MLB Off-Topic

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

MLB could reduce game times down to 45 minutes but if you don't like baseball, it's not going to matter how short a game is, you still aren't going to be interested. If ballet & opera was 15 minutes long, I still wouldn't watch them. Baseball doesn't have a problem, it's the culture of society & instant gratification that's the problem. What MLB & Manfred want to do is tantamount to being an enabler & exacerbate the perceived problem. Baseball has survived earthquakes, strikes, steroids, salary escalation & gambling scandals, this too shall pass.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Let's not have baseball become like football and change all the rules whenever we want. The wacky and constant "competition committee" BS in the NFL is one of the main reasons I don't follow pro football like I used to.

Manfred being actually in favor of something this stupid shows he's a dunce. There's being open to new ideas and then there's trying to fix something that's not even broken. Manfred needs to be careful in alienating the fans who actually do watch the games in trying to get other people to watch. What good is shaving 5 minutes off of a game if it makes the game a travesty to watch and erases one of the more strategic elements in the game?

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Yeah, Bud Selig was just fantastic.

Just because Bud Selig was bad doesn't mean Manfred has to be good by contrast. They can both be bad. If Manfred starts going ham on sweeping rule changes that make no sense, one could argue that he could do more damage than Selig ever did.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Apparently MLB is looking at possibly limiting number of relievers used in a game. Or limiting number of relievers used in an inning. Part of improving pace of play.

I've said it for awhile now, one of things they should do that'd shorten games by a few minutes is limiting if not eliminating the catcher visits to the mounds or worse, pitching coaches/managers visits to mound. They happen multiple times a game,and each one takes like 20-30 seconds. Game lengths could be shortened by a few minutes by just eliminating that.

Or give teams timeouts. But they count towards any break in play, whether it be a pitcher stepping off the mound, coach/catcher visiting mound, batter stepping out of box. So teams/players can still do it, but not abuse it.

These changes are so small that I don't know if it's more absurd that you've brought them up or how much I hate them. Trying to cut out things that take 20-30 seconds just seems ridiculous.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/17118662/mlb-commissioner-rob-manfred-says-looking-possible-limits-use-relief-pitchers-games

You know the problem with relief pitchers is that they're so good. I've got nothing against relief pitchers, but they do two things to the game: The pitching changes themselves slow the game down, and our relief pitchers have become so dominant at the back end that they actually rob action out of the end of the game, the last few innings of the game.

Dead serious, I'm done with this guy. Get a new commissioner.

[Mabster]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Screw it. Let's just make games 5 innings. Shorter games, no relievers. Apparently that's what the people want?

/sarcasm

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Screw it. Let's just make games 5 innings. Shorter games, no relievers. Apparently that's what the people want?

/sarcasm

Let's stop having the hitter trot during HRs. That 25 seconds is absolutely game breaking.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Yeah, Bud Selig was just fantastic.

Yeah nobody said that.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Dead serious, I'm done with this guy. Get a new commissioner.

Almost sounds like Manfred want's the ball placed on a tee the last couple or three innings.
Action for the sake of action, not action because it was earned.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Feels like there's this coordinated groundswell to change baseball. Yesterday I saw some nonsense from Mike & Mike and Buster Olney about how they'd change baseball. Just now I saw the Big League Stew account (Yahoo Baseball) tweeting an article about how they'd change baseball. Add to this all the garbage from this loser commissioner, and it just seems like a coordinated effort. For what reason? I guess the illusion of increased money by people suddenly falling in love with the sport or something? Who the **** knows.

Feels like people just like talking about baseball when they can talk about how to change it. Baseball doesn't need changing. The league has storyline after storyline after storyline and DOZENS of new and exciting players in a complete youth revolution including quite a few who are literally on their way to being all-time great players.

Why these baseball writers and sports media (on TV, radio, and online) as a whole don't insist on promoting these players and games and stories is beyond me. For God's sake there's absolutely nothing else going on right now besides baseball. Why aren't the Giants painted as a ****ing dynasty vying for their FOURTH World Series in 6 years? Why isn't the resurgence of the Cubs with all this talent coming back into relevance not being promoted as potentially history-changing? Why aren't people saying "Hey, watch Mike Trout, he's literally Mickey Mantle right now." Instead we get crap about rule changes and game changes and head-hunting and fighting and "he hit this guy and he got mad and lol at these loser insecure baseball players" or whatever.

You'd think maybe if they were interested in increased revenues they'd realize that showing how incredible the sport is and how incredible the current players are would be the best way to drum up nationwide interest again, but I guess not. I know baseball "isn't cool anymore" and that people's attention has shifted to sports like football and basketball, which is leading these power brokers to float/try changes to the game, but the only way to show that it IS cool is to show how amazing it is right now.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Hey guys, how's it goin'?

Well, you already know my stance. Bruce Bochy is one of the biggest culprits of this thing, earlier this year throwing five pitchers in a single inning. Guess what? I love his strategy. I love playing it with him. The last game that I went to, I was explaining the moves to my sister's boyfriend (who doesn't much watch baseball), and the guy next to me overheard my conversation and started chiming in as well prediction-wise. We started saying who we thought would come in and when, who pitched the night before, what the Rockies might do to retaliate, etc. If that's not baseball fandom and entertainment, then I don't know what is.

There are almost always thirty seconds of break between batters (from the end of one play to the start of the next pitch). If two pitchers threw perfect games up until a walk-off HR with two outs in the ninth, the first and second outs of each half inning alone would result in 27 minutes of break time between batters. Get the batter to get up to the plate ten seconds earlier. Don't throw the ball around the horn if that's what takes up the time. That's not taking away from our game.

