MLB Off-Topic

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Saw the before and after pics of the Jays AAA stadium in Buffalo.

Is that really how minor league parks look?

I know they won't be there fancy multi million dollar MLB parks, but part of the venue looks almost abandoned.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

^ Just never question why the A's want out of the Coliseum, that's all I'm going to say.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

^ Just never question why the A's want out of the Coliseum, that's all I'm going to say.

I don't think a single person has ever questioned that.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't think a single person has ever questioned that.

It might just be the only thing everyone in this thread can agree on.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Now that we've seen it for a few weeks, what are peoples thoughts on the extra inning rule?

Is it a positive to home teams or road teams?

Road teams get first shot at getting the lead in a part of the game where scoring becomes easier, which leads to more likelyhood of their own reliever pitching with the lead.

However, as I saw in Jays game today, if road team doesn't score, the home team now knows they only need 1 to win, and could start inning off with a bunt, so now you have winning run on 3rd, 1 out.

Could this lead to "bunting specialists"? Forget being a pinch hitter to try getting a HR, simply being a pinch hitter with only goal being to move the runner to 3rd when stepping up with 0 outs could become a thing. No guarantee of bunting situations coming up in any part of a regular game, but you know if you go to extras it will happen.

Not that I'm saying all a guy can do is bunt, although if a pitcher wants to become a bunt specialist, why not?

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Well as far as liking it, I'm far against it of course. There is no doubt that strategy is involved in every half-inning of playing (which I'll get into), I've never doubted that and I understand it. It's kind of unique in that way. It simply doesn't feel earned is all. No heroics. But I'll refrain from talking about that the rest of the way.

I've lived with the rule my whole life, especially as a coach. It's an offensive advantage for the home team, but it's actually a defensive advantage for the away team. Much like how the offense can dictate how many runs they want to attempt to score, the defense can dictate how many runs they want to attempt to prevent.

So say the away team doesn't score any runs. What would you think many offensive teams would want to do? Sacrifice bunt sounds good, but as the defense knows they only need to score one run to win, they might think they have a better chance at preventing a run from scoring by making that out a force out, which means intentio... erm... automatically walking two batters to load the bases, and sometimes this even means bringing in that fifth infielder if need be. You can also work for a double play, which may just mean only intentionally walking one batter (but they'd likely take second base on defensive indifference because you can't risk throwing it there with the winning run on third base).

What really helps here is they can decide the automatic walk situation based on who is coming up, meaning maybe you don't do this if you're walking the #9 and #1 hitters, because then you have to mow through the 2-4 hitters, which isn't so easy. They're only one batter away from two outs in these circumstances though, so keep that in mind as well.

EDIT: I should mention though that in the end the offense has the greater advantage.

SECOND EDIT: I'm watching yesterday's Rays-Jays game right now, and realizing that some of this was actually happening. Probably why you were asking about it, too.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

A useful graphic indeed

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

^ The higher he got, the happier he got. Where have I heard that before?

[stlducks]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Now that we've seen it for a few weeks, what are peoples thoughts on the extra inning rule?

Is it a positive to home teams or road teams?

Road teams get first shot at getting the lead in a part of the game where scoring becomes easier, which leads to more likelyhood of their own reliever pitching with the lead.

However, as I saw in Jays game today, if road team doesn't score, the home team now knows they only need 1 to win, and could start inning off with a bunt, so now you have winning run on 3rd, 1 out.

Could this lead to "bunting specialists"? Forget being a pinch hitter to try getting a HR, simply being a pinch hitter with only goal being to move the runner to 3rd when stepping up with 0 outs could become a thing. No guarantee of bunting situations coming up in any part of a regular game, but you know if you go to extras it will happen.

Not that I'm saying all a guy can do is bunt, although if a pitcher wants to become a bunt specialist, why not?

I have not watched a lot of baseball this year because I think it's just stupid to be playing right now, especially only 60 games. But if a positive did come out of this year, starting extra innings with a runner on 2nd is it.



I'm usually against big rule changes (DH in the NL is a big no-no for me) but I have turned to like the runner on second rule. It's nice having extra innings be different than the first 9 innings. I also don't want to watch a 13 inning 1-1 game where teams are both having terrible days at the plate. Eventually, enough is enough, just help someone score a run and end the dang game.

[KSUowls]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Still 100% against.
I'm was never a fan of drastically changing the way the game is played just because you couldn't decide the game in extra innings. I still feel that way after a few weeks because it doesn't feel earned when you see the first batter sneak a grounder through the infield and drive in a run.

Sent from my S10 using Operation Sports mobile app

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The home run trot has to go. Once the ball clears the fence, get in your dugout, get a new ball, and get the next batter in there. It slows the pace of play.

Tell me why it should be in, and don't say because it's exciting. A trot is not exciting.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It's worse than flopping and barely a step below 2002 Game 6 WCF/Tim Donaghy/game fixing in basketball as far as delegitimizing goes.

Absolute lack of credibility in game results and completely antithetical to the sport.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It's worse than flopping and barely a step below 2002 Game 7 WCF/Tim Donaghy/game fixing in basketball as far as delegitimizing goes.

Absolute lack of credibility in game results and completely antithetical to the sport.

I'm guessing you're talking about the tiebreaker rule and not the home run trot.

And I would agree.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm pointing back to my idea of the designated player here for a moment. I'm wondering if there can be pitchers in the game that are legitimately better hitters than position players. Not today's position player, but any position player.

Surely there are human beings out there that are fast as ****, know how to track down a fly ball and have a good arm, but can't hit major league pitching worth a lick. If these guys have any shot at seeing a major league roster, they'll generally be late-game defensive replacements. However, if these people exist in some capacity, teams could theoretically use them as the flex to a designated player, and the pitcher would then be hitting.

Let's look at some of the better hitting pitchers in baseball today: Shohei Ohtani, Zack Greinke, Michael Lorenzen, German Marquez, Madison Bumgarner, Hudson... not fantastic hitters outside of #1, but serviceable and even some raw pop. On games that they pitch, they can also hit, there will be a designated player (offensive player only), and the flex player will be this fast, awesome defending outfielder. Maybe the pitcher will still be pinch-hit for at some point, and that flex player is married to the DP in that you can either eliminate the flex entirely and drop to nine players, or maybe even that flex enters in the DP's spot offensively (he can go back to defensive only if another DP enters the game).

This is something I'd like to see baseball implement if they keep the DH all around. The main plus about this is teams likely won't take advantage of this anyway so it's not affecting the game in a massive way. However, this will also open doors for a new type of player, and will allow the opportunity for pitchers to still hit (yes, I know they can start without a DH in the game to begin with, but this gives another level of control where you still get a specialty hitter in the lineup).

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The easier and more realistic way to go (since there are some levels where it's done, or at least used to be done) is to allow the DH to hit for any player in the lineup.