# Rank the proposed baseball rule changes! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 8, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185 "2019-02-08T17:18:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/21 "2019-02-08T20:21:31Z")
I’m also in favor of reducing the role of managers and coaches during the game. Once the players are on the field, the players themselves should just play. I’d be in favor of prohibiting anyone from stepping onto the playing field who isn’t officially in the lineup. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/22 "2019-02-08T20:21:48Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Has MLB actually proposed starting extra innings with a guy already on 2nd??? Not only proposed it, but already using it since last year in the minors. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > However, I agree with BobLibDem that a big chunk of the reason why the game has slowed down is batters stepping out of the box (every single batter now bats like Mike Hargrove used to), and if MLB is serious about speeding up the game, that needs to be addressed, too. It’s somewhat addressed by the proposed rule. If the batter is not ready in the box with 7 seconds left on the pitch clock, a strike is called. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/23 "2019-02-08T20:26:24Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Not only proposed it, but already using it since last year in the minors. Well that’s insane. It sounds like an idea that would have been suggested had they solicited ideas from the backs of kids cereal boxes. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/24 "2019-02-08T20:40:27Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > (snip) I agree with BobLibDem that a big chunk of the reason why the game has slowed down is batters stepping out of the box (every single batter now bats like **Mike Hargrove** used to), and if MLB is serious about speeding up the game, that needs to be addressed, too.(snip) Mike Hargrove – the Human Rain Delay! Yes, his behavior used to be \*that \*unusual. Now, as you say, everyone does it. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/25 "2019-02-08T20:48:21Z")
Frankly, I’m opposed to all of these changes to one degree or another, so my list isn’t so much from “best” to “worst” as from “least objectionable” to “most objectionable.” It sometimes seems like these lists get generated by people who don’t really like baseball all that much. But anyway. > [@](#): > > Reducing mound visits to 5 from 6 OK. Not sure how much it will actually matter. I doubt any fan would notice this change even if it happened. > [@](#): > > 20-second pitch clock I… guess? I’ve not timed it, but how often does a pitcher really take more than 20 seconds between pitches? Again, would this really even have an impact? > [@](#): > > Extending the DH to the National League As an NL fan, I have no interest in this. It would hurt my enjoyment of the sport if the Mets were deploying a DH in every game - not enough to stop watching, but enough to watch _less_. Given that opinions on this seem to be split pretty much down the middle among fans - and the split seems to roughly correspond with which league people follow the most - I see no reason to change the status quo in either direction. Leave us alone. > [@](#): > > Requiring pitchers to face a minimum of 3 batters (unless they close out an inning) I hate this. You’d have to have an injury exception, so in practice you’d get a ton of questionable “injuries” to get around the rule, which might actually slow the game down even more. > [@](#): > > Starting all extra innings with a runner on 2nd base Hard no. Why the heck would anyone want this? I love baseball. Extra innings games constitute _more_ baseball, and by definition _exciting_ baseball to boot. Speeding up the pace of play is a laudable goal; shortening the games is not, in my opinion. My preferred rule change would be this: pitchers do not get warm-up pitches if brought into a game mid-inning. Get warm in the bullpen, but once you’re in the game, your first pitch is to a live batter. Inserting a new pitcher should be as quick and interrupt the flow of the game as little as inserting a pinch hitter. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/26 "2019-02-08T21:03:54Z")
I like the 20 second pitch clock, but I’d also add a rule for batters to play “ready”. As in, if the pitcher is ready to throw,he gets to throw, even if the batter is off in la la land trying to get signs from the dugout. I’d allow the batter one brief time out per at bat. The DH… I’m an AL fan so I’m OK with the DH but if NL fans want to whoop it up and cheer during the announcement of a double switch, they can do without. Reducing mound visits is a winner. Requiring 3 batters or a completed inning is good in my book. Yes, managers can get around it, but they won’t make a habit of it. You can just have a penalty, if the pitcher goes out early, the next batter is counted as an intentional walk. Starting a man on 2nd in extra innings is pretty stupid, except potentially in the 12th or 13th inning, where you just need the damn thing to end, so everyone can go home. This would not apply to playoff games. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/27 "2019-02-08T21:09:35Z")