Also, look at the replay system. I noted earlier in this thread when there was a time that it took well over 60 seconds just for the Pirates to decide not to challenge a call. Just to be me, I went and dug up an easy intentional walk to find online (Barry Bonds with the bases loaded), and just compared it to deciding not to challenge a replay. The entire intentional walk to Bonds, from getting set on the first pitch to catching ball four, at 36 seconds. Even in a more recent Angels-Yankees game when arunner was obviously thrown out trying to steal second base, from the time the runner went into the dugout to the time the umpire signaled to resume play was 46 seconds! Keep in mind this was on an above obvious out. Why intentional walks are the biggest culprit to remove, I have no idea.

Plus, the replay system is simply broken. I'm watching calls on my TV screen that clearly should be overturned, but aren't because of the 1% possibility the umpires have it wrong or because they don't have the same replays in NY as the other umpires even do watching it on the jumbotron at the stadiums themselves. I bet there are some plays that the umpires themselves were convinced they screwed up, then got their arses saved by NY not overturning it. The time it takes for it is just ridiculous, getting the headphones and all. The system is not transparent regarding what angles they are given or who is making the calls. And why are only some things reviewable? Why isn't a "foul vs. swing and miss in the dirt" reviewable? I don't get it. Isn't it about getting the call right?

There are just other things that can be done. Require catcher visits to be the one defensive conference per inning. Or give them nine defensive conferences in one game, but the pitching coach can still only use one of those each inning. Enforce the higher strike zone as needed as well. But stop taking out proper legal actions in this game because you think the pace of play is too long. I just mentioned many ones that make it longer there that really change nothing (okay, the conferences take out some strategy, and honestly I'd prefer they left it be but I like long baseball action personally). I say this sport should be able to breathe, but that's the baseball enthusiast in me.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The more I think about this proposed rule change, the less it makes sense.

Can't have a cap on relievers per game...what if it goes to extra innings?

A cap on relievers per inning? Would have to have an exemption for injuries. Then we'd probably see ineffective pitchers being told to fake an injury to get around this colossally dumb proposed rule.

What about advertising? The pitching changes are a way to stuff in more commercials and have been that way since forever. Are you going to be happy with less ad revenue? Or would MLB be forced to hike up their ad rates to make up for it? Would they make other breaks longer to fit the same amount of commercials in? Wouldn't that defeat the entire purpose?

From a strategy perspective, ARE YOU SERIOUS? What do serious baseball fans like critiquing more the next day other than last night's bullpen management? Could you imagine not being able to get the matchup you want in a World Series game because of this idiotic proposed rule? People would hate that.

Say you've implemented this rule...how much time is having 4 pitching changes as opposed to 5 really going to save? Is that worth having teams tie a hand behind their back managing their pitching staff late in games?

Manfred thinks RPs have become too good? Oh yeah? God forbid the game is developing players that have become elite at their jobs. And this is at the same time he denies a juiced ball as HRs rebound to historic highs. How much more offense do you want? These dominant RPs are helping the run environment keep from spiraling out of control at this point, imo.

Spoiler

Pete Rose for Commissioner! Just have an FBI detail trail him at all times to make sure he's not betting. At least Pete actually loves the game.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The more I think about this proposed rule change, the less it makes sense.

Can't have a cap on relievers per game...what if it goes to extra innings?

A cap on relievers per inning? Would have to have an exemption for injuries. Then we'd probably see ineffective pitchers being told to fake an injury to get around this colossally dumb proposed rule.

What about advertising? The pitching changes are a way to stuff in more commercials and have been that way since forever. Are you going to be happy with less ad revenue? Or would MLB be forced to hike up their ad rates to make up for it? Would they make other breaks longer to fit the same amount of commercials in? Wouldn't that defeat the entire purpose?

From a strategy perspective, ARE YOU SERIOUS? What do serious baseball fans like critiquing more the next day other than last night's bullpen management? Could you imagine not being able to get the matchup you want in a World Series game because of this idiotic proposed rule? People would hate that.

Say you've implemented this rule...how much time is having 4 pitching changes as opposed to 5 really going to save? Is that worth having teams tie a hand behind their back managing their pitching staff late in games?

Manfred thinks RPs have become too good? Oh yeah? God forbid the game is developing players that have become elite at their jobs. And this is at the same time he denies a juiced ball as HRs rebound to historic highs. How much more offense do you want? These dominant RPs are helping the run environment keep from spiraling out of control at this point, imo.

Spoiler

Pete Rose for Commissioner! Just have an FBI detail trail him at all times to make sure he's not betting. At least Pete actually loves the game.

Everything baseball related I agree with you 100% but the ad revenue part is incorrect.

The filler breaks are not additional revenue and are guaranteed at some point whether it be during a regular commercial break or post game. They are far less expensive because of that expectation.

[AC]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

How would pinch hitters work? lol

Lefty pitcher in, three righty pinch hitters later...

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

These changes are so small that I don't know if it's more absurd that you've brought them up or how much I hate them. Trying to cut out things that take 20-30 seconds just seems ridiculous.

It's 20-30 seconds which adds up over the course of it happening multiple times a game(the mound visits/stepping out of batters box part I'm talking about). Just one random change like the 1 pitch intentional walk thing, really doesn't save much time since intentional walks happen like once a series. But the mound visits and stuff, it'd save probably 5 or so minutes in a game.

There's a fair amount of things in baseball itself which could be eliminated which really won't impact the stats or strategy you see within a game, but would help eliminate the wasted time in games.

[l3ulvl]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I was explaining the moves to my sister's boyfriend (who doesn't much watch baseball)

This poor guy had no idea what he was getting into