New Intentional Walk Rule: Like It?

[SAllen2556]

Originally Posted by KMayUSA6060

Sorry, but if you can't appreciate and enjoy baseball as it has been for over 100 years, then the sport isn't for you. Instead, I have a sport where thugs and criminals get to have a train wreck collision for 11 minutes every Sunday, while you sit and watch those "11 minutes of action" for 3-4 hours.

I will never understand the need in this country to ruin and take away what other people enjoy, just because they can't appreciate it or don't like it.

I'm really starting to hate Manfred.

But the point is that the game ISN"T the same as it has been for over 100 years.
This graph says it all. This is NOT the same game our grandparents watched. What the hell is going on to make the game last over an hour longer than when it was the #1 sport in America? You would think games were 12 innings today, not 9.

And again, IBB's are not the cause. It's the over-coaching and constant time-outs, whether caused by excessive visits to the mound by catchers, coaches, and other players, or batters constantly stepping out and adjusting every piece of equipment on their bodies, or 10 minute stoppages every time a new pitcher enters the game. If they would just address these issues, they'd cut at least a 1/2 hour off of every game.

If I were the commissioner:
1. A pitching coach would not be allowed to visit the mound unless he's removing the pitcher. And I'd eventually make it a rule that pitching changes would be called from the dugout, and the manager would be allowed maybe one visit to the mound per game. If you're going to use 4 pitchers a game I want to make the transition from one pitcher to the next as seamless as possible to keep the flow of the game moving. I'd also limit the number of warm-up pitches the new pitcher is allowed. You already warmed up in the bullpen. Get in there and go!

2. Catchers would get 1 visit to the mound per inning.

3. Infielders would not be allowed to call time out for a strategy session at the mound. Or maybe 1 per game at most.

MLB_Game_Length_1920-2014_9_Inn_or_Less.0.jpg

[KMayUSA6060]

Originally Posted by SAllen2556

But the point is that the game ISN"T the same as it has been for over 100 years.
This graph says it all. This is NOT the same game our grandparents watched. What the hell is going on to make the game last over an hour longer than when it was the #1 sport in America? You would think games were 12 innings today, not 9.
Attachment 263710

Does that graph depict actual game play, or start-to-finish times?

Two things...

1) If it's start-to-finish times, that's easily explained by the increase in advertisements/media timeouts, which has nothing to do with the game of baseball itself.

2) Pitchers aren't used the same. Bullpens are utilized more in today's game than ever before. "Bullpen games" blow, but it is what it is. Those don't happen very often.


I agree mound visits should be limited, though.

[Tripredacus]

Also cut out the thing where a manager will swap a relief pitcher out multiple times in an inning, sometimes to just handle a single batter. I get that it is a strategy that apparently does work, but that really does drag the game out.

[58pinson]

If it was the true intention of the powers that be to shorten the length of a baseball game the first place anyone with an IQ above Mr. Potato Head would look is the time between innings. Unfortunately that would require them to trod on their relationship with advertisers (=$$$), and this is against their religion.
For a Baseball Commissioner to have the effrontery to announce this change as an attemt to speed up the game makes me seriously question his qualifications for the job.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by SAllen2556

But the point is that the game ISN"T the same as it has been for over 100 years.
This graph says it all. This is NOT the same game our grandparents watched. What the hell is going on to make the game last over an hour longer than when it was the #1 sport in America? You would think games were 12 innings today, not 9.

And again, IBB's are not the cause. It's the over-coaching and constant time-outs, whether caused by excessive visits to the mound by catchers, coaches, and other players, or batters constantly stepping out and adjusting every piece of equipment on their bodies, or 10 minute stoppages every time a new pitcher enters the game. If they would just address these issues, they'd cut at least a 1/2 hour off of every game.

If I were the commissioner:
1. A pitching coach would not be allowed to visit the mound unless he's removing the pitcher. And I'd eventually make it a rule that pitching changes would be called from the dugout, and the manager would be allowed maybe one visit to the mound per game. If you're going to use 4 pitchers a game I want to make the transition from one pitcher to the next as seamless as possible to keep the flow of the game moving. I'd also limit the number of warm-up pitches the new pitcher is allowed. You already warmed up in the bullpen. Get in there and go!

2. Catchers would get 1 visit to the mound per inning.

3. Infielders would not be allowed to call time out for a strategy session at the mound. Or maybe 1 per game at most.

Attachment 263710

Hard to believe that all those home run trots can add that much...

[buymycards]

http://redirect.viglink.com/?format=...lt%3D%22%22%3E

This link is from one of Stephens ads in the BST for a 1952 Sporting News. They were trying to speed up the game back in 52.

I think that batters should be put on the clock. After the ball enters the catchers glove, the batter should have 20 seconds to scratch their nuts, adjust their gloves, spit, and stretch, and if they are not ready to bat at that point then a strike is called. The same thing with the pitchers. Once the batter is in the box, the pitcher has 20 seconds to make the pitch, or a ball is called.

[EvilKing00]

i hate it. If u want to int walk a guy u need to throw 4 pitches away from him. 1 - what if theres a wild pitch?
2 - what if catcher drops ball with a man on?
3 - what if u have a man on 2b and u want to swipe 3b?

taking away from the strategy of the game is always a bad thing imo