― Dr Morbius, Thursday, 22 February 2007 14:25 (seventeen years ago) link
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Sunday, 25 February 2007 14:34 (seventeen years ago) link
― David R., Monday, 26 February 2007 02:25 (seventeen years ago) link
anyone thrilled with Bud's "improve the on-field issues" committee? O BOY, GEORGE WILL
― Rage, Resentment, Spleen (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 29 December 2009 21:39 (fourteen years ago) link
i wish they had invited some of the brighter young managers in the game. george will can burn, obv. i don't think any players should be in there because baseball players are really dumb.
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 30 December 2009 00:31 (fourteen years ago) link
low-hanging fruit?
http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/5/10/3012029/mlb-fake-to-third-throw-to-first-move-balk
― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Friday, 11 May 2012 17:55 (eleven years ago) link
so the idea is that would speed up the game?
― Porto for Pyros (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 11 May 2012 18:11 (eleven years ago) link
does it even happen once every 5 games?
― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Friday, 11 May 2012 18:20 (eleven years ago) link
maybe that?! of all the things dumb about baseball i never thought the fake to 3rd was one of them.
― Porto for Pyros (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 11 May 2012 18:22 (eleven years ago) link
Granderson fell for the banana in the tailpipe?
RHPs will step off the rubber and do the same damn thing. It will probably happen with roughly the same frequency.
― Grusin' Gang (Andy K), Friday, 11 May 2012 18:45 (eleven years ago) link
Neyer predicts that, SOMEDAY, MLB will have to reduce strikeouts and pitching changes to shorten games.
http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/5/29/3048980/ernesto-frieri-angels-strikeouts
― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 29 May 2012 17:50 (eleven years ago) link
Neyer's been on that soapbox for a while. Anyway, the game goes in cycles so I wouldn't assume that strikeouts are some runaway phenomenon that's going to necessitate a significant rule change.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Tuesday, 29 May 2012 20:36 (eleven years ago) link
The fake-to-third/throw-to-first will now be ruled a balk:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130126/pickoff-rule-change.ap/
The hidden-ball-trick's days are surely numbered.
― clemenza, Saturday, 26 January 2013 15:35 (eleven years ago) link
ha, i used to do this all the time when i played
― k3vin k., Saturday, 26 January 2013 15:53 (eleven years ago) link
will cut 30 seconds off the average game
― saltwater incursion (Dr Morbius), Monday, 28 January 2013 21:43 (eleven years ago) link
I wonder if the LV sports books are offering an o/u on the number of balks that will come of this in 2013.
― If it were up to you we'd all be eating tea and strumpets. (WilliamC), Monday, 28 January 2013 21:59 (eleven years ago) link
looking to ban collisions at home
http://www.baseballnation.com/2013/12/12/5201700/mlb-banning-collisions-home-plate-winter-meetings-rules
― eclectic husbandry (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 12 December 2013 16:49 (ten years ago) link
http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/1/28/5353948/baseball-padded-caps-pitchers-safety
― eclectic husbandry (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 28 January 2014 18:41 (ten years ago) link
"Just reading through it, the main thing it does is eliminate the malicious collision," Posey told ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" on Tuesday morning. "If the catcher is not set up right on top of the plate, it doesn't allow the runner to run through him."
Posey said the tweak to the rule would not alter the way he prepares for the season as a catcher or as a baserunner.
"For the most part, I think it'll stay pretty much the same," Posey said. "We've never been taught to set up right on top of the plate; we've always been taught to give the runner a little bit of the plate.
"[As a baserunner], my mindset, when I'm coming around third, is to slide hard and late."
Texas Rangers catcher J.P. Arencibia said the new rule "takes away the malicious intent behind the play at the plate."
"It stops guys just going out of their way just to try to dislodge the baseball when [catchers] have the plate," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.
Hall of Famer George Brett, the Kansas City Royals' vice president of baseball operations, said he doesn't like the rule even though he understands that the objective is to reduce injuries.
"I'm not a big fan of it," Brett told ESPN.com. "Catchers are taught to put their foot right in front of home plate, and the plays are bang-bang. I like the collision.
"I don't sit around at home at night and think about it. This is the first time I've thought about it since two months ago when somebody told me, 'They can't run into catchers anymore.' I said, 'That sucks. I love that play.'"
