25 proposed rule changes for MLB

[Anrhydeddu]

From Jayson Stark:

http://msn.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/s...n/1503508.html

I think I agree with all of them and I would also add, of course, the elimination of the DH. One of the problems with baseball is stupid rules (or at least, the lack of enforcement of existing rules).

[clintl]

The designated fielder is an even worse idea than the designated hitter.

[McSweeny]

man there are some really dumb rules on that list... i agree with the phantom tag and the expanded rosters at the end of the year, but the rest of those rules are a bunch of crap

[Draft Dodger]

anyone care to post the text of the article, for those of us who can't access ESPN at work?

seems interesting.

[Marmel]

I liked 16-20, but that is about it.

[cthomer5000]

I would love it if the runner could run anywhere.

[Anrhydeddu]

Not sure how this is going to look

JAYSON STARK'S TOP 20

1
Use instant replay
White Sox GM Kenny Williams says he would love to "give our manager one of those little challenge flags." OK, baseball can't use replay for everything. Nobody wants to wait 10 minutes to confirm a foul tip. But replay would work great to decide whether balls are fair or foul, out of the park or off the wall. And why not? Nobody uses long division if they have a calculator handy. Technology marches on. Use it.

2
Stay in the box
Why have a batter's box if we're going to let hitters march around between pitches as if they're in the Rose Bowl Parade? We'd allow a hitter to step out once per at-bat to regroup -- but that's it. Other than that, the hitter has to keep one foot in the box for the entire at-bat, or it's an automatic strike. And if both feet are in, the pitcher had better be ready to pitch, or it's an automatic ball.

3
Establish visiting hours
Some managers and pitching coaches spend more time on the mound every night than their starting pitcher. Enough already! Padres GM Kevin Towers proposes a limit of five visits per game by managers and coaches (not counting injury visits when accompanied by a trainer). If a game goes extra innings, everybody gets two extra visits. And there should be a one-minute limit to any visit. Are we the only ones who watch some of these interminable mound conventions and think about the wedding-gift mound scene from Bull Durham?

4
Toughen up the save rule
All saves are not created equal. So naturally, we got a bunch of suggestions aimed at pampered closers. Our favorites: Relievers shouldn't get a save unless they face the tying run. And relievers shouldn't get a win if they blow a save. But nobody should ever again be allowed to earn a "save" in a 26-7 game.

5
Ban the fake-to-third, throw-to-first move
If it were up to us, we'd wipe out the balk rule entirely, since 50 percent of all balks are essentially examples of umpires trying to demonstrate how smart and attentive they are. But if we're going to keep it, then please make that horrendous fake-to-third, throw-to-first pickoff move a balk. We don't care if the pitcher is on the rubber, off the rubber or lying in a deck chair. That move deceives runners more than all but about six balk calls we've ever seen.

6
Three pickoffs and you're done
Speaking of pickoffs, two of our poll-ees suggested that pickoff throws be limited to three per runner, per base. Think of the dramatic possibilities after a pitcher had used up his second move. Would he dare use up that (gasp) third throw, knowing it would be an invitation to the runner to take a 40-foot lead on the next pitch? Or were those first two throws a set-up, daring that runner to guess there's no way he'd make that third move -- and get picked off? Sounds like fun to us.

7
Five for fighting
Hockey and football teams are allowed to deactivate players for a specific game. So here's a baseball variation suggested by one club official who prefers to remain nameless: Limit a team to five relief pitchers per nine-inning game. Obviously, all limits are off in extra innings, but this could be a change that works for everybody: It would be a guaranteed night off for that tireless right-hander who had already pitched three straight days. And it would spare us the thrill of the in-and-out bullpen parade -- left, right, left, right ... oops, we're out of pitchers.

8
It takes two
In the same vein, Brewers GM Doug Melvin suggests that when no one is on base, a relief pitcher should have to face a minimum of two hitters instead of just one. Nothing worse than a 1-2-3 seventh inning featuring three different relievers.

9
Let's not see you in September
Our buddy Peter Gammons rants about this every year, and he's right: Why do teams play with a 25-man roster all year and then, in the most important month -- September -- get to expand the roster to 40? If September provides a club with the opportunity to check out a Francisco Rodriguez or a Brandon Phillips, fine. If it allows a team to add a backup catcher or extra bullpen arm, no problem. But when it's hard to tell the Tigers' active roster from the Lions' active roster, that's going too far. Shrink that September roster to 30 -- tops.

