23 MLB Offseason News!

[daddywags]

I'm not particularly sold on the changes (especially the pick-off limitation), but if they result in more action in the game I'll be happy. The game has gotten a little stale lately, IMO, with all the Ks, HRs, and ground outs to short right field.

 

[daddywags]

Stolen bases actually increased 10% from 2021 to 2022.
Rcristal

From 1976-2001 only 3 seasons saw fewer than 3,000 total MLB stolen bases and only 1 fewer than 2,900. Since 2001 there have been only 2 seasons with 3,000 stolen bases and 5 with at least 2,900. The last 3 full seasons have averaged 2,327 SBs. You have to go back to 1973 to find another number that low. Just for context.

 

[Cleveland is the Reason]

Lowering the mound didn’t ruin the game.

Bringing outfield fences in didn’t ruin the game.

Replay reviews didn’t ruin the game.

Blocking rules at the plate to protect catchers didn’t ruin the game.

Pitcher substance bans didn’t ruin the game.

The game will be fine with slightly larger bases and a pickoff limit.

 

[Criznit]

Lowering the mound didn’t ruin the game.

Bringing outfield fences in didn’t ruin the game.

Replay reviews didn’t ruin the game.

Blocking rules at the plate to protect catchers didn’t ruin the game.

Pitcher substance bans didn’t ruin the game.

The game will be fine with slightly larger bases and a pickoff limit.

And it's hard not seeing a pitch clock making it "better" if you ask me.

 

[Cleveland is the Reason]

And it's hard not seeing a pitch clock making it "better" if you ask me.

To me it’s all about pace of games.

When I was younger a 1-0, 2-0 game took 1:45 to 2:00. That same game feels like 2:30 to 3:00 now. No older fan should be mad about potential changes that will bring the briskness of a game back. That’s what we grew up on, not these 3:30 hour snooze fests.

I could be in my room doing homework listening to Herb Score and Nev Chandler and the game would be over before I was done.

More action, less downtime is what the game needs. Especially if it is trying to attract younger fans.

 

[Gson]

I like 2-0 games that take 3 plus hours.. where every nuance and possible bobble has a YUUUUUUGEEE effect on the outcome!..

if it happens a little faster.. okay..

 

[CDAV45]

Completely disagree. Slow players will still be slow. Catchers that throw well will still fair well. 'Fuck Around and Find Out' will still apply to guys that lead off too far. What will stop: 90% of pickoff attempts, which were only being done to stall or 'keep the runner close'. Players will learn to steal bases again. It will make ABs more interesting, it will make pitchers work faster, it will reward teams that put the ball in play, and it will help kill the massive amount of 'downtime' that has crept into game times over the last 25 years and made what was once a snappy, enjoyable game to become like sitting through a movie that's an hour too long.

And the biggest reason why we should love it: the Gs are poised to exploit the shit out of it. Jose will go nuts. Kwan, Amed, Gimenez, and Brennan will see bumps in SBs. I think even Oscar gets into it. Straw will become a holy terror as a pinch runner. About the only issue could be Zunino if his arm doesn't rebound. It also allows the game to see a bump in scoring and action without adding steroids and juiced balls. And that alone should be looked on favorably by fans.

That's a good take and I hope you're right. However, I still think that they are advantages that downplay the history of stealing bases. They didn't need to enlarge the bases to prevent all the unneeded throwovers to 1B. They could have just went with the pitch clock and limit throws to 1B.

 

[sportscoach]

Lowering the mound didn’t ruin the game.

Bringing outfield fences in didn’t ruin the game.

Replay reviews didn’t ruin the game.

Blocking rules at the plate to protect catchers didn’t ruin the game.

Pitcher substance bans didn’t ruin the game.

The game will be fine with slightly larger bases and a pickoff limit.

I just don't like the only 3 throws... Certain players will steal or draw three throws every single time they are on base...

 

[CDAV45]

I know some people just struggle with the very concept of change, no matter what it is... How can you say this when we haven't even played a single MLB game with the rules/changes?

I am not a fan of some of these changes, but oh well. Additionally when i see extreme attitudes like this, I can't help but roll my eyes and like the changes more. In fact I will cheer them on simply to oppose sentiments like this.

BIGGER BASES RULE.

