Experimental MLB Rules in the Minors

[EDGECRUSHER]

"MLB just announced some rules they'll be experimenting with in the minors this year. They include trying bigger bases at Triple-A, requiring at least four infielders on the dirt in Double-A, and limiting pickoff attempts per AB in Low-A."

Not sure yet but they might make it so each infield side must have at least 2 players, which would eliminate the shift. I don't like telling teams how to play on the field, but the shift sucks and hurt the game IMO. I know that the batters are dummies for not taking the free bunt base hit every time but I hated it ever since the Yankees signed Giambi and the shift was started that season.

As far as bigger bases go, that just seems like changing a rule for the sake of changing a rule.

[Dave Gray]

Tell me about the shift...not sure what any of that means.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Tell me about the shift...not sure what any of that means.

A lot of the better power hitters, mainly lefties, always pull the ball for more power. That means they hit it as hard as they can to one side of the field only. The shift is when they move an infielder or even two more to that side in hopes of getting an out if the players smashes it on the ground. They almost never try to hit it to the side where there is no fielder for some strange reason.

[Dave Gray]

I do like futzing with rules to make games better, but I don't think I care for this.   Unless it's going to be really generic, like you have to have two infielders to the left and 2 to the right of 2nd base, then maybe I could understand it.  Is that all it is?

And couldn't you bunt on really easily?

[EDGECRUSHER]

I do like futzing with rules to make games better, but I don't think I care for this.   Unless it's going to be really generic, like you have to have two infielders to the left and 2 to the right of 2nd base, then maybe I could understand it.  Is that all it is?

And couldn't you bunt on really easily?

You could absolutely bunt the ball for a single or even double every single time as the Third baseman usually plays shortstop and would never be able to get to it in time. Amazingly, this is done like 0.001% of the time no matter how obvious it is. You would think someone would want to hit .700 in a seaosn or do it enough where they can't shift anymore, but that never happened. Jason Giambi put up good numbers as a Yankee but they pale in comparison to when he was with Oakland because of the shift. He hit .342 his last year with Oakland and 2 years later he hit .250, absolutely insanity.

[Sunstroke]

I know that the batters are dummies for not taking the free bunt base hit every time

And couldn't you bunt on really easily?

You could absolutely bunt the ball for a single or even double every single time 

You would think...but no, it really isn't that simple.  When a team puts the shift on, pitchers throw a lot of sliders, sinkers and other breaking pitches down in the zone.

Baseball trivia question: What is the hardest pitch in baseball to bunt?
Answer: A breaking pitch down in the zone.

[stinkfish]

I was going to say a nice meatball right down the center of the plate, about belt high.

[Sunstroke]

I was going to say a nice meatball right down the center of the plate, about belt high.

LOL... The shift isn't going to help with the meatball.

[Fau Teixeira]

they should add fox trax to the baseball like they used to have for the hockey puck!

[Sunstroke]

they should add fox trax to the baseball like they used to have for the hockey puck!

Done and Done...go to MLB.com and watch the game on the stat tracker. Gives you speed, amount of break...and lots of nifty info on every pitch.

[masterfins]

Dumb.  Someone wants to justify their job so they come up with rule changes that make no sense.  What possible reason could there be to ban the shift?

[EDGECRUSHER]

Dumb.  Someone wants to justify their job so they come up with rule changes that make no sense.  What possible reason could there be to ban the shift?

Increase offense. Fans love 8-6 more than 1-0. Almost every rule they have ever implemented has been to increase offense.

[Dolphster]

Increase offense. Fans love 8-6 more than 1-0. Almost every rule they have ever implemented has been to increase offense.

Yep,MLB has been messing with rules to increase offense for decades.  From lowering the pitching mound back in the late 1960's and implementing the Designated Hitter in the early 1970's right on up through today. 

[EDGECRUSHER]

Yep,MLB has been messing with rules to increase offense for decades.  From lowering the pitching mound back in the late 1960's and implementing the Designated Hitter in the early 1970's right on up through today. 

I am a fan of the Universal DH, I have to say. Watching pitchers bat .164 is just ridiculous and needs to stop. Owners don't want it though because it increases payroll.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I am a fan of the Universal DH, I have to say. Watching pitchers bat .164 is just ridiculous and needs to stop. Owners don't want it though because it increases payroll.

I want them to take it even further and have separate units for hitting and defense,  like we have in football.