3 Batter Min
Where’s everyone stand on this? I’ve gone back and forth. I see a lot more games being lost in the 7th and 8th inning. Guys are going to be lit up when they otherwise would get yanked. So maybe this leads to less extra inning games. It also probably means the end of the LOOGY. I don’t have a problem with less relievers per game. That’s appealing. I do have a problem with leaving a guy in there who obviously doesn’t have it that day to just lose the game for his team.
More Josh Hader/Andrew Miller types make the game better, not worse. So if that’s the outcome from all of this I guess I can get on board with this gimmicky rule change…..
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Not only that. The “Waiver Deadline” is going the way of the Dodo bird too. Without the waiver deadline, Cody Ross never would have been a Giant. No Ross, probably no 2010 World Series. Same deal with this three-batter minimum bullshit . . . It would have made Javier Lopez less effective not only in the NLCS against the Phillies, but in his career as well. Maybe bye bye other 2 World Series as well.
Why do they keep fucking with the game? Me? LEAVE IT ALONE!
I agree 100% with your post.
“Gimmicky rule change” — that sums it up for me. What Blade said.
Not allowing a mgr. to take out a pitcher when he wanted to is just dumb. No problem with rule as is.. Btw would this make Watson less valuable, or more so if he can get out RHs?
When I asked Daniel about Jose Martinez he said he was being shopped off season for LHP. Would love to have him in LU, at 1b or RF, for 400 ABs. Losing Watson would hurt, but benefits at plate hard to ignore.
Man so much great college b-ball on all day. Just hard to get into ST…
This from Hank on SF backup Cs–Holland said R Rivera (who is 35) reminds him of Bengie Molina. “The two catchers have the same body type. Rivera is a bit faster on the bases.” Nothing but best from Hank, lol.
Snarkk, couldn’t agree with you more on what you said end of thread post last night. Kind of Blue was Miles apex for me. Bill Evans was just fantastic, as was the entire group of that time.
Doesn’t seem to matter what jazz standard, Sinatra did the best vocal version.
On “’58 Sessions” they do “On Green Dolphin Street”, with Evans opening the tune by himself before Miles comes in. From the first note he hits, it’s just captivating.
Evans is also on Oliver Nelson’s Blues and the Abstract Truth, doing “Stolen Moments.” He also recorded “Waltz for Debby” on entire LP/CD with Cannonball Adderley, just wonderful combo.
Really have to wonder about the proposed changes that come out of the commissioners office, none of which will lead to shorter games which is supposedly the goal. This latest change will probably result in more injuries to starting pitchers as managers will extend them late in games because they don’t have situational options. Bullpen guys will probably start blowing out their arms too as they’re required to pitch longer than some of have since who knows when. On top of it innings will be extended. There will be more runs scored so there’s that but personally I could care less about 15 run games.
I dunno, I’m willing to give this 3-batter minimum a shot. I like offense. Especially if it’s by the Giants. I heard on KNBR this morning a recitation of some game maneuvers last year where it took nearly 18 minutes for a manager to get 3 outs, employing 3 mound visits and 3 different pitchers. Apparently 6 minutes of actual baseball of pitcher v batter. I think that is just too much…
Apparently MelanBust got hammered again yesterday.
His spring ERA is up to a tidy 11.57.
Just cut the guy and move on, it won’t hurt too long…
Yeah Melonface isn’t even a 1 batter minimum anymore.For entertainment value it would be better to see more of Panda out there, plus the added bonus he can get outs!!
Let’s see, if MLB wants shorter games why not get rid of the juiced balls? Well pitched, Low scoring games usually have a faster rhythm to them and end quicker. Hey, they could also eliminate the DH because it sure seems to me that the AL games run longer.
What’s that you say? You are trying to attract a younger audience and the kids would be bored? They watch soccer don’t they? How could a well pitched game bore them? Oh, you say chicks love the long ball? Wink, wink, nudge, nudge aside, they are rooting for their team to win, not the arc of the ball, just like the male fans.
In trying to attract a younger audience by these rule changes, MLB is losing the older ones. I know, I know, the old fans are dying so whats the point in worrying about those fucks? Well, since you asked, the old fans are the ones who take the kids out to the game, the ones who pass on their love of a team and their love of the game. Oh, and if that doesn’t do it for ya, they’re also the ones who can afford the fucking prices.
In my opinion, MLB feels the need to reload their guns, because they still have another foot to shoot at.
Great post!
Absolutely outstanding!
The players union should be all over this 3-batter minimum bullshit. It will lose relievers jobs.
How does this fix the game in any way? Except to force a pitcher to get hammered when he ain’t got it that night. Forget this closer-at-the-beginning-of-games deal. The league might as well force starters to go at least 5. The league should just give each team 9 batters per inning, 250′ fences, and their own pitcher to throw BP. No player can move more that 15′ from their designated position. No shifts. The end goal here is to have 42-37 games, right?
Shorten games by shortening the fucking time between innings.Take a minute off each half inning and that’s nearly 20 minutes a game. The pitch clock is the least onerous thing among all these stupid fucking artificial changes. Go with that.