10
Unify the numbers
Once upon a time, baseball had two separate and distinct leagues. They had their own offices. They never played each other. For a while, they even had their own rules. But now -- in an age of interleague play, one umpiring workforce and no league offices -- it's time to consolidate the stats. Was there anything more ridiculous last September than those scoreboards, newspapers and official stat sheets showing Bartolo Colon's record as 10-4 (his record just as an Expo), when everybody knew he was 20-8? If a player gets traded from one league to the other in midseason, count all his stats -- not just the stats in the new league. While we're at it, can we retroactively give Mark McGwire that 1997 home run title he should have won (when he led the major leagues with 58, but made the mistake of hitting 34 of them in Oakland before getting traded to the Cardinals in July)?

11
Waive the waiver system
As long as we're on this subject, another constructive proposal by Doug Melvin would make the waiver system more like the draft. Now, if a player gets placed on waivers by an AL team, all the other AL teams have to pass on claiming him before even the worst team in the NL gets a shot at him. If we're striving for competitive balance in an interleague age, shouldn't that system be trashed? Give teams an opportunity to claim a player according to their record -- worst teams first, regardless of league. Or alternate leagues like the draft. But to give the Yankees first shot at a player who could legitimately help the Pirates is absurd.

12
Erase the runner's box
A bunch of players grumbled about the continued existence of that "runner's box" along the last 45 feet of the first-base line. In theory, the runner is supposed to stay within the lane of those two lines. In reality, said Astros catcher Brad Ausmus, "if the runner stays in the runner's box, he can't actually ever legally touch first base." Plus, said Texas' Doug Glanville, that lane "is in foul territory. So as a right-handed batter, you have to run across the field to get foul, then loop back to touch the base, which is in fair territory." If it's interference, it's interference. Do we really need that line to establish whether it is or isn't? And let those right-handed hitters cut across the grass to get to the line while we're at it.

13
Define the true meaning of sacrifice
Marlins utility dynamo Andy Fox wonders why hitters don't get a sacrifice when they hit a ground ball to the right side to move a runner -- or when they hit a ground ball with the infield back to score a run. Good question. We've seen scorers give sacs to guys who clearly were bunting for a hit. So why wouldn't they have the discretion to give "sacs" to guys who obviously are hitting a ball to the right side to advance a runner?

14
Dump the designated pinch-runner
If we're trying to speed up the game and make it more athletic, why defeat both purposes by allowing some half-crippled pinch-hitter to pinch-hit in a blowout, then have to pinch-run for him? Another cool Doug Melvin idea would ban pinch-running for a pinch-hitter -- unless he represents the tying or go-ahead run. Besides moving the game along, it would force managers to save certain hitters for certain situations, knowing they couldn't get them out of the game if they reached base. Strategy: good. One-dimensional hitters: bad. That's our motto.

15
But add the designated fielder
Doug Melvin (who obviously needs his own column) also proposes adding a minimum-salaried 26th roster spot for a "designated fielder." This guy would make the minimum -- but would never be allowed to bat (all season). Unlike the DH, the DF wouldn't play the whole game in the field. He would be a defensive specialist who would go into a game late and occupy a lineup spot -- except that when his turn came up, you'd have to pinch-hit for him. So he'd be the defensive equivalent of the closer. He'd just move around a lot more.

16
Ban all body armor
Baseball did a great job last year of cracking down on all those hitters heading for the plate in football pads. But it's time to go further. Unless a guy has had a broken bone in his hand or arm within the past five years, or a deep bruise (authenticated by the surgeon general) within the past 30 days, no armor whatsoever should be permitted for any hitter. Sorry, Barry. Even you.

17
Invent the "team" error
When a 40-foot pop-up lands in the infield between four different men wearing the finest gloves money can buy, don't you just hate it when that's scored a (chuckle) "hit?" When a routine fly ball in the alley drops between two outfielders who forgot to call it, doesn't it curdle your blood when the hitter gets a (gasp) "double?" Absurd! If a ball should be caught, it should be caught. And if it isn't, it's an error -- even if it's a "team" error. Case closed.

18
Enforce the batter's box
This, technically, isn't a rule "change." But explain to us again why some hitters are allowed to rub out the back line of the batter's box and camp out practically in the catcher's lap. We don't get it. If we're not going to enforce that batter's box, why waste the chalk? And on a similar note, if a hitter wants to stand so close to the plate that his elbows are actually in the strike zone, he forfeits the right to take his base if he gets drilled. And the umpire would announce that before the pitch.

19
The phantom must go
There's nothing more "phantom" these days than the "phantom" tag of second base on a double play. Two different club executives grumbled that middle infielders are now allowed to roam farther and farther off the bag while "turning" two. So we risk hearing from the heavily funded Shortstop Lobby by proposing: No more phantom tags. If you don't touch the base, you don't get the out.

