If you could change ONE rule...

[Cardot]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

They should make the DH so that either both leagues use it or neither league uses it. It just seems silly to me that only the AL uses it and not the NL.

I know that I am in the minority on this one, but I kind of like that each league does something different. It adds variety. In one league you have more strategy, while in the other you have more power and scoring.

[Azamien]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

I know that I am in the minority on this one, but I kind of like that each league does something different. It adds variety. In one league you have more strategy, while in the other you have more power and scoring.

I agree.

[bgeno]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

I'm ranking these seven in terms of their importance to me:



3) Base coaches are not required to wear helmets (you can see my stand on this matter in this old thread and this other thread for further justification).

Yes, get helmets off the damn base coaches.

I really can't understand why anyone would want to get rid of the helmets on base coaches. What's the big deal? It's not like it's hindering them or the game in any way. Why would you want less protection on them? It doesn't make any sense to me.

I remember we had this discussion years ago, but even now... I don't remember anyone saying this in the nineties. Why do we have to wait for someone to die to institute it? They were fine with it before when this was possible, they should be fine with it now.

And, Blzer, I really do not understand your argument about why they shouldn't be required. So, they wouldn't make them wear them in the 1990's, and it took until there was a death to enforce it. So what? I think that was the perfect time to enforce the rule, if you ask me. Why risk someone's life? They were already wearing hats. Helmets aren't stopping them from doing their job.

And who cares what they would or wouldn't do in the past? This is the present, sir.

Better to look silly then lose a life like that minor league 3B coach.

Yes, sir.



As for me, I'd get rid of the DH. I like the strategy involved in letting pitchers hit. AL managers seem like they have the easiest job in sports without having to deal with the double switch or pinch hitting for a pitcher when he might still have innings left in him.

But I don't mind the DH in the minors. The more players that get the opportunity to hit at the development level, the better.

[Blzer]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

I really can't understand why anyone would want to get rid of the helmets on base coaches. What's the big deal? It's not like it's hindering them or the game in any way. Why would you want less protection on them? It doesn't make any sense to me.

And, Blzer, I really do not understand your argument about why they shouldn't be required. So, they wouldn't make them wear them in the 1990's, and it took until there was a death to enforce it. So what? I think that was the perfect time to enforce the rule, if you ask me. Why risk someone's life? They were already wearing hats. Helmets aren't stopping them from doing their job.

And who cares what they would or wouldn't do in the past? This is the present, sir.

Careful there, I only said don't make it a requirement. I know for a fact that many of them would just be smart and keep them on, but it shouldn't be required.

[bgeno]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

Careful there, I only said don't make it a requirement. I know for a fact that many of them would just be smart and keep them on, but it shouldn't be required.

Why shouldn't it be? What are the positives of wearing a hat and not wearing a helmet as a base coach?

[Blzer]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

Why shouldn't it be? What are the positives of wearing a hat and not wearing a helmet as a base coach?

I know my argument is weak, but I didn't hear people complaining about it five years ago. I'm just saying it shouldn't have to be required. I know I wouldn't wear one. Okay fine, I'll be risking death I suppose.

No reason, I'd just prefer wearing a hat.

[Cardot]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

I know my argument is weak, but I didn't hear people complaining about it five years ago. I'm just saying it shouldn't have to be required. I know I wouldn't wear one. Okay fine, I'll be risking death I suppose.

No reason, I'd just prefer wearing a hat.

I am guessing similiar discussions took place in the 50's when teams started requiring players to use batting helmets. Now it is something we don't even think about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batting_helmets

[Blzer]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

I am guessing similiar discussions took place in the 50's when teams started requiring players to use batting helmets. Now it is something we don't even think about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batting_helmets

I honestly find a large difference in this, but that's just me. Maybe not in the reasoning behind having batting helmets, but history has shown that a batter has more balls heaved at him, and it seems it is more likely to be within the vicinity of a batter who is actually attempting to go after the ball and has little regard for themselves when working on an offensive approach. Factor in the closer distance et. al, and you have yourself a surefire protective unit for your head.

