(potential) Changes to MLB

[melm00se]

https://sports.yahoo.com/the-next-mlb-game-you-watch-will-be-different-the-question-is-how-and-when-183856355.html

Most likely changes

Universal DH - I believe that everyone plays and that means that pitchers should hit but I can see the boredom with a guy who hits, on the average, .131 (when the league averages are .291). If the universal DH comes to be, I think that the "double hook" should be instituted: pull your starting pitcher and you lose your DH.

Expanded playoffs - instead of 5 teams from each league making the playoffs, the number may increase to as many as 8. I can see this as it keeps more fans engaged.

Automatic strike zone - This is a change that is way overdue. Umpires are notorious for having...flexible? strike zones. take 10 umps and you will see at least 10 different strike zones (and some even change during the game). I believe that everyone would love to have a consistent shoulders to knees strike zone vs. what it is now.

Less likely changes

Pitch clock - anything that can cut back on a 3+ hour game is probably worth it.

Moving the mound back - right now it is 60" 6' (or 18.44 m for those who love the metric system). I can understand it with pitchers' velocities getting higher every year and the mound distance scaling that back but it is highly unlikely.

What are your changes to baseball (if any)?

[luvs2sing]

1. My biggest change is one that will never happen.

Getting rid of or cutting back on all the commercial breaks/interruptions during a game. That would be the quickest way to shorten games but, of course, that ain’t gonna happen, so they have to try to “fix” what isn’t broken in the first place.

[melm00se]

2. As a former catcher

I would *love* to see an automatic strike zone. Enough of this strike zone de jour (or de umpire)

[luvs2sing]

3. Yeah, I get that.

That is one thing that needs to change.

[NurseJackie]

4. The last ML game I went to had a pitch-clock.

But it seemed to be more of a suggestion and a tool for awareness. It's unclear what the penalty would/should be for violations. Would the player-at-bat be walked?

[melm00se]

5. automatic ball

for that pitch.

[Diamond_Dog]

6. The pace of the game is not a problem for me.

But I guess I’m in the minority.

[lapfog_1]

7. Blernball.

Players hit a ball on an elastic tether that is thrown, or pitched, to the batter. Fielders try to prevent the ball from entering small holes in the field, which score blerns.

If enough balls go into small holes in the center of the field, third ball lock unlocks and:
A pinball-style Multi-ball begins to shoot balls via hidden pitching machines that come out of the field and causes chaos while the batter tries to hit as many balls as possible.
A player on a motorcycle comes in to the field and tries to drift over all four bases while they explode. Maybe this is a "jazzed up" version of a home-run.
A giant tarantula enters from the bullpen with a player on its back.

Steroid injections are mandatory.

There is a target that can be hit to win the game.

Traditions of the game include aluminum bats and the 7th inning grope, which seems to be the jazzed up version of the 7th inning stretch.

Robots are not allowed on the field anymore.

[CanonRay]

8. Get rid of the man on 2nd extra inning rule

[brush]

9. The automatic strike zone is needed but probably will never...

happen, just as all the other suggestions will never happen. Baseball doesn't want to change and will continue to die off as it has for the last forty years.

What was once the most popular sport is now overshadowed by football and basketball. It's premier time, the playoff season is almost an after thought as football, basketball and hockey games dominate sportscasts during October.

And baseball keeps trudging along and losing viewership every year. And the thing is, players don't want to change. They keep stepping out of the box after each pitch to adjust their their wrist bands, or batting helmet or their crotch or whatever while the pitcher does sundry other things on the mound. Everything but the next pitch is more important. Who even watches regular season games anymore? They're so boring.

The games now consist of a parade of strikeouts or home runs as hitters swing for the fences...it's one or the other and that makes the game monotonous.

[Auggie]

10. No, no, no, and no

The DH dumbs down baseball, whether it's full time or the ridiculously amateurish "Double Hook" idea.

Expanded playoffs -- nope. You want real fan engagement?

INSTITUTE TRUE REVENUE SHARING AND A TRUE SALARY CAP. This automatically gives smaller market teams a fighting chance, JUST AS THEY HAVE IN THE NBA AND NFL. COMPETITION AND FAIRNESS ENGAGES FANS.

Umpires: fire the bad ones. Angel Hernandez is first on the list.

DO NOT move the mound. DO NOT limit shifts. DO NOT pass "Go." Do not collect $200.00.

[Capt. America]

13. This times 1000!

INSTITUTE TRUE REVENUE SHARING AND A TRUE SALARY CAP. This automatically gives smaller market teams a fighting chance, JUST AS THEY HAVE IN THE NBA AND NFL. COMPETITION AND FAIRNESS ENGAGES FANS.

[Hoyt]

11. Don't really care for Dez Hitter. Too much like football where some play in limited situations.

In football, I liked days when good athletes played on offense and defense. Yep, that old.

But nowadays, you have guys who only play on like 3rd and short yardage.

[Mr.Bill]

12. This will never happen, but

fewer games. Players are destroying their bodies before they are 35. Buster Posey pretty much said this during his retirement press conference. He spoke about baseball still being fun, but also spoke of not wanting to endure the pain anymore. He's 34. And trying to watch every game of your favorite team occupies the time a second job would. I remember Evan Longoria returning after an unjury and someone asked him if he was 100%. He said "It's August, no one is 100%."

They don't need to necessarily shorten the season, juast have more days off.