Suggestions for improving MLB from a fan perspective

[Swordsman78]

In Football and Basketball all the stars on offense can impact multiple plays in a row.   In baseball you wait 3 innings for the stars to come up to bat.  Then the other team takes the bat out of their hand and walks them.

Suggestions:   If a player walks, a runner goes to first but the manager has the option of keeping the player who walked up for another at bat.   Until he puts a ball into play or strikes out.

Suggestion #2 - Any fastball pitch in the close vicinity of the batters head results in a triple, and the same rule above also applies.

[Duren, Duren]

Sports are supposed to be finely balanced between offense and defense. But in all sports their are periods when one or the other side of the equation becomes more dominant. And rule changes come in to try and change the balance. 

1968 was the ultimate year of the pitcher. 1930 was the year of the hitter. The steroid years were the disproportionate power hitting years. The balance is always shifting, sometimes more obviously than other times.

There have been comparatively more changes in rules in recent years than ever before. I don't like them all, but some make sense.

It's also a matter of objectives. Which currently are for more offense via some of those tweaks. And another objective is to get more excitement in the game to draw more fans. Which favors offense over defense. 

I prefer as close a balance between offense and pitching/defense as possible. In other main sports, scoring can come at any time. In Football a turnover can produce a score instantly for a team on defense. Hockey, soccer and basketball have transition strategies that turn defense into offense on the fly.

Baseball ( cricket worldwide too) is the only major North American  sport where no points/runs can be scored when on defense. Which can make for periods of boredom and impatience for those who don't appreciate run prevention. 

The objective of  incrementally changing rules to favor offense betrays the essence of the sport. And eventually make comparing stats from different eras hard to compare.  Some changes to modernize and streamline dynamics, ok. But not radical stuff to seriously alter the core of the competitive system.

 

 

 

 

[Swordsman78]

6 minutes ago, Duren, Duren said:

Sports are supposed to be finely balanced between offense and defense. But in all sports their are periods when one or the other side of the equation becomes more dominant. And rule changes come in to try and change the balance. 

1968 was the ultimate year of the pitcher. 1930 was the year of the hitter. The steroid years were the disproportionate power hitting years. The balance is always shifting, sometimes more obviously than other times.

There have been comparatively more changes in rules in recent years than ever before. I don't like them all, but some make sense.

It's also a matter of objectives. Which currently are for more offense via some of those tweaks. And another objective is to get more excitement in the game to draw more fans. Which favors offense over defense. 

I prefer as close a balance between offense and pitching/defense as possible. In other main sports, scoring can come at any time. In Football a turnover can produce a score instantly for a team on defense. Hockey, soccer and basketball have transition strategies that turn defense into offense on the fly.

Baseball ( cricket worldwide too) is the only major North American  sport where no points/runs can be scored when on defense. Which can make for periods of boredom and impatience for those who don't appreciate run prevention. 

The objective of  incrementally changing rules to favor offense betrays the essence of the sport. And eventually make comparing stats from different eras hard to compare.  Some changes to modernize and streamline dynamics, ok. But not radical stuff to seriously alter the core of the competitive system.

 

 

 

 

Football awards a pass interference call at the point of the foul, and at the one yard line if the foul occurs in the end zone.    Used to be only 15 yards and defenses took advantage just like managers take advantage of intentionally walking the marquee hitters.  Totally ruins the game /excitement from a fan perspective.

Baseball is too married to arcane rules (due to sanctity of stats) and will most likely not change and continue to lose fans.

 

[tomsred]

40 minutes ago, Swordsman78 said:

In Football and Basketball all the stars on offense can impact multiple plays in a row.   In baseball you wait 3 innings for the stars to come up to bat.  Then the other team takes the bat out of their hand and walks them.

Suggestions:   If a player walks, a runner goes to first but the manager has the option of keeping the player who walked up for another at bat.   Until he puts a ball into play or strikes out.

Suggestion #2 - Any fastball pitch in the close vicinity of the batters head results in a triple, and the same rule above also applies.

Regarding #2, how are you planning on getting agreement on what is "close vicinity"?

