MLB Off-Topic

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

My favorite comment chain on this subject so far:

"Minor league games mean nothing. This is a good rule for the minors."

"It's expected to make it to the majors, at least that's the speculation."

"You mean like the DH is expected to make it to the NL?"

Baseball fans are something else.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I wouldn't watch a single pitch more of major league baseball if that **** becomes implemented on that level. Period.

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I think one of the beautiful facets of baseball is that for the most part, it's played the same way the entire game. This is due to there not being a clock. For example, in football the game is completely different in the final minutes of the game. One team runs a hurry up, one team is is prevent, etc. You see strategies/results you wouldn't see the other 95% of the game. In basketball, the last 5 minutes of a game can be flat out awful...the losing team is fouling and hoping the winning team misses their foul shots.

In baseball, while you might see a team bunt a runner over in a 1-run game, bring in the outfield with a winning run on 3rd and < 1 out, or bring in a 5th infielder, for the most part the game is played the same way it was in the 1st inning. This is because both teams know that the game isn't dictated by a clock, but by a set number of outs. With this extra innings rule, it really changes that completely. For the life of me, I don't understand why anyone would want to tinker with that aspect of the game.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I feel like strategy already changes for extra innings. If the leadoff hitter in the 10th gets a double, the next guy is bunting him over. That will be the same with the runner starting on 2nd.

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I feel like strategy already changes for extra innings. If the leadoff hitter in the 10th gets a double, the next guy is bunting him over. That will be the same with the runner starting on 2nd.

Right...but if the leadoff man doubles in the 2nd inning, it's not unusual to see him bunted over (especially if the 8 or 9 guy is up next). That's a viable strategy and one you'd see at any point in the game. A man just starting in scoring position IS NOT something we see at any other point in the game, so IMO it changes the game/the way it's played.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Right...but if the leadoff man doubles in the 2nd inning, it's not unusual to see him bunted over (especially if the 8 or 9 guy is up next). That's a viable strategy and one you'd see at any point in the game. A man just starting in scoring position IS NOT something we see at any other point in the game, so IMO it changes the game/the way it's played.

Oh OK, I feel that. I was thrown off by the mention of the clock.

Yeah the free runner is the strange thing to me. My first thought was it throws off statistics, and score keeping, but none of that matters in the minors anyway. I wonder do they credit the runner with a run if they score even though they had no part in getting on base other than being the last guy out. It's odd.

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Oh OK, I feel that. I was thrown off by the mention of the clock.

Yeah the free runner is the strange thing to me. My first thought was it throws off statistics, and score keeping, but none of that matters in the minors anyway. I wonder do they credit the runner with a run if they score even though they had no part in getting on base other than being the last guy out. It's odd.

It is...it will really throw off stats (not that it would happen that often). Does the guy get credit for a PA (probably not). Heck, how bad would it suck if a guy had a hit streak going, was trying to break a record, etc, and instead of getting to bat he just "goes to 2nd" because he's leading off the inning. It's just bad, all around.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It is...it will really throw off stats (not that it would happen that often). Does the guy get credit for a PA (probably not). Heck, how bad would it suck if a guy had a hit streak going, was trying to break a record, etc, and instead of getting to bat he just "goes to 2nd" because he's leading off the inning. It's just bad, all around.

The guy that starts the inning at 2B is the last out from the previous inning. This was stated pretty clear in the announcement of the rule. So no one would have an AB skipped. I don't know why the runner would get a PA since he didn't step up to the plate. I'm sure the stat would work the same as for a pinch runner.

It really seems like people are starting to reach for reasons to **** on the rule at this point.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I do not like the rule as a general practice. That said, I do think if it were something that were to make it's way to MLB the league would do itself a favor by compromising a bit. I feel like more people may be more willing to accept it if it didn't start until say the 12th inning or whatever.

I think starting it right away in the 10th would not be a smart move.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Heroes have been born from unpredictable events in extra innings, or earned at the hands of a team-based created situation. Nothing feels earned or unpredictable like a walk-off single initiated with a runner on second base by rule.

That is not me grasping at straws to poke at this rule idea. Baseball is magical for very certain reasons.

By the way, I have plenty of reasons to argue in favor of the rule, outside of "creating drama" or "increasing play time." I would argue that it requires a hell of a lot more strategy. Should the road team just bunt over and play for one run, or should they go for the big inning? At one point as the home team do you automatically [ugh] walk the open bases? If the road team plates their one run, does the home team simply just try and match up in the same way? What kinds of pitchers will be called from the bullpen strictly from a strikeout or groundball scenario standpoint? It's glorious.

Doesn't mean I want it, the world wants it, or that it's right.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Heroes have been born from unpredictable events in extra innings, or earned at the hands of a team-based created situation. Nothing feels earned or unpredictable like a walk-off single initiated with a runner on second base by rule.

That is not me grasping at straws to poke at this rule idea. Baseball is magical for very certain reasons.

