OT - What's Wrong With Baseball? Could the Game Be Improved?

[KCRfan1]

I would reduce the number of teams. This should weed out lesser talent, and increase the level of play, making the game more enjoyable.

[hysell]

Real simple fix to the time of games! Call strikes as they are in the book, if you cant, get some one who can? We have replay for most bad calls, now! Need the strike zone called !

[SmokyBurgess]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

I would reduce the number of teams. This should weed out lesser talent, and increase the level of play, making the game more enjoyable.

That would be my first move too. Less teams, better pitching...thus taking care of the length of games,

[frankbmd]

I sort of thought I wasn't alone with ideas to improve the game and appreciate all the suggestions. One topic that hasn't been addressed directly though is the increasing number of strikeouts and the apparent increase in non-PED home runs.

The strike out issue is largely due to the nine man bullpen of 100MPH relievers who can no longer pitch more than one inning.

The home run issue may be related as well to pitch speed, as the 500 foot fungo is as yet unheard of (I think).

Both the strike out and the home run render the fielders superfluous, which raises several possible rule changes.

1. Increase the weight of the ball, which would slow down the pitching, decrease the strikeouts and the home runs. Not sure how much weight to add, but taken to the extreme I can't envision a bowling ball leaving the infield, let alone clearing the fence.

As a corollary I would add decreasing the weight of the ball, which would have the same effect as in Wiffle Ball.

2. Alternatively make the strike out a strategic decision. Every inning or half inning if you will. If a batter strikes out, the team in the field must remove one fielder for the remainder of the inning. Two strike outs and two fielders must sit. And a three strikeout inning would result in the reduction of a fielder for the remainder of the game. (Rules similar to the penalty box and game misconduct in hockey.)

[bnorth]

I would like to add the unbalanced schedule.

[tiger8mush]

I think Little League is more "pure" than MLB. Enough 25 man rosters. You get 15. Thats right, it means your pitchers are also positional players and batters.

[callou2131]

Pitchers must face at Least 6 batters except for the case of injury. If a picther leaves early because of injury and doesnt face 6 batters, automatic 10 day DL

[Buythatcard]

1. Get rid of DH
2. AL & NL will play by the same rules
3. No more inter league play. The only time the AL will play the NL is during the All Star games and the World Series.
4. Players can not wear earrings or gold chains during a game.
5. Any player who gets hit by a pitch cannot charge the mound. Take it like a man.
6. Place a cap on salaries.

[sedin26]

Expand the DH to the national league!

[SAllen2556]

1. Go back to a 154 game schedule.

2. Limit mound visits by catchers, pitching coaches, and managers, and reduce the number of warm up pitches by a reliever to one. (Why does the manager need to go to the mound for a pitching change? Save it for Little League.)

4. To reduce strikeouts, change the definition of a check swing back to the 60's when a batter had much more leeway. (Watch an old game on you tube and you'll see the difference.)

5. Remove pitch counts from the graphics presented on TV, and fine any announcer who mentions the specific number of pitches thrown by a pitcher. (The obsession with pitch counts borders on the insane.)

6. No female announcers. (Oh my god, what a bigot! )

7. Make every fan who wants indoor baseball attend a game at Fenway Park.

8. Somehow better reward the team with the best record in each league when it comes time for the playoffs - more home games or a bye for an entire round - something more substantial. I want it extremely difficult for a wild card team to win the World Series.

[Mountaineer1999]

Homeruns!!! We need more homeruns!! Shorten the fences to 300ft at all parks so we get more Homeruns! Every at bat should be a homerun or strikeout, I think we are all tired if those pesky singles!
Why not more Jerry Jones style Jumbotrons? Suspend them right over 2nd base so we can see the advertisments a little more clearly! Baseball needs more advertisers for a capital infusion, players are just not making enough money so they are not really trying to hit homeruns!
Hell, if a player hits the Dennys Jumbotron, HOMERUN!

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by SAllen2556

7. Make every fan who wants indoor baseball attend a game at Fenway Park.

As one of those wussies that would love to see all stadiums become indoor, attending a game at Fenway Park is on my bucket list. Sitting on the green monster is a dream seat to me.

[vintagebb2014]

+1

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by bnorth

1.26 million, that includes batting/fielding practice and games. That is the estimate I found.

Ben, that's only 42,000 balls per team. Are you sure?

Hell, today the balls are replaced before the "spit" dries.

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

I think Little League is more "pure" than MLB. Enough 25 man rosters. You get 15. Thats right, it means your pitchers are also positional players and batters.

Ironically 25 man rosters are compromising, since the introduction of the 8-9 man bullpen of one inning (one batter) pitchers. Rarely is a bench player available in extra inning games as a result.

[savedfrommyspokes]

Eliminate commercial breaks when a pitching change occurs during an inning. If the manager walks out of the dugout and signals, the pitcher can jog in within less than 15 seconds. I can throw 8 warm up pitches (to get used to the mound) in less than 30 seconds. 45 seconds should be enough time. Next time you are at a game, watch how much time gets killed by the pitcher waiting for the commercial break to end after a pitching change. These pitching change commercials run about 1 min 50 sec each. Eliminate five during the inning pitching change commercials in a single game and that would save 5 or so extra minutes per game.

Obviously the lost revenue would be a concern for MLB/the teams. Easy, on air announcers already promote products/services during the telecast (for a cost), let that occur during pitching changes. Also, on mlb.tv, on most of my devices, there is no commercial playing(some devices there are though)....why not sell more commercial time on mlb.tv to compensate for the "lost" revenue from not showing commercials during pitching changes.

Of course, if both pitchers are throwing great games or all of the pitching changes occur between innings, there is no revenue from this commercial time anyway. Then again, games with few if any pitching changes are the quick games.

[Huysmans]

The NUMBER ONE easiest way to make an afternoon watching baseball more enjoyable?
Turn the channel to hockey.