DH in both leagues, 7 inning doubleheaders should stay. I absolutely hate the man on 2nd to start extra innings, and not a big fan f the expanded playoffs either
is there anyone that's clamoring for the extra inning rule? I'm not in favor of expanded playoffs but I always just assumed it was going to happen anyway. Money talks...
So at the end of the day whatever I don’t care how this plays out. But having a 162 game season and then half the league in the playoffs makes no damn sense. It would be more fun if they went back the other way and just went season > LCS > World Series. Or even season > World Series.
Makes more sense with so many regular season games.
But it’s all about TV money no what competitive structure makes the most sense.
Manfred is a terrible commissioner and he continues to show that with some of the moves he wants to make.
If you want to make a change to the playoffs, eliminate the 1-game play-in, but don't let half the league in. Next thing you know, he'll be recommending pod sites for playoffs and no off days
I am fine with the changes baseball needs to shake things up it is in decline
Are they getting new viewers with a man automatically on 2nd in extra innings? If games are too long are not exciting enough adding in an auto baserunner isn't a way to fix it - the people that don't want to watch aren't going to magically tune in in the 10th.
Sure the owners want the expanded playoffs but at what price? The union will want a chunk of the additional money.
Will the owners be enthusiastic about the 10th inning rule and the 7 inning doubleheaders if the union is unwilling to make wage concessions for the "shorter hours."?
I see the DH coming in the NL. The union wants it to keep more jobs and the owners want it so their high-priced pitchers aren't risking themselves at the plate and on the base paths.
Note the bargaining has already started with the owners stating they lost 3 billion this year.
Note also the .245 BA lowest since 1968. Effect of the HR and walk over all dictated by analytics?
I kind of want the double header thing and the extra inning rule to go back the way it was, but at the end of the day, Manfred has gone all in on "speed up the game", which is code for "Gen Z and Millennials don't have the attention span to watch the game". As my Gen X ass gets older, I've given up on that fight over this, get off my lawn, yell at clouds, etc etc.
The expanded playoffs is bad on so many levels and you can see why the owners want it. Yes, there is the extra TV/streaming revenue by letting most teams in. But the other part of it is, why should teams spend money when if you are barely over mediocre that's good enough. The trade deadline is going to fizzle because you will have fewer sellers. The days of the Yankees building their 100+ win juggernauts of the 1990s/2000s will be gone. All you'll have to do is win around 90 and that should be enough. So he's advocating watering down his product to hope to make more money with playoff series and better competition due to mediocrity.
DH in both leagues, 7 inning doubleheaders should stay. I absolutely hate the man on 2nd to start extra innings, and not a big fan f the expanded playoffs either
I don’t think the 7 inning double headers will stay, too many clubs charge 2 admissions for most double headers. I’m not paying full price for a 7 inning game
rule is that it is not fair. If Luke Voit makes the last out or the 9th, he starts on 2nd. If Tyler Wade makes the last out he is on 2nd....huge difference.
Not sure on the doubleheader 7 inning games. It may actually help because of the BPs being overused.
I liked the 28 man roster, if that is retained, but luxury tax would need to be adjusted.
especially with how "record" driven Baseball is. You are taking at-bats away from hitters and you are now allowing it to be much easier for top en pitchers to get complete games, saving the bullpen.
My question is - what does it achieve? What non-baseball fans did they poll to determine this would have a positive effect on ratings and/or attendence?
fucking around with the length of games, you also have implications to stats. Imagine if you had some NFL teams just play 3 quarters of a game and you are a RB with a chance to win a rushing title?
ruins the point of the sport. Add something like the FA Cup in soccer if you want to chase extra dollars.
DH and doubleheader rules are fine.
I feel the opposite. I'd rather expanded playoffs than gimmick rules (if I had to pick one or the other). End of the day the 2 best teams in baseball are playing for the WS this year - I imagine that would be the norm. You may get an early upset every so often, but it is what it is.
MLB used Covid as an excuse to ram through this bullshit and I'll be surprised if they don't fully implement the rules of covid-ball moving forward.
We were headed for universal DH anyway (as much as I don't like it) I can live with it in the NL.
The extra innings rule and 7 inning doubleheader games are a joke and ruin the game to me. This makes the players "safer"? It's baseball. This is the 21st century. These athletes have the best doctors, best travel arrangements, best of everything and they can't play extra inning games?
player safety is a load of bullshit when it comes to extra innings. Heck, by putting a runner on 2nd, you probably increase the probability of a collision at the plate trying to score him.
