306 replies to this topic

[GaryArmida]

A few really interesting rules being tested out in the Minors this year...

 

https://baltimorespo...-in-a-good-way/

 

 

 

[russsnyder]

Nice article Gary.

Let me state that I think it's a huge mistake to keep the rule with starting the runner on second to begin extra innings. I'd prefer to count the games as ties if you are not going to play straight baseball. I also see no reason other than to hurt offenses to take away the universal DH. The DH is used at every level of play except the National League.

It's interesting that most of these experiments in the minors are being done to increase base hits and to bring "small ball" back into the game. I think banning shifts will have the opposite effect. Instead of trying to beat the shift by either hitting through it or away from it, hitters will continue their quest for the home run ball and strikeouts will continue to rise.

You state in your article that games are too long. I'd counter that the more action cause by more singles, stolen bases, bunts, etc. will not shorten the games. I think limiting replay ( one challenge a game per team), enforcing keeping hitters in the batters box, and cutting down on BS like walk up music before every single at bat will speed some things up.

These experiments galvanize the believe that I have that Manfred is running this game from a perspective of fear. I doubt that these changes will bring over new fans. ( Bigger Bases are a laughable idea. If you want to cut down on collisions at first, add a safety base.) All these proposals will do is have fans question ( rightly so)if baseball has a clue as to what it is doing.

[GaryArmida]

Thank you!

 

I completely agree about the runner on second rule. The DH is something that should've been instituted a long time ago. There's nothing exciting or good about a pitcher going up and "hit". 

 

You could be right...all of these changes could lead to nothing. Home runs are still a driving force. I think even MLB is trying to find a balance. Supposedly, the baseballs are less juiced. 

 

I think what I was meant to say was pace of play...execs feel like games slog on...strikeouts, walks and homers. The hope is that the return of singles, doubles, running would improve that. I'm totally not sure. 

 

The base idea?? It's the worst one of the bunch IMO. 

 

I'm a purist...I love the long games, the strategy so I am definitely not advocating for wholesale changes. But, I don't mind them experimenting in the Minors. Who knows? Maybe they find something. 

[russsnyder]

I'm a bit of a purist myself, I mean I'm just getting used to interleague play after a few decades !

 

You put forth the minor league experiments in an objective manner, so I didn't mean to imply that you were on board with them all.

 

You're correct, maybe they will find something that works.

 

Note to self, keep an open mind.

[BSLChrisStoner]

CBS Sports: MLB roundtable: Should Major League Baseball ban the infield shift?
https://www.cbssport...-infield-shift/

[McNulty]

Well well well look who agrees with me.

https://open.spotify...MRIibCF55wt84zQ

[BSLChrisStoner]

FanGraphs: The Atlantic League Will Experiment Again, This Time With the Pitching Distance and DH Rule

[BSLChrisStoner]

MLB.com: Developing MLB’s Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS)

https://technology.m...bs-d4f499deff31

[Old Man]

Im not in agreement over banning the shift.

 

The shift has been around for years. Either you adjust to the shift, or it gets you out.

 

The current umpire situation is a joke, but not sure automation is the way to go.

[Mike in STL]

What is worse on your elbow? Throwing fastballs, or the action to produce spin on breaking balls? I sincerely don’t know. But what I’ve been hearing is the proposal to move the mound back will make teams throw more breaking balls because the break, and gravity, will make pitches even more un-hittable. I forget who said it the other day, but there is already a minor league team that plans on throwing 80% breaking pitches.

Maybe not trying to hit 100mph will save some elbows. Maybe spinning that many breaking balls will cause problems too? I don’t know? Breaking balls are less precise, and figure in the extra break and gravity from an extra foot of travel, will that result in more walks?

I think baseball has it backwards anyway. It’s not that the pitchers are better. It’s more hitters taking an all or nothing approach, and teams are encouraging that.

[Mike in STL]

Big fan of the proposed double hook DH rule though. Emphasis on SPs staying in games longer

[BobPhelan]

Big fan of the proposed double hook DH rule though. Emphasis on SPs staying in games longer

Would’ve helped us keep Means in the game on Tuesday! But I still just prefer the universal DH.

[Old Man]

Would’ve helped us keep Means in the game on Tuesday! But I still just prefer the universal DH.

Universal DH is my vote. I think at this stage, Im used to the DH and ok with it, and hate that we have 2 set of rules.

[Mike in STL]

Would’ve helped us keep Means in the game on Tuesday! But I still just prefer the universal DH.

I’m good with that too. Universal DH, or universal no DH. Or in interleague play both teams play by their leagues rules. AL pitchers having to hit in NL parks and NL using the DH in AL parks makes no sense.

But it’s almost splitting the difference if you lose the DH for pulling your SP. I hate “openers” and “TBD” when looking up the pitching matchups being a thing.

[BobPhelan]

Universal non-DH is vomit inducing. I can’t imagine why anyone would prefer a clearly inferior rule set.

[Mike in STL]

Universal non-DH is vomit inducing. I can’t imagine why anyone would prefer a clearly inferior rule set.

Half the league plays by it. Some more strategy with double switches and what not. I wouldn't prefer it if the AL went no DH. NL should get with the times for sure. But the leagues playing by different rules is stupid. The AL pitcher in a World Series game steps into the batters box, maybe for the first time since high school....in a World Series Game. 

 

But if they went universal no-DH, then at least the playing field is level. Maybe cleans up some of the unwritten rule stuff pertaining to bean balls and payback. 

[BSLRoseKatz]

I'm kinda open to a 10-man lineup with both DH and pitcher. You get the fun of someone like Nelson Cruz socking homers without needing to field and you still get the strategy of aspects of when to pinch-hit, when to bunt, etc. 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

No one ever wants to see a pitcher hit. Including their own teams. How the DH has stayed out of the NL for this long is beyond me. How it wasn't universal from the jump is beyond me.

[BobPhelan]

It’s like deciding to stick with using a bucket after the flushable toilet was invented.

[BSLChrisStoner]

CBS Sports: How MLB pushed back the Atlantic League mound and pushed fed-up players to the brink of a work stoppage

https://www.cbssport...-work-stoppage/