# What things are sacred in Baseball and should never be changed? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 30, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514 "2003-05-30T13:40:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/41 "2003-05-31T19:02:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by plnnr \* > \*\*Vin Scully - Disney should start work now on an animatronic version. They missed the boat on Harry Carey, Mel Allen, and Red Barber. \*\* I have never heard a better idea in my life. Vin Scully IS baseball. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/42 "2003-05-31T19:05:00Z")
**Second Guest** Sorry, missed the sarcasm. I felt the need to rush to Barry’s defense…not that he needs it. **Troy McClure** For what it’s worth, hills and flagpoles in the outfield are (perhaps misguided) attempts at countering the cookie-cutter stadium by adding “quirks” that are throwbacks to actual features of bygone parks. Crosley Field in Cincinnati had a slope in the outfield; both Crosley and Tiger stadium had flagpoles in play. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/43 "2003-05-31T21:41:01Z")
Except it makes them look lame and gimmickey. It’s the new cookie-cooker! Make your stadium basically a variant on the Camden Yards design and throw some gimmick in there and voila. ---
**Author:** ![Affe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Affe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Affe)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/44 "2003-05-31T23:00:55Z")
Kill astroturf. Kill inter-league play. Kill Bud Selig. ---
**Author:** ![Second\_Guest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@Second\_Guest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Second_Guest)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/45 "2003-05-31T23:32:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jsc1953 \* > \*\*Second Guest Sorry, missed the sarcasm. I felt the need to rush to Barry’s defense…not that he needs it. \*\* Hey, no problem. I am all too familiar with that impulse. 🙂 Even as a longtime Giants fan, I didn’t like Barry for the first few years he was with the team, mainly because I believed all the bad press about him. I’ve come to realize that he’s a talented guy who takes his job very seriously and doesn’t tolerate many distractions. If that makes him “difficult” in the opinion of the press or of the fans, that’s their problem. He didn’t get to where he is by schmoozing with reporters. He’s done it through hard work and dedication to the game. Maybe if more players were as “difficult” as Bonds, it might raise the level of the sport as a whole. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/46 "2003-06-01T02:36:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Affe \* > Kill astroturf. > Kill inter-league play. > Kill Bud Selig. Works for me. Go back to the 1969-93 playoff structure: one playoff series in each league to get into the WS. Four simultaneous playoff series is too many. All postseason games ought to be on **broadcast** TV. Keep Fenway, Wrigley, and Yankee Stadium pretty much as they are. Future owners of the Yankees, Red Sox, and Cubs should be required to agree to never move them to another venue, let alone another city. Figure out how to get back to a 9-inning game averaging 2.5 hours, and do it. Start with limiting the time between innings down to one minute, except for the seventh-inning stretch. The length of games these days just makes things long and boring. And if that’s true for a lifetime baseball fan like me, think of how true it must be for the Playstation generation. I’m for **not** going back to doubleheaders until the game is sped up, fwiw. These days, a doubleheader starting at 1pm might be lucky to finish up by 9pm. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/47 "2003-06-01T03:13:08Z")
**SecondGuest** - I’m not a Giants fan, but I used to feel the same way about Bonds. I guess I’m just getting old, but I’ve come to appreciate his skill. He really is one of the best ever. By the way, about Fenway- don’t many/some Sox fans actually want to see it go because of its problems? Just asking, I’m not sure what the consensus is, if any. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/48 "2003-06-01T03:37:49Z")
Todd Hundley, yes, the son of Randy ,who invented fantasy camps, hit one in the Cove. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/49 "2003-06-01T03:42:55Z")
_sigh_ Keep the Vet in Philly. Let the Eagles have their silly new football stadium, but keep the Vet. Philly’s a history city, can’t we get some baseball roots down? Mascots are sacred, as are the cheesy give-aways and promotions. I’ve got a Randy Wolf mask hanging above my desk, and it’s just _cool_. Get rid of the steroids and the absurd number of home-runs being hit. That’s not baseball. ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/50 "2003-06-01T03:44:54Z")
