September 9, 20224 yr Author https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34556355/major-league-baseball-passes-significant-rules-changes-including-pitch-clock-banning-defensive-shifts Full article.
September 9, 20224 yr 1 hour ago, Michael said: Players did not want pitch clock or shift restriction. Whatever. Players need to get over the pitch clock though. Rules evolve in literally every other fucking professional sport in North America and this will be done in an effort to eliminate so little action in the game and hopefully lead to less true outcomes, which is honestly boring as fuck and doesnt attract fans. Action = eyeballs.
September 11, 20224 yr Maybe if the players didn't exit the batter's box every play and adjust their gloves swing or not and other useless wastes of time like that, they wouldn't have needed to implement a pitch clock. It sounds like the only shift limitation is 2 guys on each side of 2nd, which I have no problem with.
September 11, 20224 yr Author 11 minutes ago, rmc523 said: Maybe if the players didn't exit the batter's box every play and adjust their gloves swing or not and other useless wastes of time like that, they wouldn't have needed to implement a pitch clock. There are some pitchers that enter 40 seconds territory between pitches on a regular basis and it's a bit much. 11 minutes ago, rmc523 said: It sounds like the only shift limitation is 2 guys on each side of 2nd, which I have no problem with. They also have to have feet on the infield dirt so can't have the second baseman in shallow right.
September 12, 20224 yr Not sure if this was intentional but the shift thing also eliminates a four man outfield which I don't think needed eliminating as that was so rarely done.
September 12, 20224 yr 8 hours ago, rmc523 said: Maybe if the players didn't exit the batter's box every play and adjust their gloves swing or not and other useless wastes of time like that, they wouldn't have needed to implement a pitch clock. Remember they were trying to enforce batters staying in the box a few years back? I blame the umps for not actually enforcing it long term.
September 13, 20224 yr On 9/11/2022 at 2:48 PM, Michael said: There are some pitchers that enter 40 seconds territory between pitches on a regular basis and it's a bit much. They also have to have feet on the infield dirt so can't have the second baseman in shallow right. Yeah, it's definitely not all on batters. On 9/11/2022 at 11:16 PM, SilverBullet said: Remember they were trying to enforce batters staying in the box a few years back? I blame the umps for not actually enforcing it long term. Yeah, I agree.....it was loosely enforced first, but hasn't since.
September 13, 20224 yr Pitch clock is good. Bigger bases is good. Shift ban is stupid. Please end the Manfred runner.
September 13, 20224 yr I think these rules will actually end up lengthening games overall with an uptick in offense which I guess is what fans want to see? I mean supposedly MLB wants shorter games but loves offense - the two don't really go hand-in-hand. I can see the pitch clock being really rough to adapt to if it's that short. I don't like the guys that take 45 seconds between pitches but this seems pretty short. I think the bigger bases is weird overall. I'm all for the shift ban though and would absolutely LOVE losing the Manfred running as that's the most idiotic thing in a long time.
September 13, 20224 yr Author 1 hour ago, hovertical said: I think these rules will actually end up lengthening games overall with an uptick in offense which I guess is what fans want to see? I mean supposedly MLB wants shorter games but loves offense - the two don't really go hand-in-hand. I can see the pitch clock being really rough to adapt to if it's that short. It's never truly been "shorter games," it has basically always come down to time between things actually happening. Football, you're guaranteed at least one play every 40 seconds unless someone calls a timeout. Baseball, 24. Hockey ... basically constant, honestly. Baseball ... that could be five minutes with a slow enough pitcher/batter matchup. Rare, but not impossible. Pitch clock of 15 seconds with nobody on? Cool! Pitcher now has to grip it and rip it. Ball 1. Ball 2. Strike 1. Fly ball to center. Hey, that was just one minute!
September 14, 20224 yr I'm not totally against it but my big issue with bigger bases is the idea that it's making the game literally easier. It'd be like lowering the net in basketball. It's like a rule that means you now need less skill to have success. Improving the game is good, making it "easier" feels weird.
September 14, 20224 yr Author 9 minutes ago, SilverBullet said: I'm not totally against it but my big issue with bigger bases is the idea that it's making the game literally easier. It'd be like lowering the net in basketball. It's like a rule that means you now need less skill to have success. Improving the game is good, making it "easier" feels weird. Eh, how much different is it really? They're 3 inches larger, so it's slightly easier. The difference between ... a handful of steals a year, maybe? Or more if players decide it's enticing enough to truly go for it more often. It'd be like lowering the net in basketball ... half an inch? Maybe?