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10512206/mlb-bans-home-collisions-1-exception
― images of war violence and historical smoking (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 25 February 2014 16:02 (ten years ago) link
so without amending the rulebook, MLB has redefined a legal catch
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/transfer-rule-focus-of-cleveland-replay?ymd=20140409&content_id=71485458&vkey=news_mlb
― images of war violence and historical smoking (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 10 April 2014 16:26 (nine years ago) link
I'm sure you've heard, they've fixed this idiotic transfer thing
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/mlb-makes-1st-major-adjustment-of-replay-era-tweaks-transfer-rule-042514
― images of war violence and historical smoking (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 26 April 2014 16:59 (nine years ago) link
Rules quiz:
http://www.sbnation.com/2014/8/27/6075321/obscure-mlb-rules-quiz
I got 7/10.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Friday, 29 August 2014 07:02 (nine years ago) link
In the Arizona Fall League this year:
http://deadspin.com/baseball-will-test-out-six-new-rules-to-speed-up-the-ga-1641283166
Hitters must keep at least one foot inside the batter's box at all times, barring exceptions like foul balls, wild pitches, or if the umpire grants him time out.
Pitchers must throw a pitch within 20 seconds of receiving the ball. Clocks posted in each dugout will count down the 20 seconds.
There will be a maximum break between innings of 2:05, with a clock keeping track. Hitters must be in the batter's box by 1:45. If the hitter's not ready, the umpire can call a strike. If the pitcher doesn't throw a pitch by 2:05, the umpire can call a ball.
Teams will have a maximum of 2:30 to change pitchers, with the clock starting as soon as the reliever enters the playing field.
Teams are limited to a maximum of three mound visits per game, not including pitching changes. This applies to trips to the mound by managers, coaches, and catchers.
Pitchers no longer have to deliver four balls for an intentional walk. The manager can simply signal to the umpire.
― it's taco science, but it works like taco magic (WilliamC), Wednesday, 1 October 2014 22:33 (nine years ago) link
new pace rules for MLB this year
http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2015/2/20/8075545/mlb-pace-of-play-changes-effective-2015
― touch of a love-starved cobra (Dr Morbius), Friday, 20 February 2015 17:10 (nine years ago) link
MLB, MLBPA ADOPT SLIDE RULE ON DOUBLE PLAYS, PACE OF GAME CHANGESInterference Rule Governing Double Play Slides Clarified;Mound Visits, Break Times Adjusted in Pace of Game Program
― mookieproof, Thursday, 25 February 2016 17:09 (eight years ago) link
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/165429062/pace-of-game-changes-new-slide-rule-adopted
― mookieproof, Thursday, 25 February 2016 17:23 (eight years ago) link
“People watch the UFC. But they get mad when a guy breaks his ankle at second base because of a hard slide. I don't get it." -- Ian Kinsler, future Fox analyst
― Andy K, Saturday, 27 February 2016 17:00 (eight years ago) link
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ce_iquoVAAELtrm.jpg:large
― mookieproof, Saturday, 2 April 2016 00:13 (seven years ago) link
In the 9th last night vs the Mets, Jayson Werth was called out for interference making a late slide on a DP breakup attempt. I'm getting a little sick of Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling grousing about the new unmacho world (Keith sneered about "the geniuses" who effected the rule). Nats GM Rizzo also got into a shouting match with the umps after the game. Tough shit, dinosaurs.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/watch-ninth-inning-slide-rule-call-plays-a-big-part-in-mets-win-over-nats/
https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/nats-gm-ump-argue-over-call-on-werth-slide/188622326
― helpless before THRILLARY (Dr Morbius), Friday, 8 July 2016 16:57 (seven years ago) link
oh go fuck yourselves
"Major League Baseball plans on testing a rule change in the lowest levels of the minor leagues this season that automatically would place a runner on second base at the start of extra innings, a distinct break from the game’s orthodoxy that nonetheless has wide-ranging support at the highest levels of the league, sources familiar with the plan told Yahoo Sports."
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mlb-plans-to-test-new-extra-innings-rules-in-rookie-ball-with-joe-torres-approval-224914115.html
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 9 February 2017 12:24 (seven years ago) link
What in the blue hell is that all about.
Honestly, I would prefer ties in baseball to a dumb rule change like that.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Thursday, 9 February 2017 13:55 (seven years ago) link
“It’s not fun to watch when you go through your whole pitching staff and wind up bringing a utility infielder in to pitch.
gotta disagree with you there, Joe.
