What MLB rules changes would you like to see in 2016?

[DaLittle B]

Another owners meetings this week in MLB,and they are going to talk rules changes...

They've mentioned about clarifying the 2nd base slide rule after the the Utley slide (Pirates fans are still pissed about Cubs OF Chris Coghlan taking out Kang last year).

They don't seem the want any changes to replay.

What rules changes would you like to see?

[DaLittle B]

**Rant warning**
Ok my quick little rant,there will be a couple of DH in Both leagues answers.

Fine,I get the injury,the interleague play,etc.....Don't give me "I don't want to see a pitcher go up there and strike out every at bat" Bullshit.When position players are striking out 150-200 times a year,and it's ok as long as they hit 25 bombs a year.That argument for me goes out the window...

I'm firmly in Love with the National league game,and would probably kill my fanhood when the DH comes to the NL.

***Rant over...***

- I'd like to see the error system overhauled.I'd like to see a team error,and I'd like to see pitcher errors runs count to their ERA.

oops accidentally hit send

Down the road,I'd be up for electronic strikes and balls,with Stat cast,and most sportscasts able to show fans the strike zone. The Umps do a great job most of the time,but then are those games, that pitcher got that call all day long,and it's way outside.

[Sunstroke]

- I'd like to see the error system overhauled.I'd like to see a team error,and I'd like to see pitcher errors runs count to their ERA.

Amen to this...and when a pitcher hits a batter with a pitch, it should also count against his WHiP.

[Spider-Dan]

Down the road,I'd be up for electronic strikes and balls,with Stat cast,and most sportscasts able to show fans the strike zone. The Umps do a great job most of the time,but then are those games, that pitcher got that call all day long,and it's way outside.

Baseball seems like the sport that would be most practical to completely automate the officiating.

What roles do umpires play that could not be replaced by lasers and other sensors?  It's not like football or basketball where there are judgement calls on whether a personal foul was committed.

[DaLittle B]

^ I agree with Spider and Sunstroke.

On the automation point,We're using replay now,to see the guy came off the bag for a split second,that the ump couldn't see with the naked eye.It goes to replay and we're calling him out.I just feel we could get a touch closer than the ump thought it was a strike...

Hot stove mentioned/complained about the September call ups (I liked what Harold Reynolds mentioned,having the bigger rosters in April out of spring training,rather than September). I'm not sure how to fix this.

I admit some of this is more for the collective bargaining,than "rules changes for 2016",but the current collective bargaining agreement expires December 1st.So it's worth mentioning IMO.

The qualifying offer,and draft pick compensation.

The one I rule I want to see,and came back to post was this...
- I want to see the Batter be able to ask the 1st or 3rd umpire on a check swing strike.The pitcher,and catcher can request this,but not the batter.The home plate umpire has to see ball or strike,and say he went around,attempted to swing,etc,etc...

[CF DolFan]

I disagree with automation. I always feel human error is part of the game ... any game for that matter. It kind of takes the whole purist feeling out of the game. That's also why I hated the steroid era and don't want to see anyone get in the HOF who we know took them.

I also love the NL game and do not think the DH helps the game. Again ... as a purist I think pitchers should hit. If your going to be able to throw at someone then you should have to face the consequences.

[edit: accidentally clicked Modify on wrong post]

[Spider-Dan]

I think human error on the part of the players is definitely part of any competition.
I do not think human error on the part of the officials is an aspect to be valued, or one that we should try to preserve.

When players err, they and/or their teams are punished via the outcome of the game.  When officials err, it is not the officials that lose... it is still (one group of) the players.  The scoring system of our sports is not intended to measure who is better able to deal with errors in rule enforcement.

Separately, while I don't care too much about the DH either way, the idea that pitchers need to bat in order to keep intentional HBP in line is absurd.  Give pitchers a mandatory two-week suspension for HBP judged as intentional and that nonsense will grind to a halt immediately.  I have no idea why both baseball and hockey feel this kind of frontier justice is necessary when football and basketball abolished it decades ago.

[DaLittle B]

A Co-worker made my idea of check swings better,and more simple...Home plate ump can't rule if a batter goes around,it must be done by a 1st or 3rd base guy.I like that..

I'm not going to knock anyone for being purist in the game.


The automation point for me...
I think they could marry current technology pretty darn seamlessly now.We use radio headsets all over the game in football.In baseball guy in the booth that's getting the statcast video feeds,calls the balls and strikes and radios the umpire ear piece in his helmet,The umpire then makes his dramatic Ball or Strike.That would still let the ump control the game,watch for foul tips,etc,all the normal things he would do.

(Give the umpire a damn microphone so he can address some of these calls they make on the field,some things take a inning or two to figure out why they called that)

I think we could all the officials earpieces so they all hear if it was a strike or ball.

It would probably add officials,and not be replacing them,the game look wouldn't be tremendously different.It might even help the "speed" of the game,more uniform strike zone,less whining,asking the umpire ..Where was that? That wasn't a strike! Stalling because they were pissed they did or didn't get a call.

As the technology changes,and gets better,the game can be made better.

[CF DolFan]

I think human error on the part of the players is definitely part of any competition.
I do not think human error on the part of the officials is an aspect to be valued, or one that we should try to preserve.

When players err, they and/or their teams are punished via the outcome of the game.  When officials err, it is not the officials that lose... it is still (one group of) the players.  The scoring system of our sports is not intended to measure who is better able to deal with errors in rule enforcement.

Separately, while I don't care too much about the DH either way, the idea that pitchers need to bat in order to keep intentional HBP in line is absurd.  Give pitchers a mandatory two-week suspension for HBP judged as intentional and that nonsense will grind to a halt immediately.  I have no idea why both baseball and hockey feel this kind of frontier justice is necessary when football and basketball abolished it decades ago.

That's not the only reason ... just one reason. I think the main reason is obvious. They are a player on the field and need to hit. It also makes the game more challenging for the manager as well as interesting for the fans. 

[Dave Gray]

Baseball needs to crack down on vigilante justice.  Throwing a baseball at someone on purpose is assault.

[Sunstroke]

Throwing a baseball at someone on purpose is assault.

Unlike a defensive lineman blindside destroying a QB, which is a tea party.

[Spider-Dan]

That's not the only reason ... just one reason. I think the main reason is obvious. They are a player on the field and need to hit. It also makes the game more challenging for the manager as well as interesting for the fans. 

As I said, I don't really care too much about the DH, but when you have pitchers that don't even make an attempt to hit (warning: profanity in article title), or managers telling their pitchers not to swing, or managers making all their pitchers jog to first...  well, I tend to think that the viewing fan's experience would be best served by having players that are actually trying at the plate.

[DaLittle B]

I agree with outlawing vigilante justice,the problem I have is determining intent.Some games it's blatant,and the reasons might go back years .Others,yeah the teams were jawing and don't like each other,a slider/curve down and in hits the guy on the foot. A 2 seam fast ball sails up and in....Suddenly it's on...

I'm not a fan hit anybody,you're gone type rule,to stop it though.

[Spider-Dan]

Aren't the umpires already charged with determining intent?  I thought that was why it's only on some HBP that warnings are issued or players are immediately ejected.

[CF DolFan]

Baseball needs to crack down on vigilante justice.  Throwing a baseball at someone on purpose is assault.

That's part of baseball. The brush back pitch where you crowd the plate and get hit. The "don't disrespect me" hit. The "you always get the best of me so I'm going to give you something to think about" hit. You can't take away those type of things without taking away a part of the game.

Now if you go head hunting .... that's an entirely different story.