They all suck. Baseball is fine the way it is. I don’t like the DH, but some people do, so let’s keep the current system: One league with a DH, one without. The mound visit reduction is harmless, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/28 "2019-02-08T21:38:56Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > They all suck. Baseball is fine the way it is. For the baseball purists, how do you like watching a game where a pitcher like Chris Sale is working quickly? Does it reduce your enjoyment of the game when the pitcher isn’t walking around the mound, wiping his brow, and shaking off multiple pitches? I don’t like having to use something artificial like a pitch clock to prevent those delays. But there’s not another good way to fix it, and I certainly appreciate a quicker pace. That’s why the “runner on 2nd” rule is so stupid. It’s not the length of games that’s a problem, it’s the pace within the game. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/29 "2019-02-08T21:44:58Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I like the 20 second pitch clock, but I’d also add a rule for batters to play “ready”. As in, if the pitcher is ready to throw,he gets to throw, even if the batter is off in la la land trying to get signs from the dugout. I’d allow the batter one brief time out per at bat. I agree with this. Once the batter has stepped into the batter’s box for the first time, a pitcher should be able to throw whenever he wants for a strike, whether or not the batter is paying attention, looking away, taking practice swings, settling in, or has wandered out of the box. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/30 "2019-02-08T21:47:52Z")
I’m OK with the DH in both leagues. There should be no mound visits at all. Not even to change the pitcher. Manager can signal that from the dugout. “Let’s talk about how to pitch to this guy, since his his style has changed dramatically since we were watching film on him before the game, and we never talked about what to do if a guy got on base!” The rest, no thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/31 "2019-02-08T22:04:47Z")
From what I’ve read, the 20-second clock would apply to both the pitcher and batter, though I’m not sure how that would work. Another proposal – to limit the number of pitchers on the roster to 12 – would also slow down the nonsense with five pitching changes in an inning. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/32 "2019-02-08T22:10:19Z")
The NL adding the DH is the only one that makes sense to me, but if they prefer to be a backwards-ass league, not my problem. Pretty much every major league in the world employs the DH. Pitchers have a unique and valuable skill-set that doesn’t correlate to hitting and running bases. ETA: By the way, I have no issue with the length of games. I love baseball, and the longer the game the better! ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/33 "2019-02-08T22:24:34Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > ETA: By the way, I have no issue with the length of games. I love baseball, and the longer the game the better! No kidding. When was the last time a fan walked out of the park after a fifteen inning game and said “Damn it! I watched too much baseball today!” ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/34 "2019-02-08T22:33:06Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > No kidding. When was the last time a fan walked out of the park after a fifteen inning game and said “Damn it! I watched too much baseball today!” And when was the last time I said, “Good Lord, it’s only the 5th inning? I’m bored out of my mind!” Oh yeah, it was during last year’s playoffs. As **TroutMan** said, the problem isn’t the length of the games, it’s the pace. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/35 "2019-02-08T22:37:19Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > No kidding. When was the last time a fan walked out of the park after a fifteen inning game and said “Damn it! I watched too much baseball today!” 😕😕 You’ve never seen someone leave a game early? What do you think they are saying when they do that? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/36 "2019-02-08T23:05:56Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Third least offensive: Extending DH to NL. Would prefer elimination of DH. As I have said before, the DH is an abomination in the eyes of God, but if it extends the playing life of some fan favorite a couple years…nah, the jerk should just retire, get a realtor’s licence, and give some kid a chance. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/37 "2019-02-08T23:11:22Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > As an NL fan, I have no interest in this. It would hurt my enjoyment of the sport if the Mets were deploying a DH in every game - not enough to stop watching, but enough to watch _less_. Given that opinions on this seem to be split pretty much down the middle among fans - and the split seems to roughly correspond with which league people follow the most - I see no reason to change the status quo in either direction. Leave us alone. I’ve been a fan of the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Angels, Orioles and Nationals and AFAICT, having designated hitters is nice. You extend the careers of some marquis players and at the same time the games have more action. Sure you lose a little bit of strategizing around the fact that you can reliably get the pitcher out but frankly its boring and only serious fans (or ones with excellent seats) really enjoy a pitcher’s duel. In fact I was not kidding about letting DHs hit for catchers. Noone enjoyed watching Wieters get thrown out at first base as he hobbled there after a clean single through the gap. I would not be overly distraught at the bifurcation of offense and defense. These are two different skill sets and the mlb has a lot of very good hitters with very mediocre fielding and the minors is littered with almost circue du soliel level acrobats who are just monsters defensively (but they can’t hit the ball). You would still be hamstrung by roster size so every designated hitter you add would limit your bullpen or ability to platoon players. Football does it to great effect, imagine if we made the quarterback get out on the field during defense. Or the offensive line? Having specialists is not horrible, it improves the game. The pitching game has been accelerating past the hitting in recent years because the pitchers get to specialize while the hitters have to practice batting and fielding. > [@](#): > > I hate this. You’d have to have an injury exception, so in practice you’d get a ton of questionable “injuries” to get around the rule, which might actually slow the game down even more. Good point. Acting would become an important skill for relievers. The game would start to resemble soccer with everyone pretending to be injured. You’ve convinced me. > [@](#): > > Hard no. Why the heck would anyone want this? I love baseball. Extra innings games constitute _more_ baseball, and by definition _exciting_ baseball to boot. Speeding up the pace of play is a laudable goal; shortening the games is not, in my opinion. > > My preferred rule change would be this: pitchers do not get warm-up pitches if brought into a game mid-inning. Get warm in the bullpen, but once you’re in the game, your first pitch is to a live batter. Inserting a new pitcher should be as quick and interrupt the flow of the game as little as inserting a pinch hitter. I like this idea. 8 warm-up pitches is too much. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/38 "2019-02-08T23:21:33Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I’m glad MLB is finally addressing its issues, but some of the proposed changes IMO stretch the envelope a little too far. Here’s my ranking of the in-game proposals, from best idea to worst: > [ol] > [li]Extending the DH to the National League[/li][li]20-second pitch clock[/li][li]Reducing mound visits to 5 from 6[/li][li]Requiring pitchers to face a minimum of 3 batters (unless they close out an inning)[/li][li]Starting all extra innings with a runner on 2nd base[/li][/ol] > There are other proposed changes that impact MLB on a more macro scale, but I’m really interested in how these changes will affect the games themselves. I agree with your order, except get rid of DH altogether. If #4 could be changed to require a pitcher to face at least one batter, I’d move that up to #2. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/39 "2019-02-08T23:29:25Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > I’ve been a fan of the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Angels, Orioles and Nationals and AFAICT, having designated hitters is nice. You extend the careers of some marquis players . . Like [this](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grissma02.shtml)guy? ---
**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:** [February 9, 2019, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185/40 "2019-02-09T00:02:20Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > I agree with your order, except get rid of DH altogether. If #4 could be changed to require a pitcher to face at least one batter, I’d move that up to #2. Isn’t that already a rule? > **[5.10 Substitutions and Pitching Changes (Including Visits to the Mound) -...](https://baseballrulesacademy.com/official-rule/mlb/5-10-substitutions-and-pitching-changes-including-visits-to-the-mound/)** > > (a) A player, or players, may be substituted during a game at any time the ball is dead. A substitute player shall bat in the replaced player’s position in the team’s batting order. (b) The manager shall immediately notify the umpire-in-chief of any... > [@](#): > > (g) (3.05(b)) If the pitcher is replaced, the substitute pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at bat, or any substitute batter, until such batter is put out or reaches first base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the substitute pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the umpire-in-chief’s judgment, incapacitates him for further play as a pitcher. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185.md?page=3)