20
No more Saturday night games
A prominent GM who prefers not to get fined says it's time for all weekend games to be played in the afternoon, to make this sport as kid-friendly as possible. Since we work for a network that seems to enjoy Sunday nights, we'll make an allowance for one national TV game every week. But that's it. The same GM wants no night games starting after 7 p.m., and no postseason games starting later than 8 p.m. sharp -- all in the name of re-infusing kids with the love of baseball. Yeah, there would be short-term money lost. But we would make it back when the next generation pours through the turnstiles. We promise, Bud.





FIVE MORE FOR FUN

1
No more out-of-the-baseline rule
Retired first-base magician Rico Brogna proposes there should be no such thing as a runner going out of the baseline. Let him run anywhere on the field if he wants. Imagine that crowd roaring as the runner on first runs around the outfield while the runner who was on second attempts to score. Imagine the drama as the team in the field tries to decide whether it's worth chasing the runner and conceding the run or getting the out. It could be baseball's version of the Stanford Band Play.

2
Farm out the Brewers
The last labor deal should have had a minimum payroll to force lousy teams to try to get better. But since it didn't, one GM had an idea that's guaranteed to work: The team with the worst record in baseball every year gets sent to Triple-A. We're assuming some team from Triple-A -- or at least the Northern League -- would have to be promoted to the big leagues to fill out the divisions, but we're willing to negotiate. Now that would get their attention at Miller Park, huh?

3
No win, no welfare
Or here's a variation on that same theme, from an anonymous agent: If a team has three consecutive losing seasons, it loses 50 percent of its revenue-sharing payout and all of its welfare check from the luxury-tax pool until it gets above .500 again. That might force the Pirates, Brewers and Tigers into Chapter 11. But if it didn't, we bet it would sure speed up their rebuilding programs.

4
Get the fans in the game -- literally
One final Rico Brogna proposal: Make fan interference legal. Fans couldn't actually leave the stands, of course. And any nets, traps or other contraptions not fitting the definition of "baseball glove" would be prohibited. But otherwise, make fans feel like more a part of the action than ever before (and boost sales of those front-row seats) by giving them the right to field any ball, fair or foul, that shows up near their seat. What sport has ever been fan-friendlier than that?

5
Ban Thunder Stix
One club executive pleaded with us to get baseball to outlaw the pre-game dispensing of any giveaway item which, if waved, banged or pounded, could cause significant permanent hearing loss. And after living through last October in Anaheim, our only possible response to that is: Huh? What's that? Say again?

[DeftRevisited]

I particularly like the waiver idea and the team error. I have some additional ideas for major sports:

1.) Make all bases like homeplate- Jammed fingers, broken legs, sprained ankle and knees. No one has ever given me a good reason why homeplate is flush with the playing surface and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are cemented pillows.

2.) Make football helmet have polycarbonate (transparent plastic) shielding on the outside of the ribbing on the helmet and wider peripheral vision.- This makes it easier to avoid getting blind sided (Happened to me enough times), harder to read the QB's eyes and eliminates most of the face mask penalties that always look so painful.

3.) Along the same lines, make the exterior of the helmet cushioned- this could prevent some of the more serious head injuries. If you've ever had your hand smashed between two helmets or somebody bang your helmet with a ringed hand you'd be all for softer helmets.

3.) Give NFL refs drop down visors and ear pieces for instant replay- Nothing is a bigger beating than watching a ref run across the field to stare into what looks like a Cray computer terminal from '83. They have the money and technology.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by DeftRevisited
3.) Along the same lines, make the exterior of the helmet cushioned- this could prevent some of the more serious head injuries. If you've ever had your hand smashed between two helmets or somebody bang your helmet with a ringed hand you'd be all for softer helmets.

This would most likely add to the odds that helmets would stick or catch on each other, leading to potentially deadly neck injuries at a higher rate. I'm starting to believe that (in football), the answer is less protection, not more.

[Anrhydeddu]

I strongly agree with #2, #16 and #18.

I agree with #3, #4, #8, #9, #10, #11, #14, #19 and #20 (plus the fun 1-5 ones, some are radical).

It is my opinion that baseball needs to really look at themselves, esp. in reducing the stupid things in the game that makes it too long. Football and basketball went with a clock and popularity soared. While there is no clock in baseball, just enforcing the batter box (and pitching mound) wandering rules would help a lot.

[DeftRevisited]

A lot of this stuff reminds me of what Mark Cuban did coming to the Mavs. He thought you know I am spending a ridicules amount of money on these players and their accomodations are similar to the reporters that cover them. So he changed the bench to have plush chairs and steaks and lobster for both home and visiting teams as well as top notch locker rooms. I have nothing against maintaining traditions but to accept them just because they're there is very Middle Ages.

