New Intentional Walk Rule: Like It?

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Tripredacus

I don't see the problem that the game has to begin with. The amount of time the game takes is not excessively long as compared to hockey or football. In fact, it seems baseball games are shorter.

Most of us see no great reason for any change, but there is a demand out 'there', mostly by Broadcast or Advertising Execs, that, in today's society, sports have to be high-speed action all the time. NASCAR and the NBA are just two sports whose pace Baseball has to compete against.

While Fans pay to go see the teams play and buy programs, jerseys and the like, the big money comes from Broadcast contracts and when push comes to shove, the fans' opinion becomes secondary - and eventually, we learn to adjust to those changes.

I realize that changing the intentional walk to a hand signal from the dugout may be a tiny adjustment in the scheme of things, and that, in another century someone like Johnny Bench might be able to lace a 'Ric' flair to right-field once in his career, but, as least that change won't upset the apple cart.

Trying to dictate how many pitching changes can be made in a game could endanger arms and, therefore, would never be allowed by the players union.

Too many throws to first along with varying deliveries of pitches are tried-and-true strategies designed to slow down the running game. You could never say that the pitcher can only throw over twice, because the runner would take off 100% of the time after the second throw...and never before. How stupid would that look?

OUR Game has changed very little over its lifetime and whatever changes are made usually wind up making it a more enjoyable 'product' to watch. IMO

But...We ALL miss the Good Ole' Days.



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