I've always hated this one, but any run scored via home run counts as 1 run. Any run scored otherwise counts as 2 runs. Completely changes the incentive structure in most situations for all but the more prolific power hitters.
The wildest rule change I would propose would be that a home run should also count as an out. So, sure, you can hit a grand slam and it counts for four runs. But it might also end the inning. It doesn't take away from the majesty or excitement of the home run, but it does tip the balance ever so slightly back toward the pitcher. (Do i think it would lead to more guys trying to hit doubles instead of homers? Doubtful.)
My baseball rule change would be that before each game a team must list 12 pictures and only those 12 pictures could throw in the game. No more having position players throwing in blowouts. Anyone listed as a pitcher could not play any other position during that game.(Ohtani can DH as always)
Don't say no. Just think about the possibilities. (And then say no.) One time during the game, a manager may use a 4th out in an inning. The cost? They lose 2 of their outs in the ninth. This can only be done innings 3-7. Let's not allow it first two innings -- not fair to the opening pitcher, plus ya can't be that far behind that early. And let's not do it in the 8th. If the other team made it to the 8th, they should be free from worry. . . .But let's say a team is down by 2. And they have bases loaded in the 6th. And the batters lay eggs and it looks like the pitchers are out of a jam. Well, let the manager declare they want one more out to try to get those runs across. The cost of an extra out in the 6th? Well, you'd better score because you only get one out in the ninth. . . . What's the benefit? Well, the manager gets a little more "control" in the game AND we might see some rallies extended. And aren't rallies fun? The downside? Well, it'll probably end life on earth. But, well, we've had a good run.
Each time a player is subbed into the game, they must replace a player that started the game. So when your starting pitcher is subbed out, you bring in a new pitcher, no problem. When that reliever is done, you probably take out the DH (or put the DH on the field and take out a field player, and the relief pitcher goes to DH). But each time you use a reliever after that, you also have to remove a starter and the previous reliever has to stay on and field a position and bat. So no weird or arbitrary rules about number of relievers but a very very strong incentive to use as few as possible. Starters would go longer, one batter relievers would virtually disappear, and middle relievers who can actually field and hit a little would become far more valuable even if they can't throw 100. Yes we'll have to see pitchers bat a bit more, but we'll also get to see them try to field. Oh, and Shohei is now even more the most valuable player in baseball, and teams now have a really powerful incentive to try to develop more pitcher/hitter guys. Even having a few half-Shoheis around would be pretty fun.
What I want is almost anything that will lead to plays. Mostly that means fair balls that stay in the park, but also attempted steals.
I’m not asking for a return to the dead-ball era, but I do think that rules that would stop every hitter from trying to get the right home-run launch angle would make the game a lot more fun for us spectators.
Tight limits on the size of gloves, ballparks with deep outfield alleys, maybe balls that don’t travel as far, and, maybe most of all, some way that a walk is NOT as good as a hit. That is aesthetically offensive to me. While having a great eye for the strike zone is undoubtedly a real skill, it’s a passive one, whereas a batter hitting a ball for a base hit is one of the most difficult feats in sports. How about making a player who gets on base via a walk have to stay on the base — even if he advances to second or third — until the ball is released by the pitcher … or maybe until the batter makes contact.
Batters get five strikes per at-bat maximum. If you foul off the fifth strike you're out (similar to two strike bunt). This will put an end to ridiculously long at-bats and keep starting pitchers in the game longer.
(Along these lines, it always annoys me how when a batter fouls off about eight pitches and then finally walks an announcer will always say "What a great at-bat!" Ugh.)
you can have as many pitchers as you like, but the batting team chooses the order in which they are used.
I think the fielding team can still select their starter, but each time they want to make a pitching change the batting team gets to choose who the new pitcher will be. The fielding team can immediately pull that pitcher if they want to, but then then the pulled pitcher is out of the game (like it is now).
How about a soccer-like carding system for strikeouts. A batter gets a yellow card for each strikeout. 3 strikeouts = a red card and you’re out of the game. If you have fewer than 9 batters available, they still play the field but that spot in the lineup becomes an automatic out.
My expectation: it doesn’t eliminate aggressiveness but it requires that you have to be more contact-oriented once you already have a strikeout in the game.
Pitching-wise, you have to declare healthy scratches like hockey. Only 5 active pitchers per game, with one emergency pitcher in case of injury.
My expectation: this also reduces the number of pitchers teams carry and requires more strategic planning before the game, without being overly restrictive or unrealistic. Could be reduced to 4 pitchers per game.
Let the home team determine what direction to run the bases. Counterclockwise (as current) or clockwise (run down the left field line to what would be first base, etc.
Make a checked swing allow more than the 90 degrees now in effect. As kids it was “I didn’t break my wrists!”. A more liberal legal check would enable batters to have just a bit longer to identify the pitch. Pitchers will have to adapt to a lesser success expectation of simply blowing it by at 100. That means fewer all out effort fastballs, more “Maddox like” strategy and potentially longer starter outings. Longer at bats, better hitters more success, fewer strikeouts, more balls in play.
I am kind of burnt out on rule changes and gimmicks. Imagining the incorporation of Savannah Bananas hijinx, for instance, help me come to terms with the fact that I can't live forever. I know we're having fun here, so let me play along.
My season ticket buddy and I often joke, "I'm surprised they don't place an umpire in our section." Fans should get 1 challenge. There would be an app to compile fans' collective desire to challenge a call. When it reaches a certain threshold on a play (eg, 85% of fans in attendance), a challenge is initiated. It would be fun to see how bad we are at making these decisions.
