|
|
Post by hcpride on Feb 25, 2023 7:41:13 GMT -5
Looking forward to watching spring training games today and the new major league rules affecting pace of play, offense, and other aspects of the game. Some have called these the most dramatic changes in the history of the big leagues. 1. The pitcher must begin his motion to deliver the pitch before the expiration of the pitch timer. Pitchers who violate the timer are charged with an automatic ball. Batters who violate the timer are charged with an automatic strike. Batters must be in the box and alert to the pitcher by the 8-second mark or else be charged with an automatic strike. With runners on base, the timer resets if the pitcher attempts a pickoff or steps off the rubber. Pitchers are limited to two disengagements (pickoff attempts or step-offs) per plate appearance. However, this limit is reset if a runner or runners advance during the plate appearance. If a third pickoff attempt is made, the runner automatically advances one base if the pickoff attempt is not successful. Mound visits, injury timeouts and offensive team timeouts do not count as a disengagement. If a team has used up all five of its allotted mound visits prior to the ninth inning, that team will receive an additional mound visit in the ninth inning. This effectively serves as an additional disengagement. Umpires may provide extra time if warranted by special circumstances. (So if, as an example, a catcher were to be thrown out on the bases to end the previous half-inning and needed additional time to put on his catching gear, the umpire could allow it.) 2. Rules limiting the defensive shift. (Will increase offense.) 3. Increase in base size. (May help base stealers) www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2023-rule-changes-pitch-timer-larger-bases-shifts |
|
|
|
Post by Sons of Vaval on Feb 25, 2023 8:11:30 GMT -5
Can’t wait for a pivotal moment in a game when a pitcher just takes a second too much time on the mound, ball four is awarded, and the batter takes first base.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tom on Feb 25, 2023 8:41:06 GMT -5
The pitch clock isn't a horrible idea. Some pitchers are ridiculous about the amount of time it takes them to throw the ball. Batters can be just as bad with stepping out of the batters box.
I have not problem with the shift. Shame on the batters on that one. I know many people consider a bunt a bad thing, but if more batters would take the free base the shift would back off on its own. I'll never understand how a .220 singles hitter doesn't bunt every time they shift on him. Other than the fact too many major leaguers don't know how to do it anymore
|
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Feb 25, 2023 9:01:36 GMT -5
I think there is a big distinction between a bunt for a hit against a shift, for which there is statistical evidence for success, and a sacrifice bunt, for which there is little to no evidence for success,
|
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Feb 25, 2023 9:08:54 GMT -5
Carlton Fisk would have had a career batting average under .200 with these rules.
|
|
|
|
Post by hcpride on Feb 25, 2023 9:31:19 GMT -5
Dramatic rule changes to speed up the game and improve the offense can only mean MLB realizes it has a problem on its hands regarding the long term popularity of the sport and slipping market share. Can't disagree that popularity is slipping and I give them credit for trying.
|
|
|
|
Post by timholycross on Feb 25, 2023 9:48:38 GMT -5
Carlton Fisk would have had a career batting average under .200 with these rules. He and Mike Hargrove would have become early-in-the-count hitters, that's for sure. Nomar as well. One thing that slows play and I'm not sure how it's factored in is foul balls. Statistically, there's something on the order of 12% more pitches in a given game than 25 years ago. That's at least 30 more pitches in a game. Each foul ball requires a reset of some sort; the longest being if a foul ball stays on the field and fielders/batters/runners all ended up on the move because the ball could have been fair and/or could have been caught. |
|
|
|
Post by mm67 on Feb 25, 2023 10:47:04 GMT -5
A pandemic. A war in Europe. And now rule changes in MLB. Actually, baseball needed to try these changes. Has the essence of the game been changed? Is baseball intact? Has baseball been tarnished? Has the game been improved? Hope game speeds up; more situational hitting & stolen bases and a faster style of play. Will need to see how it plays out on the field at the major league level.
