# If I was king of baseball **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 8, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110 "2017-08-08T17:31:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/201 "2017-08-18T00:19:08Z")
Time-wasting? How many days does a cricket match last for, again? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/202 "2017-08-18T00:20:16Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > Non american here - but one with a srong interest in baseball. The biggest bugbear for me is the time-wasting in the game. > > Let me tell you what’s wrong with your game:D:D:D:D:D:D:D > 2. 2 pitchers only per team per game. Sorry, this ‘Bring in a guy to pitch middle-innings against left-handed vegetarians-on-alternate-mondays,but-only-if-the-team-has-a-two-run-lead-and-there’s-a-runner-on-second’ is silly. You pick player to pitch - if he’s having a rough day - you have one replacement. Injuries - put an outfielder on the mound. Sure, you’ll blow out a few arms straight away, but then pitchers will get themselves fit to throw a full game. > If you would like any further assistance on any other issues that need resolution, I’m available at standard consultation rates. Actually, sports medicine has determined that throwing a baseball at the major league level puts the arm at near it’s physical limits. There’s no “getting in better shape” to throw harder. A pitcher generates a peak of three horsepower, all focused on the shoulder and elbow joints. Notice that in the history of baseball, the hardest throwers haven’t really gained much speed even with vastly better nutrition, training and improved mechanics along with computer analysis. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/203 "2017-08-18T03:27:25Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > 1. An intentional walk means all runners advance - even if first is open. Yes, he’s a big, scary home-run hitter - you’re job is to get him out, not chicken out. This should go into effect tomorrow! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/204 "2017-08-18T04:08:11Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > 1. 2 pitchers only per team per game. Sorry, this ‘Bring in a guy to pitch middle-innings against left-handed vegetarians-on-alternate-mondays,but-only-if-the-team-has-a-two-run-lead-and-there’s-a-runner-on-second’ is silly. You pick player to pitch - if he’s having a rough day - you have one replacement. Injuries - put an outfielder on the mound. Sure, you’ll blow out a few arms straight away, but then pitchers will get themselves fit to throw a full game. What will happen is that hitting will absolutely balloon to historically massive levels, thus warping statistics and lengthening the games you want to shorten. > [@](#): > > 1. That applies to batters and fielders as well. One in-game replacement only. If you need another, well, there’s that spare pitcher sitting there. You’re solving a problem that effectively doesn’t exist; position players are rarely double substituted. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/205 "2017-08-18T15:49:24Z")
A foul ball with two strikes is Strike Three. You tried to hit it fair, you failed, now go sit down. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/206 "2017-08-18T15:58:50Z")
After a pitcher is yanked, the relief pitcher coming out of the bullpen gets zero warm-up pitches. The game continues immediately ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/207 "2017-08-18T16:17:53Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > A foul ball with two strikes is Strike Three. > > You tried to hit it fair, you failed, now go sit down. This would dramatically change the game. There would be a hell of a lot more strikeouts, and a hell of a lot less hits. Personally, I like a long at bat (if the batter doesn’t step out between every pitch) with lots of foul balls. It’s interesting to see who will prevail on pitch 8 or 9 of a battle like that. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/208 "2017-08-18T16:44:59Z")
While I do not favor any of the more radical changes discussed above (very limited subs and foul strike threes), I do wonder what the game might look like in other alternate universes. In one perhaps there is a 360 degree field a la cricket with say 6 bases and 14 fielders and more distant fences meaning that defense and speed are paramount. Even a 180 degree field with 5 bases and 11 fielders might be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/209 "2017-08-18T16:52:00Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > N > 7. A foul tip is out. The ball hit the bat, a fielder caught it - that’s out! While I vehemently disagree with most of your post, this one is kind of interesting to me. I wouldn’t want to change the rule, because I think that would lead to way too many strikeouts and a good bit of subjectivity as to whether the bat just barely hit the ball or not, but I do have a question to the MLB rule experts: What happens if there’s a foul tip, but the ball bounces up to hit the catcher’s mask, and then ricochets up in the air, hangs there for a second or two, and then the catcher fields it cleanly? Is that still a foul tip, or is that a pop out in foul territory? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/210 "2017-08-18T17:06:27Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > While I vehemently disagree with most of your post, this one is kind of interesting to me. I wouldn’t want to change the rule, because I think that would lead to way too many strikeouts and a good bit of subjectivity as to whether the bat just barely hit the ball or not, but I do have a question to the MLB rule experts: > > What happens if there’s a foul tip, but the ball bounces up to hit the catcher’s mask, and then ricochets up in the air, hangs there for a second or two, and then the catcher fields it cleanly? Is that still a foul tip, or is that a pop out in foul territory? [Major League Baseball Rules Project](http://mlbrulesproject.blogspot.com/2012/05/rule-200-foul-tip.html) > [@](#): > > Rule 2.00 FOUL TIP > FOUL TIP > > A FOUL TIP is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball is in play. It is not a catch if it is a rebound, unless the ball has first touched the catcher’s glove or hand. > > A Foul Tip must touch the catcher’s hand or glove first. Here is a video example of a pitched ball that is nicked. The ball travels sharp and direct to the catcher’s hands, but then ricochets into the air. The catcher then catches the ball before it touches the ground. The batter in this video is out because it is strike three, not because it is a caught foul ball. Had the not touched the catcher’s glove (or hand) first, this ball would be a foul ball and immediately dead since it touched the catcher’s body. Note:the video doesn’t work so no link. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/211 "2017-08-18T17:34:19Z")