[WSUCougar]

Although it is a pipe-dream, I think the idea of dropping the worst MLB team to AAA and promoting the champion is a great one. Think about it! Think of the drama as the crappy MLB teams have a do-or-die pennant race of their own, and the elite AAA teams have one helluva championship series.

Great idea.

[Draft Dodger]

I can't understand why baseball doesn't enfore the batter's box lines - it's ridiculous. like he says, it's a waste of chalk.

[Draft Dodger]

oh, and I think the designated fielder rule may be the worst suggestion I have ever heard.

[DeftRevisited]

DraftDodger, if you were the GM for the Rangers and you had the likes of Canseco, and Juan Gonzales you would change your tune on the designated fielder rule.

[digamma]

A lot of these are rules that won't affect the game one way or another. See, the save rule, team error, and unifying league statistics.

Otheres seem like good ideas, but would be incredibly difficult and confusing to implement. See, the no pinch runner for a pinch hitter unless he is the go ahead run and the no relief pitchers when no one is on base in an inning. I just don't get all of the exceptions.

[moriarty]

Anything that either speeds the game up or prevents another strike threat its a huge plus.

I'd really like to see a relegation process (fun #2) included for the bottom 3 teams (those teams that don't even try to compete and sell their best players to the Yankees in July).

Imagine seeing the Brewers/Expos/Devil Rays fighting to stay out of AAA. Of course it'd never work with teams associating with their minor league clubs and the problems with stadium sizes ... but it'd at least penalize those loser clubs and give some upcoming AAA cities (Nashville?) a chance.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by WSUCougar
Although it is a pipe-dream, I think the idea of dropping the worst MLB team to AAA and promoting the champion is a great one. Think about it! Think of the drama as the crappy MLB teams have a do-or-die pennant race of their own, and the elite AAA teams have one helluva championship series.

Great idea.

This is my favorite aspect of soccer in Europe. I wish there was an equivelant for all leagues in the US, but obvisouly with things like the NFL there is no minor-league for it.

[ScottVib]

I agree with #2, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #16, #18, #19, and #20.

I would change #4 to award the save to the pitcher entering the game in a save situation who is most responsible for holding the lead. So perhaps that guy who comes in with the bases loaded 1 out and gets the inning ending double play in the seventh gets the save over the guy who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth with a 2 run lead, makes more sense to me, and rewards the guy who had the tougher job.

I don't really care about #17

Many of the rest of them I personally find foolish, or feel they actually reduce the strategy of the game, or they just don't strike me as necessary.

[Honolulu Blue]

AGREE with: 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 18, 19, 22
DISAGREE with: 1, 4, 13, 14, 15, 20, 24
NEUTRAL/NO OPINION on: 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 21, 23, 25

I would additionally support a change to 3 balls / 2 strikes.

[clintl]

#1 - Why? There are very few bad calls in baseball, and most of the ones that do exist would not fall into those categories.

#2 - No strong feelings one way or the other about this one, but this isn't what slows the game down. Batters and pitchers have always done this - I remember booing George Foster at Candlestick for it in 1977. I think if this rule were implemented, the time it saved would be completely inconsequential.

#3 - Interesting idea, and maybe worth some consideration.

#4 - Again, why? As far as saves in blowout games, I doubt that occurs more than a dozen times a season in all of baseball. I can't remember a single game the Giants or A's played last year where a pitcher got a 3+ inning save in a blowout.

#5 - Does it ever work? No. Not worth bothering with.

#6 - Interesting, but again, I doubt that it really have much effect.

#7 - OK, here's where time can be saved - cutting down on pitching changes. Worth consideration, at least.

#8 - See #7. I don't really think you need both, though.

#9 - I don't see any real merit in this.

#10 - There is something to be said for tradition. While I think that "unofficial" unification of stats during the season is a good idea, I don't agree with respect to official league leaders and league records.

#11 - Great idea. They should implement this immediately.

#12 - What difference would this make? It's completely ignored anyway.

#13 - If he's swinging the bat, how can you tell if he's just trying to move the runner over? I think they're always hoping for a base hit in that situation.

#14 - How many of these guys are there? Not worth the effort, even if the idea had merit (which it doesn't).

#15 - The worst idea since orange baseballs.

#16 - I think a bigger deal is made of this than it deserves, but I don't have any problems with banning it.

#17 - Interesting idea with merit.

#18 - Yes! But that isn't a rule change.

#19 - See #18.

