On Field Rules Changes

[steveringo]

I'm sure they'll be incorporating 'speeding up the games' into the CBA negotiation...

Any ideas you like or dislike?


Thoughts?

 

[steveringo]

I'm ok with a pitch clock. I've gotten used to the three-batter-minimum for relievers...

They must get rid of the runner-at-second in extra innings. That was a horrible decision and ruins the integrity of extra inning statistics...

I'm NOT ok with computerized balls & strikes. Let the umps make the calls. Judge and penalize/reward them after every game based on the computer sims...

 

[catman]

I'm also OK with a pitch clock, they have used it in the minors for a while and it doesn't change the game a whole lot, other than to shorten it.
I'm torn on the extra inning rules, it definitely helps shorten games, but I agree it is a bit much.
Automated strike zones are something that players would get accustomed to. Each umpire has his own strike zone right now. Some are wider than others, others higher or lower than others. An automated strike zone would not be popular with many hitters, as most umpires don't call high strikes properly. I can't see someone like Fernando Tatis, Jr liking a 103 MPH fastball at the letters being called a strike, but according to the rules, it is a strike.
The 3-batter minimum is OK.
The universal DH should be adopted, as pitchers are now specialists. Many haven't hit since high school and to ask them to face Walker Buehler or Max Scherzer is not really fair to them. Special exemptions should be given in cases where the pitcher can hit, but if the game starts with the pitcher hitting (Ohtani, Bumgarner, etc.), they can't use a DH.
I also like the idea of expanding the roster again, by the use of a taxi-squad. I like the idea of having a 30 man roster with 25 players being available every day (26 in the case of a double header). This would allow the team to have a 3rd catcher available every game and a couple of additional utility players. It is likely that the teams would place their non-starting starters on this list, and that's OK. Possibly they could increase the roster from 40 to 45 as well. I'm sure the MLBPA would approve of these moves.