MLB considering raising strike zone

swoboda · 02-12-2015, 09:46 PM

Another strategy to increase offense possibly in 2016. as we know the strike zone has been moved around a couple of times before. I do not have any problem with this proposed change. What do you say?

CONN CHRIS · 02-12-2015, 11:24 PM

Chicks dig the long ball.

mirrf · 02-13-2015, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swoboda

MLB considering raising strike zone

Anything to get MLB to not make defensive shifts illegal.

Jason Moyer · 02-13-2015, 12:11 AM

I'd lower the mound an inch every few seasons and see what impact it had before I'd start messing around with the strike zone.

RchW · 02-13-2015, 12:34 AM

I wouldn't change a thing. Cycles of change occur and this is no different.

Le Grande Orange · 02-13-2015, 02:25 AM

Anything that moves the sport towards the perfection known as blernsball is the best path!

Jason Moyer · 02-13-2015, 04:13 AM

I'm not so sure that this is part of a cycle. Unless something big happens to shake up the balance of the game, like another round of stadium building or a rule change, I'd expect fewer and fewer runs scored each year as the strikeout rate continues it's neverending march upwards.

swoboda · 02-13-2015, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Moyer

I'm not so sure that this is part of a cycle. Unless something big happens to shake up the balance of the game, like another round of stadium building or a rule change, I'd expect fewer and fewer runs scored each year as the strikeout rate continues it's neverending march upwards.

I agree. Also, if the lack of offense continues given the short attention span of the viewing public the number of and percentage of sports fans who will follow baseball regularly is destined to continue to decrease. I say that as a baseball purist. I can live with less offense as could many of you but it's not a good trend for the future.

Hammercraft · 02-13-2015, 11:18 AM

via Bill Watterson

rockiesfan4ever · 02-13-2015, 12:13 PM

Maybe raising the strike zone would actually cause umpires to call high strikes that are in the strike zone now.

CommishJoe · 02-13-2015, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swoboda

Another strategy to increase offense possibly in 2016. as we know the strike zone has been moved around a couple of times before. I do not have any problem with this proposed change. What do you say?

Does this mean they'll start calling the strike zone the way it is in the rule book instead of the waist to the knees?

TwinsGuy11 · 02-13-2015, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockiesfan4ever

Maybe raising the strike zone would actually cause umpires to call high strikes that are in the strike zone now.

Leave poor Joe West alone!

ThatSeventiesGuy · 02-13-2015, 05:22 PM

Not a big fan of this idea, but I'm nowhere near as vehemently opposed to it as I am the "ban defensive shifts" idea. At least it doesn't remove strategy from the game like that would.

RchW · 02-13-2015, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swoboda

I agree. Also, if the lack of offense continues given the short attention span of the viewing public the number of and percentage of sports fans who will follow baseball regularly is destined to continue to decrease. I say that as a baseball purist. I can live with less offense as could many of you but it's not a good trend for the future.

Live attendance at games has rebounded since 2008 very nicely. They are above the numbers from the first 7-8 years of the 30 team league. The high attendance numbers seen from 2004-2008 were a product of the economy, discretionary spending, not necessarily an indication of the health of the game. Context matters. I'd suggest that MLB has done better than most businesses post 2008 collapse. When you add in the mega TV deals signed recently the future must be quite secure by TV and advertising projections. Sure they could be wrong but these people don't usually miss by a big number.

Considering the high number of new ways one can consume baseball content, I'd submit that the levels of live attendance at MLB games suggests it is in pretty good shape. We'll see what 2015 brings.

swoboda · 02-13-2015, 06:27 PM

Nice presentation RW, and I can't argue with the facts. I will guess the curve looks better for the NFL, NCAAF, and the NBA. true or not?

RchW · 02-13-2015, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swoboda

Nice presentation RW, and I can't argue with the facts. I will guess the curve looks better for the NFL, NCAAF, and the NBA. true or not?

Good question. I'd like to see what other sports attendance looks like. I'm not sure that the NBA and NHL are doing that well. NFL is a different model IMO, there are way different criteria for those who attend NFL games regularly.

MorseMoose · 02-13-2015, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommishJoe

Does this mean they'll start calling the strike zone the way it is in the rule book instead of the waist to the knees?

That was my thought!

MorseMoose · 02-13-2015, 09:00 PM

The ESPN article says they're thinking of shrinking the strike zone...

