OT: Congrats to MLB - pitch clock and shift ban approved

[fsg2_rivals]

So far, so good.

Watched a full Yankees game in like 2:15 the other day. Not a pitchers duel, either. Instead of shutting it off in the 7th or so to go to bed, I actually had time to watch something afterward.

More of that.

 

[MADHAT1]

No wasted time with batters adjusting their gloves and pitchers scratching their butts.

Anyone who watched Mike Hargrove at bat loves the pitch clock unless they used his at bat for their nap time

 

[T2Kplus20]

Anyone who watched Mike Hargrove at bat loves the pitch clock unless they used his at bat for their nap time

Mr. Human Rain Delay!

 

[RUScrew85]

No wasted time with batters adjusting their gloves and pitchers scratching their butts.

Yep. Heck the game's almost too fast now. LOL.

 

[rurichdog]

Mr. Human Rain Delay!

I thought that was Steve Trachsel

 

[Colbert17!]

Ever see Juan Soto?
The Padre game the other day they had a side by side comparison of this year to last year. Last year Soto stepped out after every pitch for 30-35 seconds. The rule has worked so far.

 

[Retired711]

[snip]
The shift also left only one player in position to take the steal and double plays from the pitcher,.
Now, who’s covering 2nd on both those plays playing traditionally will change with every pitch, and it has to be communicated on every pitch so the base isn’t left open

You would know, but I thought it was traditional for the shortstop to signal to the second baseman if there was a man on first before each pitch who would cover in case of an attempted steal or double play grounder to the pitcher.

 

[Colbert17!]

You would know, but I thought it was traditional for the shortstop to signal to the second baseman if there was a man on first before each pitch who would cover in case of an attempted steal or double play grounder to the pitcher.

Open mouth/closed mouth hidden by the glove.

 

[The RUT]

Ever see Juan Soto?
The Padre game the other day they had a side by side comparison of this year to last year. Last year Soto stepped out after every pitch for 30-35 seconds. The rule has worked so far.

Interesting with this point tonight.

Haven’t read through the thread yet, but Soto tonight goes 4-4 with two doubles, 1R and a walk tonight batting clean up.

Batting 4th gave Soto increased odds of having 20 seconds AB instead of 15.

 

[The RUT]

Innings 1-6 I think the clock should be on no matter what.

7, 8, and 9 I think needs to be turned off by default, with the ump having the ability to turn it on during an AB.

That’s when the game builds intensity and having a clock just shortens the time for big moments to build.

I hate that Harper knocked the padres out of the playoffs last year, but can you imagine shortening a cool sports moment like that?

 

[fsg2_rivals]

Innings 1-6 I think the clock should be on no matter what.

7, 8, and 9 I think needs to be turned off by default, with the ump having the ability to turn it on during an AB.

That’s when the game builds intensity and having a clock just shortens the time for big moments to build.

I hate that Harper knocked the padres out of the playoffs last year, but can you imagine shortening a cool sports moment like that?

Weird, no.

 

[NiTeKnight]

Hate the ghost runner rule in the 10th inning, starting the inning with a man on 2nd base.
If MLB must use it, give teams the 10 and 11th innings to win the old way.
Start the ghost runners in the 12th inning.

 

[Retired711]

Open mouth/closed mouth hidden by the glove.

Exactly.

 

[The RUT]

Weird, no.

Why not?

Can you imagine a bases loaded 2 out AB in the playoffs ending in the bot 9th because a duded takes 21 seconds.

Awful.

Baseball trying to appeal to people that don't actually watch baseball and aren't going to watch baseball with or without these rules.

 

[fsg2_rivals]

Why not?

Can you imagine a bases loaded 2 out AB in the playoffs ending in the bot 9th because a duded takes 21 seconds.

Awful.

Baseball trying to appeal to people that don't actually watch baseball and aren't going to watch baseball with or without these rules.

Because you can't have one set of rules for 2/3 of the game, then change.

Just a new style of discipline. No worse than seeing that rally end on a guy swinging at a pitch in the dirt or watching strike 3 soar by.

Baseball needs to appeal to those folks, along with the "used to love baseball but
not dedicating my entire night to it all summer long." A bunch of those guys in this thread.

