# MLB Hotstove: 2014-2015 Offseason **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 30, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019 "2014-10-30T15:58:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/161 "2015-02-18T01:58:51Z")
There is no doubt at all a small zone means more walks. IMHO, that’s a horrible idea. Games are too slow now, and walks aren’t exciting. The weird obsession they have with increasing run scoring is just silly; this sort of thing goes up and down naturally, and current levels of run scoring aren’t THAT low. If they want to improve the game, they should do things to address its single greatest weakness, which is that the pace of the game has slowed a lot in the last twenty years. It’s not at all bad that there’s only four runs a game per team being scored; what is worrisome is that despite runs going down from the height of ten years ago, the games aren’t speeding up. I don’t want baseball played at a breakneck pace, but it IS slower than it used to be, and there’s really nothing good about that. The delays, though, are due largely to the players playing the game at a glacial pace, especially in between pitches. Fix that and I’ll be happy. Leave the strike zone alone. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/162 "2015-02-18T02:37:23Z")
Kill half the visits to the mound, shoot anyone who pitches as slow as Derek Lowe did, and require all bullpen pitchers to pitch to at least 3 batters. That will speed things up nicely without screwing with the basics of the game too much. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/163 "2015-02-18T02:43:40Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Kill half the visits to the mound, shoot anyone who pitches as slow as Derek Lowe did, and require all bullpen pitchers to pitch to at least 3 batters. That will speed things up nicely without screwing with the basics of the game too much. Your third suggestion, at least, would constitute a nontrivial change to the game. It’d eliminate the role of the LOOGY, among other things. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/164 "2015-02-18T02:50:55Z")
You can hack ten minutes off the length of a game by simply making the batter stay in the box. That is by far the single largest contributor to the slowness of pace. Every batter is now Mike “The Human Rain Delay” Hargrove. Most pitchers work fast; Derek Lowes are exceptions. Hitters, most of them, are now incredible deliberate between pitches, to an extent almost totally unknown 30-40 years ago; Hargrove was notable then, hence the nickname. If you don’t believe me, watch a game from back then and watch a game when the season starts and look for this specifically and you’ll be amazed how much time hitters waste today. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/165 "2015-02-18T02:59:15Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Hitters, most of them, are now incredible deliberate between pitches, to an extent almost totally unknown 30-40 years ago; Hargrove was notable then, hence the nickname. If you don’t believe me, watch a game from back then and watch a game when the season starts and look for this specifically and you’ll be amazed how much time hitters waste today. I always liked Skip Schumaker, but Jesus, man, enough with the adjusting the gloves between every pitch. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/166 "2015-02-18T22:09:46Z")
And so it begins again…pitchers and catchers report today! (for all the teams that matter, anyway) **Play Ball!** ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/167 "2015-02-20T06:48:47Z")
[Apparently](http://deadspin.com/report-mlb-will-implement-three-new-rule-changes-to-sp-1686904792) MLB is going to announce three new rules for speeding up play: > [@](#): > > [ol] > [li]Managers must challenge replays from dugout. [/li][li]Batters must keep one foot in box unless an established exception occurs.[/li][li]Play to resume promptly once broadcast returns from commercial break.[/li][/ol] The second one seems like the big one here. I’m not even sure that #1 was worth worrying about. As for #3, instead of defining the length of time between innings based on the length of a commercial break, they should just fix a specific and reasonable amount of time for the between-innings break, and make sure that the networks complete their ad breaks in time to catch the resumption of play. Of course, that won’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/168 "2015-02-20T08:24:00Z")
What is “an established exception” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/169 "2015-02-20T15:11:55Z")
Getting hit by a pitch, getting brushed back onto your ass, umpire’s time-out, potential injury to catcher/umpire, equipment malfunction, stuff like that. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/170 "2015-02-20T16:33:12Z")
They need to stop allowing pitcher-catcher conferences in the middle of at-bats. Drives me crazy that that’s allowed. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/171 "2015-02-26T15:54:17Z")
So, the truth comes out: Josh Hamilton again uses ‘at least’ cocaine. I guess Jesus was too busy consulting with Republican candidates about running for president to find time to help Josh stay off the drugs. Hamilton and his smug attitude can go beg for forgiveness yet again. He was probably too busy scoring 8 balls to deal with his shoulder surgery, and his recovery from that surgery will drag on past opening day. What a wonderful contract decision by the Angels. > **[MLB Major League Baseball News, Expert Analysis, Rumors, Live Updates, &...](https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news/)** > > Sports News, Scores, Fantasy Games ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/172 "2015-02-26T16:27:28Z")
