What would you do if you were MLB Commissioner for a Day

[Unwinder]

17 hours ago, Nine of twelve said:

2. It really doesn't matter. Rivalries are dependent more on teams playing each other often than on geography. Realignment would not mean more or fewer or better or worse rivalries, only different ones. So what's the point in realigning?

It would be easier to travel to away games against rival teams to cheer on your own team.

Plus you'd be much more likely to have a relative or coworker who you can argue about it with. People love getting into it over the Vikings/Packers border rivalry. I know couples who tease each other about being split on the Vikings/Packers, and this gets them more invested in football. But I don't know anybody in real life who will defend the White Sox.

[Unwinder]

3 hours ago, JBK said:

4. Eliminate inter-league play.

Interesting take, I'd love to hear your reasoning behind this. For me it would just mean that there are fifteen teams that I never have to care about at all.

[bean5302]

32 minutes ago, Unwinder said:

...I know couples who tease each other about being split on the Vikings/Packers, and this gets them more invested in football...

...But I don't know anybody in real life who will defend the White Sox.

You mean it gets two people already at least partially interested in football somewhat more interested in 2 football games a year? The closest team to the Twins is 6hrs away.

Not sure what you mean by defending the White Sox? Why would they need to be defended? I don't recall any trash can banging scandals or them being exposed for winning any trophies for beating their arbitration players down.

 

[bean5302]

I should point out, I actually like rivalry games and I do think the Brewers vs. Twins (which does happen every year) is a good thing, but it doesn't need to happen more frequently in my opinion.

[Unwinder]

27 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

You mean it gets two people already at least partially interested in football somewhat more interested in 2 football games a year? The closest team to the Twins is 6hrs away.

Not sure what you mean by defending the White Sox? Why would they need to be defended? I don't recall any trash can banging scandals or them being exposed for winning any trophies for beating their arbitration players down.

 

I mean if somebody's talking about the Twins in Minnesota, nobody's going to say "I'm rooting for the White Sox to beat them." I'm not saying they've been accused of something. That was misleadingly worded. And yes, I do believe that having a division rival with a lot of fan presence in our state stokes greater interest in football in fans who would otherwise be only moderately interested.

[insagt1]

Pitch clock and batter staying in the box has worked in AAA and fans like it. If the pitcher doesn't throw a pitch...automatic ball. If batter doesn't get back in the batters box...same time frame...its a strike. The players learned quickly. Very few automatic balls and strikes and the pace of the game has greatly increased. Also less time between innings. that has worked as well.

Cut the relief pitchers warm-up pitches from 8 to 4. 

DH for both leagues. Extra inning rule may stay because it is doing (unfortunately for some fans) exactly what it was intended to do. Nearly all games end in the 10th or 11th and there is some interesting strategy involved. I hated the rule at first, but I'm getting used to it.

Keep 162 games but bring back sunday one admission Double headers. that will end the season earlier and get the WS over before November. Allow an extra pitcher or two for those double headers. Why not?!

Expand playoffs. It actually does make the final month a lot more exciting.

No robo umps. Figure out a better way to deal with challenges. They do get most the plays right and thats a good things.

Limit the ridiculously loud and too much music throughout the game. Do we REALLY need this?

Pay the minorleaguers a better wage. They are the future of the game.

Limit contracts to an absolute maximum of 5 years. Personally I'd limit it to 3. that way the players would atually have to earn what they are paid and maybe salaries would come back down to earth.

[strumdatjag]

Two rules 

1. Change the DH to the DPH for both leagues  -  a designated pinch hitter who can bat once in the ninth spot in the order anytime in the first five innings (and the player in the ninth spot continues to play in the field).  After another run through the order, the DPH becomes like any other player on the bench.   Otherwise, the ninth spot in the order (usually a pitcher) must bat or a pinch hitter must be substituted   

2.  Limit the annoying shifts - Two infielders must be positioned on the dirt on the left side of the infield and two on the dirt on the right side.    A line from home plate to second base continuing to the edge of the dirt divides the sides.   It doesn’t eliminate shifts, since one player could stand on the half line and the other two to the left or right of him.   But it limits the most excessive shifting that ruins double plays and makes the game ridiculous. 

