the first new MLB rules since '96

MLB, MLBPA ADOPT SLIDE RULE ON DOUBLE PLAYS, PACE OF GAME CHANGES
Interference Rule Governing Double Play Slides Clarified;
Mound Visits, Break Times Adjusted in Pace of Game Program

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/165429062/pace-of-game-changes-new-slide-rule-adopted

“People watch the UFC. But they get mad when a guy breaks his ankle at second base because of a hard slide. I don't get it." -- Ian Kinsler, future Fox analyst

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ce_iquoVAAELtrm.jpg:large

In the 9th last night vs the Mets, Jayson Werth was called out for interference making a late slide on a DP breakup attempt. I'm getting a little sick of Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling grousing about the new unmacho world (Keith sneered about "the geniuses" who effected the rule). Nats GM Rizzo also got into a shouting match with the umps after the game. Tough shit, dinosaurs.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/watch-ninth-inning-slide-rule-call-plays-a-big-part-in-mets-win-over-nats/

https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/nats-gm-ump-argue-over-call-on-werth-slide/188622326

oh go fuck yourselves

"Major League Baseball plans on testing a rule change in the lowest levels of the minor leagues this season that automatically would place a runner on second base at the start of extra innings, a distinct break from the game’s orthodoxy that nonetheless has wide-ranging support at the highest levels of the league, sources familiar with the plan told Yahoo Sports."

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mlb-plans-to-test-new-extra-innings-rules-in-rookie-ball-with-joe-torres-approval-224914115.html

What in the blue hell is that all about.

Honestly, I would prefer ties in baseball to a dumb rule change like that.

“It’s not fun to watch when you go through your whole pitching staff and wind up bringing a utility infielder in to pitch.

gotta disagree with you there, Joe.

i will give you each $1000 if this ever becomes a major league rule

twist: the free runner on second base is bartolo colon

Anthony Castrovince @castrovince
This idea has uncovered quite a number of rookie ball purists.

first they came for rookie league, and i said nothing

gonna need one for this, because c'mon

https://twitter.com/AJCassavell/status/831916548369510400

that's even worse than jordan walden

no one ever calls traveling anymore

that is a fucking weird delivery.

Cater Crapps

@JeffPassan
Rob Manfred: There will not be substantive rules changes in 2017 due to "lack of cooperation from the MLBPA."

@EricFisherSBJ
And Manfred then reveals a new chestnut in new labor deal: a unilateral ability by the league to impose rules changes as soon as next yr

@JeffPassan
Among the rules changes MLB could impose, per Manfred: a pitch clock, a smaller strike zone, fewer visits to the mound, auto-intentional BB.

yay lack of cooperation

As part of its initiative to improve pace-of-game play, Major League Baseball has approved a change to the intentional walk rule, going from the traditional four-pitch walk to a dugout signal, team and union sources told ESPN's Howard Bryant.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18737245/mlb-union-agree-get-rid-traditional-intentional-walkwill-use-signal-dugout

this will save nearly 12 seconds per game

i'm so pissed that the miggy cabrera intentional walk single will never happen again

ugh

what about the Johnny Bench WORLD SERIES fake-IBB strikeout?

(1972)

i was not alive but that sounds tremendous

i know ive posted it before

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TPCNP4_qXo

that's bizarre that they did that with two strikes

i am in favor of pitch clocks but very much NOT in favor of not having to actually throw the pitches for an IBB wth

As a way for all sides to save face (the commish wanted a strike zone change but ffs you can't spring that on the players on short notice in the middle of spring training), this IBB thing suits its purpose.

Grant Brisbee, like me, is concerned about the commish's "desperate urgency"

http://www.sbnation.com/2017/2/22/14693248/mlb-rule-changes-rob-manfred-intentional-walks-strike-zone

Seven-pitch-maximum at-bats -- no "staying alive" with two-strike fouls. If you can't put the ball in play and/or reach base in seven pitches or less, sit down. Three strikes of any combination -- you're out. Quicker game, starters go a little deeper. Will never happen, obv.

offense would go way way down

Tough.

^apostate

@MyKBO
Pace of Play: Will MLB make guys sprint to first after getting hit? KBO rules state player must run to 1st before removing protective gear

marchman concurs: http://deadspin.com/baseballs-new-intentional-walk-scheme-is-a-pointless-o-1792633670

my sense is that ownership is indeed frightened, in the long term, about the millennials and their tiny attention spans -- but that fright pales beside anything money-related. this seems more like manfred flexing for the union. if he can paint the union as backward and unhelpful on something relatively meaningless, maybe he can later bargain it away for something that saves owners money.

this rule change is pointless. if they really want to shorten games, enforce existing rules on leaving the batter's box, etc. allow fewer mound visits. what the hell do relievers need eight warmup pitches for? warm up in the bullpen, bitch.

(i figure we're gonna get universal DH before long, which won't shorten games either. i have made my peace with this.)

the money stuff is a constant, ongoing battle, though, and the players union has gotten rolled in the last several CBAs. i think this is mainly a feint as both sides prepare for 2021

there was a hypothetical on EW a few weeks ago re: how much it would cost for MLB to just make little league free for anyone who wants to play. you want young people to like this very difficult, often boring game u gotta start them young...

also maybe stop saying it's boring

good idea. I never would've gotten into baseball if I hadn't done little league for a few years.