Out of all the games played, less than 1% of them go beyond 12 innings. Any correlation to player safety is watered down by the rare occurrences that games go longer.
DH in both leagues sucks about this. Too many playoff teams dilutes the regular season. 7 inning doubleheaders? C'mon, as pointed out, baseball is record driven. Leave it alone. It's cool to see a 16 inning+ game once on awhile. Starting runners on 2nd base may be the single worst idea I have seen in professional sports in decades (maybe ever ). Leave it alone! Bad enough we have pitch count clocks.
The expanded playoffs compensates for a truncated season, in theory. The 7 inning doubleheader assists in rescheduling missed games due to COVID related issues. The extra inning rule assists with re-scheduling and preservation of arms in a crazy season.
All of these ideas suck in a "normal" season. 162 games is, by far, a long enough season to not expand the playoffs at all. It is double the next longest season in the big 4. There is no need for an extra round. But, this one I can live with. The other two, as some have pointed out, are amateurish. They denigrate the game.
As for the last, I absolutely believe MLB needs to have a universal rule about the DH vs. pitchers batting moving forward. Personally, I am a fan of pitchers hitting. But, I also don't feel strongly enough about it and realize this isn't going to happen. So, a universal DH rule is the only one that makes sense.
DH in both leagues, 7 inning doubleheaders should stay. I absolutely hate the man on 2nd to start extra innings, and not a big fan f the expanded playoffs either
I don’t think the 7 inning double headers will stay, too many clubs charge 2 admissions for most double headers. I’m not paying full price for a 7 inning game
I would think 7 inning double headers would eliminate the separate admissions, which is probably reason #1 the owners would not approve.
With the added runner rule, the longest of 68 games of 10 innings or longer were a pair of 13-inning contests, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“I think the players like it,” Manfred said. “I think it’s really good from a safety and health perspective that keeps us from putting players in situations where they’re out there too long or in positions they’re not used to playing.”
With the added runner rule, the longest of 68 games of 10 innings or longer were a pair of 13-inning contests, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“I think the players like it,” Manfred said. “I think it’s really good from a safety and health perspective that keeps us from putting players in situations where they’re out there too long or in positions they’re not used to playing.”
The only safety issue is extending pitchers. Field players? What are they likely to hurt? Nothing.
Even Covid - just how much "contact" is there between teams. Runner on 1st base with 1st baseman? The umpire and catchers have the longest/most interaction and not one player or umpire got sick.
So safety is a bullshit reason. They even removed contact at the plate on plays at the plate.....
ruins the point of the sport. Add something like the FA Cup in soccer if you want to chase extra dollars.
DH and doubleheader rules are fine.
I feel the opposite. I'd rather expanded playoffs than gimmick rules (if I had to pick one or the other). End of the day the 2 best teams in baseball are playing for the WS this year - I imagine that would be the norm. You may get an early upset every so often, but it is what it is.
Baseball is a sport where, in a short series, an upset is not unlikely. Every team in the post season should have at least 1 top flight pitcher. You steal a game with your ace in a a 3 or 5 game series (but especially 3) your chances increase dramatically.
At least we can feel safe bubble scenarios with no off days won't be on the table. Owners are not going to give up the hosting of post season games when things are "normal". OF all the rules this year, the no off day thrown at teams at the last minute was the worst. In my opinion, it did more to change the outcome of a post season series than anything else and really diminished the role of an ace pitcher. As a long time baseball fan, I have always enjoyed a long, 7 game series and seeing how managers handle their ace and how the ace responds. If anything, I'd rather see an ace have the opportunity to got 3 times if needed, not potentially once. What has been more exciting than watching a Jack Morris or Orel Hershiser pitch deep in a game on 3 days rest with everything on the line? I take that over a fucking opener and parade of relievers any day of the week and twice on Sunday (but not 7 innings). As it is, the way pitching and bullpens are handled now makes things less exciting.
These guys have been playing regular double headers multiple times a week for years before getting to the majors. Most ballplayers just want to play. Regular double headers and extra innings are a blessing. Tiring? You bet. Worried about pitchers? Make rules to recall players/send them down/sit them or rosters a little more flexible. But, what position player, other than the one off aging veteran here or there, is worried about a few extra innings once in a while? Most welcome the extra ABs and with a universal DH rule, there is more opportunity to keep a guy in the lineup the next day without killing him. F Manfred.
Extra playoffs obviously is a financial decision. The others, I fail to see how they make teams a single dime more, which is what it will boil down to for the owners and players.