The batting helmet makes sense, but with our history again, it would also start making sense for batters and pitchers to wear those face mask grills as well. I hope that's not instituted only for cosmetic reasons, but this helmet thing for baseball coaches is too much. Again, one isolated incident and now they either have just suddenly realized what can actually happen if a 110 MPH line drive can do to you, or they feel that for some odd reason that they are now prone to being hit by foul balls because of this occurrence, which makes no sense because this was an isolated incident (and in a minor league ball game with aluminum bats, mind you).

Like I said, the batting helmet argument is a better justification for more protection toward the batter and pitcher, not the base coaches. I don't even know where the ball struck the base coach that was killed. For all we know, the helmet might not have even helped him if it hit around or below the ears. I'm just saying that it should be optional. Most base coaches would wear them anyway, but it just shouldn't be required.

[Cardot]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

I honestly find a large difference in this, but that's just me. Maybe not in the reasoning behind having batting helmets, but history has shown that a batter has more balls heaved at him, and it seems it is more likely to be within the vicinity of a batter who is actually attempting to go after the ball and has little regard for themselves when working on an offensive approach. Factor in the closer distance et. al, and you have yourself a surefire protective unit for your head.

Well, I was really speaking in more general terms. Any time a sport starts to use a new type of protective gear it looks strange. And i suppose the pioneers of that equipmemt often get a stigma of being wimps. Helmets in hockey and football certainly had this stage. But before long, it becomes the norm and it is a non issue. When I was young, any kid riding a bike with a helmet was going to get some major ridicule. Now is the exception to see a kid without a helmet.

[Blzer]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

Might as well bump this, since I've had a rule implementation idea since the beginning of this year:

If you lose a replay challenge, you are not allowed a defensive conference for three consecutive outs.

I think it's ridiculous enough that a coach can go out there and just play grabass with the umpire until he gets a thumbs up from a bench coach on the phone. Yes, I know it's about getting the call right... but I want more risk/reward. I want the managers to go by objectivity and not gut feeling/hope. Plus, you're taking time to give any pitchers you have a breather all the meanwhile during that replay review, and it's been hard to come up with a penalty like football. I think this would suffice.

[SPTO]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

I take the opposite tact, I want to go back to the way the game was for the last 120+ years. If a manager feels like his team is getting a raw deal on an umpire's call than run out there and demand a challenge and go back to your seat. No more of this casual chatter with an ump while waiting for a thumbs up or thumbs down. It's not like managers and players are blind to what's going on. There have been plenty of times when i've seen managers or players making an argument without the benefit of a replay and at least 50% of the time they're right with their argument. So it's not that much of an impediment.

[Blzer]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

Well, I agree with that too. I just don't know how they can be restricted with that phone in there, or how that can be governed. I would love for there to be no phone call, but while I was making the NFL analogy I realized that the offensive coordinator gives the head coach a green light to throw the red flag, or so I believe.

I want that old school approach as well. I just need some sort of penalty for getting out there and actually requesting the challenge.

[daflyboys]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

I'm going to cheat (hey, what's baseball without cheating) and give 2 categories:

Affecting the league as a whole: do away with this ridiculous winner of the All-Star game determining home field in the World Series.

Within a game itself: limit the times a catcher can visit the mound in an inning.

[kehlis]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

I would get rid of instant replay all together other than reviewing homeruns.

I hate it.

[Majingir]

Re: If you could change ONE rule...

^Only reason people hate replay is cause it takes awhile, over time I'm sure they'll get much quicker on this,and set up much more proper stuff like the NHL has.


Don't know if it's a rule, but if I'd make 1 change, it'd be to have 7 playoff teams with best in each league getting a BYE to 2nd round. So we'd have 4 round of playoffs(format could be something like 3-5-7-7)

If that doesn't count as a rule,then I'd have a pitch clock rule where it's actually enforced. So pitcher can only take 20 seconds(at most) after they get the ball from the catcher or umpire. It'd speed up the game ALOT. And if they don't pitch in that 20 seconds,something like an automatic ball happens,or maybe they could count it as a balk if a runner is on base)