As with anything, MLB isn't perfect and I'm sure we've all thought of ways to improve the game. I'm curious to hear the ideas you guys have up with. It can be anything from small all star weekend ideas, to big playoffs overhauls.

This one has been on my mind for many years, as it's a personal tradition to never miss a HR derby. MLB is often hopelessly inept at self promotion (as opposed to the NFL) and I think one really simple and fun fix would be to mimic the NBA all star festivities and open up the HR derby to all players, not just all stars. I mean, who wouldn't have wanted to see wily mo pena launching baseballs into orbit? Or how about Adam Dunn or Mike Napoli. Remember the year Garrett Anderson won it by hitting 370 ft home runs to the exact same spot? That was a nightmare and one that should never be repeated. We need Giancarlo stanton, bryce harper, Napoli, Dunn and even Hunter Pence. The derby should be about fun and shouldn't be AL vs. NL or country vs. country (as they did one year when Hee Seop Choi was a participant).

-Make a strong effort to speed up the games. I don't think you need to go as far as a pitch-clock, but keeping batters in the batters box between pitches and making a conscious effort to lower the time between pitches would keep things clipping along.

-Electronic strike-zone.

-Expanded instant replay: Add an ump in the booth and have him decide on close calls (only ones that don't have an effect on the rest of a play). He initiates the call change in order to keep the game from slowing. If we at home can see 5 replays before the next pitch, then the call can get corrected without needing a pow-wow. Just say what the ruling is, and move on. There'd be less need to argue (slowing down the game), since the call is 99.9999% correct.

(05-03-2013 07:06 PM)RaiderATO Wrote:  -Make a strong effort to speed up the games. I don't think you need to go as far as a pitch-clock, but keeping batters in the batters box between pitches and making a conscious effort to lower the time between pitches would keep things clipping along.

-Electronic strike-zone.

-Expanded instant replay: Add an ump in the booth and have him decide on close calls (only ones that don't have an effect on the rest of a play). He initiates the call change in order to keep the game from slowing. If we at home can see 5 replays before the next pitch, then the call can get corrected without needing a pow-wow. Just say what the ruling is, and move on. There'd be less need to argue (slowing down the game), since the call is 99.9999% correct.

-oh boy do i agree. the first step is definitely getting batters to stay in the box. How many AB's are there where the batter seemingly steps out after every pitch? It's interminable and something definitely needs to be done about it.

-I disagree with this one, if only because I've always loved the strategy involved in dealing with each umpire's strike zone. It adds a whole 'nother level of strategy to the game. But in the end I do understand the need for the electronic strike zone, even if it isn't something I'd want

-I agree to a point. This is dangerous territory, because I really don't like instant replay and feel that generally it's been a failure in football. I'm sick of no one knowing which plays can be reviewed and which can't. Replay is a slippery slope

I like the idea of expanding replay. Every game is televised. Give the coaches 1 challenge per game. If they are right they get another. Would help with plays like the Armando Galarraga play and game changing events.

(05-04-2013 08:45 AM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  -I disagree with this one, if only because I've always loved the strategy involved in dealing with each umpire's strike zone. It adds a whole 'nother level of strategy to the game. But in the end I do understand the need for the electronic strike zone, even if it isn't something I'd want

There's a set strike zone. It's in the rule book. Enforce these rules. Umpires shouldn't affect the game.

Quote:-I agree to a point. This is dangerous territory, because I really don't like instant replay and feel that generally it's been a failure in football. I'm sick of no one knowing which plays can be reviewed and which can't. Replay is a slippery slope

Everything that doesn't effect something later on in a play (force out at first removing force outs elsewhere, etc.) can be reviewed, and only 1 person needs to know since there are no challenges, just an ump that decides when a play was incorrect. I'd even be OK with erring on the on-field ump's side when it comes to ties. Get the call right. It's that simple.

(05-04-2013 11:13 AM)blah Wrote:  I like the idea of expanding replay. Every game is televised. Give the coaches 1 challenge per game. If they are right they get another. Would help with plays like the Armando Galarraga play and game changing events.

Challenges are ridiculous. We have the ability to get EVERY call made correctly, and get it done quickly. If we couldn't do it quickly I'd understand challenges, but we at home can know the correct call before the next pitch and so can the umpires.

1. Scrap the DH. Players Association would never go for it, but now that there's constant interleague play and the full-time DH has gone a bit out of style, there's a chance that the change will happen for the good.

2. Allow a once-a-game replay for each team, but limit it to only base plays. These calls are rarely missed, but if a Jim Joyce situation occurs, it should be corrected, and it wouldn't take too long..

The rest come straight out of Bill James' New Historical Baseball Abstract, which deal with specific ways to shorten games.

3. If a pitcher makes two unsuccessful pickoff attempts in an inning, then every subsequent unsuccessful pickoff is counted as a ball.

4. Change umpire policy by not allowing the batter to call timeout (barring extreme circumstances) once he steps into the batter's box.

5. Slim down the TV timeout length from two minutes to ninety seconds. While it reduces time to buy, it hikes the price up just with basic supply and demand.

Get rid of the DH.

Raise the mound back up to where it was before they lowered it.

Ban Scott Boros!

(Hey, where's the baseball icon gone off to?)

(05-15-2013 11:28 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Get rid of the DH.

Raise the mound back up to where it was before they lowered it.

Ban Scott Boros!

(Hey, where's the baseball icon gone off to?)

I think you're much more likely to see the DH added to the NL, than the AL get rid of it

First off, I have to say that I am not a MLB fan. So take anything I say with a grain of salt BUT...

Why not shorten the season?

Why not adapt the NFL method of playoffs with 3 division winners then the next five in order of best record?

Or heck, top two from each division then two wild cards with the best record after those 6?


I think that one game playoff is stupid.

(05-15-2013 04:21 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 11:28 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Get rid of the DH.

Raise the mound back up to where it was before they lowered it.

Ban Scott Boros!

(Hey, where's the baseball icon gone off to?)

I think you're much more likely to see the DH added to the NL, than the AL get rid of it

I agree. I hate watching pitchers bat.

(05-19-2013 02:35 PM)blah Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 04:21 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 11:28 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Get rid of the DH.

Raise the mound back up to where it was before they lowered it.

Ban Scott Boros!

(Hey, where's the baseball icon gone off to?)

I think you're much more likely to see the DH added to the NL, than the AL get rid of it

I agree. I hate watching pitchers bat.

me too, but i like the strategy involved. It's so much easier to manage in the AL. That being said I wouldn't have a problem with adding the DH to the NL. Free agency is unfair when you consider that AL teams are able to take more risks on older hitters