MLB (supposedly) might let trailing team change batters in 9th

snowmanny

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Murderer's Crow

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Players union would never allow it. It's barely worth a discussion and one of the dumbest things I've ever seen proposed. Relievers would not be happy and it would almost certainly extend average game time.
 

pokey_reese

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I saw something similar proposed on ESPN in order to reduce the time of games, but only in extra innings. Changing the rules for only one team in the 9th has to be a non-starter.
 

Orel Miraculous

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It goes without saying that this idea is ridiculous and probably isn’t really being substantively discussed by MLB, but it did make me think about other outside the box ways to tweak traditional lineup usage. How about this: Abolish the set lineup and allow the manager to send up whomever he wants at any point in the game, with two limitations: (1) each hitter (or “hitting slot”, I guess, to account for pinch hitters) must make at least 3 plate appearances, and (2) at no point in the game may any hitter have 3 more plate appearances than any other hitter.

I think the limitations would more or less keep the traditional lineup flow in place in the sense that they don’t really allow any one player to make more than the usual 4-5 plate appearances per game and teams would still need production from all nine hitters. But, this rule at least makes it possible for teams to use their best players at the most important moments, and it creates interesting strategic opportunities to create matchups and juggle the lineup based on what is directly happening on the field throughout ththe test of the game.

Want to give Mike Trout another immediate at-bat after he scorches one right at the third baseman in the 7th inning? You can send him right back up after he gets out (but that will probably prevent you from using him in the ninth). Want to skip Benintendi against that tough lefty? You can do that, too, but you better find a way to get him another PA soon.
 
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Reverend

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It goes without saying that this idea is ridiculous and probably isn’t really being substantively discussed by MLB, but it did make me think about other outside the box ways to tweak traditional lineup usage. How about this: Abolish the set lineup and allow the manager to send up whomever he wants at any point in the game, with two limitations: (1) each hitter (or “hitting slot”, I guess, to account for pinch hitters) must make at least 3 plate appearances, and (2) at no point in the game may any hitter have 3 more plate appearances than any other hitter.

I think the limitations would more or less keep the traditional lineup flow in place in the sense that they don’t really allow any one player to make more than the usual 4-5 plate appearances per game and teams would still need production from all nine hitters. But, this rule at least makes it possible for teams to use their best players at the most important moments, and it creates interesting strategic opportunities to create matchups and juggle the lineup based on what is directly happening on the field throughout ththe test of the game.

Want to give Mike Trout another immediate at-bat after he scorches one right at the third baseman in the 7th inning? You can send him right back up after he gets out (but that will probably prevent you from using him in the ninth). Want to skip Benintendi against that tough lefty? You can do that, too, but you better find a way to get him another PA soon.
This sounds like an old plot to kill Wade Boggs.
 

timlinin8th

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How about this: Abolish the set lineup and allow the manager to send up whomever he wants at any point in the game, with two limitations: (1) each hitter (or “hitting slot”, I guess, to account for pinch hitters) must make at least 3 plate appearances, and (2) at no point in the game may any hitter have 3 more plate appearances than any other hitter.
Even more simple: at the beginning of the game, the manager declares his starting nine hitters. There is no set batting order, the only rule is that every batter has to get an at-bat before the lineup turns over. Gives the manager a lot of options when the team is able to turn the lineup over. Number 8 and 9 hitters get on to start an inning? The lineup turns over, you can then put in your best hitter to try and drive them in. Opposing manager puts in a loogy, manager can counter by sending out whatever righty hitters he has still as available batters.
Might as well give them 5 outs too
That’s for extra innings to promote scoring ;)
 

Lose Remerswaal

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Want to give Mike Trout another immediate at-bat after he scorches one right at the third baseman in the 7th inning? You can send him right back up after he gets out (but that will probably prevent you from using him in the ninth). Want to skip Benintendi against that tough lefty? You can do that, too, but you better find a way to get him another PA soon.
And if Trout gets a hit and you want to bat him again you can use an imaginary runner!
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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MLB is trying too hard. How about they just decide to either use or not use the DH and call it a day, and stop screwing with everything. It's fine the way it is/has been.

Even pace of play isn't a problem imo. People who love baseball will watch a meaningless May game. People who don't will wait for more meaningful games. There will never be a NFL type viewership unless they significantly shorten the season.
 

DJnVa

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Or this--the manager can select any 9 hitters he wants and decide to play them in any defensive position he wants to. In addition, he can decide what order they hit in! And, when the game starts, he can pick which of his hitters bats first, knowing that player will usually end up with more at bats than guys he decides to put lower.

Then, when his team is in the field, he can position those players pretty much anywhere he wants to! They can all be on one side of the field maybe!

Also, let's allow the catcher to give the pitcher secret signs to tell him what kind of pitch to throw! The batter will have no idea! Chaos!

Then, later in game the manager can decide to just, get this, change his pitcher any time he wants to! Even if he knows the batter coming up on the other team isn't very good against him! And then, wait for it, the other team's manager can decide to CHANGE HITTERS!!!
 

The Gray Eagle

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They need to replace boring extra innings with a shootout, aka a home run derby.

And instead of innings they need to have a game clock, two halves of 30 minutes. The clock would stop after each pitch and each hit so the teams could huddle up and decide on their next play. Each team would get 3 timeouts per half.

Every time a team scores a run it will now be worth 3 points instead of one so there will be more scoring, which everyone loves. And after each run they try for an extra point, with a runner put on first base who has to try to steal second. If he is safe, that's another point!

And if time is running out, the team who is losing can stop the clock by intentionally fouling the other team. But the team who is winning can end the game by taking a knee and not trying.