[Dodecahedron]

• Minimum draft age:  21
• Balanced schedule, reduced interleague play.
• Maximum years of minor league player control:  3.  Players can choose at year 3 to increase this to 5.  Players who do not wish to stay with the original team can go into the draft again.  If the player is drafted by another team, the second team must take on the original contract salary + any difference the second team offers.  Players can veto the result and stick with the original team and surrender control until year 5.
• Dissolve the Rule 5 draft, replace with the above.
• Dissolve the 40-man roster.  With the above, it's not necessary.
• "Robot umpires" but the umpire still does the theater of announcing the call and can overrule statcast.  Overrules are challengable by either team, unlimited.  Statcast calls are not challengable unless there is a technical error. 
• Eliminate "cheat sheets" for shifts.  Players must memorize where to stand, or the dugout must signal instructions. 
• Eliminate the ability for stadiums to zoom cameras in to catcher signals.  Consider using blurring technology.  This is for you, Yankees.

[jimbo92107]

1. Robo Ump.

2. Pay minor leaguers at least 60K per year.

[insagt1]

I totally forgot about the 'shift'. It needs to go. If hardball needed a rover, thy would have included it in the blueprint! Yes we all know how to beat the shift...but its easier said than done when facing 100 mph pitches.

[DJL44]

On 8/22/2021 at 7:35 AM, Nine of twelve said:

Heavier? Absolutely not. This would impede fielders as well as pitchers. Softer? Yes.

Making it harder for fielders to throw the ball is also part of the appeal. A heavier ball will reward foot speed resulting in more stolen bases and make it easier to beat out a bunt resulting in less defensive shifting.

 

A softer ball just means fewer HR and more easy plays for the fielders with the same number of strikeouts as we have now. That's a recipe for incredibly boring low scoring games. Think how boring today's MLB would be if you took away 20% of the home runs and replaced them with fly ball outs.

[DJL44]

On 8/22/2021 at 7:42 AM, Nine of twelve said:

Apples vs oranges. A typical quarterback throws a football really hard only a handful of times per game. 17 times per season, with a full week between games. A typical starting pitcher throws a baseball really hard 80 or more times per game. 30 times per season, with 5 days between games.

You're making the assumption that this is the only time either of them ever throws a ball. How many times does an NFL QB throw a ball in warmups or practice?

Another thought experiment - if a 5-1/2 ounce baseball is going to be catastrophic for MLB pitchers versus a 5 ounce baseball, then to protect baseball pitcher arms we should clearly make the ball as light as possible - how about 1.6 ounces (golf ball)? That should eliminate all pitcher injuries.

What if it works the other way. What if the reason arms get injured is due to the acceleration of the muscles and ligaments. A heavier ball would slow down the arm action and put LESS stress on the arm itself.

I don't actually think the weight of the ball would matter much at all for arm injuries from 2 to 12 ounces. To really affect the arm, the ball would have to be a much bigger proportion of the mass of the accelerated total object. A human arm is over 120 ounces and a pitcher is over 3000 ounces. I think the effect of a half ounce difference in the weight of the ball on that overall system would be negligible. Nobody would notice.

[DJL44]

22 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

Buy or construct housing for the TEAM somewhere near the minor league stadium of complex.  Room and board is FURNISHED by the TEAM.  Like a training table.  If players are married/have families, separate housing accommodations would also be provided and again, in close proximately to the "bachelor' teammates.  These properties would have playgrounds for their kids/families to hang out together.

I don't know about you but I wouldn't enjoy spending every waking moment with my co-workers. I really wouldn't want to live next to my party-all-night bachelor co-workers. Let people live where they want to live.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Batters/runners get 1 timeout per game. Have 6 seconds to get in the box and may not leave unless a dodging a pitch, catcher throw, or ball is in play. If you get in the box with pads and gloves you need to go to the dugout with all your crap. No more handing it off to the coaches.

move the mound back

18 second pitch clock

shorten minor league team control for rule 5 draft to 4 years for 18 and older drafted players, 5 for under 18.

shorten rookie contracts to a firm 5 seasons

shorten season to 124 games

universal DH

pay minor leaguers living wage min $40k per year and house minor leaguers in college style dorms/married student housing with food and gym

[Mike Sixel]

I endorse the idea of ties mentioned above.....maybe 1-2 extra innings if needed. But I have no issues with ties.

[RonCoomersOPS]

1. End affiliate agreements between major and minor league teams. Replace the existing minor league development plan with team academies.

2. Implement a German Bundesliga-style 50-plus-one rule, meaning at least 51 percent of each team must be owned by fans/the city the team calls home.

3. Dissolve the American and National Leagues, the divisions within, and the playoffs. The team that finishes the season at the top of the league is the winner.

4. End the DH.

5. Implement promotion and relegation. If the Pirates and Royals don't want to field a competitive major league team, they can play the next season in AAA. If the Saint Paul Saints win AAA, they become a major league team the next year.