#20 - I think there are certain geographical locations that would have a huge problem with this idea. In San Francisco, it's a great idea (but the Giants never play Saturday night home games, anyway). In Arlington, it's a recipe for heat stroke. And Saturday night is for staying up late, so stop bringing the kids into it.

The Fun 5 are not worthy of comment.

[Ksyrup]

I think nearly all of these suggestions stink. The problem with them is, just as in the case of the proposed modification/elimination of the intentional walk rule:


http://msn.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stark_jayson/1503730.html


that people want to change baseball in order to make it more "entertaining." Why can't people understand that baseball is entertaining in its present form to a lot of people? Too many changes to the game for the sake of getting Joe Casual Observer to watch would ruin the game, IMO.

I don't like any changes that would affect strategy decisions for the sake of speeding up the game. I don't have a problem with enforcing some sort of batter's box clock, but even that removes some of the strategy betwen the pitcher and hitter. It's those kinds of subtle things that most casual fans either don't see, don't understand, or don't care about, that makes the game great.

I think baseball needs to understand its place in American sports and accept it. In a sports world where violence, constant action, and instant gratification are the leading forms of entertainment, baseball will ultimately either accepts its role as a niche market or change so completely that the game will be barely recognizable. I just hope the latter does not occur. The game was not meant to be played at any particular pace. It's clearly a "leisure" sport. Stop trying to make it something it isn't.

[clintl]

Good point, Ksyrup. And baseball games are still shorter than football games, so I don't really see why it gets a bad rap for length in the first place.

[primelord]

Originally posted by Ksyrup
I don't like any changes that would affect strategy decisions for the sake of speeding up the game. I don't have a problem with enforcing some sort of batter's box clock, but even that removes some of the strategy betwen the pitcher and hitter. It's those kinds of subtle things that most casual fans either don't see, don't understand, or don't care about, that makes the game great.

I love baseball as much as anyone, but you think Garciaparra and his little charade between pitches makes the game great? I agree there is some strategy involved in stepping out to disrupt the pitchers timing or waiting to pitch to get the hitter thinking too much in the box, but some of these guys like Garciaparra are just absurd.

And what about Biggio and his mounds of armor stepping into pitch after pitch. You want to talk about eliminating strategy. The pitcher can't throw inside to him because he has no fear of getting hit.

Some of the rules aren't needed, but I thought some would benefit the game.

[Ksyrup]

They took steps to reduce the body armor this past year. I think Garciaparra doesn't even know what he's doing, frankly. It's sub-conscious.

[Anrhydeddu]

Stop trying to make it something it isn't.

Ksyrup, they have already done this. Baseball isn't about:
not letting pitchers bat
wearing football gear to the batter's box
getting out the batter's box or pitching mound between pitches
interleague play
cheating on turning a double play
breaking the batter's box rule
and other things

Somehow we accept these things when we really should not have.

[Ksyrup]

Originally posted by Anrhydeddu
Ksyrup, they have already done this. Baseball isn't about:
not letting pitchers bat
wearing football gear to the batter's box
getting out the batter's box or pitching mound between pitches
interleague play
cheating on turning a double play
breaking the batter's box rule
and other things

Somehow we accept these things when we really should not have.

Bah. I don't accept that argument. I'm talking about changing the very nature of the game. The only thing listed above that does that, IMO, is the DH rule. Even interleague play - so what? Fans in other cities deserve to be able to see the stars of the other league. Cheating on turning an double play and not enforcing the batter's box rule is akin to NBA refs not calling walking or palming 100 times a game, the NFL not calling holding on every play, and the NHL not calling obstruction on every play. Those things don't really affect the very nature of the game.

Since I have the DirecTV basbeall package, I actually like the length of ABs and the games themselves. It gives me the opportunity to watch 5 or 6 games at a time without missing much of the "action," and it gives me something to watch until 1:30-2am.

[primelord]

I think most of what A listed does change the nature of the game. I'll concede they got better with the body armor at the plate, but I thought the suggestion in the article of only allowing it to protect recent injuries was very reasonable. Lets face it if you have an arm guard on you aren't going to be afraid to stick that elbow out to catch an inside pitch.

If your going to cheat by stepping into a pitch atleast be a man like Vina and do it without any protection. But the armor does change the nature of the game. It helps take away the inside part of the plate from pitchers and that makes a HUGE difference in the way the game is played.

Also stepping on the bag to turn the double play changes the nature of the game. It's the difference bewteen a runner in scoring position with one out and no one on with two outs. Thats a HUGE difference. The rule says you have to step on the bag to get a force out. What is wrong with asking the players to actually do that?

