I want the Designated Hitter rule abolished. It should NEVER have been implemented in the first place.
Wait. What happens if Team A scores a field goal on their first possession, and then Team B does the same on their next one? Tie game? If you’re fine with lots of tie games (and I am), just take out OT altogether.
Sorry, I did mean with full period breaks. Like a playoff game. I worded that stupidly.
Amen. A thousand times amen.
Damn, yes. Giving a team credit for losing a game is a goddamned disgrace.
Get rid of that silly dropped-third-strike rule. It doesn’t make any sense in today’s game and is an artifact of ancient history.
On the batter’s box: Some people hate the pace of baseball. I am one of the ones that find it is part of the charm. 
There is a psychological game going on between pitcher and batter, with each trying to control the pace and rhythm of the game. If the batter must stay in the box during his entire at-bat then the advantage is ceded to the pitcher. (However, I admit it looks stupid for a batter to re-close his gloves after every swing, because I can remember when only about half the batters wore gloves at all, and the ones who did wore a single glove which they never adjusted.)
I have to admit I see your point here. It’s not really a useful rule.
In baseball, I’d want to see calculation of ERA to charge a quarter run for each base that the pitcher allows a runner to advance, if that runner eventually scores. That would mitigate the deceptively low ERAs that some relief pitchers have.
I’ll second Elvis’s suggestion that a reliever who blows a save and then ends the game a winner should not be credited with a win, but rather, the prior pitcher of record should receive that credit.
Recently I’ve started suggesting (mostly as a joke) that every pitcher’s ERA should be multiplied by 1.5. ERA is runs per nine innings and since six innings is a much more normal start, multiplying ERA by 1.5 would give you a more accurate idea of how many runs the pitcher gives up in a typical outing.
For baseball, I like this rule, but I’d implement it by stating that once the at-bat is begun, the pitcher may pitch when ready, must pitch within XX seconds, and the batter may not request a time out except for an injury or specific equipment problem. What constitutes an equipment problem is up to the umpires discretion, but will not include adjusting your cup, gloves, hat, spikes or elbow pad.
I’m also not a fan of the save as a stat in and of itself. More saves in a year doesn’t necessarily mean you’re better than the other guy as much as you’ve gotten more opportunities. Saves as a % of save opportunities at least tells you what the reliever has done with chances he’s been given.
For hockey, not that I’m a big fan, but I’d love to see a declining participation overtime. The idea is that after a certain number of minutes, let’s say 5, the next stoppage of play will result in one player from each team coming off the ice, and this continues every 5 minutes until it’s 2 on 2 (including goalies), or until someone scores. This would also work with soccer, preventing the sad idea of penalty kicks deciding the World Cup champion. Seriously, a sport known for few scoring opportunities, where defense is valued and scoring chances need to be developed via good play, the championship is decided by penalty kicks where there is no defense and failing to score is considered a complete failure, bleh.
Huh? If a pitcher gives up 2 runs in 6 innings, they’d have an ERA of 3. If you multiply that by 1.5, you’re now at 4.5, which is more than double the amount of runs they give up in an outing.
Do you mean we should divide the ERA by 1.5?
It’s Monday morning.
I think the stat was the coin toss winner wins less than half the time on the opening OT drive
‘Icing’ the kicker I got no problem with, but calling a timeout a split second before the ball is snapped for the field goal is bullshit, I’m looking at you Belichick.
The horse-collar rule is pretty lame, I’m looking at you Candyass Owens.
Cut blocking is the ultimate bitch move, looking at you Broncos and Lions.
Hmm, I don’t think I agree with either one. IMO the pickoff move described above is based on deception like you said; but I don’t see it as a way to make the runner think that a pitch is being thrown. If we’re talking about the same move, I see it as a way to make the runner at first think that that there is going to be a throw to third.
Regarding throwing the bat; is that really a problem in the major leagues? Not only that, but I would assume the player is usually already out when he throws a bat; so what good would an out do at this point, unless you gave him another one. I don’t want to think about how to score that 
. While I’m sure it’s happened occasionally, I personally don’t recall ever witnessing it. I say go ahead and make the rule… I just don’t see that it’ll matter much either way. Now if it’s intentional… then that’s an ejection.
Or are you talking about when a frustrated batter flips the bat up in disgust after striking out? In that case, I can’t imagine that ever getting close to a spectator. If however it bounces and hits the ump or a player… ejection again.
