MLB looking at runner on 2nd in extra innings rule(to be implemented in lower minors)

[Dick_Pole]

This is a really, really stupid idea. All feelings from the 2 respectable posters who actually like it aside. I'd rather they just implement ties after 12 innings than this.

 

If they really want to improve the pace of the game then allow a team to roster a 5-man bullpen, 6 max. That will reduce pitching changes and also increase late-inning scoring that reduces the chance of long games. A team's BP guys are either able to get hitters out regardless of the arm they pitch with, or they're not. Rich Gossage or Mark Eichhorn type of pitchers would be needed in the pen.

[Terminator]

If they want to improve pace of play I think they could perhaps start some program in the minors where they encourage pitchers to speed up the amount of time between pitches and encourage hitters to stay in the box. Then after this has had some time to settle in, say 10 years down the road or something, they could put a timer on pitchers and perhaps not allow batters to leave the box. It's unfair to expect veterans who have longstanding routines to start doing something different.

 

But I wouldn't even do that. Frankly it's all a bunch of BS to me. I like the game and don't really care if casual fans lose interest and the sport slips to 3rd or 4th most popular in the US. The game is slow to develop between plays and that's just the way it is. Without changing the game play maybe they could give each manager 3 timeouts to be used for mound visits by the Catcher, pitching coach or manager (pitching changes aren't time outs). If you lose a replay challenge you lose a timeout.

 

I think creating better ballpark experiences and finding a way to promote its stars better should be a focus rather than pace of play. Moving to Under Armor was a nice little step. I like that they are getting more buzz for the draft now, that needs to continue. I think the All-Star Futures Game format could be changed to make it a Rookie big leaguers vs. Minor leaguers. Or maybe they just leave the Futures Game the way it is and have a Rookies vs. Sophomores game like the NBA does.

[King]

If they want to improve pace of play I think they could perhaps start some program in the minors where they encourage pitchers to speed up the amount of time between pitches and encourage hitters to stay in the box. Then after this has had some time to settle in, say 10 years down the road or something, they could put a timer on pitchers and perhaps not allow batters to leave the box. It's unfair to expect veterans who have longstanding routines to start doing something different.

 

Not sure if sarcasm, but they are already doing this.

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/4/6/114598446/cuts/pace_640_t682dvun_tr3xwn61.jpg

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/1/5/8/152671158/cuts/Clocks_13ucwk26_9xi9394a.jpg

[Terminator]

Not sure if sarcasm, but they are already doing this.

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/4/6/114598446/cuts/pace_640_t682dvun_tr3xwn61.jpg

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/1/5/8/152671158/cuts/Clocks_13ucwk26_9xi9394a.jpg

 

Nope. No sarcasm. Can you explain those pictures? I see two clocks with 18 and 16 seconds on them.

[King]

Nope. No sarcasm. Can you explain those pictures? I see two clocks with 18 and 16 seconds on them.

It's a 20 second pitch clock in between pitches.

 

 

(from 2015) http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150115&content_id=106476386&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb

 

A day at a Minor League ballpark sometimes flies by. This year, Triple-A and Double-A baseball games may go even faster.

 

At this week's Owners Meetings in Arizona, pace-of-game has been a key item on the agenda. Negotiations with the Players' Union are ongoing, but reports indicate that a 20-second pitch clock will be used at the two upper levels of the Minor Leagues this season.

 

The pitch clock was first implemented in affiliated ball during select games in the 2014 Arizona Fall League season. In the AFL, a violation of the 20-second clock was grounds for an automatic ball granted to the batter.

 

The possibility of bringing the pitch clock into Minor League games was broached in a December conversation between Minor League Baseball president Pat O'Conner and Major League Baseball chief officer Joe Torre at the Winter Meetings.

 

"It was part of the discussion," Torre told MLB.com at the time. "It's something that we'd certainly like to see more testing done with, and there is a chance that will happen. I was never a proponent of introducing the clock in baseball, but I went out [to the AFL], and I was pretty impressed. [The clock] was there, but it really wasn't intrusive in any way."

 

Other changes tested during the AFL campaign -- such as requiring a hitter to keep one foot in the batter's box during the entirety of an at-bat and time limits on pitching changes -- reportedly will also be implemented in the Triple-A and Double-A leagues.

 

The AFL also tested a rule whereby managers could wave an opposing hitter to first base rather than have the pitcher throw the four pitches required for an intentional walk, but Torre indicated in December that it was unlikely that this rule would go any further.

[Terminator]

Ok cool, thanks. I didn't know they were doing that.

[TheHurl]

If they want to improve pace of play I think they could perhaps start some program in the minors where they encourage pitchers to speed up the amount of time between pitches and encourage hitters to stay in the box. Then after this has had some time to settle in, say 10 years down the road or something, they could put a timer on pitchers and perhaps not allow batters to leave the box. It's unfair to expect veterans who have longstanding routines to start doing something different.