Seven-pitch-maximum at-bats -- no "staying alive" with two-strike fouls. If you can't put the ball in play and/or reach base in seven pitches or less, sit down. Three strikes of any combination -- you're out. Quicker game, starters go a little deeper. Will never happen, obv.

This is utter madness, the 10-pitch AB is the tensest and best thing in all of baseball

except maybe triples

otm

take that, carter capps

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C57PENpVAAASp_-.jpg

otherwise known as the I Can't Believe We Had To Make This a Rule, What is This 2nd Grade Grow up Carter Capps Come On rule

i was gonna throw a jab in at jordan walden as well but he's probably already reaching for the whisky bottle anyway

weird. i guess two hops is bad, but Capps' single-hop is ok?

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/mlb-has-clarified-its-carter-capps-position/

Importantly, MLB determined the above delivery was legal. Based on their own interpretation of the rules, MLB gave Capps’ motion its blessing, so long as he didn’t jump *up*. It was emphasized that Capps would have to drag his back foot. So it remains.

...One hop is fine, while 2+ are not. There was Jordan Walden, and now there is Carter Capps. The way baseball explains it, there’s nothing wrong with the way Capps throws, so long as there’s something of a “drag line” in the dirt.

really don't understand why the MLB doesn't just avoid the confusion and slippery slope and just make the rule that you have to be in contact with the rubber when you release the ball. you know, the...normal way of pitching

Seven-pitch-maximum at-bats -- no "staying alive" with two-strike fouls. If you can't put the ball in play and/or reach base in seven pitches or less, sit down. Three strikes of any combination -- you're out. Quicker game, starters go a little deeper. Will never happen, obv.

― Andy K, Wednesday, February 22, 2017 12:37 PM (one week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

this is the worst thing I've ever read

srsly

They've gotten better at showing replays within the allotted time, gave them fits at the beginning of the year

Braves aren't showing replays on balls in play if they're just groundouts or flyouts. Arcia just went out to short center to make a nice over the shoulder catch, no replay. I'm really loving this -- it more closely matches the experience of being at the park.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5961016/2024/12/02/golden-at-bat-rule-mlb/

am i just getting old, or is this the stupidest thing ever?

Is both an option?

(Teasing. Yeah, I think it's silly)

"both" is fair.

Take it another step and have a designated Golden Batter - who is never allowed to play any other role and no one else can be GB. Owners have to pay a guy $5 million for 162 PAs.

incredible to me that jayson stark managed/was allowed to turn this horseshit idea into a 5000-word article. is he actually being paid by the word

Almost every time I see Freeman, he knows I have some inspired idea to run by him. So he was ready to poke holes in this one, in that good-natured Freddie Freeman way of his.

fuck you and fuck your editor

what editor

I am not qualified and barely motivated to post about baseball at all, and after reading this hogwash I felt the need to seek out ILB to complain about this dumb shit

"Golden At-Bat" just doesn't seem magical enough; I'm thinking something like the "Willy Wonka Rule."

Take it another step and have a designated Golden Batter - who is never allowed to play any other role and no one else can be GB. Owners have to pay a guy $5 million for 162 PAs.

This isn't a bad idea -- it could be a way to keep veteran hitters in the game, like in the days when teams had roster space for pinch-hitting specialists because they weren't carrying 13 pitchers.

But a rule that might allow hitters to potentially bat twice in a row ... no no no no no.

in 1998 the yankees basically had this with tim raines. he’d pop off the bench, drive in a run. over and over

someone was trying to explain this to me last night and my thought was "he must be misremembering some details because this sounds dumb as hell"

it's a constant frustration for some dingdongs that the highest leverage moment of the season might be a face-off between say jackson kowar and diego cartaya

when actually real heads love this

like you don’t get one of key things that makes baseball distinct if you want to deprive mark bellinghorn of his big moment

if i can't see the Brett Phillips of the world make unexpected, life affirming, game winning hits then i don't know if i want to watch baseball anymore

If there'd been a Golden At-Bat rule, he'd just be plain old Bucky Dent.

it seems like all of this discussion is happening bc six weeks ago rob manfred said on a podcast that someone at an owner's meeting brought up the potential idea of the golden at-bat. i.e. it doesn't seem like it's actually being seriously considered or likely to happen.

francisco cabrera

^^^fp'd

The Short Happy Life of the Golden At-Bat.

https://www.mlb.com/news/commissioner-rob-manfred-says-there-are-no-plans-for-golden-at-bat

if i can't see the Brett Phillips of the world make unexpected, life affirming, game winning hits

See I'd just forgotten this and then you go and bring it up

Glad they scrapped the golden at-bat, now bring back pitchers hitting.

^^^

The first rule in the book states:

1.00–OBJECTIVES OF THE GAME
1.01 Baseball is a game between two teams of nine players each, under
direction of a manager, played on an enclosed field in accordance
with these rules, under jurisdiction of one or more umpire

Lineup cards have had 10 slots since 1973 for the AL, and for all of MLB since 2022.