Why do you say that? I think it makes plenty of sense. Oh, and for the record it’s not the “dropped-third-strike rule”, it’s the “third-strike rule.” It would actually make more sense to call it the “third-strike-not-caught” rule. Um yeah… that’ll go over big 
Paraphrasing MLB 6.05(b): A batter is out when a third strike is legally caught by the catcher.
Rule 6.05(b) Comment: “Legally caught” means in the catcher’s glove before the ball touches the ground.
Rule 6.09(b): The batter becomes a runner when the third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out;
In other words, if the ball is dropped, or if it is ‘caught’ only after hitting the ground first, or if it is a passed ball then the third-strike-rule could be in effect, but it’s not just a dropped strike.
Regardless, I like the idea that if I whiff at a pitch, and the catcher doesn’t catch it, I can try to reach first. Besides, in the majors, how often does this rule really come up?
Rickjay, why is the fourth out silly? It my understanding that it’s a rule that helps a team take best advantage that they legally made. i.e. if picking one out allows a run to score, but picking the other out that was also legally made keeps the run from scoring, then they should have the opportunity to take advantage of that. i.e. choosing an out because a runner who scored missed a base, versus a tag out on the same play.
Regarding the stepping out of the batter’s box; there actually is a rule for that, evidently it’s just not enforced:
6:02(d) The following rule shall be in effect for all National Association Leagues:
(1) The batter shall keep at least one foot in the batter’s box throughout the batter’s time at bat, unless one of the following exceptions applies, in which case the batter may leave the batter’s box but not the dirt area surrounding home plate:
(i) The batter swings at a pitch;
(ii) The batter is forced out of the batter’s box by a pitch;
(iii) A member of either team requests and is granted “Time”;
(iv) A defensive player attempts a play on a runner at any base;
(v) The batter feints a bunt;
(vi) A wild pitch or passed ball occurs;
(vii) The pitcher leaves the dirt area of the pitching mound after receiving the ball; or
(viii)The catcher leaves the catcher’s box to give defensive signals.
Otherwise a strike is supposed to be called.
How does getting a broken leg make you a candyass? As far as I’m concerned, those tackles were a punk move designed to hurt people. I was happy with the ban.
I don’t know if this is a rule, per se, or just a tradition, but I think it’s ridiculous-looking to see a baseball manager in the team’s uniform.
I also think that any football coach who wants to should be allowed to wear a suit on the sidelines. I LOVED the Reebok ties that were designed for Mike Nolan and Jack Del Rio.
If the first baseman drop the ball on a force play, the batter is not out.
If an outfielder drops a fly ball, the batter is not out.
If the catcher drops the ball when trying to tag out a runner, the runner is not out.
If the second baseman drops the ball when going for the bag, the runner is not out.
Note the pattern?
Now, when the catcher drops the ball on a third strike, the batter is not out, either. It’s just a matter of consistency. Other than the infield fly rule (a special case designed to keep the defense from getting an unfair advantage), in order to put a batter or runner out, you need to hold on to the ball while doing so. There’s no reason why a strike out should be any different from any other putout.
No way. No rational runner would think that. I doubt if all of the pitchers in MLB throw more than one pickoff throw to third base all season. The third-to-first move is designed to trap a runner on first who’s running on first motion, on the assumption that the motion will be a pitch.
Why do you say that? Usually the batter loses control of the bat on a swing and miss. It’s a strike, but not an out unless it’s strike three.
I’m sure seeing more and more of it. It seems like at least once per game a bat is accidentally flung into the stands, or into the infield. It’s much more common than it used to be.
Because the point of a force out is for the player to possess the ball while standing on the base before the runner gets there.
Because the point of a fly out is catching the ball before it hits the ground.
Because the point of a tag out is to hold the ball while tagging the runner.
Yes, when dropping the ball invalidates the primary action of the play, the runner isn’t out. If the catcher drops the ball, or catches the ball on a hop, nothing about the pitch or it’s effect on the at bat changes, unless it’s the magical third strike. The catcher does not need to possess the ball or catch the ball on the fly for any other pitch, only the third strike when first base is open, or when there are 2 outs.
Here’s a question, if you run out of the base path to avoid being tagged, and the fielder drops the ball while trying to tag you, are you still out?