Rule Changes

[SmedIndy]

Jayson Stark has this article: http://msn.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/s...n/1503508.html

regarding proposed rule changes. Some sound OK, some sound awful (especially the designated fielder rule). Comments? Thoughts?

[gyb13]

Instant replay - sure, if the umps can't agree. Baseball would take forever if managers were allowed to ask for replays every time there's a close play at a bag.
Stay in the box - silly to give automatic balls/strikes. This doesn't need a new rule change - it needs enforcement.
Visiting the mound - make it like a timeout, give it a limit.
Saves - get rid of 'em.
Fake 3rd, throw 1st - just be consistent.
Three pickoff limit - too much advantage for the runner.
Five relievers limit - silly.
Face two batters - silly.
Sept rosters - how about allowing expansion when your team gets out of contention?
Unify numbers - how about separate the two leagues again?
Waiver system - I like the idea.
Runners' box - doesn't seem like a problem.
Sac - just get rid of it.
No pinch-run for pinch-hitter - silly.
DF - silly.
No body armor - yes!
Team error - sure, why not. But be consistent!
Batters box - enforcement!
Phantom tags - yes!
No Sat night games - yes!

[JamesI]

there are some good ideas, some suck. We don't need a DF.

But simple ideas, call balks, don't allow players to walk around out of the box (other than injury, got hit in the leg on a foul and need to walk it off thing)

Saturday night games, only as part of a doubleheader

[Max Power]

The designated fielder proposal is the most insane thing I've ever heard. Any player willing to accept that job is one I would never want on my club.

[WiredTiger]

The designated fielder was one of the rules that struck me as impractical.

I have always thought that the team error was an excellent idea.

Two items that I think would speed up the game: staying in the batter's box and limiting trips to the mound. These wouldn't affect the game very much but could enhance the enjoyment by the fans.

[LeGrandOrange]

For thinking of the DF Rule, Doug Melvin is a DF, and I can't print what I'm meaning.

Isn't this the logic that gets him fired from other teams?

[KCBOOMER]

1. I hate replay in all its forms.
2. Stay in the box
3. Don't care.
4. Save rule sucks but you have built up a history with it.
5. Third to first is okay.
6. Limit Pick-Offs - Yes
7. Limit relievers - No
8. Pitch to two men - Not bad, prefer three.
9. Rosters - Don't care
10. Unify - No
11. Waiver change - Yes
12. Runner's Box - Yes , the umps don't enforce it anyway.
13. Sacs - Leave alone
14. No Pinch Runner - No
15. Des Fielder - Not No, but HELL NO!!!
16. Body Armor - Ban it.
17. Team Error - No
18. Batter's Box - Yes
19. Phantom Tag - Make them tag it.
20. No Saturday Nite Games - No, messes up my golf game.

21-25. Stupid beyond all redemption.

[SmedIndy]

Anything to speed up the game would be great, but some of these really stink.

I think the ones worth their salt are the save rule, two batter rule (make it three), unifying the numbers if we're gonna have this consarn interleague play, and the team error.

And I am all for more day games and on grass too!

As for the batters box and the phantom tag - ENFORCE THE DANG RULE!

[rcartman28]

1--no replay, bleech.
2--I don't like the automatic strike/ball, but make them stay in the box.
3--not sure
4--save rule okay as is
5--yeah, dump that third-to-first move
6--against, would favor the runner
7--no, but change batter requirements for each pitcher
8--see number 7
9--okay as is
10--whatever....
11--maybe
12--how about "common sense"
13--rule okay as is, but need to scored correctly
14--against
15--silly, plus ruin development of that player
16--definitely
17--leave scoring of such plays as is
18--definitely enforce
19--enforce "phantom tags"
20--I like Saturday night games, personally
21--dumb
22--very good idea
23--to some extent, I am in favor of that.
24--also silly
25--very good idea.

[Fuzzy Bear]

1. NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

2. You don't need a rule change here. Adopt Bill James' suggestion of the umpires simply refusing to call time out.

3. YES!

4. Leave it the way it is!

5. No.

6. YES!

7. There should be some limit to the amount of substitutions for pitchers per 9 innings UNLESS the sub is getting hammered.

8. OK

9. This ain't broke, so why would anyone want to fix it. The 40-man roster is a needed tool for teams to be able to evaluate prospects at the major league level. LEAVE THIS ONE ALONE!

10. NO! NEVER!!!!! End interleague play, instead! This is an idea to make baseball more like the NBA. We don't need that!

11. Yes, with reservations. The two separate league system in baseball makes it unique, and increases the value of winning the pennant.

12. OK

13. NOOOOOO! This is more fixing what ain't broken.

14. NOOOOOO!

15. Those of us who hate the DH should gag on the DF. NO DESIGNATED FIELDER, NO WAY!!!!!

16. I don't want to say "ban it all", but body armor should have a relationship with player safety.

17. A ridiculous concept, this "team" error, formulated by individuals in dire need of Metamucil.

18. Enforce the existing rule. But a hit batsman should always get first base, unless he was standing outside the box. If a player wants to crowd the plate, but is within the box, he shouldn't be penalized for that.

19. This only requires calling it as they occur, rather than allowing for optical illusions.

20. Some Saturday night games are OK, but they should be limited.

All of the "Five More For Fun" suggestions are inexcusably bad!

