Lowering the mound all but kills the curveball, which is probably not going to help reduce TJ surgery any since it gets more people into the deadly embrace of the slider.
What reasonable rule changes would you propose to increase offense in MLB?
- Thread starter Lose Remerswaal
- Start date
Tigers fan here (good luck Porcello!) joined to bounce a couple of ideas in what seems to be the right discussion.
1) The Bobby Bonds or Miguel Cabrera rule ... walks to each player in a game become increasingly costly! The first walk (including HBP) to any given player gets him to first base. The second walk to that same player and he is awarded 2nd base. The third walk and he automatically goes to third base. His fourth walk is a home run. Who wants to pay money to watch a superstar walk four times in a game? This also has the benefit of speeding the game up. I keep bouncing this idea around in my mind and see no downside. It increases action (instead of walks) and increases offense.
2) Scoring rule change: No relief pitcher who blows a lead in a hold or save situation can win a game (exception for short starter stint and long relief by the offending pitcher). In a case where a relief pitcher blows a lead and his team comes back to win it the starting pitcher (or the last pitcher of record with the lead) gets the win. Too many times we've seen a pitcher blow a lead (or tie) and win the game. Too many times I've seen a brilliant performance by a starting pitcher lose credit for a win because a relief pitcher had blown the save/hold and gone on to take get the credit.
If anyone reads this I would love to discuss those two things.
One more thing: The first act of the new commissioner should be to restore Armando Galarraga's no hitter. As far as setting precedent goes, he should state that he would be happy to do it again any time a correction to a huge injustice would have so little impact on the record book (all it does is remove one hit from an obscure player - nothing else changes).
1) The Bobby Bonds or Miguel Cabrera rule ... walks to each player in a game become increasingly costly! The first walk (including HBP) to any given player gets him to first base. The second walk to that same player and he is awarded 2nd base. The third walk and he automatically goes to third base. His fourth walk is a home run. Who wants to pay money to watch a superstar walk four times in a game? This also has the benefit of speeding the game up. I keep bouncing this idea around in my mind and see no downside. It increases action (instead of walks) and increases offense.
2) Scoring rule change: No relief pitcher who blows a lead in a hold or save situation can win a game (exception for short starter stint and long relief by the offending pitcher). In a case where a relief pitcher blows a lead and his team comes back to win it the starting pitcher (or the last pitcher of record with the lead) gets the win. Too many times we've seen a pitcher blow a lead (or tie) and win the game. Too many times I've seen a brilliant performance by a starting pitcher lose credit for a win because a relief pitcher had blown the save/hold and gone on to take get the credit.
If anyone reads this I would love to discuss those two things.
One more thing: The first act of the new commissioner should be to restore Armando Galarraga's no hitter. As far as setting precedent goes, he should state that he would be happy to do it again any time a correction to a huge injustice would have so little impact on the record book (all it does is remove one hit from an obscure player - nothing else changes).
amorab said:
#1 - I guess could increase scoring... or at least make the totals higher. It might reduce back injuries too, since no one will be swinging. It'd slow games to a crawl as batters foul off every possible pitch that's remotely near the strike zone. Does it reset for pinch-runners, or defensive substitutions?
#2 - Why not just eliminate wins and loses as a stat? (I'm actually serious). I'm not sure how it'd increase offense or pace of the game however.
#1 I think it speeds up the game. I see no motivation for a hitter to change his approach except to try to take more balls rather than foul off suspect pitches. Every walk becomes more precious to the hitter. It is the pitchers who are likely to change their approach and stay closer to the strike zone. We also greatly reduce intentional walks. Given the main purpose is to avoid excessive walks to superstars, I think there would be no downside to resetting for substitutions. Does not affect pinch runners since the at bat will have been over, and if they stay in the game they of course get reset.VTSox said:
#2 It doesn't affect offense or the speed of the game. It just removes what is often a major annoyance for me during the season
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If you're a singles hitter with a good eye like Ichiro you definitely would foul more balls off and wait for mistakes under this new rule, since the reward for a walk is so much higher than the reward for a single.
Perhaps a more balanced league schedule would increase offense.
I'd be interested to know what the overall numbers are for division teams vs division teams, vs the other 10 league teams, and interleague, respectively since 2001- when the heavily unbalanced schedule started.
Pitchers facing the same four teams 4-6 times a season probably is to their advantage.
I'd be interested to know what the overall numbers are for division teams vs division teams, vs the other 10 league teams, and interleague, respectively since 2001- when the heavily unbalanced schedule started.
Pitchers facing the same four teams 4-6 times a season probably is to their advantage.
The simplest way to increase offense already exists: voluntarily adjust the fences and the amount of foul territory.
Teams have always had this option, and exercised it at will. It's up to the team to decide whether or not to advantage their pitchers or hitters.
Teams have always had this option, and exercised it at will. It's up to the team to decide whether or not to advantage their pitchers or hitters.
Lose Remerswaal said:
hmmm. interesting. so the Yankees got permission to break this "standard" when the house that Jeter built was erected?
Kramerica Industries said:
It's not hard to get an exemption.
Also, I believe the answer to the question is to say that on an intentional walk, every batter advances a base even if they aren't forced. This would likely mean a drastic reduction in intentional walks which would mean we'd get more good hitters up in good hitting situations which is really what we all want, isn't it?
How about reducing the size of gloves? Or restricting the number of fielders on one-half of the field, since power hitters seem to be effected most by overloading the pull side? One thing we DON'T want is something that turns exciting power hitters into guys trying to slap singles the opposite way...
I don't particularly care for this rule, but I've seen some slo-pitch leagues and stuff where they simply deem any 4 pitch walk = intentional walk. No guessing involved.Rasputin said: