OT Baseball

[Navin R. Johnson]

Since things are as slow as can be for college hoops right now I would like to talk baseball for those interested.  Right now it looks like MLB is getting closer to playing with July the target date.  They do plan some changes and one is to divide all of the MLB teams into new geographically based divisions and with this they will probably have all teams use the DH.  How do you feel about the age old baseball argument to DH or not DH?  If all NL teams go to it this year, it might spell the end of pitchers hitting in the future. It would be interesting to get the board's thoughts as we seem to have some hard core MLB fans mixed with the casual baseball fan and some that don't follow the sport.  I'm a traditional NL fan so I hate the DH.  Here are some of my reasons why:

 

I think all players should hit and field.  I don't like the idea of a beer bellied out of shape hitter be able to only hit like softball but not have to be exposed in the field for his weaknesses.

 

I like the strategy of managers having to make the decision to pull a pitcher who is throwing well to try to break the game open with a pinch hitter.

 

I like pitchers having to step in the box after throwing a bean ball the previous inning.

 

To me if you adopt this philosophy let's go all the way and play your best 9 defenders in the field and bat your best 9 hitters. (like football)

 

I like pitchers having to get a bunt down in a key situation and also it gives you an advantage if you are a good hitting pitcher.

 

Teams have to have a better bench without the DH.

 

There is no real need for it as pitchers anymore bat on average only once or twice a game now with pitch count concerns. 

[HuskerFever]

This season is already going to be an anomaly in MLB 162-game season statistical standards. This seems like a perfect year to test out some new things they've been wanting to try.

[Silverbacked1]

1 hour ago, Navin R. Johnson said:

Since things are as slow as can be for college hoops right now I would like to talk baseball for those interested.  Right now it looks like MLB is getting closer to playing with July the target date.  They do plan some changes and one is to divide all of the MLB teams into new geographically based divisions and with this they will probably have all teams use the DH.  How do you feel about the age old baseball argument to DH or not DH?  If all NL teams go to it this year, it might spell the end of pitchers hitting in the future. It would be interesting to get the board's thoughts as we seem to have some hard core MLB fans mixed with the casual baseball fan and some that don't follow the sport.  I'm a traditional NL fan so I hate the DH.  Here are some of my reasons why:

 

I think all players should hit and field.  I don't like the idea of a beer bellied out of shape hitter be able to only hit like softball but not have to be exposed in the field for his weaknesses.

 

I like the strategy of managers having to make the decision to pull a pitcher who is throwing well to try to break the game open with a pinch hitter.

 

I like pitchers having to step in the box after throwing a bean ball the previous inning.

 

To me if you adopt this philosophy let's go all the way and play your best 9 defenders in the field and bat your best 9 hitters. (like football)

 

I like pitchers having to get a bunt down in a key situation and also it gives you an advantage if you are a good hitting pitcher.

 

Teams have to have a better bench without the DH.

 

There is no real need for it as pitchers anymore bat on average only once or twice a game now with pitch count concerns. 

 

I would agree, if most of the pitchers would actually try to hit.. It has become a joke in the National League sometimes because you could almost toss it under hand and they still wouldn't really try to hit it because then they might have to run.

 

Okay that was a bit harsh, but you have to admit most of today's pitchers could try harder, remember when the Braves staff had bets who could do the best.  I think they even batted like around 200 as a staff.

Edited May 11, 2020 by Silverbacked1

[Navin R. Johnson]

37 minutes ago, Silverbacked1 said:

 

I would agree, if most of the pitchers would actually try to hit.. It has become a joke in the National League sometimes because you could almost toss it under hand and they still wouldn't really try to hit it because then they might have to run.

 

Okay that was a bit harsh, but you have to admit most of today's pitchers could try harder, remember when the Braves staff had bets who could do the best.  I think they even batted like around 200 as a staff.

 

That is true and another reason they are looking to put the DH in.  There are some that do try like you said with the Braves staff from years ago.  Madison Bumgarner and Joel Musgrove are two that come to mind today that compete at the plate.  I think the lack of pitchers hitting in the minors or college play a part in that.

[colhusker]

I hate the new rule that a reliever has to pitch to three batters minimum.  Takes the strategy out of managing as does the DH.  

I know that there is more offense with the DH, but I am not sure it is as big a difference as baseball had hoped.

I hate the swing angle becoming a issue with at bats.  Way to many strikeouts in today's game.

Umpires should call the real strike zone and not waist to knees.

Traveling should be called as written - err wait wrong game.

[HuskerFever]

18 minutes ago, colhusker said:

I hate the new rule that a reliever has to pitch to three batters minimum.  Takes the strategy out of managing as does the DH.  

I know that there is more offense with the DH, but I am not sure it is as big a difference as baseball had hoped.

I hate the swing angle becoming a issue with at bats.  Way to many strikeouts in today's game.

Umpires should call the real strike zone and not waist to knees.

Traveling should be called as written - err wait wrong game.

 

Maybe I'm off base (pun completely intended), but this probably is also in part to help speed up the game. Purists may think otherwise, but the length of the games are becoming an issue in American culture. I'm all for trying to prevent slowing down the game, without losing the core of what baseball is.

[Red Rum]

As a life long AL fan I'm all for the DH. I think the "there's no strategy" with a DH is way overblown. What is the strategy in having an almost guaranteed out every time the pitcher comes up to bat? I'd venture to say there is much more support for the DH rule among players, pitchers more specifically, than with the fans. 

[jimmykc]

Curmudgeon alert: This year will be a joke, however it is played, so none of the "records" should count as official stats. First, part of the pleasure of baseball is the joy of being allowed to ruminate during the many pauses in the action while letting the pitcher/batter strategies play out and to partake of a refreshment while enjoying the open air. Secondly, if the object is to get the game over with in the least amount of time, just let each pitcher batter encounter be limited to five minutes and then issue an automatic out or walk randomly and move on. When two hours has elapsed, the game is over and the team that is ahead wins. Oh, and any fans caught looking at their cell phones or taking  selfies must to submit to a murder- hornet enema.

[Bugeaters1]

This season is already going to be an anomaly in MLB 162-game season statistical standards. This seems like a perfect year to test out some new things they've been wanting to try.

Pitch clock.

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[Handy Johnson]

I’m an AL guy, but the NL needs to play by their existing rules, otherwise it’s nothing more than semantics like the AFC/NFC in Football...

[HuskerFever]

11 minutes ago, Handy Johnson said:

I’m an AL guy, but the NL needs to play by their existing rules, otherwise it’s nothing more than semantics like the AFC/NFC in Football...

 

Based on the current proposed format, teams like the Pirates and Braves wouldn't play in their traditional divisions. So that would be interesting nonetheless.

[colhusker]

3 hours ago, HuskerFever said:

 

Maybe I'm off base (pun completely intended), but this probably is also in part to help speed up the game. Purists may think otherwise, but the length of the games are becoming an issue in American culture. I'm all for trying to prevent slowing down the game, without losing the core of what baseball is.

Agree what they are trying to do, but keep the damn batter in the box between pitches and the game speeds up.  If a review takes longer than 30 seconds it's most likely not clear evidence. I have no issue limiting the number of times a catcher can visit mound.

[colhusker]

4 hours ago, Red Rum said:

As a life long AL fan I'm all for the DH. I think the "there's no strategy" with a DH is way overblown. What is the strategy in having an almost guaranteed out every time the pitcher comes up to bat? I'd venture to say there is much more support for the DH rule among players, pitchers more specifically, than with the fans. 

Convince me of the strategy of having a DH?  As was mentioned above, all hit over weight guy that can't play the field.

[Huskerpapa]

I am a diehard, long time, traditionalist baseball (and yes Cubbies) fan.

 

Now...and maybe I will rethink this; it is time that change is required.  If not, it will be a small town in Nebraska, and die an ugly death.  The game has to speed up.  I will not go into minutia, but many facets of the game could evolve without losing adequate sight of the history.  

 

If this is not a focus, I am afraid my grandkids will, and yours, will drop the game from their minds.

[Handy Johnson]

1 hour ago, HuskerFever said:

 

Based on the current proposed format, teams like the Pirates and Braves wouldn't play in their traditional divisions. So that would be interesting nonetheless.

I wasn’t concerned with the temporary realignment as much as I am with the NL adopting the DH. The fact there are two distinctively different Leagues is part of Baseballs charm. That being said my Twins would be in a “Division” with the Cubs & the Reds.

[Navin R. Johnson]

2 hours ago, colhusker said:

Agree what they are trying to do, but keep the damn batter in the box between pitches and the game speeds up.  If a review takes longer than 30 seconds it's most likely not clear evidence. I have no issue limiting the number of times a catcher can visit mound.

 

Totally agree with all of these. They need to speed the game up.  If you watch games from years ago the batters were swinging the bat and the strike zone was larger.  Things changed when teams started working the pitch count.  (I would do the same thing if I coached baseball though)

 

Being a traditionalist I can't believe I'm suggesting this, but try this out:  Start with a 2-1 count like slow pitch softball.  It would speed the game up dramatically.  Two things that would change is that starting pitchers would go later into games and stolen bases would drop off but it would be an interesting experiment.   The batter would be less likely to take a pitch for fear of getting that second strike called on them and pitchers would not waste a pitch, not wanting to fall behind 3-1.