[Fuzzy Bear]

Bill James observed in his most recent Historical Abstract the fact that the length of games is NOT the problem with baseball. I love baseball; if a good game is lasting 4 hours, so be it.

What IS the problem is the ridiculous number of pickoffs, time-outs, endless substitutions for the sake of gaining a negligible platoon advantage are occurrances that BREAK UP THE TENSION OF THE GAME. Long games are OK if the tension of the event is maintained, and builds to an appropriate crescendo. Rule changes regarding pickoffs, substitutions, mound visits, should be made with this concept in mind.

[clemente21]

Here goes,

1. In principle yes, but baseball would find a way to screw it up.
2. Just enforce the rule.
3. Yes in some format, but you have to give a team more trips to the mound if they're giving up more runs
4. Three-inning saves are a travesty.
5. Ban it, but just because unless you're Jack McDowell, the move is stupid.
6. Probably not. But I'd like to see the rule changed so it's not a balk if the 1B is playing behind the runner and the pitcher throws to first.
7. I'd rather see a limit of 10 pitchers on a 25-man roster, plus anybody can pitch if they're up/down 10 or in extra innings.
8. I don't mind changing the rule to "must face two all the time" but either all or none.
9. Go to 35 for a few years and see if anybody notices. If not, go to 30 after that.
10. No, that's just dumb.
11. I don't have a strong feeling about this, but I think it's probably fine the way it is.
12. I don't care. Pretend you're Bob Gibson and fire the ball at the runner that abuses things, and it'll sort itself out.
13 through 15. I want some of what Doug Melvin appears to be smoking....
16. Yes. Hitters are being wimpy and need to be thrown at more often...
17. Yes.
18. See #2. But I agree that if the batter is leaning into the strike zone, the pitcher should hit him and have it be called a strike. [Wow, I'm in a violent mood today, and work wasn't half bad...]
19. Yes. All rules should be enforced or eliminated. That is why they are rules, and not suggestions.
20. YES YES YES YES YES. But 3pm Saturday starts are kind of cool because you can go to dinner afterwards, so keep those.

[pwdennis]

Here's my take on this:

01) Instant replay - for fair/foul and hr/ground rule double situations only
02) Stay in the batters box - silly enforcement the existing rule
03) Visiting the mound - leave this alone
04) Saves - as defined during the 60s would be fine with me
05) Fake 3rd, throw 1st - agree that this should go
06) Three pickoff limit - I think four or five should be the limit
07) Five relievers limit - pointless
08) Face two batters - another pointless suggestion
09) September callups - do away with these but permanently expand roster to 28 players to reflect today's game
10) Unify numbers - I'd do away with inter-league play and go back to the outside chest protectors for the AL - restore some tradition !
11) Waiver system - I'm okay with this suggestion
12) Runners' box - another pointless suggestion
13) Sac rule - I don't think this needs to be tinkered with
14) No pinch-runner for the pinch-hitter - pointless
15) Designated fielder - the worst suggestion of the bunch
16) No more body armor - I'm undecided about this
17) Team error - okay
18) Batters box - enforce the current rule !
19) Phantom tags - definitley one of my pet peeves
20) No Saturday night games - poor idea except in April and October - no one should be forced to watch day baseball in Arlington in August - I've done it and I cannot remember a more miserable experience

21-25 are too silly too warrant discussing

[TimmyB]

Originally posted by Max Power
The designated fielder proposal is the most insane thing I've ever heard. Any player willing to accept that job is one I would never want on my club.

I thought "designated runner" Herb Washington was the most insane... and it actually happened...

[TimmyB]

My

01) Instant replay - No way. I can tolerate it in football ("Tuck" anyone? ), but MLB umpires don't have the same history as the NFL's zebras. The umps get it right the vast majority of the time.
02) Stay in the batters box - what PW said
03) Visiting the mound - no need to change (or, better said, there are other time-wasters to target -- see #2)
04) Saves - Good enough for me. The old rules probably would work just fine. Get rid of the garbage (read: Oogie) save.
05) Fake 3rd, throw 1st - funny, never been able to get worked up about this one. I've never seen it work, anyway. Let them do it. They look ridiculous.
06) Three pickoff limit - Nooooooooo.
07) Five relievers limit - I'm glad MLB doesn't change their rules every year like the NFL. Turkeys like this one could actually happen if they did.
08) Face two batters - Then you can't play the percentages (possibly). No way.
09) September callups - it's tradition. For some of these 15 guys, it could be their only trip to the Show. Let it be.
10) Unify numbers - I'm not alone here. Un-unify the two leagues. (and all that goes with it)
11) Waiver system - It could work.
12) Runners' box - is this tinkering for tinkering's sake?
13) Sac rule - Leave it alone
14) No pinch-runner for the pinch-hitter - See #7
15) Designated fielder - Too late, I'm out of smilies. HURRRRRRRL!!!
16) No more body armor - Ban everything but the helmet!!!
17) Team error - yeah, fine.
18) Batters box - Just enforce what's already there.
19) Phantom tags - wait, isn't getting away with this one of the unwritten rules of the... no... that's something else. Yes... enforce the existing rules.
20) No Saturday night games - north of the Mason/Dixon line it's a good idea.

21-25 Jason... what were you thinking???