Posted on 05/22/2016 11:56:31 AM PDT by Mariner
According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, Major League Baseball is on the verge of making two rules changes that could only be described as ground-breaking.
In a report filed on Friday, Stark says that the league's competition committee reportedly agreed to alter the strike zone and eliminate the four-pitch intentional walk during their meetings with owners this week. Those two changes could be implemented as early as the 2017 season.
The strike zone is currently defined as the volume of space above home plate and between the batter's knees and the midpoint of their torso. Of course, if you asked most baseball fans what the strike zone is right now, most wouldn't be able to tell you. That's because there's long been inconsistency from umpire-to-umpire, and sometimes even pitch-to-pitch.
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I understand some of the safety changes, but these alterations are clearly designed to speed the game and give advantage to the hitter.
As if the DH and lowering the mound has not done enough.
The very best ball games are those decided 2-1. Or 1-0.
Why eliminate the intentional walk? Four balls gets the batter to first base via unintentional or intentional. Leave the rule alone you morons.
I quit following baseball back in ‘94 after the strike. Even then, however, the strike zone to me was from the belt to the knees, and anything called a strike that was higher was argued.
As for an inconsistent strike zone, I remember, when I was watching, the Braves playing the Marlins in the playoffs. The Marlin pitcher struck out 15, but many, MANY of those balls were clearly 6” to a foot outside, yet were called strikes.
As to the intentional walk, leave it. It doesn’t happen often, but there have been times when a wild pitch is let loose and it does change the game.
And get rid of the damn designated hitter. And get rid of the damn playoffs. Top two teams should go to the series. My 25 best against everyone elses 25 best. Top dog goes.
And get rid of divisions.
Baseball does this, and they might, MIGHT get me back.
The way baseball is going, their playoffs will look like the NHL or NBA.
But low scoring games don’t get or keep the TV audience.
The public wants home run derbies between steroid monsters.
Just follow the money.
Tv is ruining professional sports.
Not just baseball, *all* pro sports are being ruined by television money.
The NFL sold its soul to the television demons long ago.
I just wonder how long it will be before MLB celebrates its first transgender player?
Because they can.
Any governmental body that can, will.
I’m trying to think of any sport that makes changes to help the defense. It’s because to casual mouth breathing fans scoring/points/runs = excitement. I don’t get it either, but that’s the way it seems to go. Everything they do seems to hurt pitching in MLB, I hate this crap.
But the nature of baseball is different, because helping the offense by raising the bottom strike zone or whatever is going to just make games longer. But I doubt the umps that have a lot of time in are even going to pay attention to this, so it might not be a big deal besides lip flapping anyhow.
Freegards
I agree. One of the charms of baseball is the strategy that is involved. What's going to happen? Intentional walks will have to be more subtle. Will there be arguments about whether a walk is intentional or not?
“I just wonder how long it will be before MLB celebrates its first transgender player?”
I have often thought there isn’t a front office in MLB that doesn’t yearn to have the first gay dude. But baseball is a lot of individual closely examined effort with black and white results, especially with the various pitch trackers. So if there is a gay dude, he is going to have to actually be legit.
Freegards
Well, yeah, if your team wins. ;)
Umpires will just ignore new strike zone like always
They are saying you wouldn’t have to throw 4 if they are intentionally walking, the batter just takes the base, right? Or am I missing something?
I recall a play off game where the pitcher was so amped he threw one to the backstop trying to intentionally walk someone and the runners advanced, Blake Trienen for the Nats, I think.
Freegards
I remember watching the owner of the Oakland A's eons ago on Johnny Carson, explaining what he'd do to "improve" the game.
Eliminating actually having the pitcher throwing the ball four times was one of them. Day-Glo orange balls was another, to help the batters.
I did as well...
Only in the last couple of years have I even watched a Rays game on T.V.
I can think of no good reason to dump the intentional walk...
The Strike zone is an easy fix...
We see it every game we watch...
That annoying little box that show where the ball went in the strike zone...
Still have the ups call the plays, but have the ability to override them when the call is obvious wrong
I remember the old days. If someone hit a home run off of Bob Gibson, the next batter knew, on the first pitch, his face better hit dirt, cause the ball was coming at him.
If you’re going to do away with intentional walks, then you should also get rid of the infield fly rule (make them play everything). Or, you could just leave the game alone.
Clay Dalrymple used to play for the Phillies in the 60s. There was one time he was being intentionally walked. The pitcher threw a ball too close to the plate, Clay swung at it and hit into a double play, which I think is the only time that has ever happened. But the 1-2 minutes spent on an intentional walk is part of the game, adding to the tension that builds up with the next batter.
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