Mets-Yankees in the WS should be fun.
|
|
|
|
Post by mm67 on Feb 25, 2023 11:08:53 GMT -5
Batters purposely fouling off pitches, going deep in the count is an art which is an integral part of the game. TBT I am a traditionalist who did not favor the DH. I get all the reasons for it. But, I thought w/the pitcher batting, the decisions presented to the mgr. in so many scenarios such as removing the pitcher, pinch hitting even men on base especially late in the game were titillating. Baseball was a thinking person's game.
Thinking is boring, doesn't sell seats or improve media ratings.
|
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Feb 25, 2023 12:05:33 GMT -5
I have hated the designated hitter since it started. Makes as much sense as basketball having a designated free throw shooter in place of one player on the floor. "Shaq is fouled and here comes Joe Flebeitz to take his foul shots...."
|
|
|
|
Post by Sons of Vaval on Feb 25, 2023 16:30:26 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Feb 25, 2023 21:04:29 GMT -5
You should have found a bookie to bet it when you first posted.
|
|
|
|
Post by DiMarz on Feb 25, 2023 21:40:47 GMT -5
If the new rules get the games under 3 1/2 hours, that would be great!
MLB could instruct umpires to call the "old" strike zone, top of the letters to the top of he knees..THAT would speed up the game...
|
|
|
|
Post by nycrusader2010 on Feb 26, 2023 9:20:19 GMT -5
If the new rules get the games under 3 1/2 hours, that would be great! MLB could instruct umpires to call the "old" strike zone, top of the letters to the top of he knees..THAT would speed up the game... They'll never go that drastic with the strike zone, especially with the strikeout rates today. But, I will say that the last time MLB consciously made an effort to adjust the strike zone, they were effective at it. Watch clips from the 1990's and you'll see strike calls out to the outer chalk of the batter's box but at the same time everything above the belt was called a ball. In the early 2000's, they started calling the high strike (to the bottom of the letters) but also put the onus of the pitcher to actually get the black to earn the corner strike call. |
|
|
|
Post by Tom on Feb 26, 2023 10:32:07 GMT -5
I'm probably in the minority, but I have no problem with the way the Sox/Braves exhibition ended. That's what spring training is for. These guys have a month to figure out how to stand in the batters box |
|
|
|
Post by longsuffering on Feb 26, 2023 12:34:51 GMT -5
A direct contrast with "the greatest game ever pitched" which started on July 2, 1963 and ended in the wee hours of July 3, 1963 at 1-0 in the 16th inning with both Warren Spahn and Juan Marichel pitching complete games. Spahn was 42 at the time and had given up three seasons of his prime, 1943, 44, 45 to serve in WWII.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sons of Vaval on Feb 26, 2023 12:43:40 GMT -5
I'm probably in the minority, but I have no problem with the way the Sox/Braves exhibition ended. That's what spring training is for. These guys have a month to figure out how to stand in the batters box I think the clock is largely going to be a good thing, but I wonder how rigid it will be. By that I mean, in certain pivotal moments of a game, can an umpire have a bit of discretion? I look at a tennis match, for instance, where there’s a :25 serve clock. Once the server begins their motion to serve, clock goes off. The chair umpire will often allow a second or two or extra time during a key point within the match though before issuing a violation. If we are going to make the game robotic, then just remove the plate umpire altogether. |
|
|
|
Post by WCHC Sports on Feb 27, 2023 8:45:18 GMT -5
I love the rule changes. Look, if you're hitting .200 and the board here is asking for them to just "lay down a bunt and beat the shift," you're missing the facts: they can't hit, and they bunt even WORSE. Bunting is a skill that isn't prioritized, because its prior deemed-effective usage was a sacrifice... and all recent analysis says that it's actually a bad strategy. The pitchers have gotten better as they've been paid more, learned to scientifically dissect their spin rates and curve shapes and release points and all that. Related: hitting prioritizes lifting the ball and hitting homers. Otherwise, look to walk and get on base. A strikeout isn't so much as frowned