I'm not intending to reply to this post in particular, but I'll be referencing the data so I'm just going to leave it here.
Compared to 1991, your team is going to:
- Hit an extra home run for every three games played
- Steal one fewer base over a four game span
- Get one fewer hit (including home runs) per 50 at bats
- Get on base one fewer time per 91 plate appearances
When I look at this data, the argument that the game has devolved into a "TTO only" sport falls really flat for me. There are real differences -- more HR, more walks, more Ks, fewer non-HR hits -- but those differences are still quite small with the sole exception of the ratio of outs generated by strikeout vs. outs due to balls in play.
Thus I tend to be pretty unsympathetic to the case that the game is just a parade of walks, strikeouts and 3-run homers. But if your enjoyment of the sport hinges on strikeouts vs outs on balls in play, then I'll admit that there is a real and substantial difference there.
Personally, I don't experience any real difference in enjoyment. For me a K is probably a little more exciting than a routine out and a nasty K (like a caught looking on a really well located pitch or a swing and miss on something with great movement) is significantly more exciting than a routine out. A super close or highlight reel defensive play is more exciting than almost any K. Overall it pretty much comes out in the wash.
If anything, it seems to me that if there is something sapping enjoyment from the game it's the shift as it (anecdotally) seems to result in more routine outs vs. close plays/web gems. I'd be interested to see if the data backs this up.
So overall for me extra Ks are a net netural, extra HR are a plus, lower BABIP is a net negative. Overall it's not noticeably more or less exciting than any other time that I've been a fan.
If you feel differently I respect that, but if you come at me with language like "K's are ruining baseball" or "nobody ever steals anymore" or "the base hit is dying" then I'm going to roll my eyes a bit. It's clickbait.