Fix Baseball

[Cathal]

As far as the speed of the game is concerned.  Baseball games and Football games are almost identical in length.  The difference is, the NFL gives you a commercial ever 15 seconds, where as MLB stays with (for lack of a better word) action.  If the NFL eliminated commericals after every change of possession, would you guys complain about the speed of the game in football?

The problem with me is that it's slow and there is no real action in baseball. Most everyone is just standing around chewing their sunflower seeds and falling asleep on the bench. I don't know how you can improve on that without changing the game drastically, which, I don't think would really happen unless MLB was really hurting.

[masterfins]

6.  Allow the use of aluminum bats
  

What do you wanna kill some pitchers???  Not enough home runs for you already??

[dolphins4life]

With nobody on base:

1) Hitter's aren't allowed to leave the batter's box (This was Rick Reilly's idea back in 2003)

2) Pitchers must throw the ball within 15 seconds.

That'll speed up the game

[StL FinFan]

Baseball is fine the way it is.

[tubba marxxx]

Baseball is fine the way it is.

+ 1

[shamrock]

If you're going to expand the playoffs like they have,they need to go back to a 154 game season.The pennant races would be just as exciting,it would shorten the boredom of teams that are 16 games back having to play out the meaningless games,and you wouldn't have the world series in freakin' November when it's cold as hell up north.What will they do if,say,the Twins play the Rockies in the series in late October with snow on the ground?Baseball is meant to be played in warm weather and the whole thing should be over by the 2nd week of October at the latest.

[Thundergod]

Some ideas -- add instant replay for certain things.  In bounds, catch/no catch/home runs/outs at the basae -- not on balls/strikes.  Same rules as NFL.  Keep an ump in the booth to determine to overrule the call on the field, if needed.  There is no call to the booth.  They call down if they want to.

Shorten the season.   I don't know if you can get it in half...but maybe 3/4.  120 games or something.

More interleague play.

Expand the playoffs to include a couple of more teams.  Playoff baseball is fun.  Regular season is tedious down the stretch if things are already decided.

Don't allow players to step out of the box once they enter (without specific umpire permission for a reason).  This will speed up the game.

That's it right there. Especially, MORE interleague play.

[BigDaddyFin]

1.  Go back to 154 game schedule.   Why?  We have an extra playoff round that didn't exist before.
2.  Come down like a fuckin hammer with the drug policy.  They waited too long on this shit and only now is it started back in the right direction.
3.  I let the players,fans and owners vote even if it's "unofficial."  Pitchers will now bat in both leagues or we will have DH's in both leagues.
4.  I'm not sure what I'd do with Interleague play.  I'm kind of a fan of an unbalanced schedule in favor of more division games since we're evidently stuck with 30+ teams now.  On one hand if you make them either all bat or all DH it both makes it more interesting to lengthen and yet it makes a case for eliminating it altogether.
5.  We're going back to two divisions.  Sorry, Realignment, you caused more crap than you solved.
6.  I'm throwing out any record broken between 1986 and the time I took over.  I don't give a shit if it's draconian.  It won't be the first time draconian measures were used to clean up the game.
7.  Pitch clock. This will also help with guys stepping out of the box. 
8.  New rule.  Only one pitcher change per inning.  If you have a pitcher who can only get left handers out, send his ass back to triple A. 
9.  Bob Costas is banned from all major league ballparks and events.
10.  Bob Eucher goes straight to the hall of fame.
11.  Joe Jackson is allowed into the Hall of Fame, the committee can vote on Buck Weaver.
12.  Pete Rose can be elected the first year following his death.
13.  One pickoff throw to first per pitch.  We know.  You're trying to hold the runner because of his speed.  You don't need to do it repeatedly.

[Sunstroke]

10.  Bob Eucher goes straight to the hall of fame.

In case you haven't noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven't...

Bob Uecker won the Ford Frick award for 2003, and is in the baseball hall of fame as a broadcaster for his contributions to the game. He's also in Milwaukee's ring of honor. I loves me some Uecker...funniest man in the history of the game!

13.  One pickoff throw to first per pitch.  We know.  You're trying to hold the runner because of his speed.  You don't need to do it repeatedly.

Make it two throws over. If a pitcher throws over to pick off the runner twice and is unsuccessful on both attempts, the runner is awarded the next base.

[miamid45]

1 Question?

How come the 1st Round isn't a BEST of 7?  Amazed that the owners haven't pushed for this increased income.

[StL FinFan]

LCS used to be best of 5

[BigDaddyFin]

at one point the World Series was also 5 out of 9.

[Pappy13]

You want to speed up the game the answer is simple. You enter the batter's box with a 1 and 1 count.

I used to play softball and when you got to the plate you had a 3-2 count. 1 pitch and there were only 3 possibilities; walk, strikeout or the ball was put in play.  Great game. Would take like 45 minutes to play 6 innings unless you had a pitcher that couldn't get the ball over the plate.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Three words: "Hard Salary Cap"

Aside from that, I wouldn't change a thing...

Agree 100%.  One of the things that makes football better than baseball is that you can't buy long term success the way the Yankees do. 

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Instant replay for balls and strikes. Tennis style.

Why not completely take the human element out of it.  Put a microchip inside the ball.  Let a computer determine if it was over the plate or not.