Starting with a runner on second base...

[Deertick]

Kinda drives me outta my mind. I remember when softball didn't start the 8th (someone told me they are down to 5 now?) with a man on 2nd, 1 out, and 2 strikes on the batter.

If you're going to bastardize the game, why not just start the batter with 2 strikes, let each batter get one swing, and any ball in play gets a point rating? Fly=0, anything that hits the ground = 1, past the 'double' line = 2, etc. Then mark sections of the outfield in colors and get extra pts for hitting the color that a giant wheel on the scoreboard picks before each pitch? No reason for fielders since they haven't used the same ball for 2 consecutive pitches since 1993 anyway.

[D. Bergin]

Let's just have robo-pitchers and robo-batters and call it.......hear me out....."Meta-ball".

No more pesky salary cap, or expensive baseball stadiums.

We can buy virtual NFT based trading cards of our favorite ballplayers such as: "Archie Universe", "Hal 2000" and "Cris Cyborg", and then trade those cards for household staples such as Tofu Diapers and Free Trade Oxygen Tents.

The Future is bright people..........and I mean really bright. Like don't stare into the Sun for too long, or you might catch fire or lose your flood insurance bright!

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Why not start every inning with the bases loaded? It makes as much sense. First team to 21 runs wins. And not to remove the home field advantage, the home team bats first in every inning. And in the middle of the twelfth inning, a fan can try to throw out his mother-in-law trying to steal second base.

Let's consider constructive comments like this going forward.

Originally Posted by Casey2296

Following you down the rabbit hole Frank, I propose MLB introduces a tee at home plate, not unlike when my 6 year old son played. That way every batter would start out on an "even" playing field, and think of the cost savings in a world where Tommy John surgery was no longer necessary. The pitcher? Could field his position and win the Cy Young by leading the league in "comebacker" outs.

Phil, welcome to the hole. We used to play long extra-inning games with 9 or 10 man pitching staffs. Now the poor managers run out of relief pitchers with 13-14 man pitching staffs. More entertaining perhaps would be the following.

Once a team has "run out" of relief pitchers, they would be required to use only position players on the mound with 8 relief pitchers in the field behind them. Those RP fielders would also be required to bat against the non-pitchers.

Obviously some nerd is going to ask what can Ohtani do in extra innings? The only equitable option would be to take a shower.