SBN Reacts: On defense, extra innings and juiced balls

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged-in Texas Rangers fans, and fans across the country. Sign up here to join Reacts.

According to the latest SB Nation Reacts survey, 39 percent of Rangers fans are confident the team is headed in the right direction. That’s down from 64 percent last week and 56 percent to start the year.

A part of any fan’s confidence in the team is based on how well the team can get outs. A slight majority of Rangers fans have confidence in the team’s defense.

Defenses around the league are dealing with a couple of changes this season. One that theoretically should help while the other makes things more difficult.

After a few years of rising home run totals, the league reportedly made a change to deaden the baseballs used in games. However, if this has happened, fans haven’t yet noticed.

One undeniable change is a carry-over from last season when MLB decided to start each extra-inning with a runner on second base. The rule was implemented to increase scoring in extra innings and ideally prevent them from going into multiple extra innings.

While there is no doubt fans have taken notice of this change, it doesn’t mean they like what they see.

To vote in the Reacts surveys and have your voice heard each week, sign up here.