September 14, 20224 yr 2 hours ago, hovertical said: I think these rules will actually end up lengthening games overall with an uptick in offense which I guess is what fans want to see? I mean supposedly MLB wants shorter games but loves offense - the two don't really go hand-in-hand. I can see the pitch clock being really rough to adapt to if it's that short. I don't like the guys that take 45 seconds between pitches but this seems pretty short. I think the bigger bases is weird overall. I'm all for the shift ban though and would absolutely LOVE losing the Manfred running as that's the most idiotic thing in a long time. In theory the real goal here is to increase action in games. Thats one thing this should significantly do. Less dead time. Less balls put into play turning into outs based on ground balls to short right field, less throwing over to 1b over and over and over and over again. More action on the base paths and more eye balls wanting to watch cause things are happening. Getting away from so many fucking true outcomes would be the next best thing to happen.
September 14, 20224 yr Like I said the other day. Literally every other major sport in North America has evolved and amended rules to increase action and scoring. Why is baseball standing behind and thinking thats a good thing? You either have to adapt and get with the times or you are fucked and fall behind. I applaud MLB for finally doing something to increase action.
September 14, 20224 yr 17 hours ago, hovertical said: I think these rules will actually end up lengthening games overall with an uptick in offense which I guess is what fans want to see? I mean supposedly MLB wants shorter games but loves offense - the two don't really go hand-in-hand. I can see the pitch clock being really rough to adapt to if it's that short. I don't like the guys that take 45 seconds between pitches but this seems pretty short. I think the bigger bases is weird overall. I'm all for the shift ban though and would absolutely LOVE losing the Manfred running as that's the most idiotic thing in a long time. I hate to use MLB/Marnfred's catch phrase, but it's more about "pace of play" than necessarily solely cutting down the total game time. i.e. which game would you rather watch - the 4 hour, 1-0 game where everyone is dilly-dallying and not much action, or the 4 hour 6-7 game where there's constantly something happening.......they want to turn that 1-0 4 hour game into something shorter if there is to be a low scoring game, and/or cause more action in that game. As others have said, it's more about eliminating the dead time. I could have seen them implementing the clock in the minors for years so players are conditioned to it and automatically operate on that "quick" timeline in the majors without an actual clock, but I guess they figured this would be more effective. 15 hours ago, Michael said: Eh, how much different is it really? They're 3 inches larger, so it's slightly easier. The difference between ... a handful of steals a year, maybe? Or more if players decide it's enticing enough to truly go for it more often. It'd be like lowering the net in basketball ... half an inch? Maybe? Which if the entire base is 3" larger (both directions), that'd only be a 1.5" increase toward the plate....though between 1st/2nd and 2nd/3rd would be the full 3" (1.5 from each base).
September 14, 20224 yr 3 minutes ago, rmc523 said: Which if the entire base is 3" larger (both directions), that'd only be a 1.5" increase toward the plate....though between 1st/2nd and 2nd/3rd would be the full 3" (1.5 from each base). Wait, so now the distances between 1st and 2nd and 2nd and 3rd are now shorter than the distances between home and first and home and third???
September 14, 20224 yr Author 6 minutes ago, rmc523 said: Which if the entire base is 3" larger (both directions), that'd only be a 1.5" increase toward the plate....though between 1st/2nd and 2nd/3rd would be the full 3" (1.5 from each base). Actually wouldn't it be 4.5"? Assuming the corner bases are still entirely within fair territory [holy hell imagine that challenge if not], that's the full 3" towards second base. I also wouldn't be shocked if they brought those bases back by that 1.5" just to keep it 90'. But either way ... 4.5" rather than 3 between 1st/2nd and 2nd/3rd, no? 2 minutes ago, SilverBullet said: Wait, so now the distances between 1st and 2nd and 2nd and 3rd are now shorter than the distances between home and first and home and third??? I believe they always have been? I think I remember reading something about it ... that or them moving second base to be a hair closer towards home. AH yes here it is, both of those things: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/minor-league-baseball-to-move-second-base-closer-to-home-plate-in-2022-as-part-of-rules-experiment-per-report/ Quote The end result of the move, per The Athletic, is exactly 87 feet between first and second base, when it used to be 88 feet and 1 1/2 inches from base to base. It'll be closer to third, too, obviously, by virtue of moving more toward the middle of the diamond.
September 14, 20224 yr 16 minutes ago, Michael said: Actually wouldn't it be 4.5"? Assuming the corner bases are still entirely within fair territory [holy hell imagine that challenge if not], that's the full 3" towards second base. I also wouldn't be shocked if they brought those bases back by that 1.5" just to keep it 90'. But either way ... 4.5" rather than 3 between 1st/2nd and 2nd/3rd, no? I believe they always have been? I think I remember reading something about it ... that or them moving second base to be a hair closer towards home. AH yes here it is, both of those things: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/minor-league-baseball-to-move-second-base-closer-to-home-plate-in-2022-as-part-of-rules-experiment-per-report/ Good point - didn't think about that.
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