MLB Off-Topic

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm against it all with the exception of the single trade deadline before the all start break.

You could probably talk me into 26 man rosters but I think that's more of the provisional rule to appease the MLBPA if universal DH, and the whole three batter rule pass.

[dubcity]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

How about we just leave the game alone.

Other sports have significant rule/game changes all the time. No reason for baseball to be different.

[Cubfan]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The only rule I would like to see the MLB look at is how often teams can use the shift. It’s being over used and I really thought that would be one rule they would look at.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Other sports are messes of overregulation and overexposure and have become more about drama and bull**** than the sport itself.

If that's what people want baseball to become, count me ****ing out.

You want your kid to like baseball? Teach them why it's great. Your kid isn't going to suddenly like baseball because it's six minutes shorter.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Other sports have significant rule/game changes all the time. No reason for baseball to be different.

And one could argue they haven’t been for the better


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[CMH]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Other sports have significant rule/game changes all the time. No reason for baseball to be different.

I agree with you here. I'm okay with rule changes if its something I think will help or could make sense.

I don't mind the pitch clocks, 26 man rosters, DH. I don't even mind if the MLB secretly juiced baseballs.

But some rules have unintended consequences. I see the 3 batter rule similar to telling NBA/NFL teams players have to be on the court for 5 minutes or 8 possessions.

It's just a weird way to change the sport.

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[redsox4evur]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I would more opposed to the 3 batter rule if there wasn't already a single batter rule in place already.

[BigOscar]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Other sports have significant rule/game changes all the time. No reason for baseball to be different.

Forget other sports, baseball has had significant rule changes throughout it's history, no idea why "baseball purists" act like any new change is some crazy notion that would ruin a game that has never had any changes in it's history.

That obviously doesn't mean all ideas for change are good, just that the notion that changing anything about the game is heresy is nonsensical

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I would more opposed to the 3 batter rule if there wasn't already a single batter rule in place already.

I'm not sure I get this logic.

The only reason the single batter rule exists is to prevent a pitching changed, followed by a pinch hitter, followed by another pitching change which could then potentially be followed by another pinch hitter.

This would be a pretty drastic change and isn't comparable to the single batter rule.


I'm with CMH, I'm okay with change but only if it's for the right reason. This change screams pace of play change rather than a rule that makes sense for the game.

[BigOscar]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

There is a pretty good discussion about the anti-tanking part on the Baseball America podcast. They sum up the issue well, while accepting that it's the result of the current rules and that owners are just doing what the rules incentivize them to do.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Forget other sports, baseball has had significant rule changes throughout it's history, no idea why "baseball purists" act like any new change is some crazy notion that would ruin a game that has never had any changes in it's history.

That obviously doesn't mean all ideas for change are good, just that the notion that changing anything about the game is heresy is nonsensical

As a "baseball purist" and enthusiast, I am well aware that baseball has had rule changes over the history of the game.

But....

That doesn't mean that we should be making rule changes for the sake of rule changes. If a rule change is for the betterment of the game, I'm all for it. But lets not make rule changes just because its felt necessary because nothing has been changed for x amount of years, young people aren't interested in it as it is now, or because other sports are making changes so we have to keep up.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The only rule I would like to see the MLB look at is how often teams can use the shift. It’s being over used and I really thought that would be one rule they would look at.

I was against this at first but the NBA did something similar by instituting the 3-second rule (as defenders would clog the lane)...so while it allowed the defense to shift when needed, it couldn't be abused and there were limits.

I think having it a rule where all IFs must be on the dirt would suffice. They can shift but none of that softball OF junk...start there, see what happens.

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[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

As a "baseball purist" and enthusiast, I am well aware that baseball has had rule changes over the history of the game.

But....

That doesn't mean that we should be making rule changes for the sake of rule changes. If a rule change is for the betterment of the game, I'm all for it. But lets not make rule changes just because its felt necessary because nothing has been changed for x amount of years, young people aren't interested in it as it is now, or because other sports are making changes so we have to keep up.

I agree CB.

It's also evident that the way baseball is played the last 10 years is incredibly different than the previous 100.

Contact is declining.
Homers are increasing.
Strikeouts are increasing
Velocity is increasing.
Pitcher injuries are increasing.
SP innings are declining.
Relief appearances are increasing.

The way baseball used to be played even in the 90s or 00s is different than 2019. I'm not arguing that MLB should create rules to push the game back to what it was but rather review the CURRENT game and make sure the best possible brand of baseball is on display.

I would find it naive of MLB to stand pat with such a large sample size of how different baseball is becoming.

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[redsox4evur]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I was against this at first but the NBA did something similar by instituting the 3-second rule (as defenders would clog the lane)...so while it allowed the defense to shift when needed, it couldn't be abused and there were limits.

I think having it a rule where all IFs must be on the dirt would suffice. They can shift but none of that softball OF junk...start there, see what happens.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Operation Sports mobile app

My opinion on what should change with shifts is you have to have 2 IFs on each side of 2nd base. I don't care about where they play (ie IF or OF).

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I read a lot of historical baseball material (Baseball Digests from the 1940's, Street and Smiths from the 1950's, etc) and in darn near every one of them they are predicting the downfall of baseball because 1) the game is too long and 2) the youth of American don't care about the game like the previous generation. It is without fail!

In fact, in the late 1960's they were so worried that Americans were so turned off to a sport that had become dominated by pitching that the powers that be considered using different colored baseballs to help hitters see (orange was the proposed color) and making 3 balls a walk instead of 4. Instead, they lowered the mound to 10".

Baseball has been changing since it became a pro sport in the 1860/1870's; if you were to go to a game in 1880 and then a game in 1900 and then a game in 1930 you would be amazed at how different the game was. The interesting thing is that there have been very few rules changes and most of the changes have been changes in strategy (the advent of the pitching staff, relief pitcher, upper cut swings for home runs, shifts, etc). Sure, the rules were tweaked a lot in the early days (1860-1890), but once the rules we know today became the norm you haven't seen a lot of changes.

I always am concerned when people see trends/strategies playing out in a sport and decide that we need to legislate the game instead of letting the counter strategies bring us back to center. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be considering ways to put more balls in play or make the game more exciting, but changes should be made very judiciously.

At the end of the day if someone doesn't like baseball, I don't think baseball should change for them. This might seem like heresy, but I'm okay if baseball becomes a niche sport (it won't) like boxing or horse racing some day (they were once the kings of the American sports scene). It will always be played in some capacity, but the important thing to me is that it needs to still be baseball and not some bastardized version of the game that has so many rules/constraints placed on it to make it unrecognizable.