Every time you change pitchers you have to get one extra out
I've always hated this one, but any run scored via home run counts as 1 run. Any run scored otherwise counts as 2 runs. Completely changes the incentive structure in most situations for all but the more prolific power hitters.
The wildest rule change I would propose would be that a home run should also count as an out. So, sure, you can hit a grand slam and it counts for four runs. But it might also end the inning. It doesn't take away from the majesty or excitement of the home run, but it does tip the balance ever so slightly back toward the pitcher. (Do i think it would lead to more guys trying to hit doubles instead of homers? Doubtful.)
My baseball rule change would be that before each game a team must list 12 pictures and only those 12 pictures could throw in the game. No more having position players throwing in blowouts. Anyone listed as a pitcher could not play any other position during that game.(Ohtani can DH as always)
Anti-vax people are bringing back deadly diseases. Hard to root for people like that.
High socks. No exceptions.
Don't say no. Just think about the possibilities. (And then say no.) One time during the game, a manager may use a 4th out in an inning. The cost? They lose 2 of their outs in the ninth. This can only be done innings 3-7. Let's not allow it first two innings -- not fair to the opening pitcher, plus ya can't be that far behind that early. And let's not do it in the 8th. If the other team made it to the 8th, they should be free from worry. . . .But let's say a team is down by 2. And they have bases loaded in the 6th. And the batters lay eggs and it looks like the pitchers are out of a jam. Well, let the manager declare they want one more out to try to get those runs across. The cost of an extra out in the 6th? Well, you'd better score because you only get one out in the ninth. . . . What's the benefit? Well, the manager gets a little more "control" in the game AND we might see some rallies extended. And aren't rallies fun? The downside? Well, it'll probably end life on earth. But, well, we've had a good run.
Each time a player is subbed into the game, they must replace a player that started the game. So when your starting pitcher is subbed out, you bring in a new pitcher, no problem. When that reliever is done, you probably take out the DH (or put the DH on the field and take out a field player, and the relief pitcher goes to DH). But each time you use a reliever after that, you also have to remove a starter and the previous reliever has to stay on and field a position and bat. So no weird or arbitrary rules about number of relievers but a very very strong incentive to use as few as possible. Starters would go longer, one batter relievers would virtually disappear, and middle relievers who can actually field and hit a little would become far more valuable even if they can't throw 100. Yes we'll have to see pitchers bat a bit more, but we'll also get to see them try to field. Oh, and Shohei is now even more the most valuable player in baseball, and teams now have a really powerful incentive to try to develop more pitcher/hitter guys. Even having a few half-Shoheis around would be pretty fun.
What I want is almost anything that will lead to plays. Mostly that means fair balls that stay in the park, but also attempted steals.
I’m not asking for a return to the dead-ball era, but I do think that rules that would stop every hitter from trying to get the right home-run launch angle would make the game a lot more fun for us spectators.
Tight limits on the size of gloves, ballparks with deep outfield alleys, maybe balls that don’t travel as far, and, maybe most of all, some way that a walk is NOT as good as a hit. That is aesthetically offensive to me. While having a great eye for the strike zone is undoubtedly a real skill, it’s a passive one, whereas a batter hitting a ball for a base hit is one of the most difficult feats in sports. How about making a player who gets on base via a walk have to stay on the base — even if he advances to second or third — until the ball is released by the pitcher … or maybe until the batter makes contact.
Batters get five strikes per at-bat maximum. If you foul off the fifth strike you're out (similar to two strike bunt). This will put an end to ridiculously long at-bats and keep starting pitchers in the game longer.
(Along these lines, it always annoys me how when a batter fouls off about eight pitches and then finally walks an announcer will always say "What a great at-bat!" Ugh.)
you can have as many pitchers as you like, but the batting team chooses the order in which they are used.
I think the fielding team can still select their starter, but each time they want to make a pitching change the batting team gets to choose who the new pitcher will be. The fielding team can immediately pull that pitcher if they want to, but then then the pulled pitcher is out of the game (like it is now).
How about a soccer-like carding system for strikeouts. A batter gets a yellow card for each strikeout. 3 strikeouts = a red card and you’re out of the game. If you have fewer than 9 batters available, they still play the field but that spot in the lineup becomes an automatic out.
My expectation: it doesn’t eliminate aggressiveness but it requires that you have to be more contact-oriented once you already have a strikeout in the game.
Pitching-wise, you have to declare healthy scratches like hockey. Only 5 active pitchers per game, with one emergency pitcher in case of injury.
My expectation: this also reduces the number of pitchers teams carry and requires more strategic planning before the game, without being overly restrictive or unrealistic. Could be reduced to 4 pitchers per game.
Let the home team determine what direction to run the bases. Counterclockwise (as current) or clockwise (run down the left field line to what would be first base, etc.
Make a checked swing allow more than the 90 degrees now in effect. As kids it was “I didn’t break my wrists!”. A more liberal legal check would enable batters to have just a bit longer to identify the pitch. Pitchers will have to adapt to a lesser success expectation of simply blowing it by at 100. That means fewer all out effort fastballs, more “Maddox like” strategy and potentially longer starter outings. Longer at bats, better hitters more success, fewer strikeouts, more balls in play.
Walk-off ground rule doubles count as 2 bases with 2 RBI
I am kind of burnt out on rule changes and gimmicks. Imagining the incorporation of Savannah Bananas hijinx, for instance, help me come to terms with the fact that I can't live forever. I know we're having fun here, so let me play along.
My season ticket buddy and I often joke, "I'm surprised they don't place an umpire in our section." Fans should get 1 challenge. There would be an app to compile fans' collective desire to challenge a call. When it reaches a certain threshold on a play (eg, 85% of fans in attendance), a challenge is initiated. It would be fun to see how bad we are at making these decisions.