Yep, was thinking this will impact upcoming CBA negotiations.
I watched two ST games. Both used the pitch clock. I don’t think this makes a damn bit of difference to game time. The pitchers seemed fine with it, and nobody seemed rushed at all. Maybe it will impact the few inordinately slow hurlers like Gearrin. But, based on what I saw, it shouldn’t makes much difference to game time or pitchers performance…
I read this in the NY Post yesterday about the rule change, the use of pitchers who face fewer than three batters has been steadily declining over the last few seasons:
Pitchers must face at least three batters or end a half inning, unless they are injured. This is another attempt to prevent the slowing of games with pitching changes during half innings. This will likely lead to fewer one-side (mainly lefty) specialist. But this already has been underway. Though there were 1,231 more relief appearances in 2018 than 2015, the percentage of fewer than three batters dropped from 17.1 percent to 14.1. Because so many relievers are needed to finish a game, managers can’t have them face just one or two batters as frequently.
Great posts everyone, but it’s important to remember that the Commissioner is no longer really talking about shortening the games; he’s talking about “pace of play.” He’s made that shift in what he says.
If that’s the case, then replay should be the first to go.
I believe they are going to try to speed up replay this season, but they say that every season.
Replay is easy to fix. If you can’t figure out the shit on the screen, you go with the original call after 1 minute.
In other words, don’t fuck with the advertiser money, fuck with the game. Typical greedhead thinking.
Exactly.
I was really surprised they tabled the pitch clock for a few years. I guess the Commissioner got a lot of player union resistance on that.
The stupidest thing going on is that MLB is paying an independent minor league to play games with the pitcher’s mound moved back two feet. It would take a lot to permanently drive me away from baseball, but that would do it. It would make 100 years of baseball records and achievements mean nothing. It’s so ridiculous to even be experimenting with it, that it boggles the mind. I have to believe it has no chance of ever happening in MLB. The only thing that could possibly make any sense about this is that the Commissioner is being Machiavellian, and suggesting two feet so that he can try to make only moving it back one foot seem more palatable. But moving it back even a few inches is ridiculous. It would be like the NBA moving the basket up a few inches, or the NFL shortening the field by a few yards. Who wants to see the integrity and history of the sports messed with to that degree? It shows no respect for the sport.
If they move back the mound, I think they have to raise the mound as well..
Thoughtful post Zum. Yes, they would probably lose me as a fan too. Sheesh, having a DH may lose me as well. This has come to pass insofar as football for me. I can’t watch the sport anymore. The irony is that I am very much for protecting football players, but in my opinion, they have gone about it ass backwards. Specifically, they have emphasized rule changes – which have slooooowed the game significantly with too many penalties and commercial breaks – versus getting tough on steroids/PEDs use. There is no way most of the football players from the 60s (much less the 40s and 50s) could survive today’s game. This is mostly due to PEDs use.
mlb wants high-scoring games, apparently. Perhaps IBBs, which of course occur instantaneously now, will rise in relief innings. Scores certainly will. The allowed mound visits drop to 5, this season. I don’t mind that rule at all; why doesn’t that put enough constraint on excessive pitching changes in the late innings?
I think the new rule changes were negotiated with the union.
I’m sure someone has commented that what will stop teams after he pitches to one batter that will then argue the pitcher is hurt…there are better rules changes in the offing.
I’m not sure I am in on moving the mound back but think something needs to be done about the shift..I think somethings along the lines of a SS or 3b cannot be on the first base side of second base and vice versa and each infielder must have one foot in the infield “dirt” is going to come to pass. No more 2b playing shallow right…
Sorry, GH, but that’s bullshit. Artificial restrictions on fielders is ludicrous. That’s like saying a cornerback can’t blitz. Or a center can’t shoot 3s. If you can’t hit the ball the other way, then it is your problem. We don’t need the league office dictating defensive strategy.
Teams often play 5 infielders to cut off runs at home late in games. Temas employ a few different variants of off-beat strategy to win games. But no, that’s not allowed.
These rule changes are going to make no one happy. The die hard baseball fans will be left behind, and this isn’t going to suddenly generate huge interest because Panik can’t play short right. Like I said. make it fucking whiffle ball. 250 fences and teams pitch to themselves. 71-52 games. Yay.
it’ll be interesting to see which sport survives over the next 50 years, football or baseball. Football will likely be extinct because of the injury risks but baseball just doesn’t appeal to kids these days….
How about horse racing?
The Santa Anita thing is crazy…
Other tracks are going to have to fall into line with the same rules for this to work. For now, a lot of horses will move out of state, all the bleeders. SA and GG are going to have to reduce racing days even further to combat smaller fields. I’m taking a wait and see approach, if the outcome is less horses running who are at greater risk for injury because they are no longer on drugs masking pain then I’m fine with this…..
What’s crazy is, two of my favorite movies from my youth (early 70s), Soylent Green and Rollerball, are proving to be very prophetic.
Soylent Green scarily so.
Wow, you’re really that old?
