Manfred to succeed Selig

[ConstableRabbit]

WTF

[Guest]

Bans on shifting seems like a lousy idea. I think the only workable rule you could make would be that two infielders have to remain positioned on each side of second base. Otherwise you run into bans on defensive positioning altogether, which would be a really bad idea.

 

I'm ambivalent to speeding up the game by making pitchers face more than one batter. It seems like it could put a lot of LOOGY's out of work, though.

[Cubswin11]

Both of those ideas are [expletive] stupid. I'd love to see them expand the 25-man roster to 26 or 27.

[UMFan83]

Yeah those suggestions are idiotic and worrisome

[Guest]

Killing shifts won't make a material difference on scoring, and I do love baseball strategy, but I don't know if I'd mind limitations on shifts. Aesthetically, I think there is an argument to be made about having some semblance of position, and it's dead simple to enforce in an elegant way.

[RammyFanny]

Killing shifts won't make a material difference on scoring, and I do love baseball strategy, but I don't know if I'd mind limitations on shifts. Aesthetically, I think there is an argument to be made about having some semblance of position, and it's dead simple to enforce in an elegant way.

I keep seeing people say how shifts are "aesthetically displeasing" all over Twitter. Who gives a [expletive]? So is Prince Fielder.

 

People are also arguing how it won't be a big deal because the stats show shifting might have a minimal effect on run prevention. The stats show bunting is pointless too, should we ban that as well? I just don't get it.

[Guest]

Make the strike zone slightly smaller and bring the DH to the NL.

 

 

Oh, and steroids.

[Guest]

Killing shifts won't make a material difference on scoring, and I do love baseball strategy, but I don't know if I'd mind limitations on shifts. Aesthetically, I think there is an argument to be made about having some semblance of position, and it's dead simple to enforce in an elegant way.

I keep seeing people say how shifts are "aesthetically displeasing" all over Twitter. Who gives a [expletive]? So is Prince Fielder.

 

People are also arguing how it won't be a big deal because the stats show shifting might have a minimal effect on run prevention. The stats show bunting is pointless too, should we ban that as well? I just don't get it.

 

Stopping shifts is not near the top of the list of things I would consider changing, myself. But personally the extreme shifts aren't something I particularly enjoy watching. They disincent hard contact and blur positional lines. Those aren't 'problems' and you can definitely have logical opinions otherwise, but I also don't think it's anti-intellectual buffoonery like I'm seeing all over Twitter.

[Cubswin11]

Make the strike zone slightly smaller and bring the DH to the NL.

 

 

Oh, and steroids.

Yes to all this

[radarluv1]

I like both of those ideas

 

I dont think we're related, but I agree.

Make 2 infielders start on either side of 2nd base, no big deal. I am curious why we dont see more bunting or slapping oppo in this situation. I hate seeing so many late inning pitching changes. Forcing them to pitch to more than 1 batter would bring up enforcement problems, fake injuries etc. Is 1 pitch enough? Less Lefty lefty matchups and the resulting 500 OPS would be a good thing.

[Clem Fandango]

I am curious why we dont see more bunting or slapping oppo in this situation.

 

Rizzo did that last year a couple of times...

 

 

And I forget who was involved before, but someone did that and the pitcher got mad and called it a bush league move. Also, BP had an ongoing article series called "This Week in Bunting to Beat the Shift"

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=23816

[SouthSideRyan]

So, first interview he mentions banning shifts and making pitchers pitch to more than one hitter.

 

Glad to see he's continuing Selig's legacy of trying to ruin the game at every opportunity

[Sammys Boombox]

If I were dictator of the baseball world.

 

Once your AB starts you don't leave the batters box until it's over. Exception: umpire grants time. However, you make the umps allow timeouts sparingly. I want them to at least try this before adding a pitch clock.

 

Really hate the idea of forcing a pitcher to face 2 batters. Leave it alone.

 

Let the teams shift however they want.

 

Cut 2 inches off the bottom of the strike zone.

 

No DH in both leagues. Or DH in both leagues.

 

2 divisions in each league. 4 WC in each league. 3-game WC series played in 2 days (Tuesday night 1 game, Wednesday DH if needed) in top seeds park. Yeah, it's crazy, but think about it. In 1 day 4 teams would get eliminated and 4 more would advance. For one day over 25% of the league would have the potential of being eliminated.