Manfred has gone all in on "speed up the game", which is code for "Gen Z and Millennials don't have the attention span to watch the game". As my Gen X ass gets older, I've given up on that fight over this, get off my lawn, yell at clouds, etc etc.
Matt - excellent point. I was talking with someone who was born in 85, recently about baseball and he couldn't fathom only 4 teams made the playoffs before they added the divisional series. I think the instant gratification or the sense of pride (maybe?) that if a fanbase might feel by qualifying for the playoffs, even if expanded. I guess it allows teams to raise banners and feel a sense of accomplishment.
I was trying to explain how pennant races in September were exciting where you would watch the standings and that, in itself, was almost a playoff-like atmosphere.
I guess we are the grumpy old men who long for the good ole days. All leagues are placating to their current and future customers (the youth).
like I said the best 2 teams this year are still playing right now. Any upsets that happened prior are what they are. I'm a firm believer that if you get upset early you aren't good enough to win the whole thing anyway.
If they are going to do the expanded playoffs then it needs to have some sort of a guaranteed number of years where it will be implemented so teams can adjust their rosters (and budgets) accordingly.
Don't mind the expanded playoffs but absolutely hate
has been great. Makes the playoffs more like real baseball where you have to use your whole staff/pen rather than just a few guys.
Expanded playoffs... maybe 6 teams per league max but the players will never go 2020 rules permanently. There’d be no incentive to max out payroll if everyone makes the playoffs.
The only one of these rules that even remotely addresses this is the extra inning rule. At that, this is dealing with a scenario that occurs less than 10% of the time. Shorten the game by enforcing time limits between pitches, limiting batters stepping out after every pitch, short mound visits, etc. These are all things that have been discussed and never enforced. But, the rest are BS.
I was just becoming a fan of baseball as they moved to add the ALCS and ALDS. I get that it was a drastic change for fans up until that point. And to some, it may have seemed counter intuitive after extending the season. However, the league has nearly doubled in size since the so-called golden era of baseball. When you had 2 leagues with no divisions and less than 10 teams each, there wasn't much needed after a long season. However, with now multiple divisions to accommodate more than 30 teams, where they play each other significantly less times, having some level of expanded playoffs makes sense. I was not a huge fan of the WC at first, but it did add an additional pennant race aspect to the season. I think adding a second WC team and a play-in or extra round has had the opposite effect. It has watered down the playoff race by expanding the possibilities. There needs to be some balance.
I’d like to see batting gloves eliminated. You can do your own math, but in a typical 250 pitch game, the time lost for “adjusting my gloves” nearly every pitch is likely in the range of 12-15 minutes a game. I think there was some quote a while ago about the positive aspect of speeding up the game by 45 seconds or something. Let’s try for some real change. They could allow batting glove makers’ logos on their sleeves for marketing (since we know that’s what it’s about).
Maybe we need a “peeves” thread, but as an old timer, I can’t stand the whimpification of the game. I think shin pads & elbow pads are fine - they do some good. But batting gloves are all about “merchandising” (to quote Spaceballs). How about NASCAR logos all over the uinis?
the only thing I agree with is the DH. While I was never crazy about i
it just doesn't make sense for the NL to hold out any longer. For one thing, the AL and NL now exist in name only. The leagues are no longer run separately. All the minor leagues use it, so the pitcher may have to hit MBL pitching after not having hit for YEARS. I also like the one game play in for WC teams. You should get rewarded for winning the division and punished for not.
As for speeding up the game, let the umps enforce existing rules about staying in the batters box, pitchers delaying etc.
And for God's Cup, PLEASE end the shift. Mandate 2 INFs on either side of 2nd base. K, BB, HR is to me BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING. Put the ball in play.
but realize teams just aren't prepared for it with their pitching staffs yet - that's why this would need to be something they commit to for a minimum number of years so teams can plan for it and execute on a new strategy.
It's funny, because they obviously thought increasing HRs would increase excitement and interest. It seems that overwhelmingly the opposite has happened. For most fans the HR is now cheapened and boring and the quality of play has lessened.
It is not all 16 teams in the play offs from here on out
I hate the no day off scenario. We all have lives. It is rare that in normal circumstances I'll go several days in a row without conflicts, travel, dinners, family events, etc.
I hate the no day off scenario. We all have lives. It is rare that in normal circumstances I'll go several days in a row without conflicts, travel, dinners, family events, etc.
That's a good point. It is an off day for fans as well.