 

[MADHAT1]

I thought that was Steve Tracheal

Both were called rain delay
Hargrove was for his actions while at bat
Trachsel because of how he was on the mound

 

[RUtrumpet92_rivals498139]

I love the way the changes have sped up the games. It is much more enjoyable to follow now. I could see relaxing the clock by a couple of seconds max, although it would seem odd to have a non-round number for the pitch clock. The "three true outcomes" game was less exciting to watch IMO.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Open mouth/closed mouth hidden by the glove.

guessing open is YOU and closed is ME?

 

[mikebal9]

Because you can't have one set of rules for 2/3 of the game, then change.

Just a new style of discipline. No worse than seeing that rally end on a guy swinging at a pitch in the dirt or watching strike 3 soar by.

Baseball needs to appeal to those folks, along with the "used to love baseball but
not dedicating my entire night to it all summer long." A bunch of those guys in this thread.

Baseball is my first true love. My relationship with my father was the exact same as Kevin Kostner's in Field of Dreams. I watched 162 Phillies games every year of my youth. I worked at the Vet for 3 seasons just to watch the Phillies lose.
I can unequivocally say that this rule change is bringing me back. I watched exactly 2 regular season games last year, and both were in person.
I say this because I am definitely not unique. They are not trying to appeal to casuals or attract new fans. They are trying to save a dying game that is rapidly losing fans and losing interest.

 

[The RUT]

Because you can't have one set of rules for 2/3 of the game, then change.

Just a new style of discipline. No worse than seeing that rally end on a guy swinging at a pitch in the dirt or watching strike 3 soar by.

Baseball needs to appeal to those folks, along with the "used to love baseball but
not dedicating my entire night to it all summer long." A bunch of those guys in this thread.

The can’t have two sets of rules thing makes sense. Just wish there was a way to at least increase the clock in the later innings.

Maybe 20 seconds no matter the circumstance?

Baseball’s biggest issue has been that it’s historically been boring IMO.

Baseball was gaining peak interest during the steroid era because it was exciting and people couldn’t wait to see which slugger was going to do what next. That had nothing to do with clocks and shifts and all that. It was superstars putting on a show.

I also have an issue with a lot of the guys that call games. Some of them are flat out awful and bring no energy to fans watching on TV.

Thankfully I’m a Padre fan and get a couple of the best in the business, Don and Mud, so it’s enjoyable. My buddies and I don’t even call it watching a padre game, we call it the Don and Mud Show.

And the old school guys probably won’t like this, but the unwritten rules thing has got to die. The most fun was watching Trevor Bauer going at it vs Tatis in the LA/SD series a couple years ago.

 

[T2Kplus20]

Greatest rule change ever!

 

[WhiteBus]

Why not?

Can you imagine a bases loaded 2 out AB in the playoffs ending in the bot 9th because a duded takes 21 seconds.

Awful.

Baseball trying to appeal to people that don't actually watch baseball and aren't going to watch baseball with or without these rules.

Terrible take. Watch paint dry if you are interested in wasting time.
Long time baseball fans are the ones that Baseball was losing.

 

[The RUT]

Terrible take. Watch paint dry if you are interested in wasting time.
Long time baseball fans are the ones that Baseball was losing.

I stand by it, I hate the rule.

The umps were so up and down with it this year. It's funny though, games are obviously much shorter, but why is it an issue for MLB but not NFL?

Some of these football games seem like they last forever.

Honestly I don't even care what they do with the pitch clock rule right now, if they don't fix the blocking the plate rule I'm going to lose my mind next season.

 

[Colbert17!]

if they don't fix the blocking the plate rule I'm going to lose my mind next season.

Amen to that

 

[WhiteBus]

I stand by it, I hate the rule.

The umps were so up and down with it this year. It's funny though, games are obviously much shorter, but why is it an issue for MLB but not NFL?

Some of these football games seem like they last forever.

Honestly I don't even care what they do with the pitch clock rule right now, if they don't fix the blocking the plate rule I'm going to lose my mind next season.

Jesus. The blocking the plate upsets you?? That may happen twice a month! You are really a screwball, putting in baseball terms which you may not understand!