...and some people struggle with tradition. That's not to say all tradition is good and doesn't need changed, but should this boost SB over careers causing records that have been held for years or even decades to be broken then the new record holder should have an asterisk by his name with an explanation. All done for what? Because some want to pick up the pace of the game and in order to do so they had to create a physical advantage? Players are bigger, stronger and faster than ever before so the motive to do this is a bit confounding.

I only suspect this and don't have solid proof, but the pace of the game was slowed by the way it is managed now, not how it is played. Over the last 50+ yrs what has changed other than the number of mound visits and pitching changes?

I also feel that the narrative that these changes help teams that lack power and have more speed is false. In fact, I think it will have the opposite effect and give the teams that can afford to sign the big boppers the advantage of advancing bases more frequently too. I'm not going deny that I fucking hate small ball when a team is designed around using it as its largest advantage. I don't think it has ever worked or will ever work, and honestly it's about as exciting as watching grass grow so my opinion on this matter is admittedly slanted.

 

[CDAV45]

To me it’s all about pace of games.

When I was younger a 1-0, 2-0 game took 1:45 to 2:00. That same game feels like 2:30 to 3:00 now. No older fan should be mad about potential changes that will bring the briskness of a game back. That’s what we grew up on, not these 3:30 hour snooze fests.

I could be in my room doing homework listening to Herb Score and Nev Chandler and the game would be over before I was done.

More action, less downtime is what the game needs. Especially if it is trying to attract younger fans.

Then what is the core reason for the longer times to complete games? Was it due to the bases being to small or far apart? After all, the size and space between bases has been consistent for what...100 yrs? I also don't believe 9 inning games ever completed in 1:45 minutes unless the were extremely low scoring games with very few pitching changes. Do you think the larger bases are going to allow for outs to occur quicker or longer, and who wants to watch 1-0 or 2-1 games that consistently occur? I think it's a safe bet to say that anyone that wants to see that is in the minority. I feel that the younger crowd appreciates more physicality rather than nuances. Ask a 16 yr old what player they would prefer to watch, one that steals 40 bases, hits .300 and hits 10 HR or one that hits .250 and clubs 35 HR, but doesn't steal a single base.

Please don't take my questions as me being a smart ass, because that is certainly not my intention. I genuinely don't understand the logic behind some of these changes. What's next? Are we going to limit the number of relievers on the roster to 5 that way there are fewer pitching changes? After all, the biggest reason for the longer times is the amount of mound visits and pitching substitutions.

I'd be curious to see if the time between innings has expanded over the years with all of the advertising.

All these silly changes being made to "help the game" with the biggest issue being fucking ignored and never talked about. MLB will not be fixed by dancing around the real issue. As long as there are teams with $300M payrolls and teams with $68M payrolls, MLB is broken.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

The only thing that can ruin the game is you miserable fucks.

It's like every one of you has the worst case of blue balls and just need baseball back to get that sweet, sweet relief.

And I wouldn't have it any other way

 

[sportscoach]

The only thing that can ruin the game is you miserable fucks.

It's like every one of you has the worst case of blue balls and just need baseball back to get that sweet, sweet relief.

And I wouldn't have it any other way

You won't find a better baseball forum anywhere on the interwebs!

We just have too much free time when we don't have games to watch lol

 

[rcristal]

Lowering the mound didn’t ruin the game.

Bringing outfield fences in didn’t ruin the game.

Replay reviews didn’t ruin the game.

Blocking rules at the plate to protect catchers didn’t ruin the game.

Pitcher substance bans didn’t ruin the game.

The game will be fine with slightly larger bases and a pickoff limit.

The first three definitely hurt the very structure of the game.
Definitely!

Rcristal

 

[rcristal]

I like 2-0 games that take 3 plus hours.. where every nuance and possible bobble has a YUUUUUUGEEE effect on the outcome!..

if it happens a little faster.. okay..

Very well said! A 2-0 nailbitter is fine at three hours.
College football is over 3 1/2 hours and no one complains.
Rcristal

 

[CBBI]

Very well said! A 2-0 nailbitter is fine at three hours.
College football is over 3 1/2 hours and no one complains.
Rcristal

Ehhhhh I wouldn’t say that.

Take out the pageantry and extreme fan interest and judge college football as a pure television experience and it’s an extremely bad product.

Some football games quite literally take four hours because of all the clock stoppages and commercials. It’s brutal.