It's funny, because they obviously thought increasing HRs would increase excitement and interest. It seems that overwhelmingly the opposite has happened. For most fans the HR is now cheapened and boring and the quality of play has lessened.
I agree...imagine Billy Martin managing now.
No off days becomes a bit impractical with normal home locations.
It's a little easier if you do day games on getaway days, but even so, when you have teams with decent distance between them you're lowering the quality of play having long flights and games that same evening.
I hate the no day off scenario. We all have lives. It is rare that in normal circumstances I'll go several days in a row without conflicts, travel, dinners, family events, etc.
The no days off thing won't survive "Covid baseball" where all the games of a series are played in one park.
As soon as fans return to the stadiums MLB teams will need travel days whenever teams switch parks.
I’d like to see batting gloves eliminated. You can do your own math, but in a typical 250 pitch game, the time lost for “adjusting my gloves” nearly every pitch is likely in the range of 12-15 minutes a game. I think there was some quote a while ago about the positive aspect of speeding up the game by 45 seconds or something. Let’s try for some real change. They could allow batting glove makers’ logos on their sleeves for marketing (since we know that’s what it’s about).
Maybe we need a “peeves” thread, but as an old timer, I can’t stand the whimpification of the game. I think shin pads & elbow pads are fine - they do some good. But batting gloves are all about “merchandising” (to quote Spaceballs). How about NASCAR logos all over the uinis?
100% agree with how batters fidgeting with gloves or whatever between pitches is one of the biggest causes of longer games. Going back to video clips of games in the 60s, 70s, even 80s, batters got back in the box quickly and games took 2.5 hours.
Banning gloves is an interesting idea. But I say hit them in the wallet. $1000 fine for every time they take more than 10 seconds to get back in the box or something like that
Fucking Nomar and Ortiz used to spend 20-30 seconds fidgeting between every pitch
It's funny, because they obviously thought increasing HRs would increase excitement and interest. It seems that overwhelmingly the opposite has happened. For most fans the HR is now cheapened and boring and the quality of play has lessened.
I agree...imagine Billy Martin managing now.
I with both of you guys on this. Hit and run, bunt for base hits, aggressive base running. Go with the pitch. Triples! That's baseball.
1. DH- in favor
2. Runner on 2nd to start extra innings: I'm fine with a mechanism to prevent absurdly long regular season games. I do think it makes it a little more exciting, especially in the three-true-outcome version that baseball has become. But I'd institute it starting in the 11th or 12th inning and at least have an extra inning or two unadulterated.
3. 7 inning doubleheaders: Fine with me. Don't care either way as I couldn't sit through a doubleheader anymore anyway with the pace of play.
4. Playoff format. FUCKING HATE IT. Baseball is a game of sample sizes. It's a streaky sport and it's why 162 games (or something close to that) makes a lot of sense.
Short series (Best of 1/3/5) are already problematic because of this and allowing more teams into the postseason only corrupts the regular season further, more so than any other sport. If so many teams make the postseason, then why would I follow a team through 162 games?
If baseball has any expansion, it should be set up such that the underdog team has to beat teh favorite more times than the favorite has to win. In other words, if it's 8 teams per League, the series should all be
Round 1: Wild card games: Best of 2: underdog has to win both games
Round 2 Division Series: Best of 4: underdog has to win 3 games before favorite wins 2 games. Though I'd live with this being Best of 5 or Best of 7
Manfred is a terrible commissioner and he continues to show that with some of the moves he wants to make.
If you want to make a change to the playoffs, eliminate the 1-game play-in, but don't let half the league in. Next thing you know, he'll be recommending pod sites for playoffs and no off days
I only tune into the playoffs (and I think there are many like me as far as baseball is concerned) and an expanded playoff format pretty much ruins the reasons people like us to watch. It's a slug of a season and now you are just letting every Tom, Dick, and Harry in? I didn't watch one game of the playoffs this year because of it.
especially the expanded playoffs that totally and completely de-value the regular season. If you can't win your division, you don't belong in the playoffs - in any sport.
Average and shitty teams, because it potentially gives them hope throughout the entire season, because they only have to get to around .500 to make the playoffs.
But for me, as a Yankee fan, it makes the regular season close to irrelevant.
The Yanks haven't had a sub-.500 season for 28 years and it's highly unlikely that next year will be any different.
I watch most of the Yankees' games now, but if the expanded playoff format is on for next year, I'm going to invest 3+ hours of my daily life watching the Yanks play what would amount to 6 months of exhibition games.