Your comparison to other sports is interesting because a lot of people hate the NBA because they won't call travelling when ti should be, and hockey changed there rules this year and started calling the obstruction rule in the neutral zone. I have no argument on the football one because there is holding probably on every play.

Some of the proposed rule changes are silly, but a couple of them make sense and to me they get the game back to what baseball is supposed to be and what you are supposedly defending.

[clintl]

I've been a fan since the late '60s, and I remember watching games on TV as a kid where they would show the leadoff hitter obliterating the back line of the batter's box before the first pitch. That kind of stuff has been going on forever. Same with cheating on double plays and stepping out of the box between pitches - I can't remember a time when that wasn't happening.

[Ksyrup]

Exactly. Those are the kinds of things that have been going on for decades. And yes, the difference between touching a bag and not is that the runner wouldn't be out if they called it properly, but that's just one of those things that the middle infielder get the benefit of the doubt on because of injury issues. now, I agree they shouldn't allow guys to turn a double play from 3 feet away, but there's no harm in allowing a "loose" interpretation.

Same thing with tagging the guy out on a steal. If the ball gets there first, 99 times out of 100 the guy is called out, even though, say, 10 times the guy actually beats the tag. In the strictest sense of the word, it does "change" the game...but not really.

All sports have these kinds of rule "interpretations." Can you imagine if the NFL threw a flag ever time a coach stepped onto the field of play?

[DataKing]

Originally posted by cthomer5000
This is my favorite aspect of soccer in Europe. I wish there was an equivelant for all leagues in the US, but obvisouly with things like the NFL there is no minor-league for it.

There's always the Arena League and the CFL. Obviously, uniform rules would be in order.

But this begs the question: Would the Cincinatti Bungles have won the Grey Cup by now?

I think not.

[Easy Mac]

I always wondered, why can righties fake a throw to third and throw to first and nothing happens, but if lefties fake to first and throw to third its a balk. Never seemed fair growing up as a lefty. It seems like it should be a balk either way.

[clintl]

Originally posted by Easy Mac
I always wondered, why can righties fake a throw to third and throw to first and nothing happens, but if lefties fake to first and throw to third its a balk. Never seemed fair growing up as a lefty. It seems like it should be a balk either way.

Yeah, but as a lefty, you can still keep your career going for several years after you can't get anyone out anymore.

[primelord]

Originally posted by Ksyrup
All sports have these kinds of rule "interpretations." Can you imagine if the NFL threw a flag ever time a coach stepped onto the field of play?

Yea the coaches would stop doing it.

[primelord]

Ksyrup,

I see your point, and I am sure if they changed the rule for double plays and Vina or Renteria were injured because they had to touch the bag I might feel differently. However what has been happening for years is the players keep bending the rule a little more and a little more. To the point where they don't even attempt to touch the bag anymore.

I love the game of baseball and won't be upset if (actually when) they don't make any of these suggested rule changes. I just don't think all of them would be bad for the game and change it into a product that no longer resembles baseball. To the contrary some of them may start to get baseball back to what it originally was.

[sterlingice]

They took steps to reduce the body armor this past year. I think Garciaparra doesn't even know what he's doing, frankly. It's sub-conscious.

I'm guessing that if nothing else, inverviewers have mentioned it and he just doesn't care.

Anyways- onto the article:

Clearly, Stark is an AL guy with his nutty ideas. Typically, in the NL, you don't see nearly as many pitching visits or a need for some asinine rule for limiting pitchers. Hardly any NL teams carry more than 11 pitchers and, frankly, for some of those pitchers at the end of the cubs bullpen bench, it's best those guys never see the light of day. It's all about the DH: if you don't have to strategically use your bench, it allows you to carry, for instance, a 12th pitcher who you bring in to face one lefty every night: a pitcher, whose sole purpose is to pitch to lefties because he has some pitch they can't pick up too well but who they would never leave in against a righty because he'd get hammered without this little gimmick. Rules 3, 7, and 8 all deal with this and 14 and 15 deal with other retarded "designated rules". Not many NL teams can carry a guy solely for speed since they have to worry about hitting for the pitcher. I'm definately a purist about this: the DH is a retarded idea- if the pitcher wants to pitch, the pitcher should have to hit: I bet Rocket or Pedro would be a lot more careful about escalating incidents if they had to step into the box against each other.

