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Oct 28

Written by: randyh
10/28/2009 7:46 PM

 

Instant replay may slow the game down some but here’s a few ways to make up the time and improve the game.
 
Pitchers only have a set amount of time to pitch the ball once they receive it (maybe five to eight seconds?). The catcher can only go out and talk to the pitcher two or three times an inning.   The pitcher can only throw to a base to pick off a runner three times. 
 
Batters can only step out of the box three times in one time up and they may only stay out five seconds. They only get three foul balls after two strikes and then they’re outta there.
 
And by the way, when the commentators talk about instant replay they always say not on balls and strikes because that would take too long. But why not just use those machines they use to show us whether the ump was right or not?! Why rely not only on human error but human bias based on seniority and other ridiculous things? And while we’re improving things, let’s eliminate the intentional walk by allowing the manager to use a pinch “walker” and leave the same batter up. We fans aren’t paying to see the best hitter walked.
 
Maybe we could even reduce extra inning games!  For each extra inning let’s subtract a base needed to “score.” We could go for home in the 10th, but reaching third base could be a score in the 11th, second in the 12th, and so on. Or we could just add up the bases reached in that inning and that would be your score.
 
Yeah baby, there’s a lot to like about baseball but let’s get creative and make it a more exciting game!

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9 comments so far...

Re: Baseball needs more changes than just instant replay

I like your changes, especially the ones concerning the pitchers and batters. They need to speed the game up thru those two things. When I coached baseball in Idaho in the 90's, they tried fooling with that. The batter couldn't get out of the box between pitches unless he swung at the pitch, the pitch almost hit them, or the pitch was in the dirt. The problem was, they didn't do anything with the pitcher. So while the batter had restrictions, the pitcher could walk around the mound and delay his pitches all he wanted. That's what was dumb about the rule. Should have restricted the pitcher as well as the batter.

By GJones on   10/29/2009 11:51 AM

Re: Baseball needs more changes than just instant replay

One of those things has already been implemented, in a way, in the pros. Pitchers have 12 seconds to make a pitch once they receive the ball - but the time limit only applies when there's no one on base. Expanding that to all situations would be ideal.

By David Bashore on   10/30/2009 7:44 AM

Re: Baseball needs more changes than just instant replay

Another thing I didn't mention would be electronic bases and foul lines. Surely there is a way to set up a light and a buzzer to show when a ball is foul and even to show if the ball beats the runner on a force play. One thing I've noticed in the last couple of years is it seems the tie doesn't go to the runner anymore. I've seen several ties called outs. It's another example of umpires just doing it their own way, like when the ball beats the runner to the bag and they call him out even if the tag isn't applied in time.

By Harmonious on   10/30/2009 5:15 PM

Re: Baseball needs more changes than just instant replay

I would like them to come with some ways to speed up the game. Sometimes it is like watching cement set, but you have to admit that there's nothing like the bottom of the 9th, men in scoring position,2 outs and a 3-2 count for some excitement. Did you see that last night they used the replay rule for the first time in world series play? It was the correct call however. We have technology to send man to the moon ,but nothing to make sure he did or did not beat the throw to first (other than replay). Amazing!!

By Stinger58 on   11/1/2009 10:45 PM

Re: Baseball needs more changes than just instant replay

Posada goes the the mound 8 times in the 5th inning? What's that all about? He said that they just wanted to make sure that they were on the same page. They won so I guess he can make a case, but it really slows the game. Maybe after tonight it will be over and then we can watch "CHESS". Now that's a fast paced game!

By stinger on   11/2/2009 1:50 PM

Re: Baseball needs more changes than just instant replay

I agree that maybe they could make some changes to get more calls right, or even speed it up. But hitters and pitchers take time because there is nothing harder to do than connect a round bat to a round ball squarely. And not much harder than to throw a slider in the exact location that you aimed it. This is the World Series, if Posada doesn't think Sabathia is throwing the pitch that he called, he's gonna go talk to him. Not only for the win, but for safety. If Posada is expecting a curve, and a 99mph fastball is high, it could hit the catcher or umpire.

By tb on   11/2/2009 3:51 PM

Re: Baseball needs more changes than just instant replay

God forbid that a pitch might hit an umpire and wake him up! If you haven't noticed the discrepency between calls of ball and strikes you must not be watching the game. The ump calls a pitch a foot outside the box a strike and then a pitch that is 6" outside a ball. Come on! You've got to set a standard as to how far out you are going to go to give the pitcher the call and then be consistent with it, not just jump all over the place. It makes me wonder how some of these umps got selected to the series. They are supposed to be the best in the league.

By stinger on   11/3/2009 2:14 PM

Re: Baseball needs more changes than just instant replay

Lets get those batters swinging too...imagine the umpire calling a strike zone as defined in the rule book. No more 'postage stamp' strike zone for that finicky .250 hitter. Get up there, get your hacks in and sit down.

By scote on   11/4/2009 3:10 PM

Re: Baseball needs more changes than just instant replay

Stinger, I'd like to see you take a major league fastball on the chin for that comment.

By tb on   11/6/2009 4:38 PM

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