Come on baseball, get with the program, this is what people want!
 

Murderer's Crow

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They need to replace boring extra innings with a shootout, aka a home run derby.

And instead of innings they need to have a game clock, two halves of 30 minutes. The clock would stop after each pitch and each hit so the teams could huddle up and decide on their next play. Each team would get 3 timeouts per half.

Every time a team scores a run it will now be worth 3 points instead of one so there will be more scoring, which everyone loves. And after each run they try for an extra point, with a runner put on first base who has to try to steal second. If he is safe, that's another point!

And if time is running out, the team who is losing can stop the clock by intentionally fouling the other team. But the team who is winning can end the game by taking a knee and not trying.

Come on baseball, get with the program, this is what people want!
I particularly like the change from runs to points. The real question is what constitutes a catch at home plate and how are we going to fix that? Does the catcher need to be in full squat position with the mitt having full control of the ball?
 

steveluck7

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Of all the random rule change ideas that have been tossed around on message boards and sports talk radio, it's astounding that THIS one has risen to the level of a comment from an MLB executive.
I'd rather see 7 inning games or a shift to a 3 ball 2 strike set-up than this ridiculous idea
 

Philip Jeff Frye

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If a player catches a fly ball with his hat, that counts as two outs. That would move the game along!

And think of the second guessing it would create when a fielder opts to use his glove instead. The strategy debates would be endless!
 

santadevil

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And if Trout gets a hit and you want to bat him again you can use an imaginary runner!
Only, however, if the hitter-to-be says "Invisible Man on [base]" before stepping off the bag. Otherwise, you can tag him out.
I don't know what planet you guys grew up on, but it was always called the Ghost runner.
Common terminology is important, or things sound ridiculous
 

uncannymanny

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I don't know what planet you guys grew up on, but it was always called the Ghost runner.
Common terminology is important, or things sound ridiculous
It was “invisible man” for us too. I think “ghost runner” is way stranger. Did the runner die?

I still like this idea better than putting a runner on 2B to start the inning. At least with this idea you’re not giving free XB to a team/player.
 

Reverend

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Baseball is America's Pastime . If computer games are producing an entire generation with permanent ADD, there will not be a democratic republic left where we play it at all quite soon.
If my profile wasn't broken and I could change my sig, I would change it to this.
 

The Gray Eagle

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I particularly like the change from runs to points. The real question is what constitutes a catch at home plate and how are we going to fix that? Does the catcher need to be in full squat position with the mitt having full control of the ball?
This is a great point. Baseball needs a bunch of new rules that try to define what a catch is or isn’t. Maybe simplify the rule so that a fielder needs to maintain control of the ball for two seconds after he goes to ground, unless he is a corner outfielder.

But corner outfielders can become centerfielders if they catch the ball on the other side of the outfield marker line. They just need to add a few new lines to the field to help simplify those situations.

Speaking of adding lines to the field they should also add offside lines, so no one can score an easy run when they are offside. That would fix a lot of problems.
 

Infield Infidel

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MLB is trying too hard. How about they just decide to either use or not use the DH and call it a day, and stop screwing with everything. It's fine the way it is/has been.

Even pace of play isn't a problem imo. People who love baseball will watch a meaningless May game. People who don't will wait for more meaningful games. There will never be a NFL type viewership unless they significantly shorten the season.
Almost there. If they want shorter games, maybe ditch DH and pitchers hitting. 8 batter, 8 innings. MLBPA won't go for it though. Or no pitchers hitting, but can DH another player.
 

grimshaw

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I think it is a given that there will be some dramatic rule changes in the near future if they are thinking about something as stupid as that.

If we are talking about a radical change, I have a slightly less idiotic idea - allow players to reenter games but in the same spot in the order. The 25th man would basically be a pinch runner and platoon guys could hit when they are supposed to.

Staying on the radical theme for pace of play - perhaps limiting the amount of foul balls to something like 3 per at bat and then it would be a foul out. Keeps pitch counts down and speeds up at bats. I'm not sure MLB would like scoring down though.

I like baseball the way it is, but it is inevitable there will be changes.
 

charlieoscar

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There were 970 intentional walks in the majors in 2017, 750 of which took four intentional balls (38/84/98...3/2/1). Let us assume that pitcher to catcher to pitcher, four times, can be done in 15 seconds. That means if all the IBBs were of the 4-pitch variety, then making the walk automatic would cut the time off MLB's season by about four hours.

These silly things that MLB produces to cut the time of games/increase pace of play simply show that either the people in charge do not have a clue or that the MLBPA has too much power for the Commissioner to deal with in this regard.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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Y'all do understand they would never actually do this until after trying it out in a low minors or instructional league first, right? I ask because on Dale and Holley yesterday callers and the hosts were bitching about this as of it was going into effect this year.
 

Spelunker

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In Worcester, it was always "Invisible Man". and if you lifted your foot off the base one instant before saying it you got tagged out.
In Worcester, for me, it was Ghost Runner. Although I was only there through 4th grade, it was still GR in the small Central MA town I moved to.
 

buzzard21

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In Worcester, for me, it was Ghost Runner. Although I was only there through 4th grade, it was still GR in the small Central MA town I moved to.
In NW Connecticut during the 80's we used ghost man, but we also had the rule that if you caught the ball as it rolled off the roof it was an out.
 

Rasputin

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It's ghost runners you feculent turd burglars.

Also, the rule is ridiculous and I'd never support it's adoption, but it would be fun.

We need the DH in the NL, taxi squads, and the pitch clock.

Also, a revamp of the schedule, eliminating off days in the playoffs, and making sure that asinine runner on servin in extras rule doesn't ever fucking happen.