 

But I wouldn't even do that. Frankly it's all a bunch of BS to me. I like the game and don't really care if casual fans lose interest and the sport slips to 3rd or 4th most popular in the US. The game is slow to develop between plays and that's just the way it is. Without changing the game play maybe they could give each manager 3 timeouts to be used for mound visits by the Catcher, pitching coach or manager (pitching changes aren't time outs). If you lose a replay challenge you lose a timeout.

 

I think creating better ballpark experiences and finding a way to promote its stars better should be a focus rather than pace of play. Moving to Under Armor was a nice little step. I like that they are getting more buzz for the draft now, that needs to continue. I think the All-Star Futures Game format could be changed to make it a Rookie big leaguers vs. Minor leaguers. Or maybe they just leave the Futures Game the way it is and have a Rookies vs. Sophomores game like the NBA does.

 

Some of this is on the table and being discussed too (there is talk of MiLB all stars competing at MLB all star weekend). They are going to loosen their stance on gambling and embrace Fantasy and DFS as well (which is probably bigger than any of pace of play). You give the owners and Media outlets the OT change and then you approach about some pace of play ideas which will make a difference...and negatively effect revenue. You understand negotiations that is how these things work. Outside of loving really long games (which I love too...but take Canada Day for example, I had to work) can anyone come up with a legit reason this negatively changes baseball.

[Bobthe4th]

If they want to improve pace of play I think they could perhaps start some program in the minors where they encourage pitchers to speed up the amount of time between pitches and encourage hitters to stay in the box. Then after this has had some time to settle in, say 10 years down the road or something, they could put a timer on pitchers and perhaps not allow batters to leave the box. It's unfair to expect veterans who have longstanding routines to start doing something different.

 

But I wouldn't even do that. Frankly it's all a bunch of BS to me. I like the game and don't really care if casual fans lose interest and the sport slips to 3rd or 4th most popular in the US. The game is slow to develop between plays and that's just the way it is. Without changing the game play maybe they could give each manager 3 timeouts to be used for mound visits by the Catcher, pitching coach or manager (pitching changes aren't time outs). If you lose a replay challenge you lose a timeout.

 

I think creating better ballpark experiences and finding a way to promote its stars better should be a focus rather than pace of play. Moving to Under Armor was a nice little step. I like that they are getting more buzz for the draft now, that needs to continue. I think the All-Star Futures Game format could be changed to make it a Rookie big leaguers vs. Minor leaguers. Or maybe they just leave the Futures Game the way it is and have a Rookies vs. Sophomores game like the NBA does.

 

As you're already a baseball fan you are not the target audience for changes to the game and so your opinion isn't as important to those in charge.

 

Manfred cares about increasing baseball's popularity as that's a big part of his job.

 

The reason you should care is that if more and more kids prefer sports like basketball and football (soccer), then they'll play those sports instead. Then in 10/15 years the overall talent of North American baseball players will be lower as there will be a smaller pool of players. And unlike both those sports, there's only a handful of other countries that play baseball to any kind of standard.

[Bobthe4th]

I'd also argue that in North America baseball is already behind basketball in popularity.

[Jimcanuck]

I'd also argue that in North America baseball is already behind basketball in popularity.

 

I was looking at this earlier. NFL, then MLB and college football neck and neck, then NBA

[Grant77]

The take home point that keeps getting missed:

 

Current rules, if enforced, would address time issues more than this second base rule. I'm talking about hitters staying in the batter's box, pitchers staying on the mound, and no 2 minute breaks while teams review replays. Many other changes of this nature have been mentioned ITT. I'd be shocked if they couldn't reduce game times by 20+ minutes.

 

People that are pushing this unnecessary gimmick either don't understand this point or just want something new for the sake of something new. I prefer to make more peripheral changes than to alter the way that the game is played.

[Terminator]

I was looking at this earlier. NFL, then MLB and college football neck and neck, then NBA

 

Based upon what metrics?

[Grant77]

If they want to improve pace of play I think they could perhaps start some program in the minors where they encourage pitchers to speed up the amount of time between pitches and encourage hitters to stay in the box. Then after this has had some time to settle in, say 10 years down the road or something, they could put a timer on pitchers and perhaps not allow batters to leave the box. It's unfair to expect veterans who have longstanding routines to start doing something different.

 

But I wouldn't even do that. Frankly it's all a bunch of BS to me. I like the game and don't really care if casual fans lose interest and the sport slips to 3rd or 4th most popular in the US. The game is slow to develop between plays and that's just the way it is. Without changing the game play maybe they could give each manager 3 timeouts to be used for mound visits by the Catcher, pitching coach or manager (pitching changes aren't time outs). If you lose a replay challenge you lose a timeout.

 

I think creating better ballpark experiences and finding a way to promote its stars better should be a focus rather than pace of play. Moving to Under Armor was a nice little step. I like that they are getting more buzz for the draft now, that needs to continue. I think the All-Star Futures Game format could be changed to make it a Rookie big leaguers vs. Minor leaguers. Or maybe they just leave the Futures Game the way it is and have a Rookies vs. Sophomores game like the NBA does.

