If you were granted three wishes ...

[AgonyandIvy]

NL adopt the DH.
All new stadiums have a retractable roof ( and put one on the old ones too).
Get rid of Bucky McCarver.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by AgonyandIvy

NL adopt the DH.
All new stadiums have a retractable roof ( and put one on the old ones too).
Get rid of Bucky McCarver.

I'm trying to imagine just how they'd put one on Fenway. Short of building a retractable roof around the stadium I'm not seeing it. And the supports would take up everything for some distance, at least across Lansdown and all the surrounding streets. I don't see us ever going for that.

Just hire ballplayers that aren't too wussy to play on cool overcast days. That's usually much cheaper.

My 3?
1) All games on real grass outdoors.
2) Less whining about pitchers throwing inside especially if the batter has been showboating. And even if the pitch hits them.
3) Some incentive for players to stay with a team. AND for teams to keep players. I totally understand when a guy leaves because the current team will only pay 2 million a year but someone else will pay 10. But I also don't like it when good players are simply cut and have to sign a minor league deal because they're up for arbitration.

Steve B

[tiger8mush]

DH - I like the NL in theory (more of a "pure" game), but am drawn to the excitement (better hitting?) of the AL. So its good having two different leagues w/slightly different rules.

my three wishes:

1)I like the idea of a hard "pitch clock", similar to the nba having a "shot clock". Make it 20 seconds total. It starts on the umps signal. The batter has 10 seconds to stand in the box. The pitcher must release the ball between seconds 10 and 20. If the ball is not released by the 20th second (ball out of hand) its automatically a ball is awarded to the batter.

2) Do SOMETHING about ticket prices. Sure, I understand the Yankees and Sox having high prices, but they sell out every game. But look at some of the other games on tv. Stadiums are EMPTY. They charge $25 to sit in the freakin bleachers! How about they charge $10 so the average family can afford to go to a dozen games a year? Attendance would be up, would sell more jerseys & food at stadiums, etc. I don't think MLB would lose money.

3) Yankee Stadium and Camden Yards (Orioles) allow patrons to bring in food & drinks. Every stadium should allow this!

4) More day games!!!!!

Many more requests, but these are the first three (okay, 4) that come to mind

[john.clowes]

#1 wish - Pirates with a winning record at year-end. This will require an ownership change.
#2 wish - stop the DH. Worst rule change ever.
#3 wish - improve the consistency of ball & strike calling. Make the umpires call the rules as written, and removing the discretion-ability of calling a strike a ball (and vice versa) would be the thing that levels the playing field more than anything. Likely will require some additional improvements over what pitchfx does today, but its likely not too far away. Maybe if the umps know their livelihood is on the line, they would stick to the rules.

[Paul S]

1) Both leagues 8-10 teams each

2) World Series only

3) MLB monopolizes the market on PM15 pinbacks and offers them each capped at $10 resale (so I could afford a few)