No sport should award mediocrity and let more than half the teams into the playoffs.
His "piece of metal" comment is the single worst comment I can remember a Commissioner of a major sport making. Now this shit, which we all saw coming as the OP thread title mentions. He's so damn lucky the Rays didn't blow the series vs. the Astros.
Selig was incompetent, but I almost felt bad for the guy. I have nothing but negative thoughts about Manfred.
RE: RE: I Know This is about Rules, not Pet Peeves, but
I’d like to see batting gloves eliminated. You can do your own math, but in a typical 250 pitch game, the time lost for “adjusting my gloves” nearly every pitch is likely in the range of 12-15 minutes a game. I think there was some quote a while ago about the positive aspect of speeding up the game by 45 seconds or something. Let’s try for some real change. They could allow batting glove makers’ logos on their sleeves for marketing (since we know that’s what it’s about).
Maybe we need a “peeves” thread, but as an old timer, I can’t stand the whimpification of the game. I think shin pads & elbow pads are fine - they do some good. But batting gloves are all about “merchandising” (to quote Spaceballs). How about NASCAR logos all over the uinis?
100% agree with how batters fidgeting with gloves or whatever between pitches is one of the biggest causes of longer games. Going back to video clips of games in the 60s, 70s, even 80s, batters got back in the box quickly and games took 2.5 hours.
Banning gloves is an interesting idea. But I say hit them in the wallet. $1000 fine for every time they take more than 10 seconds to get back in the box or something like that
Fucking Nomar and Ortiz used to spend 20-30 seconds fidgeting between every pitch
anyone actually read the article or is everyone just responding to the headline? The article says two rules specifically would carry over to future seasons, and even that is not 100% true. It says nothing about the DH, nothing about 7 inning double headers, just that the 10th inning runner on 2nd would stay and that they want to expand the playoffs (but that 16 teams is too many). We already heard the rumblings that they wanted to add another team per league for playoffs, all this article does is confirm that.
“I like the idea of, and I’m choosing my words carefully here, an expanded playoff format,” Manfred said. “I don’t think we would do 16 like we did this year. I think we do have to be cognizant of making sure that we preserve the importance of our regular season. But I think something beyond the 10 that we were at would be a good change.”
of starting the 11th inning with the base runners that were left stranded in the 10th and then continue that way till its over. Instead of both teams automatically getting a runner. would lead to all kinds of situations and maybe decrease the "everyone swing for the fences" approach to extras which makes them boring until its over.
DH is a must. no 7 inning games, need an off day only when you travel.
If they keep expanded playoffs round 1 shoud be double header high seed needs 1 win lower needs a sweep.
there ever been a case of a player getting significantly injured in a long extra inning game?
Of course.
And even if somehow there wasn’t - They play 13 games in 14 days ever summer ... the point of 16-18 games in the midst of 162 or 6-7 hour games for your August entertainment is what exactly?
NHL And nfl dont play unlimited Overtime’s and they play fraction of games.
It’s absurdly stupid, pointless and outdated. If you can’t find a winner after 11 it’s a tie. Why Americans can’t stand ties I don’t know. Who cares.
In fact, I'd go beyond that. If they're still tied after 12 innings, the game ends as a tie. As its been pointed out, the NFL and NHL both limit regular season overtime. Long extra inning games are even more destructive in baseball than overtime in football and hockey. Tired players and a cooked bullpen from a 16+ inning game can affect a team for days. Its also extremely unfair if they go on to play a different rested team the next day.
Makes more sense with so many regular season games.
But it’s all about TV money no what competitive structure makes the most sense.
Manfred is a terrible commissioner and he continues to show that with some of the moves he wants to make.
If you want to make a change to the playoffs, eliminate the 1-game play-in, but don't let half the league in. Next thing you know, he'll be recommending pod sites for playoffs and no off days
It is literally something you'd see happen in T-ball so that more kids stay excited!
Are they getting new viewers with a man automatically on 2nd in extra innings? If games are too long are not exciting enough adding in an auto baserunner isn't a way to fix it - the people that don't want to watch aren't going to magically tune in in the 10th.
Will the owners be enthusiastic about the 10th inning rule and the 7 inning doubleheaders if the union is unwilling to make wage concessions for the "shorter hours."?
I see the DH coming in the NL. The union wants it to keep more jobs and the owners want it so their high-priced pitchers aren't risking themselves at the plate and on the base paths.
Note the bargaining has already started with the owners stating they lost 3 billion this year.