Stark, stop watching those Yankees and Red Sox (or Dodogers or Cardinals) games they show every week on ESPN and realize there are other teams out there. This is at the core of why the last labor negotiation solved nothing. The fans were too lazy to pick a side other than "we just don't want to hear you two bicker" like a parent who sends both kids to their room when one child was hitting another unprovoked. Remember that "great" luxury tax compromise that was going to equalize things and help out small market clubs who don't have the luxury of being one of the handful of teams in the largest markets? Well, George will be slated for $164M by time this season starts and he has to pay a measly $8M in luxury tax. The only other team that was even hit by this was the Mets at a whopping $350K. Enjoy your 8 team league: my adopted Royals and hometown (and quite fiscally responsible) Astros will be gone but at least I'll still have the Cubs- they make a lot of money, even if they spend it foolishly.

SI

[McSweeny]

woooohooo! go red sox!

[stkelly52]

Originally posted by Ksyrup
Why can't people understand that baseball is entertaining in its present form to a lot of people? Too many changes to the game for the sake of getting Joe Casual Observer to watch would ruin the game, IMO.

I don't understand why so many hard core fans don't understand that Baseball is dying. People would rather watch the Lions play the Bengals than watch a post season game. If baseball is not able to attract the interest of Joe Casual Observer, then the sport will die. Baseball is too expensive to become just a niche market.

[Ksyrup]

Baseball is to expensive? It's called supply and demand. Baseball is expensive to the fans because the owners can charge them as much as they do and still fill the seats. When that changes, prices will go down. Players are expensive to owners because their services are in demand, to fill seats. When that changes, player salaries will go down.

Baseball isn't dying - it will never die. But it may never grow again, and might even atrophy a bit. In fact, I'd be perfectly happy with a 2 league, 24 team MLB (6 teams in 2 divisions in each league). Of course, that would mean less money for the owners, which will eventually lead to imposition of many of the rules mentioned in the article, as well as a number of other ideas designed to attract fans and take away from the sport.

I don't care if MLB can't draw the 18-45 demographic for Saturday baseball, or during the postseason, because I've come to the conclusion that baseball is not the kind of sport that the masses want to watch or even attempt to understand in the 21st century. The only people who care are the owners and players, because they've grown accustomed to enormous increases in wealth over the past 25 years. Just because that is coming to an end doesn't mean the game is dying, it's just reached as high as it's ever going to get. And that's fine with me.

[bosshogg23]

"Let's not see you in September
Our buddy Peter Gammons rants about this every year, and he's right: Why do teams play with a 25-man roster all year and then, in the most important month -- September -- get to expand the roster to 40? If September provides a club with the opportunity to check out a Francisco Rodriguez or a Brandon Phillips, fine. If it allows a team to add a backup catcher or extra bullpen arm, no problem. But when it's hard to tell the Tigers' active roster from the Lions' active roster, that's going too far. Shrink that September roster to 30 -- tops."

I would HATE this rule. Being a Detroit Tiger fan is tough, but not being able to see some of the promising players in the organization would be awful.

Designated Fielder really is just a bad idea. Who in the world would sign up to be that player(ok I would, but lets assume we are dealing with players with talent).

"No more Saturday night games
A prominent GM who prefers not to get fined says it's time for all weekend games to be played in the afternoon, to make this sport as kid-friendly as possible. Since we work for a network that seems to enjoy Sunday nights, we'll make an allowance for one national TV game every week. But that's it. The same GM wants no night games starting after 7 p.m., and no postseason games starting later than 8 p.m. sharp -- all in the name of re-infusing kids with the love of baseball. Yeah, there would be short-term money lost. But we would make it back when the next generation pours through the turnstiles. We promise, Bud"

I agree almost all games should be at 1-4pm. However I think baseball NEEDS to televise a night game on Saturday. The best game of the evening should be played on ESPN or ABC or NBC or whoever has decided to pass out 60 trillion dollars.

[kcchief19]

Jayson Stark is an idiot. Pure and simple.

