Make one change to MLB

[happybat4]

Have an amnesty like NBA. Release the player, player still gets paid, but doesn't count against salary. I'm also for automated strike zone and trading draft picks. 

[kevinb]

Make the strike zone automated no more umpires. 

[Pitch62]

The Shift:

No more than 4 players on one side of the field, center fielder could not lineup on the same side as the shift, home plate umpire could call it. This would give the hitter better odds to hit into the gap. Not sure what penalty would be, probably automatic walk.

No more than one shift per inning. This would by rule allow many hitters to get an opportunity to hit against a standard defense. 

Basketball added the 3 point shot, great for the players and the fans. How about a second homerun line maybe out past 450’ that would score as two runs just for the hitter. Baseball could have the “2 pointer”.

[TroutBaseball]

30 minutes ago, Pitch62 said:

The Shift:

No more than 4 players on one side of the field, center fielder could not lineup on the same side as the shift, home plate umpire could call it. This would give the hitter better odds to hit into the gap. Not sure what penalty would be, probably automatic walk.

No more than one shift per inning. This would by rule allow many hitters to get an opportunity to hit against a standard defense. 

Basketball added the 3 point shot, great for the players and the fans. How about a second homerun line maybe out past 450’ that would score as two runs just for the hitter. Baseball could have the “2 pointer”.

I don't understand why anyone thinks these anti-shift rules will work.  The fielders will just start running into the shift as soon as the pitcher starts to deliver the pitch.  Watch an NFL team run a zone blitz, it will be the same thing.

You won't have the extreme shift but you'll still get 90% of them.

[TooCool]

Allow fights in baseball! lol

[Pitch62]

8 minutes ago, TroutBaseball said:

I don't understand why anyone thinks these anti-shift rules will work.  The fielders will just start running into the shift as soon as the pitcher starts to deliver the pitch.  Watch an NFL team run a zone blitz, it will be the same thing.

You won't have the extreme shift but you'll still get 90% of them.

I don’t think the 1 second or less that it takes for the pitcher to deliver the ball to the plate would allow the center fielder much of a jump in to the shift. 

I am an old school baseball fan but the game has evolved to identify unfair advantages to protect the game and the players: Balking, Taking out fielder at second base, Blocking home plate, Intentionally throwing at hitters, etc. The shift as it is currently allowed gives an unfair advantage to the defense. 

Is shortstop a player or is it the #6 position on the field? 

Is second base a player or is it #4 position?

When the shortstop fields a ball and throws out a player at first while playing in the #4 position, should it be scored 4-3 or 6-3? I think the numbers represent positions on the field and not the players. Obviously a player can leave his position to field a ball in another position but he must start from the general area of the position that he is playing. 

[Tank]

5 hours ago, Lou said:

NVA

No Valbuenas Allowed 

Straight Outta Anaheim

 

seriously, get him out of Anaheim.

[Tank]

5 hours ago, Dochalo said:

season split exactly in half with first and second half division winners and two trade deadlines.  

whatever the math needs to be to make the playoffs work.  

I like this idea the best.

[tomsred]

Replace the current hardball baseball with a softball, and color it orange.

[Tank]

Allow PEDs after the all star break each year.

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

9 hours ago, mulwin444 said:

DH in both leagues

No longer lose the DH if he moves to a position during the game. A bench or a position player just becomes the new DH. That way Ohtani can pitch and hit in the same game without losing the DH if and when he comes out for a RP.

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

Must have two IF on each side of 2B and can't position themselves on the OF grass.

[T.G.]

Expand to 32 teams

[nate]

Eliminate the pitcher hitting in the NL

or fire myself.

[eligrba]

Eliminate the DH and only have the eight position players on the field hit..

[Angelsfirst]

Have Enrico Pallazo as home plate ump every home game and allow tigers on the base paths. Wait. Shit. You said one change.

[mancini79]

The shift is out of control. When people say "Then Trout should just bunt down the line", is only proof the shift needs to go. Besides, Trout himself said it needs to go. What more reasoning do you need? 

[mancini79]

Oh, and no more crooked hats! 

[Taylor]

Ban douchebags.

[tdawg87]

2 minutes ago, Taylor said:

Ban douchebags.

AW's traffic just got cut by 75%

[fanfromday1]

Have the Angels and Cleveland switch Divisions. If the Angels were in the AL Central Division they would be in 1st place (and there would be less negativity around here). And if  Cleveland were in the AL West, they too would find themselves in 4th place. 

[Lou]

11 hours ago, Randy Gradishar said:

You said No Valbuenas. One is allowed.

HA!

 

[Stradling]

1 hour ago, mancini79 said:

The shift is out of control. When people say "Then Trout should just bunt down the line", is only proof the shift needs to go. Besides, Trout himself said it needs to go. What more reasoning do you need? 

I think one thing that I would be ok with as it relates to “banning the shift” would be to make all fielders start on the dirt.  That includes start on the dirt when someone is in an obvious sac bunt situation.  I could see them saying each fielder must stay on their natural side of the field and a small chalk line drawn behind 2nd base, that they can’t cross in a defensive position until the pitch is thrown.  They could at least toy with it in the minor leagues.  If it helps get us out of the 3 outcome baseball we are seeing today then go for it.  The game certainly isn’t getting better like this.  If someone said this is how the game is evolving, they would be wrong.  

[Taylor]

4 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

AW's traffic just got cut by 75%

I'm talking about dudes who are jerks, not the other thing.

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

5 hours ago, eligrba said:

Eliminate the DH and only have the eight position players on the field hit..

Players like Papi, J.T., Khris Davis, and really any player who could no longer play a position but could still hit with the best of them would have to retire, or keep a better defender in the minor leagues.