 

I would also give teams 3 time outs per game which includes catcher mound visits. (not counting pitching changes) 

 

  

[jayschool]

I think field-goal kickers ought to have play center. And quarterbacks should be linebackers on D.

 

The age of the specialist has been here for decades. And the National League is the only baseball league anywhere at any level that makes pitchers (try to) hit. Or should I write "bunt." Nothing more boring than watching a pitcher fan or look at three pitches and then head back to the dugout to rest.

[49r]

But why is a Pitcher any more of a specialist than a Catcher?  Or 3rd  Baseman, or Shortstop, or...

[AuroranHusker]

22 hours ago, HuskerFever said:

This season is already going to be an anomaly in MLB 162-game season statistical standards. This seems like a perfect year to test out some new things they've been wanting to try.

 

Had heard 82-game regular season, then 14 teams in the post-season instead of the prior 10. I'm fine with whatever is implemented on a one year basis. It will be good to see some baseball played... I can only watch so much Korean Baseball. 

[Navin R. Johnson]

37 minutes ago, 49r said:

But why is a Pitcher any more of a specialist than a Catcher?  Or 3rd  Baseman, or Shortstop, or...

 

That is my point as well.  There are some poor hitting shortstops and catchers in the game that don't play much because they are poor hitters.  Like I said before, go all the way and play your 9 best fielders and bat your 9 best hitters if you believe in the philosophy behind the DH.  Gift Ngoepe (INF) and Gorkys Hernandez (CF) were 2 guys that were fun to watch in the field but rarely played as they could not hit their weight.  

 

[Silverbacked1]

26 minutes ago, AuroranHusker said:

 

Had heard 82-game regular season, then 14 teams in the post-season instead of the prior 10. I'm fine with whatever is implemented on a one year basis. It will be good to see some baseball played... I can only watch so much Korean Baseball. 

 

It might help if the guys doing the KBO games even kind of cared the games might be better.. Tried to watch yesterday and they talked about something for both the top and bottom of the inning.. 

 

I mean I didn't even know who was batting or who made the plays.. It was kind of like being at a bar watching a game with the sound off and talking with friends about their day.

[AuroranHusker]

9 minutes ago, Silverbacked1 said:

 

It might help if the guys doing the KBO games even kind of cared the games might be better.. Tried to watch yesterday and they talked about something for both the top and bottom of the inning.. 

 

I mean I didn't even know who was batting or who made the plays.. It was kind of like being at a bar watching a game with the sound off and talking with friends about their day.

 

The best part I heard, as an avid Halos fan, was when Mickey Calloway was on. He's the new Angels pitching coach (and former Mets manager...) -- I just tend to have it on in the background so the actual baseball played is secondary when I work... and, yes, I agree specifically with what you mentioned, Sliver, the announcers are too concerned with their own attire & coffee drinkin' to learn the players positions or strengths/weaknesses.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 12, 2020 by AuroranHusker

[HuskerFever]

1 hour ago, Silverbacked1 said:

It might help if the guys doing the KBO games even kind of cared the games might be better..

 

1 hour ago, AuroranHusker said:

and, yes, I agree specifically with what you mentioned, Sliver, the announcers are too concerned with their own attire & coffee drinkin' to learn the players positions or strengths/weaknesses.

 

The only counterpoint to this is that:

 

1. I'm not sure what words would be coming out of my mouth at work at 4 in the morning. The announcers are getting paid just to fill air at this point. But, do give them credit for trying to learn the names, language and league with such short notice.

 

2. I'm pretty sure ESPN doesn't really care; this will be a short one-time contract with the KBO and then they'll move on to American sports. ...which is a shame. I've watched KBO before, in Korea nonetheless, and I would definitely watch it on a semi-recurring basis even if it was on ESPNEWS or ESPN3 or something.

[49r]

1 hour ago, HuskerFever said:

 

 

The only counterpoint to this is that:

 

1. I'm not sure what words would be coming out of my mouth at work at 4 in the morning. The announcers are getting paid just to fill air at this point. But, do give them credit for trying to learn the names, language and league with such short notice.

 

2. I'm pretty sure ESPN doesn't really care; this will be a short one-time contract with the KBO and then they'll move on to American sports. ...which is a shame. I've watched KBO before, in Korea nonetheless, and I would definitely watch it on a semi-recurring basis even if it was on ESPNEWS or ESPN3 or something.

 

To further counterpoint...

 

The announcers are only able to comment on what they see on their TV screen, the same thing the rest of us are watching.  It's why having a PBP team live at the venue they're calling the game of is so important.

[jayschool]

7 hours ago, 49r said:

But why is a Pitcher any more of a specialist than a Catcher?  Or 3rd  Baseman, or Shortstop, or...

You go ahead and DH for your shortstop, and I'll DH for my pitcher. I bet I win more games. In short, pitchers have an outsized impact on the game compared to other players.