MLB to make defensive shifts illegal? Could be.

[Wonderful Monds]

Some folks will go to great lengths to get .5 more runs in a contest.

If you like scoring, basketball might be your game, soccer not so much.

It's not low scoring I don't like, it's how those scores are being achieved

[_Sir_Charles_]

How about this. Instead of teaching hitters to have proper hitting mechanics and to know their role in the offensive scheme of the game.... we just do this.

1. Pitchers cannot throw any breaking pitches, and no harder than 90 mph.
2. The pitchers mound is moved back to 80 feet.
3. Defenders cannot use gloves.
4. Hitters can use DeMarini and Easton bats circa NCAA 2001.
5. Defenders MUST remain in their natural positions.

That should solve everything.

Or we could just scrap the whole thing and just play Strat-o-matic.

[villain612]

This has been argued to death over 39 pages so I'll just opine this.

I am all for more offense, but legislating where defenders can specifically stand is too much for MLB and is counter to the spirit of the game. They would have to regulate it to such specificity that it would be ridiculous.

If a team wants to play 7 people in the outfield or infield, then they have the right to do do so. Regulating defense to such a degree won't increase offense that much anyway.

[HUHUH]

Quote Originally Posted by HUHUH
And what defines an "infielder"??

Is this a serious question? If your name on the lineup card has an infield position listed, you're an infielder.

Yes it is a serious question (only mildly facetious). I believe the response it has generated validates its seriousness. Furthermore,
from the official MLB rules:

1) The infield shall be a 90-foot square.

2) An INFIELDER is a fielder who occupies a position in the infield

3) An OUTFIELDER is a fielder who occupies a position in the outfield, which is the
area of the playing field most distant from home base.

4) Except the pitcher and the catcher, any fielder may station himself anywhere in fair
territory.

So anyone positioned outside of the 90-foot square (which is most of the time all players except P) is not an INFIELDER. And an OUTFIELDER is someone in the area of the playing field "most distant from home base".
The upshot is that #4 above simply (and thankfully) invalidates any argument for definition of position.

I think villain612 hits it on the head:

This has been argued to death over 39 pages so I'll just opine this.

...but legislating where defenders can specifically stand is too much for MLB and is counter to the spirit of the game......

If a team wants to play 7 people in the outfield or infield, then they have the right to do so......