 

[The RUT]

Jesus. The blocking the plate upsets you?? That may happen twice a month! You are really a screwball, putting in baseball terms which you may not understand!

Twice a month? You must not watch Padres games.

 

[The RUT]

Amen to that

Lol help me out here. I swear it happened to us 30-40 times this year

 

[willisneverrana43]

Greatest rule change ever!

I'd been pushing this as the solution for years. It really worked out.

 

[Colbert17!]

Lol help me out here. I swear it happened to us 30-40 times this year

It happened more than a few times that's for sure. I remember one that was so bad I really couldn't believe it. Ended up losing in extras.

 

[Colbert17!]

Jesus. The blocking the plate upsets you?? That may happen twice a month! You are really a screwball, putting in baseball terms which you may not understand!

It happened quite a few times to the Padres this year. On at least two occasions it cost them the game. It definitely is a screwed up rule.

 

[The RUT]

It happened more than a few times that's for sure. I remember one that was so bad I really couldn't believe it. Ended up losing in extras.

It was the inconsistency.

Tatis threw out someone on the giants and it cost us the game and then like a week later the same exact play happened to the padres but they called us out lol

I remember watching and just laughing. All my padre buddies were screaming the league is out to get us haha

 

[Colbert17!]

Mr. Human Rain Delay!

It's funny if you actually watch him and what he does he took about the same amount of time to get ready as about 90% of the MLB players over the past 10 years or so prior to the pitch clock.
A six pitch at bat took about two minutes. That's not outlandish in modern baseball

 

[RUScrew85]

Greatest rule change ever!

Yes it is. Only outdone by eliminating the shift. ; )

 

[willisneverrana43]

Yes it is. Only outdone by eliminating the shift. ; )

Not outdone by, and not even close. Taking a half hour off the over-bloated games is one of the greatest effects ever by a rule change.

 

[Retired711]

Were it not for the pitch clock, last night's Phillies-Marlins game would have lasted well into the 11 p.m. hour. The players have adjusted to it, and it certainly makes the game more fun to watch.

 

[WhiteBus]

It happened quite a few times to the Padres this year. On at least two occasions it cost them the game. It definitely is a screwed up rule.

I'm not ignoring that it didn't happen on occasion but compared to the pitching clock which literally affected every single game and got the desired results by chopping off an average of 30 minutes a game! That is huge!
To me the 2nd best change was limiting throwing over to first. This has 2 benefits.
Stopping pitchers from wasting time and stealing is coming back. I think this off-season a lot of pitchers will work their picks off move, so when they do through over it will have a real purpose, getting an out!

 

[Colbert17!]

I'm not ignoring that it didn't happen on occasion but compared to the pitching clock which literally affected every single game and got the desired results by chopping off an average of 30 minutes a game! That is huge!
To me the 2nd best change was limiting throwing over to first. This has 2 benefits.
Stopping pitchers from wasting time and stealing is coming back. I think this off-season a lot of pitchers will work their picks off move, so when they do through over it will have a real purpose, getting an out!

I agree that the pace of play was quicker this year and I like the stolen base so the restriction of pick offs was great. Also eliminating the shift was a good move in 2022 the padres would sometimes put Machado in RF to stack the outfielders against certain hitters. All of these changes are pluses.
But they do need to look at the blocking the plate rule. There was little consistency in the calls.

 

[willisneverrana43]

They could look at the blocking the plate rule, though I really haven't seen the issue with it that you have.

But, regardless, any change would still seek to minimize or eliminate running over catchers, just like the rule regarding taking out fielders at second to break up double plays. Sports aren't allowing those type of injury-causing collisions anymore, and it won't switch back.

 

[WhiteBus]

I agree that the pace of play was quicker this year and I like the stolen base so the restriction of pick offs was great. Also eliminating the shift was a good move in 2022 the padres would sometimes put Machado in RF to stack the outfielders against certain hitters. All of these changes are pluses.
But they do need to look at the blocking the plate rule. There was little consistency in the calls.

Agree all those were big pluses. I started watching games where it didn't involve my favorite teams again. Im back to being a complete fanatic watching baseball again! It was a great season all around.