# Let's fix baseball **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 17, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991 "2014-06-17T15:24:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/21 "2014-06-17T17:27:08Z")
Play a balanced schedule. All teams play all other teams the exact same number of times, home and away. THEN, the standing can mean something. Playoff seed based on win-loss record only, not division standings. A team that goes 82-80, tops in a weak-ass division should not get a playoff berth. DH on every team. No one wants to see the pitcher bat. ADMIT IT!!! Play when it rains. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/22 "2014-06-17T17:29:07Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > I can get behind all of these, and I’ll add: > [li]In extra-innings affairs, if a team has exhausted their supply of pitchers, then a position player can come in to pitch, BUT I would add this stipulation. If an position player comes in to pitch, a pitcher who pitched earlier in the game must go play their position. (Outfielder is now pitching, there must be a pitcher substituted into the outfield)[/li] > [/LIST] What is this change trying to accomplish? Discourage position players from pitching? I like that when it happens. Get more pitchers in the field? Why? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/23 "2014-06-17T17:31:47Z")
There are nine players in a game. My motivation would be to allow as little deviation from that as possible. Some pitching substitution should be tolerated just because it’s so traumatic physically. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/24 "2014-06-17T17:33:16Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > DH on every team. No one wants to see the pitcher bat. ADMIT IT!!! I’m a fan of an NL team, and I can tell you that I really enjoy having pitchers hit. I can recall several very memorable hits by pitchers that were super exciting not just because of the game state but because the pitcher isn’t expected to do anything. And when you see a reliever come to the plate? That’s just golden. This is setting aside any questions about strategy that arise from not having a DH. ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/25 "2014-06-17T17:40:05Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Play a balanced schedule. All teams play all other teams the exact same number of times, home and away. THEN, the standing can mean something… It used to be this way, but people wanted to see more “rivalry” games. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/26 "2014-06-17T17:40:16Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Play when it rains. This is a safety issue. A slippery ball is a hazard to pitch.(Out-of-control spitball) Also, trying to see a pitched ball with rain in the eyes or on the glasses is dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/27 "2014-06-17T17:43:38Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > This is setting aside any questions about strategy that arise from not having a DH. For me, all of the strategies that arise from not having a DH are less interesting than seeing good batters face good pitchers. I watch MLB because I want to see the best players play. What I like about the league split is that neither of us has to settle for the other way. We can choose whichever rule set suits us better. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/28 "2014-06-17T17:49:03Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > What is this change trying to accomplish? Discourage position players from pitching? I like that when it happens. Get more pitchers in the field? Why? Honestly, to force mistakes that will lead to scoring. To end the game before it becomes ridiculously long. The assumption is that a relief pitcher playing left field is going to misplay a ball, and a run will score. What I hate is that one 19 inning game will screw up both the winning team and losing team’ bullpen for a week or so later. A week during which they are playing other teams who have not recently played a 19 inning game. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/29 "2014-06-17T17:55:23Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Honestly, to force mistakes that will lead to scoring. Wow. This couldn’t be further from my own goals from a baseball game. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/30 "2014-06-17T18:05:33Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Wow. This couldn’t be further from my own goals from a baseball game. Don’t get me wrong. I’m with you on that up until inning 12 or so. Then BOTH teams just want someone to end it. Maybe I’m biased on this. I played (sneak brag coming!) D1 college baseball, and was once involved in a 20 inning game. I was a position player, and I played the entire game. We depleted our pitching staff by inning 17. We eventually won, but then we lost 5 in a row after, partly because our pitchers were so fucked up from the extra inning game. I love a pitchers duel as much as anybody, but after 12 or innings, we just wanted SOMEBODY to score and win the damn game. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/31 "2014-06-17T18:09:26Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > I love a pitchers duel as much as anybody, but after 12 or innings, we just wanted SOMEBODY to score and win the damn game. I suppose a team can just quit if they really want to. But the team that actually wants to win probably doesn’t want someone deliberately handicapping them just because that person is bored now. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/32 "2014-06-17T18:09:35Z")
