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

[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!

[mr2686]

Some interesting ideas gentlemen, but a lot of them are not going to happen with Player and Umpire unions involved. I mean, can you imagine the argument over player service time and whether or not being on the 40 man roster vs being on a 25 man eligible to play in a game roster counted towards free agency?
Bud Selig tried a few things, some worked and some did not. Having the all star game winning team have home field advantage during the WS did not, but having the wildcard, in my mind, made for a much more exciting pennant race especially this year when a couple of division races are all but done.
With all that said, the game is just too long these days, and people don't have the time or patience to watch the whole thing. Limit the amount of times a batter can leave the box, limit the time between pitches, and limit the amount of throws to each base by the pitcher...maybe 3 over to first. That would make it more strategic rather than boring.

[BleedinBlue]

Originally Posted by sedin26

Expand the DH to the national league!

What do you have against managers having to actually manage a baseball game/roster?

When was the last time an AL manager had to make a double switch? Paul Molitor botched this against the dodgers the other day. When did an AL manager run out of bench players? I much prefer watching a weak hitting pitcher actually contribute on offense and all the strategic maneuvering required to work around this spot in the order than the AL version of the game where the offensive maneuvering is essentially non existent.

I understand that the DH has lengthened the careers of David Ortiz, Paul Molitor, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and others. But I'd rather see Madison Baumgarner and Clayton Kershaw face off in the box and try to grind out runs/wins for their club.

[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.