I think we can all agree that the juiced ball just makes everything worse ; fix that problem and the game will readjust somewhat away from the three outcomes. As it stands now, you can’t argue with the mathematical logic of hitters’ approaches, but if the likelihood of hitting a homer goes down, then it relatively raises the value of a single, a steal, or a bunt.

I do not like limits on pitching changes, pick off attempts, outlawing shifts, forcing uniform stadium dimensions, or anything that runs in the face a lot of the historical strategy that makes the game great. If you want to have a lefty specialist, or keep a base runner honest, or build a team to your own park, then go for it!

My outrageous suggestion is to shorten the entire game. I’ve argued this for years, even before bullpenning became a thing. Make the game seven innings (they’ll never do it because it screws up the counting stats) and now we’re looking at 2-2.5 hour games. Starters go 5+ innings before getting yanked while you only have to go back to the 90s for starters to regularly pitch 7+. That will cut down on pitching changes without affecting the overall strategy, and makes for a shorter game! Maybe then my wife would watch with me...

tpistolas, your second paragraph is all about respecting baseball's history and traditions.

Then your third paragraph is "9 innings is too long, I'm good with 7."

I enjoy a post with a twist ending!

The game has been in flux since the inception of the DH experiment in 1973. The player's union will never surrender the extra roster spot, and the DH will invade the NL at some point. Add offense, not a bad idea, but now they want to speed up the game. What, go back to 1 hour 50 minute 2-1 games? Pick a direction, and stay with it...

The game has evolved, or devolved, depending on your point of view. I am not a fan of the 3 run homer approach. I prefer pitching, speed and defense. I know the numbers say to hit the ball in the air. It gives the highlight shows plenty of video, but the current game sucks to watch...

speaking for myself...thats all i can do.....i just think that there are so many entertainment options today that all sports are taking a hit..
i used to love watching baseball but now i have no patience....each batter takes too long for me....it isnt the number of innings.
all the sports are too long to watch.
in this day of great tv i rarely watch a movie in one sitting.......im so conditioned to watching television shows.
i cant speak to the effect of gaming on viewing sports on tv.
i will agree that when going to a baseball game i feel like game is over after 7 innings.

The popularity of baseball has waned. Kids aren't playing it as much as they did 50-60 years ago. Back then, every kid emulated Willie, Mickey or The Duke...in the past generation, the NFL and NBA have done a great job of marketing their games. Kids have gravitated away from baseball to the other sports. Modern television has catered to the other sports, not to diss baseball, but for the revenue that those sports make available. MLB finds itself having to compete, unlike before...

Increase the minimum distances to 350 ft down the lines and 430 ft to CF. Baseball is at its most tensest (that a word?) with RISP. Discourage homers, encourage singles. Then SB will come back with the lack of homers and the focus on linedrives.

just wait......other sports will wane...not nearly as much but they will wane.
get an umbrella.

Huge contracts are awarded to the guys hitting 40 homers, not to the table setters...how do you propose they discourage hitting homers? These guys can reach any fence...

The game needed 1998, the year McGwire and Sosa chased Maris down. But it had a lasting effect. Everybody wants to swing for the fences, is where the money is...

what if i am right and in 2019 baseball is boring to too many people and not even close to being watchable for those people......tweeks for them would not even be noticed.
baseball will always be a healthy sport but never again the great american pastime.

Perhaps. I'm not sure. Baseball has withstood the Black Sox scandal, and the steroid and labor strike eras...the game still has significant historical value. The NFL and NBA have shown that they too are capable of shooting themselves in the foot...there could be a resurgence at some point...

by no means do i imply that baseball is dying.....i think it has reached a plateau and will probably dip a little more then reach another plateau.
i think soccer will continue to take away fans from the big 4 as will other sports like the fighting sports and the fringe sports.
and people's levels of attention...devotion......and concentration is changing.

Who knows, in 50 years soccer could be the #1 sport in the US...I doubt it, but who's to say it couldn't happen. Anything is possible. Football could go extinct like the dodo...modern medicine shows how dangerous it is, especially played long term. Parents don't want their kids ending up like Mike Webster. Want your kid to play hockey, and end up like Bob Probert? For all we know, Congress could outlaw it in years to come. A stretch perhaps, but Craig MacTavish didn't retire long ago. He was the last NHL player to be on the ice without a helmet. 50 years ago, goalies were just beginning to wear a mask...

You were right about the NFL and NBA doing a better job marketing themselves. Baseball needs to try harder, market itself better. Build up its franchises, promote its stars better (nobody knows who Mike Trout is), play up its global roots, create interesting story lines. When teams save their pennies and don't even bid for free agents, it feels like they don't even care about the game themselves. Don't keep superstars in the minors as a hedge against free agency when they're ready to be called up. This year baseball is a victim of its own success. You can't fault the manufacturers for making a better baseball (smaller, rounder, more centered, smaller seams and other "imperfections") that is flying out of the park and everyone loves home runs, but when nobodies are launching them like sluggers it dilutes the excitement a little. But don't make too many changes to the game itself because when it becomes unrecognizable it will also become unwatchable.

i think baseball should just market to its base.
do what the base wants and keep and strengthen the base.
forget about the casual viewer.