306 replies to this topic

[SportsGuy]

Any rule changes that disrupt how you manage and play the game are bad.

If they are so concerned about time, cut down on sponsors, make less money on advertising and hope to make it up in ratings, tickets, etc...

Now, we know they won’t do that but these rule changes are going to shave off seconds..maybe a few minutes. They don’t impact pace of play much at all.

[Mike in STL]

Any rule changes that disrupt how you manage and play the game are bad.

That’s not true. Adding the DH changes how you play the game. The takeout slide at 2nd base was a strategy that you have to change how you play now. I’m sure there are plenty of rule changes over the 150 years of the game that have been for the better and made teams alter their strategy.

[Pedro Cerrano]

The playoff thing I can live with. Review times. Whatever.

I HATE HATE HATE the three batter minimum rule. Really can’t stand it

[Mike in STL]

The playoff thing I can live with. Review times. Whatever.

I HATE HATE HATE the three batter minimum rule. Really can’t stand it

You like watching more commercials then? I know the ones on MASN are so good.

 

Or you must like watching relievers jogging and warming up then more than you like baseball action?

 

 

I honestly don't think the impact will be detrimental. For the first week people will find a way to be like "we could have gone to pitcher X here, but nooooooo, and he gave up a hit instead of the other guy who would have gotten an out." But I think it'll calm down because for every one of those instances, there will be a, "Wow, our lefty got three straight righties out. Huh. Major league pitchers. Who knew?"

[russsnyder]

Any rule changes that disrupt how you manage and play the game are bad.

If they are so concerned about time, cut down on sponsors, make less money on advertising and hope to make it up in ratings, tickets, etc...

Now, we know they won’t do that but these rule changes are going to shave off seconds..maybe a few minutes. They don’t impact pace of play much at all.

I agree.

My main issue with the three batter rule is that the league is imposing a rule that impacts in game strategy. It sets a horrible precedent IMO.

Further, nothing has affected the pace of play more than instant replay the past few years. I know replay is not going away, but it needs to be fixed. ( Especially in light of the sign stealing scandal)

As you state, the three batter rule is going to have little impact on the pace of play. IMO, it's an overreaching panic move by a terrible commissioner.

[Chris B]

Football games are 3+ hours long too.

 

Nothing wrong with the game itself. 

[SportsGuy]

Football games are 3+ hours long too.
 
Nothing wrong with the game itself. 

College games take like 4 hours

The real problem is baseball doesn’t have a ton of action. Whether the games are 2:50 or 3:10, the lack of action is still the problem for people.

Nothing MLB can do will improve upon that.

[BSLChrisStoner]

College games take like 4 hours

The real problem is baseball doesn’t have a ton of action. Whether the games are 2:50 or 3:10, the lack of action is still the problem for people.

Nothing MLB can do will improve upon that.

 

I don't think that's true.  There are things they can do to cut the down time between 'action.' 

[SportsGuy]

I don't think that's true. There are things they can do to cut the down time between 'action.'

Sure..a little.

But it’s a slow game no matter what you do.

It takes time. People are either going to be ok with that or they aren’t.

[DJ MC]

The biggest problem is that there is less and less actual action in a game. Fewer opportunities for players to run around and do fun things. These changes aren't going to fix that, at least as their primary goal.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Sure..a little.

But it’s a slow game no matter what you do.

It takes time. People are either going to be ok with that or they aren’t.

Agree that you like the game or you don't. 

 

Do think you could easily: 

 

1) Have a pitch clock that you really enforce.

2) Make batters stay in the batter box between pitches...

3) Further reduce the commercial time between innings, just do more for the sponsors in-game. 

Those things won't dramatically change the game, but would make the product a bit better.
MLB average game in 2005 was 2:46... was up to 3:05 last year.  

 

 

Most importantly... the 3 true-outcome game right now is not a good watch. 

Homer / K / Walk, rinse and repeat. 

Gotta get more balls in play. 
I have thoughts on how to do that, we've discussed previously. Know some disagree with my take on how to do that. 
Think most agree the game play would be better and the watchability would be improved with more balls in play.

[Mike in STL]

There is even less action when you can change pitchers 7 times an inning.

[SportsGuy]

Really what is happening is that MLB is trying to weed out some of the new school thoughts.

That’s really all this is.

I mean, this may be their intention but it’s the result.

[mweb08]

The biggest problem is that there is less and less actual action in a game. Fewer opportunities for players to run around and do fun things. These changes aren't going to fix that, at least as their primary goal.

I agree that this is the bigger problem.

As for the time of the game, I don't think comparing baseball to football makes much sense considering one is a once per week game while the other is just about everyday. I am in favor of speeding the game up some.

The other issue for me personally is that the regular season is too long and a game on average is not especially significant. I do like the 162 game season for historical stat comparison, though.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Some numbers... 

 

2019 Total Homers: 6,776

2018 Total Homers: 5,585

2005 Total Homers: 5,017

 

2019 Strikeouts: 42,823

2005 Strikeouts: 30,644

[DJ MC]

There is even less action when you can change pitchers 7 times an inning.

 

Since that happens, like, twice a season, that isn't a problem that actually needs solving.

 

I've said my idea before--essentially, once the first pitch is thrown in an inning, you get one "free" pitching change, but the new pitcher must either complete the inning, give up a run, or be injured (with the DL as a requirement) before the next pitcher can enter. That solves 95% of the actual problems. The innings of X starts, gives up a hit, Y enters, gets an out and walks a guy, Z enters...etc. But it relates to the actual game action, not some artificial three-batter standard.

 

Also, you could do things like eliminating most of the warmup pitches, possibly requiring the relocation of the bullpens, etc., to cut down on the time itself.

[Pedro Cerrano]

No commercial breaks -- mandatory bullpen carts.  Two warm up pitches once you arrive on the mound.

 

Problem solved.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Football games are 3+ hours long too.

Nothing wrong with the game itself.

Once a week. Huge difference.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Another inherent problem, at least for me, is getting down big early. If the Os are down 4 runs after two innings my interest is instantly decreased. Ill still keep an eye or ear on the game but its hard to stay with it completely. Maybe just focus when we are batting. In basketball its so high scoring that you dont bail if your team is down 15 after 10 min. In football you can score on defense or get a quick turnover so you are watching if your team is down 17 after 1 quarter.

[Russ]

Three True Outcomes is the real enemy here.