Changes to the Game

[calsnowskier]

With the ABS apparently being a huge success for the game in general, I was thinking of other changes, both on the field and off, that could improve things.

1) Expansion - Going to 32 teams just makes sense. Yes, it will further water down the talent in the game, but I don’t really see that as a major problem. It will create 52 new MLB player jobs and make alignment/scheduling sooooo much easier.

2) Change the Rule V draft - Currently, players taken in the Rule V draft must remain on the new team’s 26 man roster (or DL) the entire season or be offered back to the original team. Why? Just make it so the drafting team needs to add the player to the 40-man roster, and that’s it. No other strings are attached. This will encourage teams to move players through their “clock” faster because it would be easier to lose the player if he isn’t protected. This also allows the player to not get screwed by having to play at a level he isnt ready for yet. I honestly do t see a negative to this change.

3) Salary Cap/Floor - in general, I am against a cap because I believe all teams CAN contend if they want to. And I hate to see teams forced to break up successful teams just because they built the teams properly. But with a floor, and a complex cap system, I think it could work. I have discussed this in the past, and I obviously don’t have all the details worked out, but IN GENERAL, I think players salaries should fall into basically 3 types; Developed, Traded, FA. A players FA contract should hurt a team’s cap more than a player’s Developed contract (the longer a player is with a team, their cap hit gets smaller and smaller). A player who is traded for will hit harder than a developed player, but not as hard as a player who is acquired via FA. Also, the league min will be exempt from every players salary. This way, a team will never be hurt by adding a player.

4) 4-ball “Sprint” instead of a 4-ball “Walk” - I am not really serious about this proposal, but it really caught my attention when I went to a Banana’s game a few weeks back. It is a very interesting concept. Basically, if a player earns a “walk”, the ball needs to be touched by all 9 players on the field before it is considered ‘live”. Therefore, the batter or men on base can advance as much as they can. In BananaBall, men on base ALWAYS advance 2 bases on “walks”.

What ideas do you like? Even if they are dumb, but just could be fun to talk about?

 

[Cedrique]

Let each team have a taxi squad of pitchers to use in blowout games so we don't have to watch position players pitch. They can also be used in extra innings games if all the other pitchers are used up. They obviously wouldn't be prospects because they might not get much work. I'm thinking they would be major or minor leaguers who would otherwise be retired.

 

[comet28]

Let each team have a taxi squad of pitchers to use in blowout games so we don't have to watch position players pitch. They can also be used in extra innings games if all the other pitchers are used up. They obviously wouldn't be prospects because they might not get much work. I'm thinking they would be major or minor leaguers who would otherwise be retired.

If anything I would go the other way and reduce the number of pitchers allowed on the roster. Would force teams to prioritize durable pitchers over guys who throw 105 and get TJ every other year

 

[calsnowskier]

If anything I would go the other way and reduce the number of pitchers allowed on the roster. Would force teams to prioritize durable pitchers over guys who throw 105 and get TJ every other year

I hate that the league puts in the rules what a pitcher is and what a fielder is. Go back to just allowing 25 PLAYERS on the roster (I am OK with 26, but I prefer 25).

Also, GET RID OF THE OHTANI RULE!!!!!! If we have to have the DH (I am not opening that can here, everyone knows my take on that one), than if anything, make it MORE restrictive, not less.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

With the ABS apparently being a huge success for the game in general, I was thinking of other changes, both on the field and off, that could improve things.

1) Expansion - Going to 32 teams just makes sense. Yes, it will further water down the talent in the game, but I don’t really see that as a major problem. It will create 52 new MLB player jobs and make alignment/scheduling sooooo much easier.

2) Change the Rule V draft - Currently, players taken in the Rule V draft must remain on the new team’s 26 man roster (or DL) the entire season or be offered back to the original team. Why? Just make it so the drafting team needs to add the player to the 40-man roster, and that’s it. No other strings are attached. This will encourage teams to move players through their “clock” faster because it would be easier to lose the player if he isn’t protected. This also allows the player to not get screwed by having to play at a level he isnt ready for yet. I honestly do t see a negative to this change.