― Mad Piratical (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 9 February 2017 15:22 (seven years ago) link
i will give you each $1000 if this ever becomes a major league rule
― mookieproof, Thursday, 9 February 2017 15:25 (seven years ago) link
twist: the free runner on second base is bartolo colon
― Karl Malone, Thursday, 9 February 2017 15:28 (seven years ago) link
Anthony Castrovince @castrovinceThis idea has uncovered quite a number of rookie ball purists.
― mookieproof, Thursday, 9 February 2017 16:43 (seven years ago) link
first they came for rookie league, and i said nothing
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 9 February 2017 16:45 (seven years ago) link
gonna need one for this, because c'mon
https://twitter.com/AJCassavell/status/831916548369510400
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 15 February 2017 18:42 (seven years ago) link
that's even worse than jordan walden
― Karl Malone, Wednesday, 15 February 2017 18:53 (seven years ago) link
no one ever calls traveling anymore
― na (NA), Wednesday, 15 February 2017 18:58 (seven years ago) link
that is a fucking weird delivery.
― Mad Piratical (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 15 February 2017 19:12 (seven years ago) link
Cater Crapps
― Andy K, Wednesday, 15 February 2017 19:42 (seven years ago) link
@JeffPassanRob Manfred: There will not be substantive rules changes in 2017 due to "lack of cooperation from the MLBPA."
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 21 February 2017 21:13 (seven years ago) link
@EricFisherSBJAnd Manfred then reveals a new chestnut in new labor deal: a unilateral ability by the league to impose rules changes as soon as next yr@JeffPassanAmong the rules changes MLB could impose, per Manfred: a pitch clock, a smaller strike zone, fewer visits to the mound, auto-intentional BB.
@JeffPassanAmong the rules changes MLB could impose, per Manfred: a pitch clock, a smaller strike zone, fewer visits to the mound, auto-intentional BB.
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 21 February 2017 21:14 (seven years ago) link
yay lack of cooperation
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 21 February 2017 21:35 (seven years ago) link
As part of its initiative to improve pace-of-game play, Major League Baseball has approved a change to the intentional walk rule, going from the traditional four-pitch walk to a dugout signal, team and union sources told ESPN's Howard Bryant.
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18737245/mlb-union-agree-get-rid-traditional-intentional-walkwill-use-signal-dugout
― Andy K, Wednesday, 22 February 2017 02:01 (seven years ago) link
this will save nearly 12 seconds per game
― Karl Malone, Wednesday, 22 February 2017 02:40 (seven years ago) link
i'm so pissed that the miggy cabrera intentional walk single will never happen again
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 22 February 2017 03:04 (seven years ago) link
ugh
― na (NA), Wednesday, 22 February 2017 03:13 (seven years ago) link
what about the Johnny Bench WORLD SERIES fake-IBB strikeout?
(1972)
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 22 February 2017 03:15 (seven years ago) link
i was not alive but that sounds tremendous
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 22 February 2017 03:18 (seven years ago) link
Peter Abraham reports:
There are a group of veteran pitchers who call their own games and MLB is expected to approve a PitchCom-type device that would allow the pitcher to signal to the catcher what he plans to throw or change pitches without shaking heads. It will be experimented with in spring training
― Tracer Hand, Monday, 12 December 2022 01:04 (one year ago) link
Feels like at that point sign stealing by electronic means ought to be allowed, and then it can be a battle of the hackers
Give the fans what they want
― Tracer Hand, Monday, 12 December 2022 01:07 (one year ago) link
... if you want to torment Joey Gallo, you can still torment Joey Gallo. You just risk a lot more than a single if he goes to LF. pic.twitter.com/EMBvuXQjzd— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) September 10, 2022
― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 9 February 2023 08:34 (one year ago) link
i agree w this guy’s argument that this isn’t actually a huge rule change but what i don’t understand is how this creates more risk/reward in shifting. why would teams now start shifting their outfields in this extreme way? something i’m not getting?
― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 9 February 2023 08:57 (one year ago) link
Breaking: MLB’s Joint Competition Committee has voted unanimously to make the extra inning rule permanent for all regular season games moving forward. (2023 and beyond). A runner will be placed at second base at the start of every extra inning. Story coming at espn— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 13, 2023
― mookieproof, Monday, 13 February 2023 18:53 (one year ago) link
i like it. no more cool stories about how the game went to the 22nd inning and it was horrible for everyone involved, but otherwise, in addition to cutting down on game time, it adds some tension to every extra inning
― President of Destiny Encounters International (Karl Malone), Monday, 13 February 2023 18:56 (one year ago) link
still not sure how it speeds up games, given that both teams get the same "advantage" but i'm sure that was all litigated last year
― na (NA), Monday, 13 February 2023 18:57 (one year ago) link
The competition committee also voted unanimously to allow position players to pitch only in extra innings, in the ninth inning when leading team is up by 10 or more runs or anytime when the trailing team is down by 8 or more.— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 13, 2023
― mookieproof, Monday, 13 February 2023 19:00 (one year ago) link
runs per nine innings of regular baseball is (for both teams) 8-something; with the runner starting on second it’s 20-something
― mookieproof, Monday, 13 February 2023 19:06 (one year ago) link
I don't like it--for me, it just bends the basic game out of shape too much. And even though this is demonstrably not true, it always feels like the road team has an advantage (i.e., my guess is the home team is playing from behind more often than not).
― clemenza, Monday, 13 February 2023 19:12 (one year ago) link
Why fucking limit when position players can pitch?! It’s not like teams are doing this for fun. Also won’t this really inhibit any more two-way players?
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 13 February 2023 19:41 (one year ago) link
won’t this really inhibit any more two-way players?
nah
― mookieproof, Monday, 13 February 2023 19:43 (one year ago) link
Only heard a few days ago that they're going to go back to strictly enforcing the balk rule(s) this year. 1) I hope Gausman's not affected too much--there was a game last year where the home-plate ump was just lying in wait for him. 2) They did this one year in the late '80s and it was crazy; balks went up by a few hundred percent, then they ditched that and everything went back to normal the next season.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 22 February 2023 14:52 (one year ago) link
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fpwi3bnX0AEZHrp?format=jpg&name=900x900
if this is what it's going to look like in ML parks... i hate this
i know i'm not representative of the general population but my brain is genuinely incapable of tuning something like that out, it's going to be a nonstop battle to keep my attention on the plate
― ✖, Friday, 24 February 2023 21:09 (one year ago) link
San Diego Padres star Manny Machado committed the first pitch-clock violation in a spring-training game, getting docked a strike because he was not set and facing the pitcher in the batter's box when the clock reached 8 seconds.
― mookieproof, Friday, 24 February 2023 21:24 (one year ago) link
that’s not goodplenty of other sports have time limits on things like foul shots and snaps and thereis zero reason to ever present that information to the viewer
― Tracer Hand, Friday, 24 February 2023 22:33 (one year ago) link
xpostenforcing the rule IS good imo
Yeah I support the pitch clock but I don't want to be aware of it ever
― ✖, Friday, 24 February 2023 22:48 (one year ago) link
From the sound of it it barely even registered in the minors once the players got used to it
― ✖, Friday, 24 February 2023 22:49 (one year ago) link
i am pretty sure that, if any stadium includes the pitch clock indicator in the view of the tv cameras, they'll change that quickly
― z_tbd, Friday, 24 February 2023 23:25 (one year ago) link
Just turned into MLB Network and they called someone out or third strike for not being ready. 6 -6 bottom of the ninth. Braves vs Red Sox.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 25 February 2023 20:46 (one year ago) link
Wow
Small sample but through 10 spring training games the average time of game is 2h 34m. That last time MLB games were faster for a season was 1978 (2h30m).— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) February 25, 2023
― mookieproof, Saturday, 25 February 2023 22:22 (one year ago) link
This is a person who has never watched ST baseball:
Do you happen to know what the average time was for spring training games? I have always felt like they were quicker than regular season games.— Dan Schrage (@DSchrage) February 25, 2023
― Its big ball chunky time (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Saturday, 25 February 2023 22:55 (one year ago) link
Cal Conley does not get set in time and gets called for the strikeout and the game ends pic.twitter.com/rQ8KOv0Sa6— Gaurav (@gvedak) February 25, 2023
― Bee OK, Saturday, 25 February 2023 23:07 (one year ago) link
i mean...arguably just get in the box and be ready with 8 seconds to go imo
― z_tbd, Saturday, 25 February 2023 23:49 (one year ago) link
well this sucks
https://www.mlb.com/news/luis-garcia-to-adjust-windup-due-to-2023-rule-changes
― Tracer Hand, Monday, 27 February 2023 10:35 (one year ago) link
For those concerned that the pitch clock is so prominent in the background of at-bats during spring-training games: The plan in big league ballparks is for it to be out of view of the center-field camera. In other words: TV viewers will not see the physical clock during pitches.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 25, 2023
― na (NA), Tuesday, 28 February 2023 17:31 (one year ago) link
cherry picked clips, of course, but
Landon Knack throwing an entire half inning vs. Pedro Báez throwing 1 pitch. pic.twitter.com/wHa2p6K7k8— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) February 27, 2023
― z_tbd, Thursday, 2 March 2023 16:03 (one year ago) link
Yankees relief pitcher Wandy Peralta struck out a hitter in 20 seconds pic.twitter.com/VwEBzyXH99— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 2, 2023
― na (NA), Friday, 3 March 2023 15:50 (one year ago) link
i love it! and you know what i think i’m going to love it in the post-season too. bring on the craziness.
