Suggestion to speed up play

[Tskware]

Had a thought over the weekend.

I would suggest letting managers make any pitching changes they want in innings 1-5, and in 9th inning or later.

But they are limited to no more than one pitching change per inning in innings 6-8. Way too often, the starters more or less pitch effectively for half the game and the first 5 innings take an hour (shortest) to an hour and a half. Then we see a parade of pitchers from the 6th inning on, including a pitching change for every batter, making the last 3 or 4 innings last geologic ages. At UK, I have seen Henderson make a change after two or three pitches, before the at bat is even completed.

First five innings, if the starter is ineffective and gets knocked out in the first inning or two, I can see multiple changes, but after the 5th, make pitchers face hitters and move the game along.

Injuiries, naturally, would trump these rules and allow you an extra change.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Why is there always talk about speeding up baseball games? I don't get it. I don't see any point in speeding it up. It is supposed to be slow and laid back. It isn't supposed to be something that is rushed through. Football games often last just as long and no one is talking about speeding them up. I can understand trying not to delay the game further, but no need to change the rules and strategy of a game in order to speed it up.

 

[Tskware]

Why is there always talk about speeding up baseball games? I don't get it. I don't see any point in speeding it up. It is supposed to be slow and laid back. It isn't supposed to be something that is rushed through. Football games often last just as long and no one is talking about speeding them up. I can understand trying not to delay the game further, but no need to change the rules and strategy of a game in order to speed it up.

Although I see your point, I believe you are in the vast minority. No one enjoys seeing multiple pitching changes inning after inning with very little live action in between. You stop the game from growing its fan base, I hear it all the time from casual sports fans that just cannot stand baseball.

And I would disagree with football as well (although to be fair there are only 1/10 the number of NFL games per team as MLB team). College football is not as enjoyable to me now that the games are routinely 3.5 to 4 hours long, due primarily to TV timeouts, play reviews, etc., that drag the game out way too long.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I may be in the minority, but I really don't think that there is going to be any way that you draw a whole lot more causal fans by speeding the game up. I think the ones that don't like the game just think the game is boring in and of itself. So, less pitching changes is not going to make them have any more interest in the actual action. You also have to be careful because the more you change the game the more you might alienate people who actually want to keep it more traditional. A lot of people were scared away from college baseball by the metal bat, and they won't come back to watch until that changes. You take out some important factors in the game and you may lose the most diehard fans.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

No offense to the OP, but this is just a bad idea. A lot of what the draw for me in baseball is the strategy that goes into a game. If you're in a close game, you play match ups. Why should a manager or coach for that matter possibly sacrifice a game when he has a left handed specialist in the bullpen but starts the inning with a righty? You have certain pitchers on a roster whose job is only certain match ups.

 

[Tskware]

No offense to the OP, but this is just a bad idea. A lot of what the draw for me in baseball is the strategy that goes into a game. If you're in a close game, you play match ups. Why should a manager or coach for that matter possibly sacrifice a game when he has a left handed specialist in the bullpen but starts the inning with a righty? You have certain pitchers on a roster whose job is only certain match ups.

And therein lies one of the criticisms of the present modern-day game - You have a fair number of left-handed relievers whose only function, and only ability, apparently, is to get one batter out in the seventh or eighth inning. It is just an idea for some light hearted discussion anyway. But to be clear, even under my idea, a manager could easily use seven or eight pitchers in even a nine inning game. Is that enough strategy for you?

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

I understand the criticism of the left handed specialists. And I also understand about some complaints about the length of a game. One thing that I would like to see is on intentional walks, why does a pitcher need to throw four balls? If you are going to intentionally walk a batter, just make the call and send the batter on his way. Another thing, can we please outlaw the fake throw to third then toss to first pickoff move. Has that ever worked in a game?

OP, I wasn't trying to call you out specifically. I just feel if you take a key strategy out of the game, then you water down the game even more.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Making pitchers throw the intentional walk pitches does add in the possibility of a wild pitch, adding a small risk to the defensive team. I am fine with that.

The fake 3b/1b pickoff works at younger ages and probably even college...but I thought they were trying to get rid of it in MLB.