3) Salary Cap/Floor - in general, I am against a cap because I believe all teams CAN contend if they want to. And I hate to see teams forced to break up successful teams just because they built the teams properly. But with a floor, and a complex cap system, I think it could work. I have discussed this in the past, and I obviously don’t have all the details worked out, but IN GENERAL, I think players salaries should fall into basically 3 types; Developed, Traded, FA. A players FA contract should hurt a team’s cap more than a player’s Developed contract (the longer a player is with a team, their cap hit gets smaller and smaller). A player who is traded for will hit harder than a developed player, but not as hard as a player who is acquired via FA. Also, the league min will be exempt from every players salary. This way, a team will never be hurt by adding a player.

4) 4-ball “Sprint” instead of a 4-ball “Walk” - I am not really serious about this proposal, but it really caught my attention when I went to a Banana’s game a few weeks back. It is a very interesting concept. Basically, if a player earns a “walk”, the ball needs to be touched by all 9 players on the field before it is considered ‘live”. Therefore, the batter or men on base can advance as much as they can. In BananaBall, men on base ALWAYS advance 2 bases on “walks”.

What ideas do you like? Even if they are dumb, but just could be fun to talk about?

i have written this elsewhere

1. Expansion-

2. shrink the minor leagues

3. draft includes ALL unsigned PLAYERS under 23... take away the international signings unless you are an established veteran...

the three things work together... but all are necessary... really this is the only way i can see small market teams ever having a chance as well...

 

[MilkSpiller22]

Let each team have a taxi squad of pitchers to use in blowout games so we don't have to watch position players pitch. They can also be used in extra innings games if all the other pitchers are used up. They obviously wouldn't be prospects because they might not get much work. I'm thinking they would be major or minor leaguers who would otherwise be retired.

why not just have a mercy rule then?? i actually like the current rule where if you are up or down by a certain amount then a position player is allowed to pitch(dont know the exact rule)... its gimmicky... but seems like players have fun doing it, and anything that brings fun into the game is a good thing...

 

[steveringo]

I hate that the league puts in the rules what a pitcher is and what a fielder is. Go back to just allowing 25 PLAYERS on the roster (I am OK with 26, but I prefer 25).

Also, GET RID OF THE OHTANI RULE!!!!!! If we have to have the DH (I am not opening that can here, everyone knows my take on that one), than if anything, make it MORE restrictive, not less.

I don't understand the Ohtani rule. Isn't he the DH while he pitches? When he stops pitching, isn't he still the DH?

 

[MilkSpiller22]

I don't understand the Ohtani rule. Isn't he the DH while he pitches? When he stops pitching, isn't he still the DH?

easier to not question it... but simply a team has the choice to use their pitcher in the lineup or to use a DH....its two separate positions...

the ohtani rule is more to simplify it and allow him to remain DH even after the pitcher Ohtani is taken out....

 

[steveringo]

easier to not question it... but simply a team has the choice to use their pitcher in the lineup or to use a DH....its two separate positions...

the ohtani rule is more to simplify it and allow him to remain DH even after the pitcher Ohtani is taken out....

So, prior to the rule, he'd be listed as P in the batting lineup?

I have no problem with letting the same player be P & DH - but, I understand how Giants fans would oppose it.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

So, prior to the rule, he'd be listed as P in the batting lineup?

I have no problem with letting the same player be P & DH - but, I understand how Giants fans would oppose it.

its more complicated.. but yes... the rule is just to simplify everything...


i remember a few seasons back a manager made an error on the gamecard that he had to submit to the umpire to set the lineup, and because of that the team had to forfeit the DH and use the pitcher...

point is that there are a lot of compications in the DH rule that we dont really know.... this just simplifies it for that scenario...

 

[dtgold88]

agree would like to see a cap and a floor. COULD all teams contend? Sure.....but I still find it absurd that, say, the Dodgers and Tribe can play and for the same game LA will make 10X what the Tribe does for the broadcast.

That said, my team does not need to be incredibly cheap with no will to win. If you cut payroll $40 mil after a division title why even have a team?

 

[MilkSpiller22]

agree would like to see a cap and a floor. COULD all teams contend? Sure.....but I still find it absurd that, say, the Dodgers and Tribe can play and for the same game LA will make 10X what the Tribe does for the broadcast.

