Strike Zone and IBB changing for next year?

[Clem Fandango]

There are rumors that baseball is talking about changing the strike zone and IBB for next season. They are talking about raising the strike zone to just above the knees because too many strikes are being called below the knees and is leading to batters either striking out or walking 30% of the time. The change would hopefully put more balls in play and create more action.

 

The other rule change would be the intentional walk. Not getting rid of it all together, but changing so if someone wants to intentionally walk someone the manager or pitcher/catcher can just hold up 4 fingers and the batter automatically takes a base. It doesn't save a ton of time, but it does eliminate dead air.

 

I kinda like both rumored solutions.

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15633876/mlb-competition-committee-agrees-changes-strike-zone-intentional-walks

[treebird]

There are rumors that baseball is talking about changing the strike zone and IBB for next season. They are talking about raising the strike zone to just above the knees because too many strikes are being called below the knees and is leading to batters either striking out or walking 30% of the time. The change would hopefully put more balls in play and create more action.

 

The other rule change would be the intentional walk. Not getting rid of it all together, but changing so if someone wants to intentionally walk someone the manager or pitcher/catcher can just hold up 4 fingers and the batter automatically takes a base. It doesn't save a ton of time, but it does eliminate dead air.

 

I kinda like both rumored solutions.

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15633876/mlb-competition-committee-agrees-changes-strike-zone-intentional-walks

 

love love love raising the bottom of the strike zone. don't really care about intentional walk thing but, sure, go for it.

[Sammy Sofa]

There are rumors that baseball is talking about changing the strike zone and IBB for next season. They are talking about raising the strike zone to just above the knees because too many strikes are being called below the knees and is leading to batters either striking out or walking 30% of the time. The change would hopefully put more balls in play and create more action.

 

The other rule change would be the intentional walk. Not getting rid of it all together, but changing so if someone wants to intentionally walk someone the manager or pitcher/catcher can just hold up 4 fingers and the batter automatically takes a base. It doesn't save a ton of time, but it does eliminate dead air.

 

I kinda like both rumored solutions.

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15633876/mlb-competition-committee-agrees-changes-strike-zone-intentional-walks

 

love love love raising the bottom of the strike zone.

 

So dongalicious.

[Banedon]

There are rumors that baseball is talking about changing the strike zone and IBB for next season. They are talking about raising the strike zone to just above the knees because too many strikes are being called below the knees and is leading to batters either striking out or walking 30% of the time. The change would hopefully put more balls in play and create more action.

 

The other rule change would be the intentional walk. Not getting rid of it all together, but changing so if someone wants to intentionally walk someone the manager or pitcher/catcher can just hold up 4 fingers and the batter automatically takes a base. It doesn't save a ton of time, but it does eliminate dead air.

 

I kinda like both rumored solutions.

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15633876/mlb-competition-committee-agrees-changes-strike-zone-intentional-walks

 

love love love raising the bottom of the strike zone.

 

So dongalicious.

 

Or walkalicious as pitchers continue to try to get that strike and the Cubs refuse to swing at it.

[Sammy Sofa]

Hooray!

[Cubbie Swagger]

As an eternal hater of low pitches, I would love to see them amend the zone. A pitch that is at the bottom of your knee caps is not hittable and should not be called a strike.

 

I don't think I'm down with the intentional walk thing, though. It's not really a big deal, but for some reason I feel like it's sort of a step in the wrong direction. Like, they might start tinkering with the game in other ways to make it less "boring" or whatever. That has the potential to not go well.

[Derwood]

Shrinking the strike zone will only increase walks. It will make for more offense, but won't help pace of game

[Sammy Sofa]

DH it up, baby.

[NOLA]

Sure, raise the strike zone. Just don't complain anymore about the length of games.

[OleMissCub]

but, but, change the IBB rule you won't get this happening...

 

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Like, they might start tinkering with the game in other ways to make it less "boring" or whatever.

 

I hope so. Without a major emotional interest, baseball games are boring as hell.

[BigSlick]

If they really care about pace of game they would get serious about putting in a clock between pitches. Purists would be pissed but games would be soooo much more watchable.

 

I loved Mark Buehrle games for this reason, dude wasn't messing around and wanted to get those games finished quick.

[Sammy Sofa]

but, but, change the IBB rule you won't get this happening...

 

 

Gross.

 

Let's use this instead:

 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

For those unfamiliar with the strike zone's history, This change would be more about restoring the previous status quo, here's a link that sums up the recent trends: https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015 ... story.html

 

And it has pretty pictures:

 

https://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_1920w/Boston/2011-2020/2015/07/16/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/strikezonemainWEB2.jpg

 

https://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_1920w/Boston/2011-2020/2015/07/16/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/strikezonetimelineWEB.jpg

 

 

The intentional walk thing I don't really have strong feelings on, although is there another place in the game where actual game play is skipped over like that?

[Sammy Sofa]

I just don't see how anyone could or she be worried about changes to the strikezone; like TT pointed out it's happened before, plus they've tinkered with the balls, the bats, the mounds, the basepaths and basically everything else you can think of.

[OleMissCub]

 

Gross.

 

Let's use this instead:

 

Pfff, I don't care if it's college, a walk off HR on an IBB is way cooler than a go-ahead single. Get with it, dork.

[Sammy Sofa]

It happened because it was college baseball. Blargh.

[Sammy Sofa]

[expletive], that decision by Miggy is the best.

[Sammy Sofa]

And then there was this guy, the Lester of free passes:

 

[OleMissCub]

And then there was this guy, the Lester of free passes:

 

 

Seriously, when you see your pitcher developing the yips in a critical situation like that, the manager should have just put in someone from the bench, like a starting pitcher who pitched two days earlier to just go out there and throw the IBB.

[Sammy Sofa]

The only thing I can think of is that the guy had already burned pretty much everyone because it was extra innings and didn't have any options. Or he was just a shitty manager.

[Andy]

Like, they might start tinkering with the game in other ways to make it less "boring" or whatever.

 

I hope so. Without a major emotional interest, baseball games are boring as hell.

There is almost literally nothing they can do to change that. They can make it marginally less 'boring', but this sport consists of very little actual action and that's just the way it is.

 

That said, I'm not against either proposed resolution, although I agree it probably won't help pace of game.

[Tim]

Bring back the PED's

[Banedon]

And then there was this guy, the Lester of free passes:

 

 

What in the world.