Baseball could benefit from bringing more technology into the game. Remember the Mac Cam in tennis? Figure out something similar for the foul line from the infield to foul poll. Doing something about calling balls and strikes would be good too but I don’t see it happening for a bit. I seem to remember Edd having a master plan for it.
Those are good ideas. Do the same with close home runs. Show it on the scoreboard for all to see. If they can graphically show a 120 mph tennis ball hitting a line, they can do the same with foul lines and home runs.
The Giants busting out for 4 runs so far today. Samardzija with 5 solid innings.
Tony Garcia with a dinger and 3 RBIs, the kid is hanging in there.
“baseball just doesn’t appeal to kids these days”
My question, though, is how many of the kids that don’t follow baseball end up becoming baseball fans later in life? My mom became a big baseball fan when she got in her 70s. But MLB doesn’t value her demographic very much.
I really wish MLB would stop worrying about the kids so much. MLB is obsessed with them. I would say just keep reaching out to adults in their marketing.
Your Carolina Gigantes . . . !
That was supposed to go under bozo’s post…
Hah, I still knew what you were talking about.
Smarj’s performance today is probably the best we can hope for on a regular basis with him this season. 5 innings/3 ERs
Said it before – 8 warm up pitches when a guy comes in is absurd.
Cut it down to 4 or even 2.
That would not only save time but might prevent a guy coming in before he’s ready…
well the bullpen mound is a lot different than the actual mound. Maybe they need to get used to it
Well, they’ll just have to get used to it a little quicker.
I wonder if there are any restrictions in place on fielders being in motion while a pitch is being delivered.
We all know the “wheel play” but how far can you take it? Can the 3B & SS be standing in their normal spots, the make a mad dash for the other side of 2nd base while the pitcher is in his windup?
I’m totally for replay.
But, I agree with Chuck.
If you can’t overturn the call within 1 minute of review, screw it. Play on — the call on the field stands.
IMO you usually can tell if the call if wrong after the first, if not the second angle review. Yeah, the umps supposedly in NY have more angles than you can see on a TV broadcast, but come on. One minute is enough to decide if it’s a bogus call…
someone told me the pitch clock they were using in ST turned off at the 10 second mark. True?
That’s what it looked like to me, give or take a second or two. Thing was, I think I saw no pitcher that didn’t throw the pitch within 5 seconds of when the clock went blank, some before it even hit the 10 mark. They were throwing it way within the 20. The 20 starts when the catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher…
You guys complain way too much. Don’t be a grouchy grump like Chuck. Like Jeff Kent said—Enjoy the game!
I said Denny could post here, not this guy.
pawlie said something the other day I hope is true, that the launch angle all about the bombs phase could just be cyclical. This, from Bill James talking about baseball in the ’50s: “The baseball of the 1950s was perhaps the most one-dimensional, uniform, predictable version of the game which has ever been offered to the public. In the early 1950s, every team approached the game with the same essential philosophy: get people on base and hit home runs.
I wouldn’t state it for a fact, but it is possible that the attendance problems of the early fifties were in some measure attributable to this…”
Seems like it’s here to stay. Or, at least, the cycle will last a very long time. These guys hitting bombs are making just too much money. Also, with the way the shift impacts the game now, why not try to blast the ball in the air?
I don’t have a problem with minimal limits on shifts. Like both legs of the infielder have to be on the dirt. And a third infielder can be even with the 2nd base bag, but not on the other side of it. There are defensive limits in other sports. Like no packing the key in NBA, else a technical; and theoretically the 3 seconds ban on offense. The game of baseball is best when guys are hitting doubles and triples and fielders are making great plays. Homers and strikeouts with not much in between is bullshit Baseball…
The game was invented in the early 1800s for the ball to be put in play, and action on the field to be happening. Babe Ruth changed the game somewhat in the 1920s, and now the game is quite different than its early years. The ball itself is livelier than ever before. The game has a lot of strikeouts, walks, and HRs now.
A dump stadium built on a dump.
that’s an awesome pic
Giants traded away a future star in Bill White, but did get a couple of big years out of Sam Jones.
I used to drink with a great old guy who was drafted by the NY Giants and played in the low minors with White.
He recollected that if Bill White ever forgot what color he was, there was always someone in the stands ready to remind him…
Do the Giants still see flurries in the forecast, or has the forecast been downgraded to just sprinkles?
not a cloud in the sky today, nor a breath of wind. Great day to be outside actually….
I wondered when the Burns sisters would get more involved, I think together they own more shares than Johnson does.
A Posey triple!
well, sorta….
there’s times over course of 80 games when GS looks disinterested but…when they are focused like now on this road trip, no one is beating them. They are running OKC right out their own gym by 22 without Durant after beating the Rockets too.
both games without Durant….hmmmnnn Did I do that “hmmmnnnn” thing right?
Splash Bros. went off tonite, together with good D and no KD, in OKC…
For anyone who might be following the Giants, I see that they cut Slater, The Doughy Fuck, and A- WOT (Ambidextrous Waste Of Time). Enthusiasm for the season is very hard to come by right now…