1 Use instant replay: Ugh. Ridiculous. We are trying to speed up games, not drag them to a complete halt.
2 Stay in the box: Yes. This is getting out of control.
3 Establish visiting hours: Not a bad idea. Managers and pitching coaches make a lot less visits than he thinks. It would help a lot more if umpires simply enforced rules on time limits.
4 Toughen up the save rule: Stupid idea. Ridiculous example. The only way you could a save in a 26-7 game is if the winning team outscored the losing team by 16 or more runs over the last four innings or less and finished the game. Saves have been rendered less meaningful due to the new role of closers, not because of the rule itself.
5 Ban the fake-to-third, throw-to-first move. Why bother to ban a strategic move that occurs MAYBE every other game or two?
6 Three pickoffs and you're done: I'm not going to dignify something this stupid with a response.
7 Five for fighting: Idiotic. A more practical solution would be to limit teams to carrying no more than 10 pitchers in the AL and 11 in the NL. Since Jayson loves ridiculous examples, what are you going to do if your starter gets run in the first inning and one of your relievers gets hurt. In the NL, you're going to make horrible relief pitchers bat or you're going to make a guy used to pitching an inning or two go five or more?
8 It takes two: THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM! The problem is that TV/radio have taken pitching changes and turned them into 2 or 2 1/2 minute commercial breaks. Solution: No commercial breaks during pitching changes, enforce 90-second rule for pitching changes. Bring back the bullpen cart to get these guys on the mound faster. This speeds up the game without changing the competitive aspects of the game.
9 Let's not see you in September: Does this guy follow baseball? First, I defy you to find me a team that calls up 15 guys for September. It doesn't happen. Sure, some teams might call up 10 guys, but some of them won't play more than an innning or two. September roster call-ups serve two purposes: give out of it teams a chance to evaluate talent for next year and gives teams in the playoffs the chance to rest starters for the postseason. Both are good for the game.
10 Unify the numbers: If this is what somebody thinks is wrong with baseball, then somebody just isn't looking. Who cares?
11 Waive the waiver system: Fine in theory, but it doesn't matter. The waiver system's primary purpose is to prevent teams that are out of it from cashing in their roster and sending players to winning teams. If a guy is good enough to help the Pirates, no way he clears waivers to the Yankees. He'll end up in Kansas City first. Except he won't almost nobody goes to any team through waivers. It is very rare and usually only occurs with players who are being waived from the 40-man rosters, which means they are usually 27-year-old journeymen with no future.
12 Erase the runner's box: What an idiot.
13 Define the true meaning of sacrifice: 1) A hell of a lot more guys accidentally advance the runner with a groundball to the right side than get credit for a sacrifice when bunting for a hit; 2) statistics for the last 100 years for sacrifices would be null and void; 3) Like we need another meaningless statistic; 4) Some jackass player will say, "Hey, I led the league in advancing the runner to third with a ground ball, I deserve $7 million in arbitration."
14 Dump the designated pinch-runner: ? This makes no sense.
15 But add the designated fielder: It's official. Jayson Stark is the biggest idiot in the world. What the hell is this? This makes no sense when combined with his theories about less pitching and lineup changes. This adds even more.
16 Ban all body armor: I wouldn't say all, and I disagree once again that the armor is the biggest problem -- the biggest problems are: 1) Umps allow players like Bonds to stick their arms in the strike zone; 2) Umps do not enforce rules that require players to make an effort to avoid being hit; 3) Umps/MLB won't let pitchers pitch inside to drive guys off the plate. From an ownership perspective, I'd want Barry to wear the armor -- I don't want to pay a guy $15 million to be out for 8 weeks with a fractured ulna.
17 Invent the "team" error: It's somebody's fault. Period.
18 Enforce the batter's box: Finally, a decent idea.
19 The phantom must go: I disagree that the "ol' neighborhood play" is more prevalent than in the past. In fact, I would contend that I see umpires more and more not all the phantom tag.
20 No more Saturday night games: There's nothing more kid-friendly than sitting in the bleachers at Kauffman Stadium in the middle of July in 104 degree heat with 80 percent humidity watching guys stagger around on a field with a temperature of 125 degrees. You want to make the game more kid friendly? Fix some of the above problems so that they average game that starts at 7 is over by 9:30.

FIVE MORE FOR FUN
1 No more out-of-the-baseline rule: Any idea brought up by Rico Brogna or Andy Fox should not be brought up by anybody expecting to be taken seriously.
2 Farm out the Brewers: Now we're taking ideas from soccer. Brilliant.
3 No win, no welfare: So the only teams that would get welfare would be .500 teams? That means instead of having an upper, middle and lower class structure, we would be moving the middle class teams closer to the upper and moving the lower class even lower. If Congress passed a tax plan like this, we would tax the rich to pay the middle class and then kick the lower class in the nuts just for kicks.
4 Get the fans in the game -- literally: See above. Of course, this would be just another benefit for the Yankees and Mets.
5 Ban Thunder Stix: Yes, let's get rid of anything that it favors hungry middle class teams and punishes spoiled, pampered Yankee fans.

[ScottVib]

Just a note on the save rule.

You can get a save in the 26-7 example game by simply pitching "effectively" the last three innings of the game. Willie Banks got the save in a 22-4 Red Sox victory (over Tampa) last year. Box Score

Here is the save rule:
Source: MLB.com Official Rules

SAVES FOR RELIEF PITCHERS
10.20
Credit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions: (1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and (2) He is not the winning pitcher; and (3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions: (a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or (b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces); or (c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.