Other than the Cubs Game 7 I haven't watched baseball in 25 years.

And limit the number of relief pitchers that a team can use. What's happening today is that the starter goes out for 4.5 to 5 innings and throws 90+ mph. Then a parade of relievers come in throwing even harder.

The only chance the hitters have to hit it hard enough to leave the park which leaves you with a ton of strikeouts.

Batters now swing for the home run because of defensive shifts that decrease the chances of getting base hits.

I don't have a huge issue with the relievers - although I miss the days of more pitchers going 9 innings, it probably wasn't good for their pitching arms.

is testing "Defensive Positioning" for the infield. It doesn't eliminate defensive shifting, but does require all the infielders to remain in the infield...no longer can they be in the shallow outfield.

Triple A is experimenting with larger bases and I heard the independent Atlantic League is experimenting with moving the mound back a foot, but I haven't been able to verify that.

Per reliever.

I think the only thing that stops is bring in a left or right pitcher to face a particular batter in a critical moment in a close game. Again, I really don't think its as big an issue as the shifts.

The women's college softball games are more entertaining to watch at seven innings. The pace moves along swiftly, plus the hitters put the ball in play resulting in plays at second and third, not to mention first and home.

Ok, how do we get more balls in play? Pitchers are too strong now for most of the hitters so there needs to be offense and defense like in football. Only the best hitters on offense and defensive specialists when the other team is at bat. Then we'll get some action.

And 162 games? That's way too long. Baseball hasn't been the only game in town for decades now. People have other sports to watch and other things to do. 100 to 120 games is more than enough to decide which are the best teams.

There you have it. Baseball of course will never consider any of this as unlike the other sports, rule changes are just about forbidden as the record book is so sacred. Also MLB is not going to give up all the revenue from the long, long season, even though it shrinks every year because the game has gotten to be so boring.

Plus we had to climb over and get it before the crab got it. Wiffle Ball of course. Moving the mound back seems reasonable.

The S.F. Giants seem to be trying to play the entire field still, though their average is indeed among the lowest.

Buster Posey (finally healthy) has been excelling at hitting to the opposite field and finding holes. His average is .350+.

However ...

DO NOT move the mound back.

DO NOT limit shifts.

DO NOT install the universal DH.

DO NOT swing with your dick. Use your head.

This is a dead ball season. After record breaking home runs for the last few years, MLB made a change to the ball, only they were ham fisted and went to far.

Apparently the ball is also a pitchers wet dream. LA Dodger pitcher, Clayton Kershaw claims the stitches are bigger (I believe he was referring to the height of the stitches). If this is true, where are the knuckleballers, because they would be in high cotton?

60'6" is a magical distance. For shits and giggles, I could entertain the idea of laser leveling the mound just to see how the submariner pitchers do with it.

Dead balls are not affecting everyone.

The smart hitters are not aiming for the fence, but are punching bloopers into that undefendable real estate between the infielders and the outfielders.


Home runs fill the stands, base hits win the games