Brownie19

AJ Ellis is on the US team...We're they looking for a true backup catcher or is he the bullpen catcher

Can you smart guys learn me on what the biggest change in the game today is vs. back in the late 80's and 90's? Back then you had guys like Glavine and Maddux utilizing monster strike zones - yet only striking out 5 or 6 per 9. There were a lot more balls in play back in those days, which I assume is what Manfred is looking to mimic. A few things stand out to me: 1. Relievers are significantly better and pitchers throw much harder. 2. Hitters have made a conscious decision that cutting down their swing to put the ball in play isn't actually more productive....especially now that shifting is a massive part of the game. I heard some turd on the Fan the other day suggesting it's because they don't teach hitters how to hit anymore. He said hitters used to be taught to take the ball the other way and that's why there never used to be shifts. I think it's obvious that swings are analyzed and worked on a considerable amount more than "back in the day". IMO, shifts weren't used "back in the day" mostly because teams didn't have access to the data and/or didn't use it to their advantage enough. Side note - Greg Maddux 1994 - 1.56 ERA and 7.4 WAR in only 25 starts. What a beast.

In the CFL - doesn't the team start with the ball on the 40 yard line or something? That's about the best equivalent to starting with a runner on 2nd base...

The strike zone change is as much about getting more balls in play (and increasing action) as it is about improving the pace. I think there's real concern that K% and BB% are spiking the way they are.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/lets-pick-up-the-pace/ Interesting article. Some interesting comments to such as a "millennial" suggesting his generation don't own TV's and thus blackouts for live streaming are killing interest amongst younger fans.

More than Joe West does?

What % of games played extend into or beyond the 12th inning? I can't for the life of me see what the issue with an extra inning or two during a tied game would be....too much excitement and drama?

That explains why there's a sac bunt almost every time. Where do you play?

It would be awesome to see Pompey excel in the WBC v. Some top talent....

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/austin-hedges-learned-how-to-hit/ Someone teach Reese to leg kick please.

I think you're confusing and combining issues here. They are proposing to raise the strike zone to increase the number of balls put in play and/or in the air. The thought is the zone is so low now that pitchers can get strikes called on pitches that hitters can't do s*** with (or something like that - I'm paraphrasing a ton). You're talk about OCD and NHL refs calling penalties from the booth sounds like you're referring to robo umps. They aren't proposing that - people on here are simply discussing it because it's seen as a big issue.

Caterpillar never had any issue with it.

Then fire them and hire new umpires. If all they do is relay the call from an ear piece, then they are extremely replaceable. Who gives a F what the union says. I'm going to move on from this/my rant now....sorry guys.

And that's what's wrong with the world today. We actually care about ignorant, bias opinions. Teachers in Ontario are overpaid (some of the highest paid in North America). Ontario is broke. Reducing their pay while maintaining the level of education is a fairly obvious solution.....but we make the mistake of asking the teachers and their union and low and behold they don't see the big picture and are against taking a pay cut. Shocker. They kick and scream and hold the children hostage...and when it's all done, I get to hear about how both my neighbours took a "sick day" to get their f***ing flu shots. If they don't like it, fire them and hire one of the abundant number of part time/supply teachers who'd LOVE a full time job. Similarly, if pitchers don't want to make a simple adjustment, while making millions of dollars - send them to Korea and call up the next arm. There have to be big picture people at the top who can review all the information and make good decisions without fielding opinions from those who will clearly be bias on the subject.

There's an echo in here...

I think he's suggesting we can assume the batter would touch all 4 bases successfully - just as they are assuming a pitcher will throw all 4 balls successfully. The former actually being much more of a sure thing. I don't agree with his comparison either, but you should have stopped at point a).

Again - I think it's about increasing pace, not decreasing time. Also, many would have argued the same thing about the extra point in football. There were only a couple missed per year; however, I think the change they made was remarkably successful (although I acknowledge simply removing it - like they are proposing with the IBB may not have been as successful).

I heard similar arguments that "pitchers will never approve a change that raises the strike zone". I asked myself - why the f*** would you even ask them? If you've reviewed evidence that making a chance is going to improve the game - then make the change. Obviously if you ask that parties that will be negatively affected by the change if they like it - they will say no because heaven forbid anyone make a decisions that best for the overall health of the games even if it's to the detriment of themselves. (for the record - I'm not for or against changing the strike zone as of this moment...just referring to the principle).

Isn't there a strong likelihood that Sparkman doesn't make the club and is sent back to KC? Biagini's the outliner, not the norm - especially on a team that should contend. Obviously we'll give him a long look, but I'd be surprised if he makes the team.

A point which makes it even dumber for home fans to boo when the other team intentionally walks their hitter... Fans don't boo when the teams use pinch hitters, make pitching changes or implement shifts either. They have oddly identified the strategy of the attempted pickoff and the intentional walk as the most appropriate times to boo the opposing team. I don't get it. Fans are dumn.

How often do #1 through #3 actually happen per season? Why encourage moronic fans from booing an often smart, strategic baseball decision? Not once in all my years following baseball have I felt the need to boo a pitcher trying to pickoff a runner or during an intentional walk. Those are strategic actions that are part of the game. Why don't said fans boo when the other team steals a base? or when they sac bunt?

If we're taking votes. I like the anthem before the game - loath God Bless America in the 7th....although I do like the "take me out to the ballgame" and/or "sweet Caroline" when played at various stadiums.

First - I think you should exclude extra innings from the discussion. This is about the average 9 inning baseball game. Secondly - From what I've read, it's more about the "pace", not the total length of the game. I LOVE BASEBALL, but personally, I'd love to see an increase in the pace of the game. I've always loved watching guys like Buehrle get the ball and throw it...keep things moving. Nobody here can tell me they enjoy pitchers who slow the game down with runners on base, or batters stepping out to adjust their batting gloves again, or trips to the mound by the catcher or pitching coach. IMO, removing/restricting that crap from the game would increase pace and have little to no impact on the game itself. Personally, I do notice and hate how long playoff games take. They all start at 8 or 8:30 these days and most run past midnight. I obviously sacrifice sleep to watch all Jays playoff games, but if Texas is beating Houston 10-6 in the 7th and it's 11:00 - I'm going to bed because I have to work the next day. I would watch (or finish watching) more playoff games if they could end at 11 or 11:30 (max). I don't need/want games to be 2 hours long, but I do support efforts to get the average game below the 3 hours. Speed up pitching changes, restrict trips to the mound, speed up video review, etc. Increasing the pace of the game speaks to everyone IMO - not just to the casual fans.

Removing pointless interviews from sports culture would eliminate a number of the issues...

You enjoy watching them f*** up 15% of the time??