Rules change

[Ltlabner]

This is probably a bit of a goofy topic but if you could have one rule in baseball changed what would it be?

Perhaps there is a rule you think is stupid? Maybe it hurts the game? Perhaps it takes away from the integrety of the game. Could be that it makes no sense or disrupts the flow of the game.

Personally, I am torn between the DH and the dropped 3rd strike. The DH is well...the DH. I'm sure that will spur some lively discussion but I am a fan of making the pitchers hit, and having to deal with that in later innings.

The dropped 3rd strike makes little sense to me. Perhaps there is something about it I am missing. I don't think I've ever seen someone make it to 1B by evading the tag from the catcher. Maybe a catcher forgets to tag once in a while, but my guess is that it's rare. It just seems (again to me) to be a pointless exersize.

[Sea Ray]

I'd certainly vote for the DH as a rule change. I can't figure out why the rule is still there in the AL. I bet 75% of the players who change leagues comment on how they prefer the NL game. There are also scores of players like Griffey who say they do not want to DH. It seems to me that leaves a small percentage of Edgar Martinez folks who love the DH.

I have no problem with the third strike put out rule. A catcher should have to hold onto the ball. Sometimes a pitch will go to the screen on a third strike allowing the batter to reach. That's why there are so many pitchers listed in the recordbook as having recorded 4 strike outs in an inning.

Another rule I don't like is the baserunner interference on a play in front of the plate, a runner is called for interference if he runs to first in fair territory. This is idiotic because 1st base is in fair territory. It is likely that after his swing or bunt he starts in fair territory so how is he supposed to run in foul territory in order to reach a target which is in fair territory?

[Joseph]

On the dropped third strike, it just adds that little element of chance. The ball maybe skips past the catcher and allows a Freel-like to get on base, maybe the catcher makes an errant throw to the 1b and the guy suddenly is at second because the ball skips down the line. It creates some 'reasonable' excitement IMO.

The DH should be all or none. Both should adopt it, or both should drop it. My preference would be to drop it, but thats just me. Then again imagine the Reds lineup with a DH everyday.....less Dunn, more Denorfia [in the OF that is].

[BuckWoody]

I am all in favor of dropping the DH...I think that will generate most of the discussion here. Maybe up the number of guys on a roster to 26 to help appease the players union.

Not sure I follow your stance on the passed ball strike three. Guys make it to first all the time when strike three gets by the catcher. For me, it's one of my favorite rules...ensuring that the batter is officially put out.

I may want to tweak the earned run rules a bit. Especially the one were a run is unearned on a pitcher if it scores as a result of his own error. That seems like it should count as earned against that pitcher. Of course needing to go back and adjust the last 100+ years of pitchers' ERAs would make that a little cumbersome.

[redsmetz]

I'd go with the DH.

Regarding the dropped third strike, if you keep in mind that the catcher gets credited with the put out on a K, then like any other fielder dropping the ball, the out is not attained if they don't hold on to the ball. They must then earn the put out, either by tagging the runner or completing the put out at first base.

[Hap]

And you see the dropped third strike frequently in little league and high school ball.

I personally prefer the DH. Today's pitchers didn't get to the big leagues with their bats. Many of them do not bat at all in college and/or the minors. And then, they have to learn to hit against big leaguers. The DH can also be used to rest a player without losing his bat in the lineup. Or it can be used to give some ABs to a utility player. The Big Red Machine could have rotated Bench, Rose, Perez and Driessen and even Bob Bailey and Mike Lum.

[Sea Ray]

I personally prefer the DH. Today's pitchers didn't get to the big leagues with their bats. Many of them do not bat at all in college and/or the minors. And then, they have to learn to hit against big leaguers. The DH can also be used to rest a player without losing his bat in the lineup. Or it can be used to give some ABs to a utility player. The Big Red Machine could have rotated Bench, Rose, Perez and Driessen and even Bob Bailey and Mike Lum.