Note also the .245 BA lowest since 1968. Effect of the HR and walk over all dictated by analytics?
It show how out of touch he is with the players
The expanded playoffs is bad on so many levels and you can see why the owners want it. Yes, there is the extra TV/streaming revenue by letting most teams in. But the other part of it is, why should teams spend money when if you are barely over mediocre that's good enough. The trade deadline is going to fizzle because you will have fewer sellers. The days of the Yankees building their 100+ win juggernauts of the 1990s/2000s will be gone. All you'll have to do is win around 90 and that should be enough. So he's advocating watering down his product to hope to make more money with playoff series and better competition due to mediocrity.
I don’t think the 7 inning double headers will stay, too many clubs charge 2 admissions for most double headers. I’m not paying full price for a 7 inning game
Not sure on the doubleheader 7 inning games. It may actually help because of the BPs being overused.
I liked the 28 man roster, if that is retained, but luxury tax would need to be adjusted.
My question is - what does it achieve? What non-baseball fans did they poll to determine this would have a positive effect on ratings and/or attendence?
DH and doubleheader rules are fine.
DH and doubleheader rules are fine.
That actually would be pretty cool. Allow minor league teams to participate. Club teams.
DH and doubleheader rules are fine.
I feel the opposite. I'd rather expanded playoffs than gimmick rules (if I had to pick one or the other). End of the day the 2 best teams in baseball are playing for the WS this year - I imagine that would be the norm. You may get an early upset every so often, but it is what it is.
We were headed for universal DH anyway (as much as I don't like it) I can live with it in the NL.
The extra innings rule and 7 inning doubleheader games are a joke and ruin the game to me. This makes the players "safer"? It's baseball. This is the 21st century. These athletes have the best doctors, best travel arrangements, best of everything and they can't play extra inning games?
Out of all the games played, less than 1% of them go beyond 12 innings. Any correlation to player safety is watered down by the rare occurrences that games go longer.
Hahaha, riiiight.
All of these ideas suck in a "normal" season. 162 games is, by far, a long enough season to not expand the playoffs at all. It is double the next longest season in the big 4. There is no need for an extra round. But, this one I can live with. The other two, as some have pointed out, are amateurish. They denigrate the game.
As for the last, I absolutely believe MLB needs to have a universal rule about the DH vs. pitchers batting moving forward. Personally, I am a fan of pitchers hitting. But, I also don't feel strongly enough about it and realize this isn't going to happen. So, a universal DH rule is the only one that makes sense.
Quote:
DH in both leagues, 7 inning doubleheaders should stay. I absolutely hate the man on 2nd to start extra innings, and not a big fan f the expanded playoffs either
I don’t think the 7 inning double headers will stay, too many clubs charge 2 admissions for most double headers. I’m not paying full price for a 7 inning game
“I think the players like it,” Manfred said. “I think it’s really good from a safety and health perspective that keeps us from putting players in situations where they’re out there too long or in positions they’re not used to playing.”
Quote:
With the added runner rule, the longest of 68 games of 10 innings or longer were a pair of 13-inning contests, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“I think the players like it,” Manfred said. “I think it’s really good from a safety and health perspective that keeps us from putting players in situations where they’re out there too long or in positions they’re not used to playing.”
The only safety issue is extending pitchers. Field players? What are they likely to hurt? Nothing.
Even Covid - just how much "contact" is there between teams. Runner on 1st base with 1st baseman? The umpire and catchers have the longest/most interaction and not one player or umpire got sick.
So safety is a bullshit reason. They even removed contact at the plate on plays at the plate.....
Quote:
ruins the point of the sport. Add something like the FA Cup in soccer if you want to chase extra dollars.
DH and doubleheader rules are fine.
I feel the opposite. I'd rather expanded playoffs than gimmick rules (if I had to pick one or the other). End of the day the 2 best teams in baseball are playing for the WS this year - I imagine that would be the norm. You may get an early upset every so often, but it is what it is.
At least we can feel safe bubble scenarios with no off days won't be on the table. Owners are not going to give up the hosting of post season games when things are "normal". OF all the rules this year, the no off day thrown at teams at the last minute was the worst. In my opinion, it did more to change the outcome of a post season series than anything else and really diminished the role of an ace pitcher. As a long time baseball fan, I have always enjoyed a long, 7 game series and seeing how managers handle their ace and how the ace responds. If anything, I'd rather see an ace have the opportunity to got 3 times if needed, not potentially once. What has been more exciting than watching a Jack Morris or Orel Hershiser pitch deep in a game on 3 days rest with everything on the line? I take that over a fucking opener and parade of relievers any day of the week and twice on Sunday (but not 7 innings). As it is, the way pitching and bullpens are handled now makes things less exciting.