upon. The feast or famine offensive approach is something they cannot litigate out of the game until a team approaches a different method and it results in more efficient scoring. The shift being taken away will help with some offense. I think it's a bit strange to dictate where the defense stands. You don't do that in football. You kind of do that in basketball... I would easily take two outfielders and throw my more rangy player in the hole when somebody like Aaron Hicks gets up and not lose any sleep over it. Biggest benefit to the pitch clock? Action. I don't care if a game goes 5 hours. I don't care if it goes 25 innings (apparently, the players and coaches do, and don't want to play that long because of ouchies  ) I do care about a pitcher getting a sign, shaking off four of them, motioning for the next set of signs, and then the batter has to step out of the box like it's mandated in the Bible. Then the batter takes too long getting back into the box while the pitcher is on the rubber, so they have to step off. Then they get back on the rubber and they throw to home plate but the ump comes wildly off to the side waving his hands for timeout: no pitch. It's like everyone holds their breath while they're on the mound or in the box in a fart cloud, and have 5 seconds to do something or they have to run away and exhale. Stay in the box. Stay on the rubber. Play ball. |
|
|
|
Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 28, 2023 14:04:34 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Sons of Vaval on Feb 28, 2023 14:10:13 GMT -5
You know a great way to shorten a game? Cut the breaks in between each half inning in half. That’s 22 minutes or so right there.
Obviously, won’t happen because $$$.
|
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Feb 28, 2023 14:25:24 GMT -5
Of course broadcasters would object to losing valuable commercial time, but I agree on the desirability of shortening the interval between half innings. Send the fielders out, give the pitcher 4 warmup throws, and resume play
|
|
|
|
Post by Tom on Feb 28, 2023 14:44:09 GMT -5
I love the rule changes. Look, if you're hitting .200 and the board here is asking for them to just "lay down a bunt and beat the shift," you're missing the facts: they can't hit, and they bunt even WORSE. Bunting is a skill that isn't prioritized, because its prior deemed-effective usage was a sacrifice... and all recent analysis says that it's actually a bad strategy. The pitchers have gotten better as they've been paid more, learned to scientifically dissect their spin rates and curve shapes and release points and all that. I would counter that bunting is a much easier skill to master than hitting with a full swing. If it's an easy way to get on base maybe competency should be prioritized |
|
|
|
Post by WCHC Sports on Feb 28, 2023 14:58:38 GMT -5
Bunting is absolutely easier, but watch how they hold the bats on most attempts. It's clear they haven't been taught the right way, or at all.
|
|
|
|
Post by hcpride on Feb 28, 2023 15:13:45 GMT -5
After watching a few spring training games I’m a fan of the new pitcher/batter timing rules. Ditto the (no) shift rule.
I also think they might have a positive effect on baseball’s popularity. Or at least viewers/attendance.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wormtown Railers Fan on Feb 28, 2023 15:27:02 GMT -5
Watched a spring training game the other day and the pitch clock is a great idea. Keep the action going. Step in the box ready to hit. Pitchers pitch the ball. Keep it going. Very refreshing, I actually watched the game instead of getting bored and turning the channel. That is one of the reasons the games at the Worcester Red Sox have been so enjoyable.
|
|
) I do care about a pitcher getting a sign, shaking off four of them, motioning for the next set of signs, and then the batter has to step out of the box like it's mandated in the Bible. Then the batter takes too long getting back into the box while the pitcher is on the rubber, so they have to step off. Then they get back on the rubber and they throw to home plate but the ump comes wildly off to the side waving his hands for timeout: no pitch. It's like everyone holds their breath while they're on the mound or in the box in a fart cloud, and have 5 seconds to do something or they have to run away and exhale. Stay in the box. Stay on the rubber. Play ball.