I'd prefer no DH because it makes it more of a team game. In the AL the game is your 9 vs my nine plus a starter and maybe a setup man and a closer.

In the NL it's more than that. It also includes pinch hitters, double switches and multiple pitchers. This involves your bench and a good bit of your bullpen. It helps team morale as well because more guys get to play. That's the reason extra and utility guys prefer the NL. They get more playing time. In the NL it's much more advantageous to have proficient pinch hitters and middle relievers. I think it's a better game if it's my 25 guys vs your 25 guys.

[col4life]

I'd prefer no DH because it makes it more of a team game. In the AL the game is your 9 vs my nine plus a starter and maybe a setup man and a closer.

In the NL it's more than that. It also includes pinch hitters, double switches and multiple pitchers. This involves your bench and a good bit of your bullpen. It helps team morale as well because more guys get to play. That's the reason extra and utility guys prefer the NL. They get more playing time. In the NL it's much more advantageous to have proficient pinch hitters and middle relievers. I think it's a better game if it's my 25 guys vs your 25 guys.

Yet it's ridiculous and embarrassing to the game to watch most pitchers hit

I'd be interested to see actually how much more playing time extra guys in the NL get over those in the AL. Sure, guys in the NL are going to pinch hit more often, and will occasionally play the field in a double switch, but guys in the AL still occasionally enter the game as defensive replacements.

[macro]

The rule for a save should be changed so that the tying or go-ahead run must be on base or at the plate when the pitcher enters the game. Or, the pitcher must pitch the last three innings of the game for the winning team.

[RollyInRaleigh]

The rule for a save should be changed so that the tying or go-ahead run must be on base or at the plate when the pitcher enters the game. Or, the pitcher must pitch the last three innings of the game for the winning team.

[Spitball]

One of the most exciting plays in baseball is the bang bang homeplate collision. It is an exciting play, but I believe it leaves the catcher too vulnerable and puts his career in too much jeopardy.

I think the runner should have to slide. They can slide hard but not bowl over the catcher.

Check out this link for catcher testimony:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...619/index.html

[col4life]

One of the most exciting plays in baseball is the bang bang homeplate collision. It is an exciting play, but I believe it leaves the catcher too vulnerable and puts his career in too much jeopardy.

I think the runner should have to slide. They can slide hard but not bowl over the catcher.

Check out this link for catcher testimony:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...619/index.html

I think the catcher should not block the plate if he isn't ready to get rolled over. And there is NO excuse to be there if he doesnt have the ball...

[col4life]

Wait, can we change the length of the game to 7 innings????

[Spitball]

I think the catcher should not block the plate if he isn't ready to get rolled over. And there is NO excuse to be there if he doesnt have the ball...

The catcher can't block the plate if he doesn't have the ball. Rule 7.06. states: "The catcher, without the ball in his possession, has no right to block the pathway of the runner attempting to score. The base line belongs to the runner and the catcher should be there only when he is fielding a ball or when he already has the ball in his hand."

But, if the catcher has the ball in his hand or glove, the runner can plow into him and try to knock the ball free. Why don't we see collisions at second or third on tag plays? What if Adam Dunn plowed through David Eckstein on an attempted steal of second? For one thing, the benches would clear, but I'm not sure how the umpire would call it.

[Roy Tucker]

They should let fielders throw their hats, gloves, masks, etc. at batted balls. Right now, the penalty is 3 bases which is quite steep.

7.05
Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be put out, advance --
(a) To home base, scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out of the playing field in flight and he touched all bases legally; or if a fair ball which, in the umpire’s judgment, would have gone out of the playing field in flight, is deflected by the act of a fielder in throwing his glove, cap, or any article of his apparel;
(b) Three bases, if a fielder deliberately touches a fair ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place on his person. The ball is in play and the batter may advance to home base at his peril;
(c) Three bases, if a fielder deliberately throws his glove at and touches a fair ball. The ball is in play and the batter may advance to home base at his peril.