Extra playoffs obviously is a financial decision. The others, I fail to see how they make teams a single dime more, which is what it will boil down to for the owners and players.
That's the one rule he's openly against bringing back.
Matt - excellent point. I was talking with someone who was born in 85, recently about baseball and he couldn't fathom only 4 teams made the playoffs before they added the divisional series. I think the instant gratification or the sense of pride (maybe?) that if a fanbase might feel by qualifying for the playoffs, even if expanded. I guess it allows teams to raise banners and feel a sense of accomplishment.
I was trying to explain how pennant races in September were exciting where you would watch the standings and that, in itself, was almost a playoff-like atmosphere.
I guess we are the grumpy old men who long for the good ole days. All leagues are placating to their current and future customers (the youth).
If they are going to do the expanded playoffs then it needs to have some sort of a guaranteed number of years where it will be implemented so teams can adjust their rosters (and budgets) accordingly.
Expanded playoffs... maybe 6 teams per league max but the players will never go 2020 rules permanently. There’d be no incentive to max out payroll if everyone makes the playoffs.
I was just becoming a fan of baseball as they moved to add the ALCS and ALDS. I get that it was a drastic change for fans up until that point. And to some, it may have seemed counter intuitive after extending the season. However, the league has nearly doubled in size since the so-called golden era of baseball. When you had 2 leagues with no divisions and less than 10 teams each, there wasn't much needed after a long season. However, with now multiple divisions to accommodate more than 30 teams, where they play each other significantly less times, having some level of expanded playoffs makes sense. I was not a huge fan of the WC at first, but it did add an additional pennant race aspect to the season. I think adding a second WC team and a play-in or extra round has had the opposite effect. It has watered down the playoff race by expanding the possibilities. There needs to be some balance.
Maybe we need a “peeves” thread, but as an old timer, I can’t stand the whimpification of the game. I think shin pads & elbow pads are fine - they do some good. But batting gloves are all about “merchandising” (to quote Spaceballs). How about NASCAR logos all over the uinis?
As for speeding up the game, let the umps enforce existing rules about staying in the batters box, pitchers delaying etc.
And for God's Cup, PLEASE end the shift. Mandate 2 INFs on either side of 2nd base. K, BB, HR is to me BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING. Put the ball in play.
I agree...imagine Billy Martin managing now.
The no days off thing won't survive "Covid baseball" where all the games of a series are played in one park.
As soon as fans return to the stadiums MLB teams will need travel days whenever teams switch parks.
Maybe we need a “peeves” thread, but as an old timer, I can’t stand the whimpification of the game. I think shin pads & elbow pads are fine - they do some good. But batting gloves are all about “merchandising” (to quote Spaceballs). How about NASCAR logos all over the uinis?
100% agree with how batters fidgeting with gloves or whatever between pitches is one of the biggest causes of longer games. Going back to video clips of games in the 60s, 70s, even 80s, batters got back in the box quickly and games took 2.5 hours.
Banning gloves is an interesting idea. But I say hit them in the wallet. $1000 fine for every time they take more than 10 seconds to get back in the box or something like that
Fucking Nomar and Ortiz used to spend 20-30 seconds fidgeting between every pitch
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It's funny, because they obviously thought increasing HRs would increase excitement and interest. It seems that overwhelmingly the opposite has happened. For most fans the HR is now cheapened and boring and the quality of play has lessened.
I agree...imagine Billy Martin managing now.
I with both of you guys on this. Hit and run, bunt for base hits, aggressive base running. Go with the pitch. Triples! That's baseball.
They can just do the same thing for batters. I don't need to watch you fix your gloves, cleates, nuts, and helmet every single time.
I see it as the equivilant of the shootout out in the NHL. A tool to be used during the regular season but thrown out the window in the playoffs.
Rob Manfred is a disaster.
2. Runner on 2nd to start extra innings: I'm fine with a mechanism to prevent absurdly long regular season games. I do think it makes it a little more exciting, especially in the three-true-outcome version that baseball has become. But I'd institute it starting in the 11th or 12th inning and at least have an extra inning or two unadulterated.
3. 7 inning doubleheaders: Fine with me. Don't care either way as I couldn't sit through a doubleheader anymore anyway with the pace of play.
