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

[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.

[clydepepper]

WHAT IS WRONG WITH BASEBALL

Most of what I will said has already been said:

1.) Reduce the number of teams - start with the Florida teams.
(the state of Florida should go back to spring training only)
...as others have already stated, reducing the number of teams will also solve the 'too many pitchers pitching' issue and there bye remove the very worst hurlers from the bigs - plus, by not having so many pitchers available, there will be far less pitching changes...which, IMHO, is the biggest thing dragging out game times.

2.) Get rid of interleague games if for no other reason than what it does to certain statistics: For example, is the American League Batting Champion legit if he hits .400 in interleague games while the second place batter hits only .200? Box scores showing a players home run total or a pitchers win-loss record is separated if the player is traded from one league to another, but the same adjustment isn't made for interleague games they may have played.

By getting rid of the interleague games, the 'purity' will return of whatever world series matchup results -IE you won't have two teams who have faced each other for home-and-home series already. It used to be fun to try to figure out how different teams would do against each other.

3.) For the playoffs, never again have a one-game play-in. Teams in each league should be seeded according to overall Win-Loss record. Additionally, the team with the best overall record should host the World Series. This will make the long schedule carry weight again...and every game will again be important.

4.) Suspensions for failed drug test should START with a full season suspension.

5.) Instead of reducing the number of games from 162 to whatever, start having at least one double-header per team per week. That will allow for more off days...and we won't have to worry about the 'Popovich Effect' coming to Baseball.

6.) Chewing tobacco needs to be banned from the Big Leagues - Call it The Tony Gwynn Initiative.

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

WHAT IS WRONG WITH BASEBALL

Most of what I will said has already been said:

1.) Reduce the number of teams - start with the Florida teams.
(the state of Florida should go back to spring training only)
...as others have already stated, reducing the number of teams will also solve the 'too many pitchers pitching' issue and there bye remove the very worst hurlers from the bigs - plus, by not having so many pitchers available, there will be far less pitching changes...which, IMHO, is the biggest thing dragging out game times.

2.) Get rid of interleague games if for no other reason than what it does to certain statistics: For example, is the American League Batting Champion legit if he hits .400 in interleague games while the second place batter hits only .200? Box scores showing a players home run total or a pitchers win-loss record is separated if the player is traded from one league to another, but the same adjustment isn't made for interleague games they may have played.

By getting rid of the interleague games, the 'purity' will return of whatever world series matchup results -IE you won't have two teams who have faced each other for home-and-home series already. It used to be fun to try to figure out how different teams would do against each other.

3.) For the playoffs, never again have a one-game play-in. Teams in each league should be seeded according to overall Win-Loss record. Additionally, the team with the best overall record should host the World Series. This will make the long schedule carry weight again...and every game will again be important.

4.) Suspensions for failed drug test should START with a full season suspension.

5.) Instead of reducing the number of games from 162 to whatever, start having at least one double-header per team per week. That will allow for more off days...and we won't have to worry about the 'Popovich Effect' coming to Baseball.

6.) Chewing tobacco needs to be banned from the Big Leagues - Call it The Tony Gwynn Initiative.

I agree and forgot to mention in my post that I HATE interleague play. A WS with two teams that have already met during the season is just wrong.

[TNP777]

Good grief. Only got through the first three pages before I'd had enough. What a bunch of grouchy old men. I'll bet nobody's allowed on your lawn, right? Not without getting an earful, at least.

I say those things with a slight grin on my face, 'cause at the ripe ol' age of 50, I'm prone to similar outbursts. I'm also pretty serious, too. It's a bit tiring hearing the older generation kavetch about things: "kids these days have NO RESPECT! They call that MUSIC?? Back in my day we had REAL music.

In my opinion, baseball's just fine the way it is. I hate the DH, but accept it. Bat flipping? Big deal. I like personalities in the game. I like people celebrating a great achievement. LOVED Jose Bautista's bat flip - he hit the 2nd biggest home run in the history of the franchise in a huge moment. Why the hell shouldn't he be pumped? Don't like the way the ump is calling pitches? So what - I'm sure that's been a complaint since the game was invented.

Baseball is a magical game, at least to me. Always has been. Yeah, little things sometimes bug me a little, but shaving a minute here or there (enforcing batters staying in the box, limiting warmup throws, etc) probably don't change much.

I'll tell you what really grinds my gears, though, and it has not a damn thing to do with the product on the field - fans booing the visiting pitcher when he throws to first to keep the runner close. STFU, all you blithering idiots! Oh, and GTFO my lawn!

[packs]

I got one more rule. During the game they should draw a section number for the daily "Serves Him Right" promotion. Then during the game if someone makes an error or gets picked off, that player is on the hook for one free drink to everyone in that section.

[insidethewrapper]

Both leagues play by the same rules. Home Team always decides if DH will be used that day or not. This would increase strategy not reduce it, which is why the NL is against the DH . Decision based on who is pitching that day, who is healthy on both teams, make the opposing team decide if they want to play their normal "DH" in the field or not etc. etc. Compare DH options that day .Would it be an asset that day to give a player a day off in the field ? etc This would make the game the same in both leagues with the option always available based on several factors that day.

[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.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by BleedinBlue

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.

Despagne got a hit against Scherzer driving in a big run for the marlins yesterday... though marlins still lost but at the time was cool

[rdixon1208]

The only change I would make is implementing a salary cap of some sort. I wish every team had an equal opportunity to win.