Not like the Angels didn’t know the risk. Too bad for Josh that’s he’s only been able to show flashes of his talent. He probably could have had a HoF career if he’d kept his head on straight. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/173 "2015-02-27T00:44:04Z")
Well, the Giants have started off 2015 the same way they ended 2014…with a win in what I’m sure we can all agree is the most prestigious individual honor the month of February has to offer…as Buster Posey is named the [Face of MLB](http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/awards/y2014/faceofmlb/)! Let the rejoicing commence!!! Oh God, please let [del]March 3[/del] April 6 get here soon… ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/174 "2015-02-27T01:16:33Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Oh God, please let [del]March 3[/del] April 6 get here soon… This is a sentiment even a Dodger and a Giant fan can agree on. I am seriously annoyed I can’t get to Spring Training this year. But I’ve got my Opening Day tickets to see Matt Kemp starting out in center field…for the opposition. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/175 "2015-03-10T18:44:34Z")
[Jonah Keri](http://grantland.com/the-triangle/tommy-john-epidemic-elbow-surgery-glenn-fleisig-yu-darvish/) with an interesting interview with a sports medicine researcher, about Tommy John surgery and injuries in general. I thought this observation in particular was neat: > [@](#): > > **If you’re a major league team looking for a market inefficiency, is it as simple as seeing if the coach at your Texas high school team pushed his pitchers too hard?** > > So there’s an interesting study: More of the successful, Hall of Fame–type pitchers come from up north. And more of the hitters come from everywhere — a lot of them are from the South. And yes, if I’m a team, and I could draft a pitcher who pitched year-round, I’d be very hesitant. > > **So the inefficiency could be this kid from Vermont from a lowly touted high school who has an electric arm but doesn’t pitch that much.** > > Possibly, yes. So if you’re filling out your fantasy roster, and trying to decide between two pitchers, take the northerner. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/176 "2015-03-10T19:10:06Z")
Very interesting. Heard a story a while ago about pitchers electing to have Tommy John early in their careers before they ever even need it just to get it out of the way. Haven’t heard any specific players who have done it yet. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/177 "2015-03-11T13:25:37Z")
The Blue Jays lost their best young pitcher to a season-ending knee injury caused by his simply running around the infield. This is after the team’s new left fielder suffered a knee injury running around the outfield. At some point, after years of a team suffering more than the normal number of injuries, year after year, and when the team hasn’t been able to keep any young pitcher healthy in fifteen years (well, Roy Halladay is the one exception) one has to begin asking when the team will consider a new training staff. I previously predicted the team would win about 87 games or so, but I’d downgrade that now to 75. Not that Marcus Stroman is a 12-WAR player, but the team is just so paper thin - there is no depth at any position - that any injury will result in a position being manned by a sub-major-league player, and the team is obviously going to have a boatload of injuries. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/178 "2015-03-12T13:18:16Z")
What’s up with pitchers tearing ACLs shagging fly balls and now fielding bunts? You’d think they’re the clumsiest group of professional athletes out there. My favorite story from yesterday is that ARod hit his first spring training home run and the Yankees twitter account acted like he never stepped on the field. They more or less live tweeted the game and made not one mention of ARod. Even their game recap headline was “Ellsbury and Beltran notch RBIs in contest with Red Sox.” I don’t know that the Yankees have to love and embrace ARod, but maybe they can at least acknowledge that he does play for their team. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/179 "2015-03-12T13:41:07Z")
I don’t understand why they don’t just cut ARod. They obviously don’t want him around, let him go be old for someone else. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/180 "2015-03-12T13:54:04Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > They need to stop allowing pitcher-catcher conferences in the middle of at-bats. Drives me crazy that that’s allowed. Sometimes you need to make sure you’re on the same page as to what the catcher’s signs are. Nothing worse for a catcher than getting crossed up by his pitcher. I’d speed up the game by eliminating the silly hyperpatriotic 7th inning musical number. Make the batter stay in the box ready to hit from the time he first gets there to the time he reaches base or is retired. Enough with the batting glove fidgeting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019.md?page=10)