Ah, so just a dead ball then, in my example. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/212 "2017-08-25T12:23:21Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Relegation has no place in baseball; as it it written, so it shall be. I’m pretty sure the OP said that I am the king of baseball. Relegation is for the good of my kingdom. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/213 "2017-08-25T12:27:40Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I think it goes deep into the American psychic. Not making the pitcher take his plate appearances sounds like he’s getting a “free ride.” He’s getting the benefit of playing in the MLB (and getting a nice salary to boot) without playing the whole game. Yep, and we should make every player in the lineup pitch one inning every game. There is absolutely no room for specialization in sports. Its cool to have ironman football where you play offense and defense but it can make for boring games when everyone is fucking tired all the time. Baseball could use more excitement and if specialization is how we get that then I say lets have more of it. Heck I’d b OK with a designated hitter rule for catchers too. These guys earn their money on defense, not offense. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/214 "2017-08-25T12:30:31Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > I have decided I’m not just the King of Baseball, but the King of All Sports. > > Henceforth you may all continue to bitch about the very idea of ties in baseball as I will not allow such an evil to stain the sport. BUT, in exchange, it is decreed that you will stop complaining about draws in soccer simply because you don’t understand the game. Draws are an important and fundamental part of soccer league and tournament play, not the Nancy-kneed aberration so many of you seem to think. Its not the existence of ties that make soccer Nancy-kneed. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/215 "2017-08-25T12:41:09Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > 1. Joe Buck is banned from calling games for life. I never understood why the fuck this guy is so successful at a job he performs so poorly. > [@](#): > > 1. Pete Rose never gets reinstated and no team is allowed to honor him. This guy is like the Robert E Lee of baseball. > [@](#): > > 1. All votes for the Hall of Fame are made public. No exceptions. +1 > [@](#): > > 1. All teams share gross revenue from all sources, no exceptions. Some teams have higher operating costs than others regardless of player salary. Its more expensive to run an operation in NYC than in St. Louis. > [@](#): > > 1. MLB is required to provide no less than 25% of the funding for any stadium, with the owner providing no less than 50% and the host city making up the difference so everybody has skin in the game and no team can easily move. How about expansion teams? > [@](#): > > 1. The only music allowed during a game is to be played live by an organist. So you want the cheerleaders to dance to an organist? ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/216 "2017-08-25T12:51:25Z")
If I were King of Baseball, AL Umpires would go back to wearing those magnificent burgundy jackets. I’d eventually get around to reversing the automatic base on balls and the instant replays and outlawing batters stepping out of the box for any reason short of cerebral hemorrhage, but the burgundy jackets coming back is by far the most important change. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/217 "2017-08-25T12:56:25Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Honestly I don’t like the specialization. > > Why have anyone do any of the things they are not good at? Why have any of the up the middle players hit? Why have any fielders hit at all? There are a ton of glove first guys in the minors that will never see the show because they can’t hit but are wizards on the field. DH for them too? Absolutely, give them a DH too if they can’t hit but they are worth a spot on the roster purely for fielding. The size of the roster is the limiting factor. Someone who has a more complete game is more valuable than someone who can only field. > [@](#): > > Also, a bunch of guys are slow as heck. Why not one guy hitting and a other speedster running Courtesy runners used to be a thing. Someone else used to run the bases for Babe Ruth. Once again it might take up a spot on the roster if they can’t do anything other than run (but if they have any sort of glove, you could probably put him somewhere in the outfield as well). > [@](#): > > with guys who have cannons for arms but can’t hit fielding? Why make catchers run the bases, their legs are tired enough? DH for catchers. Designated runners for the DH. > [@](#): > > There are lots of good reasons to not have every player play every part of the game. But it quickly stops being baseball. It turns into a better version of baseball that is much more interesting to watch. > [@](#): > > I hate that there are 150 men in the bullpen too and for similar reasons. Its not that many and frankly pitchers get sports related surgery more than almost any other athlete in sports because of the strain on their arms from to many pitches. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/218 "2017-08-25T13:00:28Z")
If a city pays anything for a stadium, it owns a percentage of the team based on the value of the stadium and the value of the team. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/219 "2017-08-25T13:58:38Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > I’d sympathize more with this (often rabid) anti-DH sentiment if starting pitchers actually worked on their hitting to the point where the majority became at least borderline competent. But they don’t. > > Why not? Its just an incredibly high level of play. I would bet that almost every pitcher was probably a pretty good hitter in high school but as the competition increases, it is just a rare bird that can pitch at the MLB level AND hit at the MLB level. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110/220 "2017-08-25T14:11:18Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > You can be a real baseball fan and hate the DH, you can be a real baseball fan and love the DH. I personally like the increased strategy of non-DH play, I prefer to see teams play “little ball” than “a bloop and a blast” baseball. But neither position is superior to the other, it’s a matter of preference. > > One thing I’d like to end is the circus atmosphere in ballparks today. Music must be blasted between innings, we need to have a host and have silly games between innings. How about some peace and quiet so fans can discuss the past inning and speculate on the next? Are you kidding me? We should add cheerleaders and Game of Thrones teasers in between innings; end every game with a total eclipse and fireworks. Make the game more fun for younger people, the old farts like us are going to show up to games and complain no matter what you do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-king-of-baseball/793110.md?page=12)