Baseball implementing measures to quicken play

[cephasjames]

Report: Baseball implementing measures to quicken play this season

1. Managers will now challenge plays from the dugout, instead of taking that sometimes long stroll out on the field to the umps.

2. Batters must keep one foot in the batter's box unless "an established exception occurs." While these exceptions are unclear, during the recent Arizona Fall League the exceptions included a foul ball, wild pitch or time called.

3. As soon as a game comes back from commercial, you'll see the first pitch of the inning.

[swoboda]

1. won't make much difference.
2 & 3. will make a difference, and I support both.

Radical proposal: relief pitchers must pitch to a minimum of two batters..... This would improve pace, and increase offense a little as well.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

3. As soon as a game comes back from commercial, you'll see the first pitch of the inning.

... or the home run that has just been it, replayed.

[Orcin]

I wish they would add the pitch clock also.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Orcin

I wish they would add the pitch clock also.

They did test it in the Arizona Fall League *last* fall (so, 2013?), didn't they? Or is my memory stabbing me in the back here?

[RchW]

I expect this to be a disaster, with people getting thrown out of games and charges of favoritism especially when playing the Yankees and/or Red Sox.

[Lafayette53]

Originally Posted by Westheim

They did test it in the Arizona Fall League *last* fall (so, 2013?), didn't they? Or is my memory stabbing me in the back here?

You are right assuming you mean 2014.. heh. Its also being tested in the high minors this season, presumably as a test before eventual implementation.

[swoboda]

Originally Posted by RchW

I expect this to be a disaster, with people getting thrown out of games and charges of favoritism especially when playing the Yankees and/or Red Sox.

If only Yankees are thrown out = success not disaster.

[rudel.dietrich]

Steps in the right direction for sure. But the game has become so bloated but I think some further changes are going to have to be made if they want to get the game back down to that 2.5 hour mark.

[CMH]

Originally Posted by swoboda

Radical proposal: relief pitchers must pitch to a minimum of two batters..... This would improve pace, and increase offense a little as well.

I'm not a fan of imposing rules that affect the strategy of the game.

Forcing a relief pitcher to throw to two batters is an entirely different direction than enforcing batters to keep the pace moving by keeping a foot in the box.

I also don't like the idea of killing shifts because it falls into the same category.

[swoboda]

Originally Posted by CMH

I'm not a fan of imposing rules that affect the strategy of the game.

Forcing a relief pitcher to throw to two batters is an entirely different direction than enforcing batters to keep the pace moving by keeping a foot in the box.

I also don't like the idea of killing shifts because it falls into the same category.

Prior to Tony LaRussa managing the A's it was very uncommon for relief pitchers to face only one batter.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by swoboda

Prior to Tony LaRussa managing the A's it was very uncommon for relief pitchers to face only one batter.

And 60 years ago relief pitchers barely got into a game at all with pitchers hurling complete game more often than not. Does that mean we have to make all starters finish their games now?

[CMH]

Originally Posted by swoboda

Prior to Tony LaRussa managing the A's it was very uncommon for relief pitchers to face only one batter.

But it wasn't against the rules to face only one batter.

To me, enforcing a two batter minimum is like the NFL forcing teams to use their third down back on two consecutive plays just to limit substitutes on the field.

[Goody]

I don't think the replay stuff is an issue at all... the time it takes them to walk out there and figure out whether to contest it or not.... there's a lot to take in for the fans. We get to watch the replays in slow mo, make our own opinion on it. And there's time to discuss if you're watching with others.

I don't think "something in your eye" is an excuse to step out of the box or stop the pitcher in mid wind up... which they allowed a lot last year in games I watched. Its unfortunate if you got something in your eye right before a pitch but it can also be abused to rattle and annoy a pitcher who is zoning. Tigers made great use of this against Felix last year. Miggy, the great gamer he is.. .knew getting Felix worked up and annoyed with the ump would throw him off his game. Wear better equipment if you're worried about that... The pitcher could get something in his eye during his wind up as well.... he's still got to finish the motion... or a fielder could get something in his eye just as the ball heads toward the box.

[Jason Moyer]

Originally Posted by swoboda

1. won't make much difference.

Depending on how the umps handle it, I think it will make a huge difference. The whole "manager slowly trots out to the field and stands there for 30 seconds talking to the umpire while the coaching staff watches a replay and signals to him whether he should challenge the play or not" thing was incredibly silly. Making the manager signal for a challenge from the dugout immediately after a play ends is a massive improvement.

[Jason Moyer]

Originally Posted by Orcin

I wish they would add the pitch clock also.

The pitch clock is totally pointless. It's in a pitcher's best interest to work fast, and they're not the reason the pace of the game is so slow.

Having a pitch clock would be like the NBA having a shot clock but only when the losing team late in the game has the ball, because the endings of basketball games take too long. It's addressing a problem by fixing something that isn't the cause of that problem.

[chucksabr]

Can I just say that the stupidest idea along these lines that anyone has come up with, but has shown amazing staying power in this discussion, is the no-pitch intentional walk?

First of all, the idea that this will contribute anything substantial to shortening the game is asinine. There is fewer than one intentional walk every two games, and each one takes, what, 20 seconds? Thirty seconds? However long it takes them to play the "chicken dance" song.

If that rule were in effect, we would not have seen the botched intentional walk in the playoffs, where the pitcher heaved ball four past the catcher and the guy on third ran home, only to be thrown out at the plate, pitcher covering. Sure, you get a play on a blown IBB maybe once or twice a year, but isn't it worth it when it happens? And again, the game doesn't really go any faster if you just have the pitcher point to first to send the batter there.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Jason Moyer

The pitch clock is totally pointless. It's in a pitcher's best interest to work fast, and they're not the reason the pace of the game is so slow.

Having a pitch clock would be like the NBA having a shot clock but only when the losing team late in the game has the ball, because the endings of basketball games take too long. It's addressing a problem by fixing something that isn't the cause of that problem.

I am merely suggesting that MLB enforce its own rule.

MLB Rule 8.04:
When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call “Ball.” The 12-second timing starts when the pitcher is in possession of the ball and the batter is in the box, alert to the pitcher. The timing stops when the pitcher releases the ball.

The intent of this rule is to avoid unnecessary delays. The umpire shall insist that the catcher return the ball promptly to the pitcher, and that the pitcher take his position on the rubber promptly. Obvious delay by the pitcher should instantly be penalized by the umpire.

[darkcloud4579]

6 inning games. Done. T20 cricket already taught the lesson.

[swoboda]

Originally Posted by Westheim

And 60 years ago relief pitchers barely got into a game at all with pitchers hurling complete game more often than not. Does that mean we have to make all starters finish their games now?

of course not. However current day practice of over use of specialists from the bullpen slow's the game down.A lot. I cringe when I am at a game and I see three different pitchers in one inning without a man in scoring position.