Major League Baseball could shrink strike zone in 2016, report says - ESPN

Shrinking, but raising?

ihatenames · 02-14-2015, 12:49 AM

All this talk has me pretty nervous. I don't mind changes or adaptations to the game but most of the stuff I've seen suggested so far is trying to reinvent the wheel. The game is healthy, it does not require drastic changes. It just seems like they are looking to change things for change sake. We'll see what happens.

Goody · 02-14-2015, 04:11 AM

More consistent strike zone without allowing bad umps to play around with it as they see fit for their mood that day against said pitcher or hitter... might make more sense.

02-12-2015, 09:46 PM	#1
swoboda All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Guarding The Line Posts: 1,227	MLB considering raising strike zone Another strategy to increase offense possibly in 2016. as we know the strike zone has been moved around a couple of times before. I do not have any problem with this proposed change. What do you say? __________________ "...If you want to look ahead to the bottom of the ninth, the Mets will be sending up Buddy Harrelson, Jerry Buchek , and Don Bosch, we'll be right back after this word from Rheingold Beer" The late great Lindsey Nelson

02-12-2015, 11:24 PM	#2
CONN CHRIS Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 29,042	Chicks dig the long ball. __________________ Check Out My Cards!

02-13-2015, 12:11 AM	#4
Jason Moyer Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,088	I'd lower the mound an inch every few seasons and see what impact it had before I'd start messing around with the strike zone. __________________ "I pretty much popped everything cold turkey. We were doing steroids they wouldn't give to horses." -- Tom House "I was very fortunate to have a pitching coach by the name of Tom House...Tom, I really miss those days that we spent in the weight room and out on the field working together." -- Nolan Ryan's HoF Induction Speech

02-13-2015, 12:34 AM	#5
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto ON by way of Glasgow UK Posts: 15,629	I wouldn't change a thing. Cycles of change occur and this is no different. __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

02-13-2015, 04:13 AM	#7
Jason Moyer Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,088	I'm not so sure that this is part of a cycle. Unless something big happens to shake up the balance of the game, like another round of stadium building or a rule change, I'd expect fewer and fewer runs scored each year as the strikeout rate continues it's neverending march upwards. __________________ "I pretty much popped everything cold turkey. We were doing steroids they wouldn't give to horses." -- Tom House "I was very fortunate to have a pitching coach by the name of Tom House...Tom, I really miss those days that we spent in the weight room and out on the field working together." -- Nolan Ryan's HoF Induction Speech

02-13-2015, 02:25 AM	#6
Le Grande Orange Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Up There Posts: 15,644	Anything that moves the sport towards the perfection known as blernsball is the best path!

02-13-2015, 11:18 AM	#9
Hammercraft All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 729	via Bill Watterson

02-13-2015, 12:13 PM	#10
rockiesfan4ever Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 45	Maybe raising the strike zone would actually cause umpires to call high strikes that are in the strike zone now.

02-13-2015, 05:22 PM	#13
ThatSeventiesGuy Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Midland, MI Posts: 3,426	Not a big fan of this idea, but I'm nowhere near as vehemently opposed to it as I am the "ban defensive shifts" idea. At least it doesn't remove strategy from the game like that would. __________________ https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...00&postcount=1

02-13-2015, 06:27 PM	#15
swoboda All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Guarding The Line Posts: 1,227	Nice presentation RW, and I can't argue with the facts. I will guess the curve looks better for the NFL, NCAAF, and the NBA. true or not? __________________ "...If you want to look ahead to the bottom of the ninth, the Mets will be sending up Buddy Harrelson, Jerry Buchek , and Don Bosch, we'll be right back after this word from Rheingold Beer" The late great Lindsey Nelson

02-13-2015, 09:00 PM	#18
MorseMoose Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 6,023 Infractions: 1/1 (1)	The ESPN article says they're thinking of shrinking the strike zone... Major League Baseball could shrink strike zone in 2016, report says - ESPN Shrinking, but raising?

02-14-2015, 12:49 AM	#19
ihatenames Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rockford Posts: 2,534	All this talk has me pretty nervous. I don't mind changes or adaptations to the game but most of the stuff I've seen suggested so far is trying to reinvent the wheel. The game is healthy, it does not require drastic changes. It just seems like they are looking to change things for change sake. We'll see what happens. __________________ New Album coming soon!

02-14-2015, 04:11 AM	#20
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	More consistent strike zone without allowing bad umps to play around with it as they see fit for their mood that day against said pitcher or hitter... might make more sense. __________________ In the past: Laseron Baseball Association creator. Present: I am Rezulm on PT and OOTP Discord. Future: I wish it was the past.