What changes need to be made to professional baseball?

[markakis8]

Bring back Day/Night Double Headers. You could keep 162 games but shorten the season by a week. This would also help with travel time and odd scheduling since each League now has 15 teams, your off day could be after the pair of games. For balance you get a Double Header against each team in your Division and one against a team in the other 5.

This is actually a great suggestion. You could also throw in an extra day or two off days for the teams as well if you do 7-10 day-night doubleheaders in a season.

 

[nborton]

I don't think the strike zone is a huge issue at this point. One of the biggest problems with people's perception of it being bad is the camera angle in which baseball games are shot. It's not a direct angle to avoid being in the batter's view.

It's also not where the ball ends up either. So many times I see people getting all crazy because a ball ended up outside when the catcher caught it. All it has to do is go over any part of the plate. It doesn't have to stay there.

 

[fsulevine]

1) Mandatory 7-day suspension for charging the mound
2) If a starting pitcher intentionally throws at a batter, he must miss 1 start (not like a 5-game suspension where he can appeal, pitch, drop the appeal, and essentially get pushed back one day). He can be available to pinch-hit, pinch-run, etc... however, based on the rotation the prior 2 weeks, MLB should set the date he can next pitch again.

 

[cards01fan]

I don't think the strike zone is a huge issue at this point. One of the biggest problems with people's perception of it being bad is the camera angle in which baseball games are shot. It's not a direct angle to avoid being in the batter's view.

It's also not where the ball ends up either. So many times I see people getting all crazy because a ball ended up outside when the catcher caught it. All it has to do is go over any part of the plate. It doesn't have to stay there.

Disagree. I think the inconsistent strike zone is a big problem.

 

[sruchris]

1. Contract 4 teams

2. Eliminate both the AL and NL division playoff series

3. Realign back to 2 divisions per league (East and West)

4. Eliminate the DH

5. Eliminate September call-ups

6. Eliminate inter-league play

7. Require that team tv/radio broadcasters announce national games including playoffs

8. Eliminate all forms of instant replay

9. Create rules for minimum size dimensions for outfields

10. Create penalties for owners who continue to trade away star players to unload salaries (i.e. create a salary floor)

 

[prospectorgems]

1. Contract 4 teams

2. Eliminate both the AL and NL division playoff series

3. Realign back to 2 divisions per league (East and West)

4. Eliminate the DH

5. Eliminate September call-ups

6. Eliminate inter-league play

7. Require that team tv/radio broadcasters announce national games including playoffs

8. Eliminate all forms of instant replay

9. Create rules for minimum size dimensions for outfields

10. Create penalties for owners who continue to trade away star players to unload salaries (i.e. create a salary floor)

Harsh!

 

[nborton]

Disagree. I think the inconsistent strike zone is a big problem.

I just don't agree that there is as much an inconsistent zone as people think. I think TV makes it deceptive.

Also, in general when it comes to sports, I feel baseball is generally the most fair when it comes to officiating. It's really, really, really, rare when you can point to a specific missed call that cost a team a game. When it comes to the strike zone, at least a player has 3 chances. Unlike most sports where one call can ruin a game.

That said, I do think the playoffs should have instant replay on all close calls outside of strikes and balls.

 

[wildcat4]

The heck with day/night doubleheaders. Bring back real doubleheaders, where a fan can see two games for the price of one.

 

[pootshwan]

Honestly, I would not change a thing...

Bud Selig is that you?

 

[HPC]

Use the whole strike zone...limit "out of the box" time...eliminate public funding of stadiums...more daytime playoff games...eliminate the Dodgers, Giants, Diamondbacks, and Rockies.

Sounds like someone's a sad Pad's fan

lol

 

[rsmath]

The heck with day/night doubleheaders. Bring back real doubleheaders, where a fan can see two games for the price of one.

don't go to minor league games, do you?

MLB is just a big business. Minor League is where the fan is catered to and appreciated.

 

[cards01fan]

I just don't agree that there is as much an inconsistent zone as people think. I think TV makes it deceptive.

Also, in general when it comes to sports, I feel baseball is generally the most fair when it comes to officiating. It's really, really, really, rare when you can point to a specific missed call that cost a team a game. When it comes to the strike zone, at least a player has 3 chances. Unlike most sports where one call can ruin a game.

That said, I do think the playoffs should have instant replay on all close calls outside of strikes and balls.

Still disagree . In baseball every pitch counts. Example 3 oh count umpire calls wide strike, instead of walking it's a 3-1 count. Next pitch batter grounds out. Instead of one on there is one out.