Manfred’s forward thinking is good for the game
Commissioner Rob Manfred said last week he wants he wants baseball’s rules to evolve in a way that reflects modern reality, but he also wants to uphold the rich history and traditions of the game. While he’s evolving the rules and upholding tradition, Manfred said he wants to shorten games and add more offense.
If Hill and Don weren’t taking notes they should have been. That’s the way an American politician is supposed to sound. In fewer than 50 words the commissioner succeeded in placing himself on every side of every issue.
Then he spoiled it all by discussing specifics, something true politicians avoid doing at all costs.
Manfred said he’s going to discuss the state of the game with the owners at the next meeting. He wants them to consider shrinking the strike zone, outlawing or limiting infield shifts, limiting the number of pitching changes and adopting a time clock for pitchers. He’ll even bring up the possibility of lowering the mound.
Hmmm. It seems as though evolving the game — perhaps improving the game would be a better way to put it — is what’s really on Manfred’s mind. He apparently feels that the game’s traditions are nice, but they can remain only if they don’t get in the way of needed changes.
Good. Major League Baseball needs some forward thinking.
The time of game and the number of strikeouts are now at an all-time high. That translates to less action over a longer time period, which isn’t what anyone wants.
The game today is more prosperous than it has ever been, but unless changes occur there is probably trouble ahead. A recent poll showed that the average age of the persons watching a network telecast is 56. Younger fans aren’t into the game the way their parents and grandparents are. Most alarming of all is the fact that October playoff games are regularly trounced by routine football games in the television ratings.
I don’t happen to agree with every proposal, but I’m very glad baseball finally has a commissioner who’s willing to bring these things up and at least consider them.
Shrinking the strike zone, curtailing infield shifts and limiting the number of pitching changes would help the offense. Limiting the number of mid-inning pitching changes would speed the game as well.
I, for one, would like to see even more changes.
I would propose that mound visits be severely limited or even outlawed entirely. Most of them are conducted solely for the purpose of stalling, and nothing would be subtracted from the game if they were eliminated. A manager making a pitching change could report directly to the plate umpire and the team could then be given 90 seconds to get its new pitcher in place and resume the game. Perhaps a rule could also be introduced that the new pitcher must either complete the inning or pitch to a minimum of three batters. That would both help the offense and speed the game.
I wouldn’t stop there, either.
The most common “nothing” play in baseball is the two-strike foul and it happens multiple times in every game. This flies in the face of the game’s traditions, but I think limiting the number of two-strike fouls would benefit the game significantly.
Suppose a rule were introduced that a third twostrike foul in any at bat would result in a strike out. If this were done in conjunction with shrinking the strike zone it might lead to shorter at bats and more balls being put into play. That would be a recipe for the commissioner’s dream -- more action and faster games.
Pickoff attempts are another way the game can come a standstill. The pitcher has always been permitted as many throws to an occupied base as he wishes and most of those do not alter the game situation. Perhaps a penalty for excessive pickoff throws should be introduced.
For example, three consecutive pickoff moves would add a ball to the count on the batter. A fourth would be two balls. Etc. Yes, that would make base stealing easier, but it would also add action to the game and reduce the dead time.
Just trying to help you, Commissioner. Keep up the good work.
A FEW STATISTICS (Wednesday’s games not included): In 36 games since the All-Star break Joey Votto of the Reds has batted .455. Throw in 29 walks (three of them intentional) and you have an on base percentage of .545. Before the break he hit .252 with an OBP of .386… Chris Archer of the Rays has a 2.61 earned run average in 14 starts at home, but a 5.97 ERA in 13 road starts. Archer also leads the American League in strike outs (192) despite the fact that his won-loss record is a miserable 7-17… Mookie Betts of the Red Sox has scored 99 runs and driven in 89. Accounting for the fact that he has hit 28 home runs he has had a direct hand in 160 of Boston’s 685 runs…The top four names in the National League batting race – D.J. LeMahieu, Daniel Murphy, Corey Seager and Jean Segura – are all middle infielders…The Angels have not won an extra-inning game…Chase Utley of the Dodgers has completed 405 at bats without grounding into a double play. Odubel Herrera of the Phillies has hit into only one in 457 at bats. Every other major league regular has hit into at least two…Kyle Hendricks of the Cubs now leads the majors in earned run average (2.16). He ascended to that berth when injured Dodgers pitcher Clay Kershaw (1.79) became ineligible because he had pitched an insufficient number of innings.