Ok…first: **GO BRAVES!** Now that we have that out of the way: 1. Get ride of DH. It’s not a good concept. 2. Rain delays are for safety. Have you ever ran on clay in the rain? 3. Barry Bonds: I think the reason a lot of people don’t like him is because he has a history of making ignorant statements in public. 4. Whoever let Michael Jordan play baseball should be shot. 5. Wooden bats: I’m sure they will never allow aluminum bats in MLB. 6. More Braves on ESPN. 😉 ~J ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/51 "2003-06-01T04:05:56Z")
The Vet’s problem is that it’s hideous… ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/52 "2003-06-01T04:25:10Z")
Bring back day games in the World Series. They slowed life down a little. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/53 "2003-06-01T04:25:24Z")
I know Dusty Baker. I asked him a few yrs ago about aluminum bats. He said pitchers & infielders would be hurt by how hard the balls would be hit. Interestingly, he said the BIGGER problem would be the # of shattered metal bats, with metal shards flying all over the field. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/54 "2003-06-01T04:54:27Z")
I agree that four simultaneous postseason series is a bit much, but there are too many teams to make the 1993 structure work. Having 20-game differences is a bit silly, I think. Plus it helps ensure that good, possibly great, teams have a shot to show their stuff (SF, 1993 won 103 games but was playing golf in September). And it mixes up the results a bit. More postseason teams= fewer NY/ATL World Series (Boooooring.) Of course, we could be the NBA and have 89% of the league in the "post"season. If we took away a few teams, then we’ll talk. Another thing I thought of… Keep the umpire crews for each league seperate. I like the two leagues having their own “personalities.” ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/55 "2003-06-01T15:26:01Z")
White balls should stay. Can you imagine baseball with bright pink balls? ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/56 "2003-06-01T17:59:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*Can you imagine baseball with bright pink balls? \*\* Most players wear cups… ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/57 "2003-06-01T18:42:25Z")
> [@](#): > > I do not know the circumstances surrounding Mr. Jackson. Shoeless Joe Jackson and others on the 1918 (?) White Sox team were accused of throwing games in the World Series. To find out more about him, read the book or see the movie _Field of Dreams_. The old saying, “Say it ain’t so, Joe” was a reference to him. If you love baseball, you need to see that movie, _Pride of the Yankees_ and _Bull Durham_ for starters. Thanks to the person who posted about Harry Carey, Mel Allen and Red Barber. I came to love baseball from listening to Red Barber on the radio with my dad. (But how could you leave off Dizzy Dean?) I wish the fans had a chance to vote on the DH rule. Thumbs down. In my wildest fantasies, the Dodgers are back in Brooklyn and the Giants are at the Polo Grounds. I’ve never been to a major league game. The nearest one is four or five hours away. But once, as my husband and I drove over the George Washington Bridge, I looked back and saw a game being played in Yankee Stadium. It took my breath away! Sometimes I see that commercial that shows a view of the bridge from Yankee Stadium and it brings it all back. I hope that stadium lasts forever. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/58 "2003-06-02T14:42:41Z")
Never change: Having fans keep fly balls Dugouts should be dug out/sunken ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_E\_Dec\_Esq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/48db29/32.png) [@Francis\_E\_Dec\_Esq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_E_Dec_Esq)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/59 "2003-06-02T15:35:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Philster \* > \*\*Never change: > > Having fans keep fly balls\*\* Right-on. Is it true that fans can’t keep NFL footballs? What, they can’t spare $100 on a football once in a while? This is really minor and doesn’t neccesarily fall under the OP, but I’ve often wondered why baseball player’s pants have been so tight since the 1960s or 70s. Is there a practical reason? I would think it makes it more difficult to run. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514/60 "2003-06-02T16:14:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Philster \* > \*\*Having fans keep fly balls > \*\* That’s what I kept forgetting! When a foul ball gets retrieved by one of the People with Tiny Stools down the lines, that ball _goes to a fan_! I’m looking at you, Los Angeles! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Francis E Dec, Esq \* > \*\*I’ve often wondered why baseball player’s pants have been so tight > \*\* Less material is preferable, becauise if a ball in play touches a runner in any way (unless it has been thrown by a fielder), the runner is out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-are-sacred-in-baseball-and-should-never-be-changed/178514.md?page=4)