Another mini HR Derby as tie breaker for All Star Game?

First, why is a tie-breaker needed in an exhibition game?

Second, if you desperately want to put more action into the game, why the continued and increased emphasis on swinging for the fence, which gives you the least action, and the effort to eliminate defensive shifts when defensive plays are where the most action is?

Third, when they go to the new schedule next year where every team plays all 29 other teams, the distinction between American and National Leagues is going to go the way of the NFL and NBA anyway, so who cares who wins?

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

Ynotisay · M

Tie breaker? I think it's for the players. It used to determine home field for the W.S., which I'm glad is gone, but athletes are bred to compete. They want to win. No matter what they're playing.

Home runs were way down up to about June. I thought with the umps checking for substances designed to decrease spin rate would have resulted in the opposite. But they deadened the ball. Some are thinking they recently reintroduced another ball, like they did last year, but I think it's more about weather. Most always more home runs in the summer. The other component is that guys coming up are bigger, stronger and pitchers are throwing way harder. Elevating on a high 90 fastball is a carrot.

But league wide averages and runs per game are way down. I think eliminating the shift is meant to address that. Personally, I really like that rule and am looking forward to it.

Do NOT like the blended schedule between teams. Yeah. It gives people a chance to see players they wouldn't normally see during the season. But I think it diminishes league competition. One or the reasons I can't stand the elimination of the DH. Pitchers hitting changes the game. Way more strategy at play. What's been interesting is seeing how the 8 and 9 hitters have taken on a different role. I'm a Dodger fan and their 9 hitter has been right around .300. They're setting the plate differently now for the top of the top of the line up.

I want to see one baseball, no shifts, reintroduction of the DH in the NL so we can get back to old-time baseball. Not everything needs to be 'fixed.'

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

@Ynotisay Just saw Manfred admit the tie-breaker was for TV.

As you just acknowledged, a DH CHANGES the strategy in the game by making the batting order circular rather than linear; the 8 and 9 hitter roles take on new dimensions. There is just as much strategy, only different. And IMHO, more decisions that have to be made on match-ups and player capabilities rather than just waiting for the pitcher to bat and using that as an excuse to make a change.

As for no shifts, the great thing about baseball has been that it is a game that corrects itself and evolves. You're already beginning to see the value of contact hitters who can spray the ball around where the defenders aren't increase over the launch angle, all or nothing guys that have been taking the action out of the game. Let the game correct itself. You begin constantly tinkering with the rules to fix what you broke with the last rule change and you will totally ruin the sport, as the NFL and the NBA did for theirs.

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

Tried watching the HR Derby yesterday, was bored to tears.

Wasn't aware they were doing a schedule like that next year; if anything i thought they were cutting back on inter-league play. :( I say bring back the balanced schedule WITHIN the leagues and get rid of this playing the same teams 18 times a year.

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

@ChipmunkErnie Yep. You can't really see anything with the camera angles they use, and the counters don't keep up. It will be a more balanced schedule in order to fit in all 29 opponents. I believe it is only 12 games within your division, 6 against the rest of your league and your "natural rival" in the other league, and 3 against the rest of the other league. A 3 game series, alternating home and away each year for the latter.

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

@dancingtongue I agree with some comments I've heard that the current Commissioner actually hates baseball. We gone from Ernie Banks walking out on the field, looking around, and saying "Beautiful day, let's play two!" to a Commissioner who suggest cutting games to 7 innings.

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

@ChipmunkErnie And whose "vision of baseball in the future" consists of Milling Millennials wandering around a stadium looking for the foosball, pool tables, and DJ while playing video games on his cellphone, oblivious that there is a game going on or a shrinking number of actual baseball fans trying to see the games through them.

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

Add a comment...