These sweeping changes might not need the players’ approval.
FOX Sports: According to an ESPN report, the MLB’s competition committee has approved a motion that would raise the strike zone to the top of the hitter’s knees (from its current position at “the hollow beneath the kneecap”).
In addition, the committee voted to do away with the need for teams to throw four balls when it wants to intentionally walk a batter. Instead, the batter would simply be awarded first base. MORE
another ‘zone’ tweak that takes a little bit more of the ever-shrinking strike zone away from pitchers …. the umps don’t call anything above the belt a strike now, so the zone will be more of a square postage stamp
& the intentional walk is just a bullshit move… .pitchers have to throw every pitch ….. I’ve seen pitchers throw a wild-pitch w/ runners on when they’re trying to intentionally walk batters … I’ve seen pitchers strike out batters by sneaking in pitches while pretending to intentionally walk batters ….. makes no sense to take that out of the game for a 15-second ‘speed-up’ of the game
just enforce batters stepping out of the box on every pitch .. now that holds games up more than anything. ….. oh … & can the DH … biggest mistake Baseball ever made.
… & btw, a 1-0 game is a lot quicker than a 10-11 game … think about it
Molon Labe…I could kiss your cheek….let’s just play baseball like it supposed to be played….
The Umps will still have their own zones. I say make them pitch the four, the arm is a tool of the game. I like the DH, it gives the aged hitter a place and can change the game with a single swing of the bat. Maybe the MLB could bring back the high socks and the shorter pants instead? Go Phillies!
Only if a relief pitchers have too finish the inning or pitch a minimum.
Was there anything about stealing musical instruments in that rule change?
I understand why they are making the change. While not a professional, I have been involved with umpiring Little League for over a dozen years.
It is rare for an umpire to actually be able accurately see the location of a ball pitched at knee level as it crosses the plate. Instead the flight path and catchers glove position are used to make the determination.
When a drop ball is pitched and comes in low, the catchers mitt may raise some dust and the ball still go through the strike zone.
This was not an issue as until the advent of recent technology, no other person was able to see the ball position at that point except the umpire and catcher.
Now it is obvious that a large amount of low calls are wrong, so something has to be done.
It’s a bit long to the punch line except it’s also a trip down memory lane…and the reason that you don’t automatically get a walk…I love baseball…https://youtu.be/2TPCNP4_qXo
Vida Blue came in at relief….the year before he won 20 and the year after he won 24….that year, I believe 1972 he only won 6….Gawd I love baseball!…
@jagplad ~ the DH has, IMO, ruined Baseball. Remember the scene in ‘The Untouchables’ where Al Capone (Robert DeNero) is talking about how Baseball is a game played by a team while they’re in the field, but bat as individuals? That’s the concept of the DH wrapped up in one violently grammatical scene. A DH is an individual, not part of a team because he doesn’t play went his team is on the defence …. sort of like Football, which abound in specialists.
The DH also skewers statistics. Think Babe Ruth with another, possibly 5 years of DH’ing. No one could have touched him. Think of all those other great players for a hundred years that didn’t get that advantage. Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, etc. etc. Now think David Ortiz, who’s been a DH for about 10 years now (btw, can you name another player that has gotten better at age 40? …. besides Barry Bonds, of course?) Edgar Martinez was probably the best, ever DH …. Hall of Fame? …. nope.
but, I am with you on uniforms. Uniforms are called ‘uniforms’ for a reason. Get the freakin’ gold chain, Mr. T Starter Set off of your neck, hike up your trousers, put your cap on straight & show some respect for a game that’s made you a millionare.
Besides second base and short stop, is this really a sport? Hit me with the TD’s. I’ll take it like a man. Kinda.
@Brad ~ … up until this point ….. I liked you 😉
….. Kinda
@ Bad Brad….you are sooo wrong…shame on you…it’s obvious that you didn’t play the game or watch it with a cynical eye…it would be like me comparing wrestling to the WWE….baseball loves you Brad, just embrace it for what it is….Gawd I love baseball…
I wanna have a beer with Molon Labe and play TWO!!!!!….LOLOLOL…
Changing the strike zone is a joke. Doing away with four pitches for an intentional walk is a bigger joke.
This game is still being played as closest to its original form (except the dh).
If the purpose is to speed up the game, get rid of all the commercials!
And, yes, the dh is the worst thing that has happened to MLB. Thank goodness we’re part of the more pure National League.
Willy, I did play the game. But watching it now sucks. It’s all me. The older I get the shorter my attention span. I can’t watch NASCAR anymore either. Use to love it.
Wonder if they are doing this to accommodate those who are confused as to what their true gender is?
On a side note, just for the baseball types….I recently moved to another state and a grandson of the neighbors was out front playing catch with himself. I finally found my glove and went out and had a catch with this 10/12 year old….nice conversation, I heard of his favorite team and that he liked to pitch….It was BEAUTIFUL…I hadn’t played catch for 20 years. I’d like to think that this should be a regular activity….even with old stove built former wrestlers….LOL
Willy that’s bitchen. (I think your about my exact same age so I figured I’d use a term we both identified with) LOL
Brad…get out of California and then you will be able to embrace the finer things in life….like Baseball and Nascar…RUN BRAD, RUN….there might still be time…
Wait, you mean this game IS NOT PLAYED ON ICE? How strange…
Lazlo’s brother is all into baseball.
I pass comments whence we meet like: If Baseball was any slower they would call it Farming. Then recite passages of George Carlin’s comparison of Baseball and Football.
Then he insults the Gamecocks and things get unruly, because that shit ain’t right, until we toast our dear departed Mother.
She was a Dodgers fan.
Steve Garvey was on first.
Those were shining times.
Leave the freaking game ALONE. In fact, get rid of the DH. Make ’em all bat. Dump the Utley rule. Let the catcher block the plate.
Also, ever notice how many people who say baseball is boring are avid soccer fans? (Sorry… I dozed off just typing that s-word!) Then, they tell us we don’t understand the subtleties and strategy of soccer (“Oh, like in baseball?”) Then, they defend that idiotic shoot-out to break one of those exciting, seemingly endless NIL-NIL ties. (Imagine playing a round of home run derby to break a baseball tie! Yuk!)
Giving a batter the base for an IBB (without the 4 pitches) eliminates a base runner from advancing via an errant pitch. Thanks, MLB, for removing strategy/possibilities from the game.
Don’t mess with baseball! Baseball is still the best as far as I am concerned. And GO MARINERS and CUBBIES! Woohoo, I’d want the Mariners to win the World Series against the Cubs in 7 games but it wouldn’t break my heart if the Cubs finally win their 1st World Series since 1908. Or the Red Sox and the Cubs, the Dodgers will find a way to choke again in this Vin Scully’s last year as the Dodgers announcer, just because they’re da bums.