Taking the game back to the future

Baseball has changed, and not for the better. Games last forever, pitchers don’t last at all and everything is run from spreadsheets. To many, the game has become little more than a glorified home run derby. With that in mind, here are 10 changes to make baseball great again:

Baseball is meant to be played with two infielders on one side of second base, two on the other. Make it a rule, and make them have at least one foot on the infield dirt. It ruins the flow of the game and eliminates scenes of managers kicking dirt and arguing with umpires.

One fewer ad between innings would shave nearly 10 minutes off the game, a lifetime in today’s attention-challenged world.

Every pitcher should have to pitch to at least three batters, no exceptions. This would not only speed up the game but force managers to think a little more instead of relying entirely on analytics.

Make each team have a two-way player like Shohei Ohtani. The player must pitch at least once a week and be a hitter at least two other days.

Homers are at a record level. Admit the ball has changed; do something about it.

Give players credit for a hit every time they successfully sacrifice.

Call strikes from letters to knees. Pitchers will throw more strikes, and batters will swing more often.

Limit the number of relievers a team can carry so managers don’t micromanage pitching staffs.

Each team should have at least four a year. Use the days saved to begin the season in April, not March.