 

Great idea, I agree with almost all of that.

[Jimcanuck]

Based upon what metrics?

 

A poll, question - what is your fave sport

[intentional wok]

A poll, question - what is your fave sport

 

me:

 

Baseball

 

 

 

 

 

Football

Basketball

 

 

 

 

Hockey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

nothing

 

 

 

 

Soccer

[Grant77]

A poll, question - what is your fave sport

 

Baseball

Hockey

 

Big gap

 

Basketball

Football

[King]

A poll, question - what is your fave sport

Baseball

Hockey

(but MLB >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NHL)

Football

Basketball

[jays4life19]

A poll, question - what is your fave sport

 

Baseball

 

_____

 

Football

 

_____

 

 

_____

 

 

______

 

Basketball

 

 

 

______

 

 

Nothing

 

 

______

 

Figure skating

 

 

 

Soccer/Hockey

[Jimcanuck]

It's not an actual poll, you morons.

[jays4life19]

It's not an actual poll, you morons.

 

Too late. Time to start a thread/poll.

[polar bear]

I'd also argue that in North America baseball is already behind basketball in popularity.

 

Nonsense.

[Jimcanuck]

Too late. Time to start a thread/poll.

 

Knock yourself out.

[Terminator]

A poll, question - what is your fave sport

 

Gotcha. Well it does make sense based upon my gut feeling and I believe I saw a similar poll but a long time ago.

 

1. NFL

2a. NCAA Football

2b. MLB

3. NBA

 

At times it seems like the NBA is bigger than MLB. It seems to get more national press. I have a ton of friends who don't give a s*** about the NBA though.

[Jimcanuck]

Gotcha. Well it does make sense based upon my gut feeling and I believe I saw a similar poll but a long time ago.

 

1. NFL

2a. NCAA Football

2b. MLB

3. NBA

 

At times it seems like the NBA is bigger than MLB. It seems to get more national press. I have a ton of friends who don't give a s*** about the NBA though.

 

the poll i saw had 15% saying MLB, and 6% NBA. 35% NFL, 14% NCAA Football

[intentional wok]

Gotcha. Well it does make sense based upon my gut feeling and I believe I saw a similar poll but a long time ago.

 

1. NFL

2a. NCAA Football

2b. MLB

3. NBA

 

At times it seems like the NBA is bigger than MLB. It seems to get more national press. I have a ton of friends who don't give a s*** about the NBA though.

 

For a second I literally thought, yeah but you don't live in a city with an MLB team-- oh wait.

[TheHurl]

The take home point that keeps getting missed:

 

Current rules, if enforced, would address time issues more than this second base rule. I'm talking about hitters staying in the batter's box, pitchers staying on the mound, and no 2 minute breaks while teams review replays. Many other changes of this nature have been mentioned ITT. I'd be shocked if they couldn't reduce game times by 20+ minutes.

 

People that are pushing this unnecessary gimmick either don't understand this point or just want something new for the sake of something new. I prefer to make more peripheral changes than to alter the way that the game is played.

 

Again this isn't about speeding up the game (yet). This is about giving the owners, MLBPA and TV Rightsholders something they want...while not effecting the fundamental aspects of the game. So fans are pissed because they are always pissed over change. Much like every other change that's happened they will just watch and enjoy. Next step is truly deal with something that is going to upset one or more of the three above.

[wamco]

I've literally never even overheard a person discussing nba.

[intentional wok]

I've literally never even overheard a person discussing nba.

 

I prefer football to basketball, but NBA broadcasts are about a million times more watchable than NFL games. Football is a really interesting, fun game underneath all the waiting around and commercials, but wow is watching a game ever a fatty experience.

[TheHurl]

Nonsense.

 

By participation rates it's way past. Basketball #1, Soccer #2, Baseball #3 (down the second most from 2009 rates behind only football's drop).

 

In every other measure though (ratings, popularity polls, revenue) Baseball is losing ground to basketball, but remains ahead of it.

[Bobthe4th]

Gotcha. Well it does make sense based upon my gut feeling and I believe I saw a similar poll but a long time ago.

 

1. NFL

2a. NCAA Football

2b. MLB

3. NBA

 

At times it seems like the NBA is bigger than MLB. It seems to get more national press. I have a ton of friends who don't give a s*** about the NBA though.

 

Yeah NBA has a bigger media presence (both traditional and social) but I guess that may be in part because of the fan base - basketball is especially popular with under 30's.

 

MLB makes more money, but with twice the games and all the related extra merchandise and food and drink sales you'd expect that to be the case.

 

It's a similar situation in Britain, football dominates like NFL does in the US, and the second most popular sport is debatable. Cricket is the baseball equivalent which isn't as popular with the young, but has lots of traditionalist fans.