4. Playoff format. FUCKING HATE IT. Baseball is a game of sample sizes. It's a streaky sport and it's why 162 games (or something close to that) makes a lot of sense.
Short series (Best of 1/3/5) are already problematic because of this and allowing more teams into the postseason only corrupts the regular season further, more so than any other sport. If so many teams make the postseason, then why would I follow a team through 162 games?
If baseball has any expansion, it should be set up such that the underdog team has to beat teh favorite more times than the favorite has to win. In other words, if it's 8 teams per League, the series should all be
Round 1: Wild card games: Best of 2: underdog has to win both games
Round 2 Division Series: Best of 4: underdog has to win 3 games before favorite wins 2 games. Though I'd live with this being Best of 5 or Best of 7
LCS/World Series: standard Best of 7 series.
Manfred is a terrible commissioner and he continues to show that with some of the moves he wants to make.
If you want to make a change to the playoffs, eliminate the 1-game play-in, but don't let half the league in. Next thing you know, he'll be recommending pod sites for playoffs and no off days
I only tune into the playoffs (and I think there are many like me as far as baseball is concerned) and an expanded playoff format pretty much ruins the reasons people like us to watch. It's a slug of a season and now you are just letting every Tom, Dick, and Harry in? I didn't watch one game of the playoffs this year because of it.
But for me, as a Yankee fan, it makes the regular season close to irrelevant.
The Yanks haven't had a sub-.500 season for 28 years and it's highly unlikely that next year will be any different.
I watch most of the Yankees' games now, but if the expanded playoff format is on for next year, I'm going to invest 3+ hours of my daily life watching the Yanks play what would amount to 6 months of exhibition games.
No sport should award mediocrity and let more than half the teams into the playoffs.
Selig was incompetent, but I almost felt bad for the guy. I have nothing but negative thoughts about Manfred.
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I’d like to see batting gloves eliminated. You can do your own math, but in a typical 250 pitch game, the time lost for “adjusting my gloves” nearly every pitch is likely in the range of 12-15 minutes a game. I think there was some quote a while ago about the positive aspect of speeding up the game by 45 seconds or something. Let’s try for some real change. They could allow batting glove makers’ logos on their sleeves for marketing (since we know that’s what it’s about).
Maybe we need a “peeves” thread, but as an old timer, I can’t stand the whimpification of the game. I think shin pads & elbow pads are fine - they do some good. But batting gloves are all about “merchandising” (to quote Spaceballs). How about NASCAR logos all over the uinis?
100% agree with how batters fidgeting with gloves or whatever between pitches is one of the biggest causes of longer games. Going back to video clips of games in the 60s, 70s, even 80s, batters got back in the box quickly and games took 2.5 hours.
Banning gloves is an interesting idea. But I say hit them in the wallet. $1000 fine for every time they take more than 10 seconds to get back in the box or something like that
Fucking Nomar and Ortiz used to spend 20-30 seconds fidgeting between every pitch
Mike Hargrove - The Human Rain Delay
lonk - ( New Window )
If you hate that (3 on 3 in hockey seems to be fine) ... then just accept ties after 11 innings. That’s fine too
Hate the expanded playoffs especially the 2 of 3 first round though. And top seed doesn’t even get a bye?? So so dumb.
“I like the idea of, and I’m choosing my words carefully here, an expanded playoff format,” Manfred said. “I don’t think we would do 16 like we did this year. I think we do have to be cognizant of making sure that we preserve the importance of our regular season. But I think something beyond the 10 that we were at would be a good change.”
It show how out of touch he is with the players
A few players that I've heard commenting on it seemed to like it. They have no interest in playing 13+ inning games.
DH is a must. no 7 inning games, need an off day only when you travel.
If they keep expanded playoffs round 1 shoud be double header high seed needs 1 win lower needs a sweep.
Of course.
And even if somehow there wasn’t - They play 13 games in 14 days ever summer ... the point of 16-18 games in the midst of 162 or 6-7 hour games for your August entertainment is what exactly?
NHL And nfl dont play unlimited Overtime’s and they play fraction of games.
It’s absurdly stupid, pointless and outdated. If you can’t find a winner after 11 it’s a tie. Why Americans can’t stand ties I don’t know. Who cares.
Another issue with never ending extra inning games - the next day starters get rested so paying fans see lots of backups. Not fair to them either.
Just not reasonable or practical. Maybe in an era where everyone did PEDs it was ok but now it’s just dumb.