Report: MLB may consider limits on pitching changes and shifts

[yortsed snacilbuper]

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred continues to float ideas around when it comes to rule changes in America’s pastime.

According to the Associated Press, limiting pitching changes, restricting defensive shifts, altering the strike zone, and installing pitch clocks are just some of the ideas Major League Baseball has in mind moving forward.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/report-mlb-may-consider-limits-on-pitching-changes-and-shifts/ar-BBvOqX2?li=BBgET5V&ocid=spartanntp

[Nye Bevan]

1. The easiest no-brainer would be allowing the pitcher to signal for an intentional walk,

without forcing him to throw four balls, which is a complete waste of time.

[MicaelS]

5. Wow! That's a great idea.

Never thought of it.

[Nye Bevan]

6. Not my idea, but I have seen it suggested a few times over the years.

They are always talking about wanting to speed the game up and this seems like an obvious way to shorten it up at least a bit.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

7. The Pirates were playing the giants the other day and threw one pitch on an intentional walk,

and then changed their mind, and then got the batter out and won the game!

[Nye Bevan]

8. Funny.

No matter how many baseball games you watch, you still keep seeing things that you have never seen before.

I'm guessing this was a breakdown in communication with the coaches, quickly corrected after the first intentional ball.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

9. Yeah, the announcers said Clint was in the dugout yelling at everybody.

[GusBob]

12. Gormon Thomas Milwaukee Beermakers

Got so sick of getting the free pass he reached up during an intentional walk and knocked in a homer

That game is legendary amongst the TrueBlueBreCrew fans

[demosincebirth]

13. Not a good idea. I've seen pitchers (2) throw a wild pitch on an intentional walk and runs

have scored.

[gratuitous]

15. Except for the possibility of a balk

It's rarely called, but if the catcher leaves the area behind the plate before the pitcher releases the ball, it's a balk according to the rules. Intentional walks don't really take all that much time. Like running out the clock in football, you should have to run the play. Sure, Joe Pisarcik or Mark Sanchez would prefer a rule change, but professionals should have to go through the motions.

As for restricting defensive shifts, that's just plain stupid. If a batter can't figure out how to hit to the opposite field, too bad for him. Like intentionally fouling of a lousy free throw shooter in basketball, if you want to negate this defensive strategy, develop your talents, and become a more versatile player. They'll quit putting on the shift if you learn how to hit the other way; they'll quit fouling you intentionally if you learn to hit your free throws.

[Nye Bevan]

16. Totally agree on the shift.

If a professional hitter can't figure out how to beat the shift or keep the defense honest by laying down an occasional bunt, perhaps he shouldn't be a professional hitter.

[maveric56]

17. Dodger great Don Drysdale would just hit the batter...

Rather than wasting pitches. He claimed he'd only hit them below the waist.

[GusBob]

2. "This mornings final score 27-24. for those of you stI'll awake......

We will be back will the summaries and the final wrap after theses messages....."

[panader0]

3. San Francisco coach Bruce Boche uses a lot of pitching changes.

I'm sure others do too, but as an SF fan, I don't follow many other teams.
He'll put in a leftie to face a leftie, then take him out after one batter faced, etc.
I don't see anything wrong with that. It's a game, and pitching changes
are part of the strategy.

[GusBob]

4. Most managers do that

Most use the shift as well

Both of which lead to more outs and quicker innings

[yortsed snacilbuper]

10. I think they use some kind of computer program to tell them what to do,

in certain situations.

[GusBob]

11. Yeah it's called the Tony LaRussa

What Would Tony Do?

[tonyt53]

14. Some minor league teams experimented with the time clock.

The time frequently went past the allotted time, but there was no penalty though. Every batter, with every pitch, walks out of the batters box anymore. Why? Batting averages are down. So they aren't helping themselves. Keep the batters in the box unless there is a reason to step out. Have the pitcher with their foot against the rubber soon after they have the ball back to them. Limit warm up pitches with a new pitcher to 5 max. They are already warmed up, otherwise they wouldn't be sent out. Limit the time between innings to three minutes. At that time, the batter must be in the box and the pitcher must have the ball and be ready to pitch. Take the strike zone back to what it was 30 years ago. Either they swing at it or strike out. 90 seconds between batters once the play is called dead by the umps.

[jmowreader]

18. Allow the umpire crew to end lopsided games early

At the end of the seventh inning, if:

One team has no more than two runs
The other team is leading by at least five runs
And the losing team hasn't scored since the fourth inning

The umpires may call the game and award the W at that point.

[msanthrope]

20. Nonsense...you'd call a 2-7 game in the the 7th? There would be a riot in Fenway

or Yankee Stadium.....would you want to be that umpire?

[jmowreader]

21. I'd definitely call one at Safeco

When the fans are heading for the exits at the seventh inning stretch because the game has been a foregone conclusion since the bottom of the third, it's time to shut this shit down and let the cleaning crew start on the grandstands.

[msanthrope]

23. Seattle. Enough said. nt

[yortsed snacilbuper]

19. Get rid of the designated hitter,

then the coaches will have to start thinking.

[jmowreader]

22. Put them in the NL

One guaranteed strikeout every nine at-bats is no way to run a railroad, but it's what you get in every NL park.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

24. A batting pitchers job is to either,

run up the other pitchers count, bunt or get a hit. The AL is boring to say the least.