This is nuts, IMO. I can't believe an old school guy like Torre is even considering this.

To hear Joe Torre tell it, Major League Baseball is plagued by a plethora of bullpen-draining, fan-shedding, 15-inning slogs that end after midnight with some poor position player comically lobbing 75-mph meatballs over the plate.

That, at least, was the reasoning Torre, the sport’s chief baseball officer, gave Yahoo Sports this week to support the experimental new rule MLB will implement in the low minor leagues this season, with each extra half-inning beginning with a runner on second base.

im an open minded person-with tjat being said-"This is effing retarded!!!"

The "automatic walk" has already been implemented, and promises to shave 3.4 seconds off the time of the average game.

Next up: batters who hit home runs have to go straight from the batter's box to the dugout.

Truth is, that would actually save some time.

Is "saving time" the goal? Then Manfred (and Torre) should be fired immediately.

I'm sick of the "cater to the short-attention span of millennials" management style that is becoming increasingly pervasive in all business.

To be fair, when you're already 2 hours into a game on TV and it's only the bottom of the 5th, you start thinking about other things you can or should be doing.

I'll take the games of the 70's, when you could count on a 2 1/2 game, over most of the marathons we have today.

Improving the pace of play is a good thing. But they're doing it in stupid ways that don't really address the slowdown of today's game.

It is the goal.

To be honest, there are probably hundreds of things they could do. They're picking the dumbest but it wasn't that long ago that games were played in less than 2 1/2 hours. There really is no reason a 9 inning game should take 4 hours.

Posted by tecwrg on 2/23/2017 2:19:00 PM (view original):
To be fair, when you're already 2 hours into a game on TV and it's only the bottom of the 5th, you start thinking about other things you can or should be doing.

I'll take the games of the 70's, when you could count on a 2 1/2 game, over most of the marathons we have today.

Improving the pace of play is a good thing. But they're doing it in stupid ways that don't really address the slowdown of today's game.

Exactly. Manfred is so obsessed with putting his stamp on the game, he's decided that improving "pace of play" is his baby - and he's suggesting 1,001 methods to accomplish it, 998 of which ultimately will do jack to speed up games.

There are 4 major changes that would speed up games, one of which will never be implemented:

1. Reduce commercials and commercial breaks. (never happen)
2. Institute a pitch clock and strictly enforce it for both pitchers and hitters.
3. Limit time managers have to make challenges. There are 5-10 minutes wasted every game just by managers deciding if they actually want to challenge.
4. Limit mound visits.

I know the last three have been discussed, and hopefully will be implemented. Any other proposed change is superficial and ultimately pointless. It's not like people can now get to bed earlier because the pitcher didn't have to throw 4 pitches for that IBB in the 7th.

Mound visits are already limited to 1 per inning, the second time they have to substitute the pitcher. We just need pitchers to get the throw back on the catcher, and immediately step back on the rubber. No messing with rosin bags, hitters messing with their batting gloves (Nomar), batters take a step out of the batters box to look at the third base coach, then step right back in.

The best ways to speed up the game are purely behind the scenes.

• Establish a firm two-minute commercial break between half-innings. The pitcher and infield have to be completed with their warmups, and the batter must be in the box when the clock reaches 0:00. If either isn't ready, fine them (or the team... or both)
• Establish a firm two-minute time frame for pitching changes. Warmup pitches stop when the clock reaches 0:00 or pitcher/manager get fined. Batter must be in the box, or gets fined.
• No visits to the mound... period. Catcher stays put, manager stays in the dugout, fielders stay in position. Pitching changes are made by hand signal, unless a double-switch. Coaches in football and basketball don't wander onto the field/court to discuss "Don't give him anything to hit, but don't walk him either..."
• Batter can step out of the box ONCE per at-bat. Pitcher can leave the mound ONCE per at-bat (no more of this walking around the mound, rubbing up a baseball that already has Delaware-certified mud on it)

None of these actually change the GAME dynamic, but eliminate a lot of the time-wasters that kill game-flow and audience interest.

Does not circling the bases after a homer change the game?

Posted by MikeT23 on 2/23/2017 3:56:00 PM (view original):
Does not circling the bases after a homer change the game?

Guys have been passed on the bases before. It matters.

That's a ridiculous stance to take.

Posted by d_rock97 on 2/23/2017 3:44:00 PM (view original):
Mound visits are already limited to 1 per inning, the second time they have to substitute the pitcher. We just need pitchers to get the throw back on the catcher, and immediately step back on the rubber. No messing with rosin bags, hitters messing with their batting gloves (Nomar), batters take a step out of the batters box to look at the third base coach, then step right back in.

"We just need pitchers to get the throw back on the catcher, and immediately step back on the rubber."

This.

Watch a game, any game, from 30-35 years ago or more. There's a bunch on YouTube. That's exactly what pitchers did between most pitches. They got the ball, looked for the sign, and threw the next pitch. Hitters stayed in the box and took a quick look down to third for the signs. The game flowed at a much better pace back then.

Posted by MikeT23 on 2/23/2017 4:02:00 PM (view original):
That's a ridiculous stance to take.

Not really. RUNNING AROUND THE BASES IS PART OF THE GAME. If you don't touch first, you can't go to second (or you shouldn't, Marv Throneberry). It's pretty fundamental.