 

Dramatic realignment with more focus on regional rivalries than league rivalries. Still find a way to make both leagues coast-to-coast (or close to it).

 

Widespread interleague play.

 

Not all of this is feasible. Just living in dreamland.

[treebird]

Once your AB starts you don't leave the batters box until it's over. Exception: umpire grants time. However, you make the umps allow timeouts sparingly. I want them to at least try this before adding a pitch clock.

 

how would the hitter get his signs from the third base coach?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I like the freeform of "you have 8 fielders, do what you will with them" a lot more than codifying positions.

[jersey cubs fan]

So, first interview he mentions banning shifts and making pitchers pitch to more than one hitter.

 

Glad to see he's continuing Selig's legacy of trying to ruin the game at every opportunity

Bud did no such thing

[jersey cubs fan]

Once your AB starts you don't leave the batters box until it's over. Exception: umpire grants time. However, you make the umps allow timeouts sparingly. I want them to at least try this before adding a pitch clock.

 

how would the hitter get his signs from the third base coach?

One foot in one foot out

[Sammys Boombox]

Once your AB starts you don't leave the batters box until it's over. Exception: umpire grants time. However, you make the umps allow timeouts sparingly. I want them to at least try this before adding a pitch clock.

 

how would the hitter get his signs from the third base coach?

One foot in one foot out

 

Jersey is right, one foot in one foot out works in pretty much every league outside the MLB and MiLB. I think enforcing just that one rule would make a world of a difference.

[treebird]

Once your AB starts you don't leave the batters box until it's over. Exception: umpire grants time. However, you make the umps allow timeouts sparingly. I want them to at least try this before adding a pitch clock.

 

how would the hitter get his signs from the third base coach?

One foot in one foot out

 

Jersey is right, one foot in one foot out works in pretty much every league outside the MLB and MiLB. I think enforcing just that one rule would make a world of a difference.

 

if you tell players who are accustomed to taking all the time in the world between pitches that this is the new rule, i really think they'll just stand there with one foot in the box for fifteen seconds or whatever.

[SouthSideRyan]

So, first interview he mentions banning shifts and making pitchers pitch to more than one hitter.

 

Glad to see he's continuing Selig's legacy of trying to ruin the game at every opportunity

Bud did no such thing

 

Couldn't talk about baseball without running it down.

[Sammys Boombox]

Once your AB starts you don't leave the batters box until it's over. Exception: umpire grants time. However, you make the umps allow timeouts sparingly. I want them to at least try this before adding a pitch clock.

 

how would the hitter get his signs from the third base coach?

One foot in one foot out

 

Jersey is right, one foot in one foot out works in pretty much every league outside the MLB and MiLB. I think enforcing just that one rule would make a world of a difference.

 

if you tell players who are accustomed to taking all the time in the world between pitches that this is the new rule, i really think they'll just stand there with one foot in the box for fifteen seconds or whatever.

 

Some would take their time just to be annoying, but I honestly think before the first season was over the number of players that would be ridiculous would be very small.

 

Give the umpires power to give a player one warning per game and then start calling strikes on the batter at their discretion. In no time we'd have 2-hour games.

[UMFan83]

Adding the DH seems like something meatballs (ok "traditionalists") would throw a huge fit about but within 2 seasons no one would talk about. Forget the stupid [expletive] about "it adds strategy" would anyone's lives feel less complete if we never saw a pitcher hit again?

[Guest]

Adding the DH seems like something meatballs (ok "traditionalists") would throw a huge fit about but within 2 seasons no one would talk about. Forget the stupid [expletive] about "it adds strategy" would anyone's lives feel less complete if we never saw a pitcher hit again?

 

TT

[jersey cubs fan]

So, first interview he mentions banning shifts and making pitchers pitch to more than one hitter.

 

Glad to see he's continuing Selig's legacy of trying to ruin the game at every opportunity

Bud did no such thing

 

Couldn't talk about baseball without running it down.

 

Okay, he did that one thing. But most of his moves were good.

[champaignchris]

I like the freeform of "you have 8 fielders, do what you will with them" a lot more than codifying positions.

 

I'm in agreement here. Let the managers put the players wherever. Let them figure out what works.

 

How hardcore would it be codified? Could the SS not line up in the outfield grass? In late inning games with runners on, when you need a DP, could you not bring one of the outfielders in? Who gets to decide what's a standard array of fielders and what's a "radical shift?"