By the way, I have plenty of reasons to argue in favor of the rule, outside of "creating drama" or "increasing play time." I would argue that it requires a hell of a lot more strategy. Should the road team just bunt over and play for one run, or should they go for the big inning? At one point as the home team do you automatically [ugh] walk the open bases? If the road team plates their one run, does the home team simply just try and match up in the same way? What kinds of pitchers will be called from the bullpen strictly from a strikeout or groundball scenario standpoint? It's glorious.

Doesn't mean I want it, the world wants it, or that it's right.

I'm not sure if you misunderstood me or if I wasn't clear but I don't want it (or any other pace of play rule for that matter). But the reality is whether we like it or not, they are happening. My suggestion is just a compromise. I think personally I could live with this rule much easier if it didn't start until the 12th than if it started immediately in the 10th. (12th is just a random number)

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm not sure if you misunderstood me or if I wasn't clear but I don't want it (or any other pace of play rule for that matter). But the reality is whether we like it or not, they are happening. My suggestion is just a compromise. I think personally I could live with this rule much easier if it didn't start until the 12th than if it started immediately in the 10th. (12th is just a random number)

I didn't see your post at the time I was writing. I was actually responding to Jr.

The 12th inning is a lot better than the 10th, but I don't really see a compromise to this myself. I'm one of those fans (and was one of those players, and believe it or not one of those umpires) that thought longer games were better. I very sadly sometimes pined for teams I root for to sabotage a late inning at the expense of watching more baseball (and the potential cost of losing that game, an outcome I never wished of course). It's depressing. I like my baseball, and love the long extra-inning games.

If they started at the 18th inning, okay then. I would actually honestly consider restoration/re-entry of certain removed players at that point before a runner on second base, though. Case in point, it shouldn't happen. Manfred really is trying to destroy the sport that I love. Anyone can say what they want about Selig not being a good commissioner, but Manfred has devilishly been one-thousand times worse in my opinion.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

20th inning and later starts with a runner on 1st. 30th inning and later we go to scoring position. That's where I'm at.

I'm pretty anti-pace of play rules in general. I haven't really seen a "pace of play" rule where I thought to myself, yeah that really fixes something I disliked about baseball. Maybe getting Willson Contreras to communicate with his pitchers better so he can come out to the mound less often is something I could find useful...but...I digress.

With this new extra inning rule, it actually takes out one of the most suspenseful/fun aspects about the late innings. See, the fun and excitement isn't just in that final hit that walks everyone off. The fun and excitement is anticipating and living through the rally. Watching it build. Seeing all the rally caps and tense faces in the crowd. Seeing the first guy draw an 11-pitch walk. Then the pitcher becomes too small for the moment and uncorks a wild pitch. Then, someone comes through with "the hit"...maybe even Tony Womack off of Mariano Rivera. I don't like how this rule potentially takes the rally out of the late innings and gives us insta-rally instead.

Here is the Wiki recap of the 2001 World Series Game 7 Bot 9th (not extra innings, but the point still stands I think)

Mark Grace led off the inning with a single to center on a 1–0 pitch. Rivera's errant throw to second base on a bunt attempt by Damian Miller on an 0–1 pitch put runners on first and second. Jeter tried to reach for the ball, but got tangled in the legs of pinch-runner David Dellucci, who was sliding in an attempt to break up the double play. During the next at bat, Rivera appeared to regain control when he fielded Jay Bell's bunt and threw out Dellucci at third base, but third baseman Brosius decided to hold onto the baseball instead of throwing to first to complete the double play. Midre Cummings was sent in to pinch-run for Damian Miller. With Cummings at second and Bell at first, the next batter, Womack, hit a double down the right-field line on a 2–2 pitch that tied the game and earned Rivera a blown save. Bell advanced to third and the Yankees pulled the infield and outfield in as the potential winning run stood at third with fewer than two outs. After Rivera hit Craig Counsell with an 0–1 pitch, the bases were loaded. On an 0–1 pitch, Gonzalez lofted a soft single over the drawn-in Jeter that barely reached the outfield grass, plating Jay Bell with the winning run. This ended New York's bid for a fourth consecutive title and brought Arizona its first championship in its fourth year of existence, making the Diamondbacks the fastest expansion team to win a World Series. It was also the first, and remains the only, major professional sports championship for the state of Arizona.

Now, re-imagine that game without Mark Grace working Mariano Rivera over. Imagine that they simply decide to put Grace (or actually the batter before him) on 2B. Would that have made this game better?

Or here's the lesser-known Game 5 of the series that went 12 innings with the Yankees winning and taking a 3-2 series lead.

Arizona went to Albie Lopez in the twelfth, and in his first at bat he gave up a single to Knoblauch. Brosius moved him over with a bunt, and then Alfonso Soriano ended the game with an RBI single to give the Yankees a 3-2 victory and a 3-2 lead in the series.

Is that inning better if Knoblauch doesn't have to get himself on 1st to start things off? I have a difficult time with that.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Gotta compromise and also start them with one out at this point.

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Nah, no compromise. If they implement this at the MLB level, for any inning, I'm out.