― Tracer Hand, Friday, 3 March 2023 16:57 (one year ago) link
yeah the pitch clock seems good so far. there are going to be some dumb controversial calls at crucial moments ("how can a playoff game end this way" etc) but the games i've watched seem a lot peppier for sure
― na (NA), Friday, 3 March 2023 17:27 (one year ago) link
Max Scherzer, Pitch Clock Gamesmanship.Long hold. Adams takes his only time out. Then Max stays set so he can pitch as soon as Adams is ready. pic.twitter.com/3uj9ucDFEl— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 3, 2023
― na (NA), Friday, 3 March 2023 18:48 (one year ago) link
Gausman and the balk rule (paywall maybe, not sure):
https://theathletic.com/4277023/2023/03/06/kevin-gausman-delivery-rule-change-balks/
"...it’s a problem for Gausman, because he’s currently starring in a not-so-major motion picture from MLB’s new 'Mess with Your Dreamworks' studios.
It’s a little video feature, shown by MLB to managers and media alike this spring, on now-illegal pitching deliveries. And it stars Gausman, along with Houston righty Luis Garcia, as toe-tappers or false-starters whose old delivery is now considered by MLB to be a balk."
― clemenza, Tuesday, 7 March 2023 16:45 (one year ago) link
I’m watching a spring training game in which 9 runs have already scored, and we’re heading into the bottom of the 7th, and just passed 2 hours of game time. This shit appears to be working
― Tracer Hand, Monday, 20 March 2023 19:07 (one year ago) link
That Scherzer clip above is so funny. What a maniac!
― can i play with march madness? (PBKR), Monday, 20 March 2023 19:29 (one year ago) link
watching white sox/a’s spring training game and the chyron has the pitch clock but not the number of outs
― na (NA), Friday, 24 March 2023 22:19 (one year ago) link
The Tigers and Guardians played a doubleheader in four hours, 13 minutes.
― Andy K, Wednesday, 19 April 2023 01:07 (eleven months ago) link
!!
― Michael F Gill, Wednesday, 19 April 2023 01:12 (eleven months ago) link
https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/story/_/id/36226372/mlb-eyes-more-rule-changes-experiment-atlantic-league
Thoughts?
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 19 April 2023 03:30 (eleven months ago) link
overkill, by a lot
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 19 April 2023 04:56 (eleven months ago) link
Love baseball’s commitment to bad science
― Its big ball chunky time (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Wednesday, 19 April 2023 11:03 (eleven months ago) link
i don’t understand why lowering the mound 6 inches is never on the cards
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 19 April 2023 17:58 (eleven months ago) link
good long article on ABS. this jumped out at me:
Until recently, the technology and application had been substandard -- including a previous version, used in the 2019 Arizona Fall League, that was laughably bad, with curveballs that clipped the bottom front of the zone hitting the plate and being called strikes. MLB scuttled that three-dimensional zone for 2D, upgraded to the Hawk-Eye system best known for its incredibly accurate line-calling in tennis and installed a dozen cameras calibrated to the fixed items on the field -- home plate and the chalked baselines -- that capture the flight of the ball at 330 frames per second.
does that mean the strike zone is no longer defined as a pentagonal solid??
― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 25 May 2023 17:15 (ten months ago) link
sorry, link: https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/insider/story/_/id/37721995/robo-umps-automated-balls-strikes-abs-future-mlb-minor-leagues
― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 25 May 2023 17:16 (ten months ago) link
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/how-have-the-new-rules-changed-the-game/
so far, mostly good, it seems.
...For the most part, I think MLB’s rule changes have been a success. The main observable change is tempo; games are lasting less time despite a similar amount of action. That’s a big change, and as measured by pitch violations, it hasn’t excessively affected any particular team or player. Instead, the game is just moving faster, which was the stated goal of the changes.Changing the rules to increase stolen bases seems to have worked roughly as expected: Teams are running more frequently and with more success. Those steals aren’t making the game unrecognizable, though; we’re talking about an extra half a steal per game, give or take. I think there was reason to worry whether steals would become undefendable, but the evidence suggests that hasn’t happened. Catchers who control the running game are more valuable than in recent years, but that’s also hardly an unwelcome change. For the most part, I think that the extra steals leave the game looking like a slightly faster version of itself, just like the pitch timer changes.On the downside, the new restrictions on infield shifts haven’t accomplished much of anything. Lefties are reaching base more frequently when they put the ball on the ground, but not at pre-shift rates. Defensive positioning is still taking hits away, particularly in the middle of the field. Righty batters still have a slight BABIP advantage on lefties thanks to infield positioning. If the league wants to fix that disparity, there will have to be stricter shift restrictions, probably centered around keeping the area behind second base empty.If you were hoping for mostly the same baseball, congratulations: you’ve got it. If you were hoping for teams to start prioritizing speedy lefty singles hitters, or for batters to start trying to keep the ball on the ground to take advantage of the new defensive restrictions, that hasn’t panned out. Teams are scoring more this year, but that’s mostly unrelated to rules changes. I think that’s great; from my perspective, the league has threaded the needle by affecting how games look without putting their thumb on the scale of offensive and defensive balance.
Changing the rules to increase stolen bases seems to have worked roughly as expected: Teams are running more frequently and with more success. Those steals aren’t making the game unrecognizable, though; we’re talking about an extra half a steal per game, give or take. I think there was reason to worry whether steals would become undefendable, but the evidence suggests that hasn’t happened. Catchers who control the running game are more valuable than in recent years, but that’s also hardly an unwelcome change. For the most part, I think that the extra steals leave the game looking like a slightly faster version of itself, just like the pitch timer changes.
On the downside, the new restrictions on infield shifts haven’t accomplished much of anything. Lefties are reaching base more frequently when they put the ball on the ground, but not at pre-shift rates. Defensive positioning is still taking hits away, particularly in the middle of the field. Righty batters still have a slight BABIP advantage on lefties thanks to infield positioning. If the league wants to fix that disparity, there will have to be stricter shift restrictions, probably centered around keeping the area behind second base empty.
If you were hoping for mostly the same baseball, congratulations: you’ve got it. If you were hoping for teams to start prioritizing speedy lefty singles hitters, or for batters to start trying to keep the ball on the ground to take advantage of the new defensive restrictions, that hasn’t panned out. Teams are scoring more this year, but that’s mostly unrelated to rules changes. I think that’s great; from my perspective, the league has threaded the needle by affecting how games look without putting their thumb on the scale of offensive and defensive balance.
― z_tbd, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 15:47 (nine months ago) link
There was an observation on EW about how the BA points gained by LH batters are lost in the aggregate because teams ALSO cant shift against righties, which reenforces the belief that shifting righties doesn’t really work
― Its big ball chunky time (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 16:24 (nine months ago) link
My favorite thing about the pitch clock is that there's no time to replay the pitch I just saw. Keep the camera on the action, such as it is.
― The Terroir of Tiny Town (WmC), Sunday, 11 June 2023 18:18 (nine months ago) link
They've gotten better at showing replays within the allotted time, gave them fits at the beginning of the year
― Tracer Hand, Sunday, 11 June 2023 18:52 (nine months ago) link
Braves aren't showing replays on balls in play if they're just groundouts or flyouts. Arcia just went out to short center to make a nice over the shoulder catch, no replay. I'm really loving this -- it more closely matches the experience of being at the park.
― The Terroir of Tiny Town (WmC), Sunday, 11 June 2023 19:12 (nine months ago) link