staying high. Skip Shumaker sees a ray of hope in Luis Arraez:

“I think guys are starting to be better at manipulating the barrel and getting to certain pitches and just not one groove swing,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “I think there’s a lot of teachers now that are teaching the game the right way and not just one way to hit.”

Chron.com

I hope that’s true. I thought shifts hurting batters who used just one swing would force the change. That didn’t happen.

The problem lies in the strikeout paradox, that high K rates tend to be good for both batters and pitchers. Many of the greatest batters were selective hitters who swung hard. People complained that Babe Ruth struck out too much, yet he has a good claim on being the greatest hitter ever. People complained about Mantle striking out too much, but his high for Ks was 126.

Players who really strike out too much don’t stay in the majors.

I’ve suggested devaluing the home run, making all balls that leave the park count as bases clearing doubles. Another alternative would be to make outfields deeper, so fewer batters can easily reach the fences. We’ll see if opening up the field is enough incentive to get batters to put the ball in play. Given recent history, I tend to doubt it.