6. Implement the Trevor Bauer Rule. If you are credibly charged with a crime, you're suspended without pay for the year. If you get convicted, you're suspended for good.

7. End the draft. Disallow signing players while they're actively in high school or college, but (when eligible) do allow them to sign with the team of their choosing instead of having to wait until free agency.

8. Implement a five year maximum contract length.

9. Each team in the league plays one series against each opponent in the league at their home stadium, and one series against each opponent in the opponent's home stadium. Games are only held Friday-Sunday. Saturday and Sunday games are always day games.

[insagt1]

wow---some radical thoughts there....especially #3--which I wouldn't like at all.Baseball is a long season and that isn't going to change. You need incentives along the way. Playoffs offer that. Fans love them. In AAA this year there is no playoffs to speak of, in the classic sense....and attendance is way down. I know interest in Rochester is at an all time low (for other reasons as well) eliminate the world series and watch the game totally die.

[DocBauer]

#1] Some sort of universal profit sharing to all teams. It works for the NFL which remains the most important and influential example of a pro franchise, even with their warts.

#2] if there is no salary cap, work on the proposed numbers presented currently and do a $200M and $80M max/minimum that just makes so sense it's crazy.

#3] Universal DH. It's 40+ years too late but time.

#4] VERY SMALL option, but if someone wants to trade picks for something, let them do it. They already include international $ being traded. 

#5] 2020 showed that an expanded roster in today's game actually made sense. The game has changed. I loved the 28 man roster in 2020. I'd push for that, or at least a 27 man version with a max 13 pitchers.

#6] Just STOP with the idea that an expanded September roster takes away from the game with TWO additions.. It's just STUPID. History has shown that an expanded roster allows teams to bring up prospects to audition and get their feet wet. Some succeed early and some don't. But some BS arguement about the "integrity" of the game down the stretch is RIDICOULOUS! So a good team plays a bad team in September somehow is an advantage if they are playing prospects? So a bad team is somehow better if they don't? COME ON!  Hell, I've seen many teams who have glimpsed the future with a prospect or two who added to hope for the future with a good Septmber. 

#7] Talk to managers and FO and decide if you want to keep the runner on 2nd rule. To me, it would be after the 10th at least.

#8] Defensive shifts are fine. But the infield should have TWO guys on each side of the 2B bag. 

I am not yet ready to adopt robot umps until I see a little more data. So  I will leave it as I have. Please tell me if you think I have it wrong.

 

 

[AceWrigley]

What would I do? A standard 5-point agenda:

1 - First thing in the morning watch the 10am Sports Center on ESPN.

2 - Have breakfast. 

3 - Check in with the owners to make sure at least 51% are happy with The Commissioner.

4 - Check in with the Players Association (Tony Clark) to see if there are any pressing issues cuz I might be "in a meeting" this afternoon.

5 - Go golfing.

It's good to be king.

[Dodecahedron]

On 8/23/2021 at 8:28 AM, DJL44 said:

Making it harder for fielders to throw the ball is also part of the appeal. A heavier ball will reward foot speed resulting in more stolen bases and make it easier to beat out a bunt resulting in less defensive shifting.

 

A softer ball just means fewer HR and more easy plays for the fielders with the same number of strikeouts as we have now. That's a recipe for incredibly boring low scoring games. Think how boring today's MLB would be if you took away 20% of the home runs and replaced them with fly ball outs.

We also have to think about the fans.  A heavier ball going into the stands is not a good thing.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Dodecahedron said:

We also have to think about the fans.  A heavier ball going into the stands is not a good thing.

Are you trolling? It's a half an ounce.

Force = mass * acceleration. Whatever additional mass will subtract from the acceleration - same force.

[Dodecahedron]

14 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Are you trolling? It's a half an ounce.

Force = mass * acceleration. Whatever additional mass will subtract from the acceleration - same force.

You're right, a heavier object will move slower, but heavier objects also take more force to stop or slow down.  

Any marksman will tell you that lighter bullets cause less damage to a target.  

Heavier balls will also mean more wrist and shoulder injuries to batters, as there will be more force against the bat and into the batter's arms.

[DJL44]

32 minutes ago, Dodecahedron said:

You're right, a heavier object will move slower, but heavier objects also take more force to stop or slow down.  

Any marksman will tell you that lighter bullets cause less damage to a target.  

Heavier balls will also mean more wrist and shoulder injuries to batters, as there will be more force against the bat and into the batter's arms.

m*a=m*a. Force is the same, not more. Exactly the same.