Baseball rule changes for 2023
 

MLB officially passes major rules changes for 2023 season.

MLB officially passes major rules changes for 2023 season

Happy if this will speed up the game

I would rather they put me to sleep faster.

Half the player roster and half the games would make the regular season more meaningful. Most teams out it by July 4

Sadly it does not include the change I think would most improve the game.. Use technology to call balls and strikes. Every single game has myriad wrong guesses by the home plate ump. There is the lovely box on the screen that tells me where the strike zone is and it would so nice if a ball was called a ball and vice versa.

And robot pitching machines and drones with nets to snag the long fly ball headed for the center field fence, and...... Or, forget the tech. It is a game, not an arms race.....??? Or is it?

Too many dollars would be lost to do that. Besides once upon a time only two teams were in playoff.

You sure trust that box. Read the official MLB definition of the strike zone. Often the box isn’t even right according to that definition. Plus, the strike zone is 3 dimensional…due to home plate having depth. That really matters on breaking pitches. The box doesn’t reflect that at all.

I think balls and strikes will be automated someday, but I don’t think the tech is quite ready…at least the way it’s shown on the screen today.

Fat lady ain't singing yet
 

july 4th yankees up by 15 games on tampa bay rays
today 3 and a half.

I love it when people try to make things better! I'm all for a faster game that's for sure. :BigApplause:

Robo-umps will be here in 2024. I can't find a link at the moment but that "rule change" can't happen until a year after a meeting where it's decided and that meeting is scheduled in 2023.

Unfortunately, they won't be doing it right. As I understand it, instead of the system that basically signals the ump as to whether a pitch is a ball or strike, umps will still call the pitches and there will be another "challenge system" that players or the managers will have to instigate.

The system in question is a true 3-dimensional system, unlike the "2D" boxes you see on regular telecasts. That means that a breaking ball could be in the dirt by the time it gets to the catcher's mitt but still have "nicked the strike zone" on it's way there.

I'm with you. I'll be watching my grass grow. Much more exciting.

An Excellent Post ! Thank you for the great read… some of my best memories were at the ballpark

The technology is more than ready. The state of the art is way beyond this

Baseball
 

I am for the changes that are being implemented. I remember watching a Dodger pitcher - Baez - taking about two minutes to throw each pitch. I don't understand why the players could not have solved the problem of stacking the infield all to one side by bunting or hitting the ball to the vacated side, but I guess they can't. And I would not put in an automatic ball and strike robot. Having umpires is part of the charm of the game.

They do have 3D coverage for pitches but it's currently for replay to show how the pitcher's throws are working. It's will be used in the near future because they have tried it in the minor leagues already. I look forward to it. The umpire's can call one pitch a strike and the next same pitch a ball. Saw a bad call the other day that cost the Ray's a game with runners in scoring position.

I don't understand the elimination of defensive shifts. Heck, these are highly paid pros and if a pro player can't learn to hit where the fielders ain't they shouldn't be in pro ball or hit into more outs because of their deficiencies.

I agree. Everything has to be pulled and home runs rule. Unfortunately it takes the excitement out of the game.

Too many strikeouts and not enough balls in play

Every other inning should be “kickball” where pitcher rolls a soccer ball and the “batter” has to kick it…..I’d watch that…

NJ loves big balls
 

Bigger baseballs will be good for NJ, economy. Bigger baseballs will require more “Jersey Mud” to rub them down before each game creating more jobs. NJ loves Big Balls!

I’m aware of that, but that is not the same as the actual 3D strike zone. The box shown for the strike zone is just 2D, with the 3D pitch graphic simply showing where that pitch crossed the 2D strike zone box.

Would be a rather empty parking lot.

Baseball Rules
 

The rule about 2 infielders on each side of second base is like telling a football team they can't blitz the QB because they would have more rushers than the defense has blockers. I remember a long time ago a reporter asked Ted Willaims why he didn't hit the ball to left field when they put the shift on. His reply was that they paid him to hit home runs, not singles. Rulemakers should have left that one alone.

C'mon! Players disputing calls and the crowds booing the umpires is part of the game!

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I don’t like the new rules sounds going woke to me where everyone gets on base, gets to steal easier, bigger bags maybe ok pitcher only gets two pickoffs, easy to count that and then steal. It is my favorite sport looks like that may change
Sad!

I can't see how the two pickoff rule will work. If he throws over a second time, I would imagine the lead would be about 30 feet on the next pitch. I expect that pitchers will only make one pick-off move.

Ohiobuckeye
 

I wish they would make some changes with NCAA football bowl games too. Way to many teams get to play with to many losses. Who wants to watch some school that you never heard of play in a Bowl game that sounds like it was made up. They got to get back to a 11 to 15 bowl game & quit inventing bowls to make money, because no one wants to see some tiny little school play! Yea, I know it’s all about money but come on!

Not going to matter. The number of games is too many to have the players care every day. Much like basketball

Good baserunners know that and will take a longer lead after the first pickoff try and than steal

As long as bowl games make money will have more and more. Do wish they would speed up the game to no more than 3 hours. These 4 hour games take too long

Agreed!

Judge gets more than his share of low balls called strikes. His average would go up 20 points with electronic balls and strikes.

I've see quite a few broadcasts replay the pitch call with a 3D home plate. When you are using a center field camera, fairly straight on, the only thing you can display is 2D.

I've seen the replay cameras that show the pitch crossing the plate from an angle such that the pitch crosses (or not) the full length of the plate. But the ones I've seen are not a representation of the strike zone 'box'. Just the ball passing the plate.

Wait until a playoff game is decided by someone violating the timer. lol.

Excitement in the game? It's like watching paint dry.

I haven't watched baseball since they went on strike during the playoffs in the late '80s.

They all know the rules

The “problem” is the box on the screen. Wish it were optional to watch a game without it. Attention is focused on whether a pitch is called correctly. Extremely distracting on borderline calls. It “IS” what the ump says it “IS”.