MLB Labor Deal...

[Mormon Red Death]

is close to being signed.

Among other things, (the deal) will pave the way for realignment of the sport into two 15-team leagues, adding a second wild-card team in each league, spreading interleague play throughout all six months of the regular season and making significant changes to the draft, free agency and the so-called "Competitive Balance Tax."

[MartyFunkhouser]

is close to being signed.

More teams in the playoffs is a huge mistake.

[Mormon Red Death]

More teams in the playoffs is a huge mistake.

Why? I think if they gave a bye to the Top team in each league it would give incentive to finish as the best team. Then they have the Wild Cards play a best of three then play the top team in a best of 5 (the other playoff series is a best of 7) it would work out real well.

[il Padrino Ute]

More teams in the playoffs is a huge mistake.

A mistake? It's anathema to everything that is decent.

[Mormon Red Death]

A mistake? It's anathema to everything that is decent.

You probably said the same thing when they added the wild card & interleague. Fact is they have both been great for the game. My scenario would actually make winning in the regular season more important. It rewards the division winners and makes the wild card.

The one thing they need to address is the time of games. They should make it so a batter can step out of the batting box only once during an at bat (Sans being thrown at). And a pitcher has only 15-20 seconds to get the next pitch off or has to throw to a base (also limits per inning how many times they can throw to a base). Penalize the batter with strike and the pitcher with a ball. Too often guys call time out or rearrange their stupid batting gloves which make the game drag.

[il Padrino Ute]

You probably said the same thing when they added the wild card & interleague. Fact is they have both been great for the game. My scenario would actually make winning in the regular season more important. It rewards the division winners and makes the wild card.

The one thing they need to address is the time of games. They should make it so a batter can step out of the batting box only once during an at bat (Sans being thrown at). And a pitcher has only 15-20 seconds to get the next pitch off or has to throw to a base (also limits per inning how many times they can throw to a base). Penalize the batter with strike and the pitcher with a ball. Too often guys call time out or rearrange their stupid batting gloves which make the game drag.

I did say that when they added the wild card and interleague. I also don't like the DH and wish the league would get rid of it.

Wanting something done to shorten the length of a baseball game is ignorance of the chess match within the game. What looks like a batter stepping out of the box to rearrange his gloves is really a batter trying to get a pitcher out of rhythm. A pitcher who takes time to make a pitch is trying to get the batter out of rhythm. If you want to limit the amount of times a pitcher can throw to a base, you may as well limit the distance a baserunner can be off the base too.

That baseball isn't timed is one of the beauties of the sport. The game is nine innings. How long it takes is irrelevant.

[RC Vikings]

Too often guys call time out or rearrange their stupid batting gloves which make the game drag.

Nomar was the worst and Jeter isn't much better.

[Mormon Red Death]

I did say that when they added the wild card and interleague. I also don't like the DH and wish the league would get rid of it.

Wanting something done to shorten the length of a baseball game is ignorance of the chess match within the game. What looks like a batter stepping out of the box to rearrange his gloves is really a batter trying to get a pitcher out of rhythm. A pitcher who takes time to make a pitch is trying to get the batter out of rhythm. If you want to limit the amount of times a pitcher can throw to a base, you may as well limit the distance a baserunner can be off the base too.

That baseball isn't timed is one of the beauties of the sport. The game is nine innings. How long it takes is irrelevant.

I know exactly what they are trying to do. That being considered when baseball games take 4 and 5 hours to complete because guys have to call "timeout" every third pitch its time to do somethign about it. I love baseball I just want to speed it up. Having a pitch clock would get guys going and get people home before midnight.

[filsdepac]

I know exactly what they are trying to do. That being considered when baseball games take 4 and 5 hours to complete because guys have to call "timeout" every third pitch its time to do somethign about it. I love baseball I just want to speed it up. Having a pitch clock would get guys going and get people home before midnight.

How many games are 4 to 5 hours but not in extra innings? Red Sox/Yankees games take awhile but seems like the average for most is right around, if not under 3 hours. I'm okay with another wild card team, but i wouldn't mess with the pitcher/batter dual. I'm also okay with video replay (not that it was in the report, haven't read it yet), but NOT with balls/strikes.

[il Padrino Ute]

I know exactly what they are trying to do. That being considered when baseball games take 4 and 5 hours to complete because guys have to call "timeout" every third pitch its time to do somethign about it. I love baseball I just want to speed it up. Having a pitch clock would get guys going and get people home before midnight.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree about this. That baseball isn't timed is one of the things I love about the sport.

As for getting home before midnight, that could be solved if baseball went back to playing day games only.

[Green Monstah]

is close to being signed.

I hope the Competitive Balance Tax increases substantially. If they refuse to have a salary cap, then this is the next best thing.

How crazy is it that baseball may come out of this looking like the most functional of the major sports leagues?

Also: Loving the Astros the AL West. Great rivalry (someday) with the Rangers, and the Sox will be here twice per season instead of once in every three.

[UteStar]

is close to being signed.

Weird. People are signing things and not just arguing and canceling games. I don't understand this. Is this an Onion report?

[Parrot Head]

I'll belatedly join in the conversation and put myself in the IPU traditionalist camp. I don't want to add another round of playoffs because it will only extend the season further into the cold months. I know, "the series will be shorter...." but for how long? They'll get increased by 2 games eventually. I'd be up for going back to 154-game season also (especially after this past year) and I would definitely like to see replay on certain out calls if there's an efficient challenge system put in place.

As for long games, I think fils covered that and if you want nice, shorter games, watch NL ball. The Braves get a ton of games in under 2:40 each year with many of those under 2:30.

[CJF]

I'll belatedly join in the conversation and put myself in the IPU traditionalist camp. I don't want to add another round of playoffs because it will only extend the season further into the cold months. I know, "the series will be shorter...." but for how long? They'll get increased by 2 games eventually. I'd be up for going back to 154-game season also (especially after this past year) and I would definitely like to see replay on certain out calls if there's an efficient challenge system put in place.

As for long games, I think fils covered that and if you want nice, shorter games, watch NL ball. The Braves get a ton of games in under 2:40 each year with many of those under 2:30.

I could really get behind a 154 game season.

[il Padrino Ute]

I could really get behind a 154 game season.

As could I.