That said, my team does not need to be incredibly cheap with no will to win. If you cut payroll $40 mil after a division title why even have a team?

i am not sold about the cap ceiling and floor... i dont think it does as much as we hope if at all....

 

[calsnowskier]

So, prior to the rule, he'd be listed as P in the batting lineup?

I have no problem with letting the same player be P & DH - but, I understand how Giants fans would oppose it.

My objection to it has NOTHING to do with it being about Ohtani. But it does have a lot to do with my utter hatred of the DH in general.

I could be swayed on the DH if the player acting as the DH were officially tied to the player he is hitting for in the field (why force a team to DH for the pitcher? Maybe they want to DH for a weak hitting SS). For example, if your pitcher is chased in the 2nd inning, you lose the player you had in the DH spot as well and need to send up a new hitter when that spot comes up again in the lineup. That would appease the strategy aspect of the pitcher needing to hit while still avoiding having players who don’t work on hitting being in the lineup.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

IMO a cap

My objection to it has NOTHING to do with it being about Ohtani. But it does have a lot to do with my utter hatred of the DH in general.

I could be swayed on the DH if the player acting as the DH were officially tied to the player he is hitting for in the field (why force a team to DH for the pitcher? Maybe they want to DH for a weak hitting SS). For example, if your pitcher is chased in the 2nd inning, you lose the player you had in the DH spot as well and need to send up a new hitter when that spot comes up again in the lineup. That would appease the strategy aspect of the pitcher needing to hit while still avoiding having players who don’t work on hitting being in the lineup.

to each their own on rules they like and dislike... but do you think the universal DH was the wrong decision for baseball to make???

 

[calsnowskier]

agree would like to see a cap and a floor. COULD all teams contend? Sure.....but I still find it absurd that, say, the Dodgers and Tribe can play and for the same game LA will make 10X what the Tribe does for the broadcast.

That said, my team does not need to be incredibly cheap with no will to win. If you cut payroll $40 mil after a division title why even have a team?

I don’t know the actual numbers, but I think, conceptually, the Tribe would get 70% of the income from the Tribe broadcast and 30% of the Dodger broadcast (and vice versa, of course). I have no idea if the 70/30 split is anywhere near accurate, I am just using those numbers to demonstrate the idea). But why should the Guardians get half of the $$ generated by people in LA watching the game? That makes no sense.

 

[calsnowskier]

i am not sold about the cap ceiling and floor... i dont think it does as much as we hope if at all....

Depends on what the cap/floor are set at, of course. And what the penalties would be for breaking those barriers. In the NBA, for example, the Warriors were making soooo much money internationally during their run that they didnt view the cap as any kind of a limit in their spending. They would still make that back 10-fold in China or the Middle East.

 

[calsnowskier]

IMO a cap


to each their own on rules they like and dislike... but do you think the universal DH was the wrong decision for baseball to make???

Yes. I have gone in to this in depth for years.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

Depends on what the cap/floor are set at, of course. And what the penalties would be for breaking those barriers. In the NBA, for example, the Warriors were making soooo much money internationally during their run that they did t view the cap as any kind of a limit in their spending. They would still make that back 10-fold in China or the Middle East.

that is the dodgers right now... in fact that is probably why they go so crazy spending right now... because them and baseball knows that a good dodgers team is going to sell internationally...

 

[dtgold88]

i am not sold about the cap ceiling and floor... i dont think it does as much as we hope if at all....

My team still has an elite FO and competes even spending near the bottom......would love to see what they might do if the owner badly wanted to win.

 

[calsnowskier]

that is the dodgers right now... in fact that is probably why they go so crazy spending right now... because them and baseball knows that a good dodgers team is going to sell internationally...

And the players are setting their prices. Ohtani and Yamamoto both told all the teams that this was the contract they were signing, who wanted in on it. Reportedly, multiple teams said OK to both, but Ohtani and Yamamoto both chose the Dodgers. It is hard to blame the dodgers for over spending when the contracts they gave out were not gross over-spends.

Tucker’s contract looks stupid. And they bought Freeman when they really didn’t have a need at 1B. But at least as far as Ohtani and Yamamoto are concerned, it is hard to blame the doggies.