Abolish the DH Enforce the time between pitches rule (though baseball games are not as long as people think, as said upthread) Try to implement some robo-umping when the tech is there Balanced schedules Add two more expansion teams to make each league have 16 teams - create 4 divisions of 4 teams each. Each division plays a balanced schedule and only division winners go to the playoffs - eliminate the Wild Card, if you can’t win your division you don’t deserve a shot at the World Series. A modest proposal as to the above (and yes, I realize unfortunately this pulls Cincy from St. Louis and Chicago, but it works, dammit ;)): AL East - New York (A) - Boston - Baltimore - Tampa Bay AL North - Cleveland - Toronto - Chicago (A) - Detroit AL Central - Minnesota - Kansas City - Texas - Houston AL West - Los Angeles (A) - Oakland - Seattle - Portland [Expansion] NL East - New York (N) - Philadelphia - Washington - Pittsburgh NL Central - Chicago (N) - St. Louis - Milwaukee - Colorado NL South - Atlanta - Miami - Cincinnati - Charlotte [Expansion] NL West - San Francisco - Los Angeles (N) - San Diego - Arizona ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/33 "2014-06-17T18:17:47Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Playoff seed based on win-loss record only, not division standings. A team that goes 82-80, tops in a weak-ass division should not get a playoff berth. Why not just put an end to divisions? ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/34 "2014-06-17T18:18:01Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > I love a pitchers duel as much as anybody, but after 12 or innings, we just wanted SOMEBODY to score and win the damn game. I have no idea what is wrong with a draw. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/35 "2014-06-17T18:23:00Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > It used to be this way, but people wanted to see more “rivalry” games. The only time in MLB history teams played exactly as many games against other teams is when there weren’t any divisions. Once divisional play began, that ended. You can’t have teams playing EVERY OTHER team the same number of times because there is no acceptable number of games that makes the math work; you’d either have a 174-game schedule (six games against every other one of 29 teams) which is too much, or 145 (5 times 29) which MLB would never go for and, anyway, is uneven. Even if you limit it within the leagues there isn’t really a super fantastic solution. You still have to expand or have different league sizes. If you go to 16 teams per league the closest you could get is 10 or 11 games per opponent, creating weird 2-game series or uneven splits. If we want a balanced schedule that preserves some regional rivalries (which is also easier on the players) you first need to eliminate interleague play and then even up divisional sizes… but even then I can’t easily put together a GOOD system. Four divisions of four teams leaves you with weird numbers of games between teams that necessitate either a lot of those two-game mini-series, or uneven home/road splits. \*\* ISiddiqui:\*\* Your proposal would be slightly improved by exchanging Charlotte and Tampa Bay. Charlotte is both north AND east of Tampa/St. Petersburg. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/36 "2014-06-17T18:24:05Z")
Keep a bright line between the AL and NL: - AL keeps the DH, the NL never adopts it - No inter-league games except the World Series or exhibitions No wildcards. Start the playoffs with 8 teams, the top from each division. All-Stars determined by managers and players, not fans. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/37 "2014-06-17T18:27:12Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I suppose a team can just quit if they really want to. But the team that actually wants to win probably doesn’t want someone deliberately handicapping them just because that person is bored now. :dubious: No one is bored. Never said that. The pitchers that would be redeployed into the field would do their absolute best to field their positions. No one wants to lose. BUT, there is a limit to how long a baseball game can go on before it begins to have negative impacts on players bodies, and their ability to recover for future games. Everybody gets a kick out of a position player having to come in and pitch, I just think talking it one step further would be interesting as well. Still, none of this is as big an abomination as the DH. Did I mention that I hate the DH? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/38 "2014-06-17T18:33:05Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > I have no idea what is wrong with a draw. AIUI, Japan \*does \*have them - a game ends with a draw after 12 innings. That’s fine with me. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/39 "2014-06-17T18:35:43Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Keep a bright line between the AL and NL: > > - AL keeps the DH, the NL never adopts it > - No inter-league games except the World Series or exhibitions > > No wildcards. Start the playoffs with 8 teams, the top from each division. > > All-Stars determined by managers and players, not fans. This sound good. I don’t care for the DH, but either make the AL drop it or the NL adopt it. Teams don’t have to use it! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991/40 "2014-06-17T18:35:44Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > **ISiddiqui:** Your proposal would be slightly improved by exchanging Charlotte and Tampa Bay. Charlotte is both north AND east of Tampa/St. Petersburg. Yeah, but Tampa is already in the AL. I’d rather expansions not lead to teams having to change leagues (esp since Tampa has somewhat of a rivalry with Boston). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fix-baseball/690991.md?page=3)