Improving the game suggestions

[big_sparxx]

A couple of suggestions.

1) Three pitchers a game (unless one gets injured during the game).

2) Mercy rule - a team up by 5 or more after 7... ballgame.

3) Allow sign stealing. (It happens anyway so why not just make it a part of the game?)

4) 5 foul balls = out (no matter if the fouls happen on strike 1 or strike 3).

 

[Can_of_corn]

51 minutes ago, big_sparxx said:

A couple of suggestions.

1) Three pitchers a game (unless one gets injured during the game).

2) Mercy rule - a team up by 5 or more after 7... ballgame.

3) Allow sign stealing. (It happens anyway so why not just make it a part of the game?)

4) 5 foul balls = out (no matter if the fouls happen on strike 1 or strike 3).

 

You are OK with a reliever going 80 pitches because the team can't bring in a replacement and he doesn't have it that night?

[HowAboutThat]

53 minutes ago, big_sparxx said:

A couple of suggestions.

1) Three pitchers a game (unless one gets injured during the game).

2) Mercy rule - a team up by 5 or more after 7... ballgame.

3) Allow sign stealing. (It happens anyway so why not just make it a part of the game?)

4) 5 foul balls = out (no matter if the fouls happen on strike 1 or strike 3).

 

Sign stealing IS allowed, Just without any artificial assistance.

Foulouts don’t increase base runners, and more activity on the base paths is what we want, so that that one is counterproductive. It’s better to allow the runner to take first after a certain number of fouls. Remember that fouling off a ball takes skill. Sometimes the foul results from a mis-aimed bat, Other times, the hitter recognizes that the ball is going to be in the strike zone and fouls it off to get another pitch. Given how hard it already is to hit, rewarding the hitter is a good way to increase base activity, and helps tilt the needle between pitching and hitting back towards a balance of power.

mercy rules are stupid, no offense.

Edited February 11, 2021 by Philip

[DrungoHazewood]

1 hour ago, Can_of_corn said:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-sports-with-the-oldest-and-youngest-tv-audiences-2017-06-30

2016 numbers

PGA- 64

LPGA- 63

ATP Tennis- 61

MLB- 57

NFL- 50

 

Do the PGA and ATP have an "issue" with their over 60 fanbase?  I don't know if they do but they are older than MLB fans.  (Yes I know I'm citing "average", still looks like a solid source).

 

How's MLB's profitability look?  That's always the bottom line right?  Older fans are generally more able to spend money and are a growing demographic.  I'm not at all sure that trying to chase the young fan is worth alienating the older fan.  Sports are a hard sell for Zoomers and Millennials. 

I guess making peace with death is always an option over fighting tooth-and-nail to the end.  Maybe most/all spectator sports are content not really being a thing in 50 years.

[DrungoHazewood]

11 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

You are OK with a reliever going 80 pitches because the team can't bring in a replacement and he doesn't have it that night?

I am.  I've always said if it's good for Zip Zabel it's good for everybody.

[Can_of_corn]

4 minutes ago, DrungoHazewood said:

I guess making peace with death is always an option over fighting tooth-and-nail to the end.  Maybe most/all spectator sports are content not really being a thing in 50 years.

Or maybe folks gravitate more towards watching sports as entertainment as they age?

Maybe the 20 year old zoomer who is going out to the club on the weekend will be watching sports at home in 40 years?

[DrungoHazewood]

I think a good solution (since everyone loves all my solutions) is to have the National League go by the rules as written in 1905 forever, and the American League have a process to try out new things much more frequently.  See which one is more popular.  Maybe both are popular, and we have a new setup with options for both traditional baseball and new baseball.

[big_sparxx]

15 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

You are OK with a reliever going 80 pitches because the team can't bring in a replacement and he doesn't have it that night?

re-define relievers... We have, for far too long had to keep specialists, setup men, 7th inning guys... it's truly madness... and it all takes time away from the game. If you have pitchers who can't deal with 3 innings work...

[DrungoHazewood]

Just now, Can_of_corn said:

Or maybe folks gravitate more towards watching sports as entertainment as they age?

Maybe the 20 year old zoomer who is going out to the club on the weekend will be watching sports at home in 40 years?

Maybe?  Are most of your activities today things that you didn't like in your teens and 20s?  I guess for me that's true to some degree, but my experiences may not be typical.

[DrungoHazewood]

1 minute ago, big_sparxx said:

re-define relievers... We have, for far too long had to keep specialists, setup men, 7th inning guys... it's truly madness... and it all takes time away from the game. If you have pitchers who can't deal with 3 innings work...

It's not that they can't deal with it, it's that essentially every pitcher ever pitches more effectively the shorter his outing.  Without rules limiting the number of pitchers (or roster sizes) every team would use at least a different pitcher per inning.

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, DrungoHazewood said:

Maybe?  Are most of your activities today things that you didn't like in your teens and 20s?  I guess for me that's true to some degree, but my experiences may not be typical.

It is hard for me to separate what is different due to age and what is different do to changes in technology and society.  I certainly don't go out near as much as I did in my 20's.  I also consume media much differently.

[big_sparxx]

17 minutes ago, Philip said:

Sign stealing IS allowed, Just without any artificial assistance.

Foulouts don’t increase base runners, and more activity on the base paths is what we want, so that that one is counterproductive. It’s better to allow the runner to take first after a certain number of fouls. Remember that fouling off a ball takes skill. Sometimes the foul results from a mis-aimed bat, Other times, the hitter recognizes that the ball is going to be in the strike zone and fouls it off to get another pitch. Given how hard it already is to hit, rewarding the hitter is a good way to increase base activity, and helps tilt the needle between pitching and hitting back towards a balance of power.

mercy rules are stupid, no offense.

I don't think guys should be rewarded for hitting foul balls. I remember Keith Hernandez saying one time that you only get one real good chance per ab. Not that I necessarily agree with that idea... but with variable strike zones, I'd like to see pitchers get an out and keep their PCs down.

Mercy rules are dumb... but getting down 5+ runs is also dumb..

 

[big_sparxx]

7 minutes ago, DrungoHazewood said:

It's not that they can't deal with it, it's that essentially every pitcher ever pitches more effectively the shorter his outing.  Without rules limiting the number of pitchers (or roster sizes) every team would use at least a different pitcher per inning.

This is the point. The more pitchers you have, the less hitters you have. You are more inclined to allow a struggling hitter to exist without having any real competition for the position. If you have a starter that can go 5 or 6, and can divvy up the rest between 2 guys, you have a better game overall.

[Can_of_corn]

6 minutes ago, big_sparxx said:

This is the point. The more pitchers you have, the less hitters you have. You are more inclined to allow a struggling hitter to exist without having any real competition for the position. If you have a starter that can go 5 or 6, and can divvy up the rest between 2 guys, you have a better game overall.

But you have to do something about the ball and the ballparks if you even want to consider this.

Unless of course you think a much higher scoring environment is a "better game overall".

[big_sparxx]

10 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

But you have to do something about the ball and the ballparks if you even want to consider this.

Unless of course you think a much higher scoring environment is a "better game overall".

Why cant we have better pitchers overall? Shouldn't that be the goal?