[Swordsman78]

2 minutes ago, tomsred said:

Regarding #2, how are you planning on getting agreement on what is "close vicinity"?

Same  as calling balls and strikes or pass interference in football.  Umpire decision, protests go to NY

[Junkballer]

58 minutes ago, Swordsman78 said:

In Football and Basketball all the stars on offense can impact multiple plays in a row.   In baseball you wait 3 innings for the stars to come up to bat.  Then the other team takes the bat out of their hand and walks them.

Suggestions:   If a player walks, a runner goes to first but the manager has the option of keeping the player who walked up for another at bat.   Until he puts a ball into play or strikes out.

Suggestion #2 - Any fastball pitch in the close vicinity of the batters head results in a triple, and the same rule above also applies.

[Swordsman78]

@Junkballer Care to elaborate or are you just here for the dumbest gif contest.  I can start that thread now if you want.

[Taylor]

I think Savannah Bananas baseball rules should go into effect across all MLB for two weeks.

 

[Slegnaac]

2 hours ago, Swordsman78 said:

Same  as calling balls and strikes or pass interference in football.  Umpire decision, protests go to NY

Balls and Strikes have a definition which isn't "close proximity to the plate."

Throwing at the head would need a better definition than "close proximity"

Maybe they can try your suggestions during the AFL.

[Swordsman78]

2 minutes ago, Slegnaac said:

Balls and Strikes have a definition which isn't "close proximity to the plate."

Throwing at the head would need a better definition than "close proximity"

Maybe they can try your suggestions during the AFL.

The definition would be  "on pace and direction to hit the batter in the helmet" had not evasive action been taken.  Or something similar.

[Slegnaac]

That make more sense than close proximity. 

[Brandon]

Just change the rules to that of MTV Rock-n-Jock baseball and I’ll buy season tickets

[Inside Pitch]

Have live dinosaurs in the OF...

[CaliAngel]

3 hours ago, Swordsman78 said:

In Football and Basketball all the stars on offense can impact multiple plays in a row.   In baseball you wait 3 innings for the stars to come up to bat.  Then the other team takes the bat out of their hand and walks them.

Suggestions:   If a player walks, a runner goes to first but the manager has the option of keeping the player who walked up for another at bat.   Until he puts a ball into play or strikes out.

Suggestion #2 - Any fastball pitch in the close vicinity of the batters head results in a triple, and the same rule above also applies.

Suggestion 1 is interesting to think about for sure, I suppose have the last out go to 1st base?

I have thought for a while that a batter hit by pitch should automatically go to 2nd base, giving them first isn't nearly as much of a deterrent for pitchers as it should be.

[T.G.]

29 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

Have live dinosaurs in the OF...

Don't be ridiculous.  No one wants to see Pujols in the OF

[Hot Damn!]

32 minutes ago, Brandon said:

Just change the rules to that of MTV Rock-n-Jock baseball and I’ll buy season tickets

Bill Bellamy and Dan Cortese as coaches 

[Jason]

34 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

Have live dinosaurs in the OF...

This is the winning idea and it's not close 

[Brandon]

5 minutes ago, Hot Damn! said:

Bill Bellamy and Dan Cortese as coaches 

Diamond Club it is

[Hot Damn!]

16 minutes ago, Brandon said:

Diamond Club it is

Champagne rooms instead of suites. 

[Brandon]

16 minutes ago, Hot Damn! said:

Champagne rooms instead of suites. 

And a 20 foot rim

Edited June 28, 2022 by Brandon

[Inside Pitch]

56 minutes ago, True Grich said:

Don't be ridiculous.  No one wants to see Pujols in the OF

Sure, but who wouldn't want to see Pujols in the outfield WITH live dinosaurs.

[Taylor]

12 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

Sure, but who wouldn't want to see Pujols in the outfield WITH live dinosaurs.

AW members take the field?

[Hot Damn!]

37 minutes ago, Brandon said:

And a 20 foot rim

 

[Inside Pitch]

15 minutes ago, Taylor said:

AW members take the field?

You can't have Dinosaurs in the OF and not have rodeo clowns..  So, yes.

[HanfordGuy]

Suggestions for improving MLB from a fan perspective
 

Lasers.