The Official MLB Rule Change Thread

[Second Base]

9 hours ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

I think the problem with the “2 on each side” solution to the shift is it still allows one guy to be standing basically right behind second base, which is still going to allow the other middle infielder to be way in the hole. It won’t make much difference unless you create some kind of “no fly zone” that extends like 15 feet on both sides of 2nd and use that to separate the middle infielders. 

I thought the majority of shift outs were deep in that hole between first and second. 

[Angelsfan1984]

Just put ankle monitors on the infielders ankles that zaps them when they go on the wrong side or stray too far from their base. Problem solved. Turn this shit into squid games. 

[Taylor]

1 hour ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

Just put ankle monitors on the infielders ankles that zaps them when they go on the wrong side or stray too far from their base. Problem solved. Turn this shit into squid games. 

There's an idea. I'd also like to affix shock devices to Angels' pitchers' balls. They get a shock every time they walk a batter after getting ahead 0-2, when they go over 25 pitches in an inning, etc.

[T.G.]

23 minutes ago, Taylor said:

Here's an idea. I'd like to affix shock devices to Astros' pitchers' and hitter's balls.

 

[fan_since79]

22 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

The shift is gay. Get rid of it completely.

They tried it on Ted Williams and he became adept at beating it. Of course he was a smart hitter and made adjustments, not like most of our 'sluggers' today who just want to swing for the fences.

[Lou]

4 minutes ago, fan_since79 said:

They tried it on Ted Williams and he became adept at beating it. Of course he was a smart hitter and made adjustments, not like most of our 'sluggers' today who just want to swing for the fences.

And look at him now. 

[HanfordGuy]

What if teams can only employ the shift from the 7th inning on and must be within 3 runs of the opposition?

[HanfordGuy]

19 hours ago, Taylor said:

I'm pretty sure we agree on 97.5% of things.

 

18 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

No you don't.

 

18 hours ago, Taylor said:

I disagree.

 

[Docwaukee]

3 hours ago, fan_since79 said:

They tried it on Ted Williams and he became adept at beating it. Of course he was a smart hitter and made adjustments, not like most of our 'sluggers' today who just want to swing for the fences.

he was a head of his time.  

[Angelsfan1984]

4 hours ago, Taylor said:

There's an idea. I'd also like to affix shock devices to Angels' pitchers' balls. They get a shock every time they walk a batter after getting ahead 0-2, when they go over 25 pitches in an inning, etc.

i think we need to throw our hat in the ring during this clown fiesta of a negotiation. Why the hell not?

[Inside Pitch]

AP's tenure with Angels finally ends... MLB bans the shift the next season....  I chuckled.

[T.G.]

A pitch clock seems irrelevant unless they crack down on the batters who pull a “Nomar.”

[AngelsLakersFan]

5 minutes ago, True Grich said:

A pitch clock seems irrelevant unless they crack down on the batters who pull a “Nomar.”

Once you step in the box there should be no pausing. If you’re not ready to hit the pitcher should throw it right by you for a strike while you’re fixing your batting gloves. If you step out of the box the catcher should be able to tag you out.

[HanfordGuy]

11 hours ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

Just put ankle monitors on the infielders ankles that zaps them when they go on the wrong side or stray too far from their base. Problem solved. Turn this shit into squid games. 

[Jeff Fletcher]

13 hours ago, Second Base said:

I thought the majority of shift outs were deep in that hole between first and second. 

Yes. And the 2B is still going to stand there even if the SS has to stand on the line up the middle rather than be 10 feet on the 1B side of the bag.

[Blarg]

I am OK with the shift. If hitters can only play over the line then they should be treated like the limited skill players they are. With no respect. 

[Inside Pitch]

3 hours ago, Blarg said:

I am OK with the shift. If hitters can only play over the line then they should be treated like the limited skill players they are. With no respect. 

"The issue here is your inability to identify his highly specialized talent" -- Scott Boras

[Jeff Fletcher]

21 hours ago, AlwaysAnAngelsFan said:

Not if the rule is all infielders need to be on the dirt.

Not endorsing this but it's how it could work.

I think the “all on the dirt” solution is much more feasible than the “two on each side” solution. 
 

Personally the shift doesn’t bother me at all. 

[Angels 1961]

39 minutes ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

I think the “all on the dirt” solution is much more feasible than the “two on each side” solution. 
 

Personally the shift doesn’t bother me at all. 

Ted Williams did not like shift

[Blarg]

1) Ted Williams hit through the holes in the shift the few times teams tried it.

2) He's dead so he has no opinion to share. 

[arch stanton]

I'm struggling to see the relevance of what one of the greatest hitters to ever live did 75 years ago

[Stradling]

5 minutes ago, arch stanton said:

I'm struggling to see the relevance of what one of the greatest hitters to ever live did 75 years ago

Yep.  Whenever people wax poetic about how the game used to be, their examples are inner circle HOFers. 

[Angelsfan1984]

Jimmy 5 toes magoo didn’t care about the shift. He was also a car salesman from Des Moines in the early 80s. He did like the cardinals though. So there’s that.

[Angels 1961]

9 hours ago, Blarg said:

1) Ted Williams hit through the holes in the shift the few times teams tried it.

2) He's dead so he has no opinion to share. 

We will know his opinion when he is taken out of freezer

[beatlesrule]

MLB new rules instituted with lockout ending

Designated hitter

One of the earliest agreements on a major rule change was to implement the designated hitter in the National League.

The American League has used a designated hitter, or a non-position player who can replace the pitcher in the batting order, since 1973. It's now an MLB rule across the board.

Look for this to change the way teams assemble their lineups with increased value for sluggers who may not fit best as position players.

12-team playoff

Baseball's postseason used to include 10 teams. Now it includes 12 with the three division winners from each league joined by additional wild card teams.

The previous setup had a single wildcard matchup in the AL and NL. The new playoff bracket will feature additional series.

Draft lottery

In an effort to stop incentivizing tanking, MLB will have a weighted draft lottery for the top ——– picks.

Much like the NBA, the worst team in baseball will no longer be guaranteed the No. 1 pick.

Uniform advertisements

Another change mirroring the NBA involves ads. Teams will be able to place advertising patches on jerseys.