The future of baseball

[mvp 78]

Yeah, I get that, but it all depends on how the new rule is worded, I think.

I tried looking for the actual wording, but couldn't find it. I'll keep rooting around for it.

[Slasher9]

nope. cannot flip-flop the pitcher prior to the 3 batter minimum. good call Bell:
The starting pitcher or any substitute pitcher is required to pitch to a minimum of three consecutive batters, including the batter then at bat (or any substitute batter), until such batters are put out or reach first base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the starting pitcher or substitute pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the umpire-in-chief’s judgment, incapacitates him from further play as a pitcher.

Comments: To qualify as one of three consecutive batters, the batter must complete his plate appearance, which ends only when the batter is put out or becomes a runner. If the offensive team is put out prior to any substitute pitcher completing his first three consecutive batters, the pitcher may be removed from the game between innings; but, if he returns for the subsequent inning, he must complete pitching to as many batters as necessary to satisfy the three consecutive batters requirement, which total would include any batters that completed a plate appearance with that pitcher the prior inning (i.e., if he completed 0 PA in inning 1, he must complete 3 PA in inning 2; if he completed 1 PA in inning 1, he must complete 2 PA in inning 2; if he completed 2 PA in inning 1, he must complete 1 PA in inning 2). An intentional walk counts toward fulfilling the number of required batters. Picking off a runner does not fulfill the minimum batter requirement, but would permit the early removal of the pitcher if the out recorded by the pickoff ends the inning.

[vegasbob]

nope. cannot flip-flop the pitcher prior to the 3 batter minimum. good call Bell:
The starting pitcher or any substitute pitcher is required to pitch to a minimum of three consecutive batters, including the batter then at bat (or any substitute batter), until such batters are put out or reach first base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the starting pitcher or substitute pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the umpire-in-chief’s judgment, incapacitates him from further play as a pitcher.

Comments: To qualify as one of three consecutive batters, the batter must complete his plate appearance, which ends only when the batter is put out or becomes a runner. If the offensive team is put out prior to any substitute pitcher completing his first three consecutive batters, the pitcher may be removed from the game between innings; but, if he returns for the subsequent inning, he must complete pitching to as many batters as necessary to satisfy the three consecutive batters requirement, which total would include any batters that completed a plate appearance with that pitcher the prior inning (i.e., if he completed 0 PA in inning 1, he must complete 3 PA in inning 2; if he completed 1 PA in inning 1, he must complete 2 PA in inning 2; if he completed 2 PA in inning 1, he must complete 1 PA in inning 2). An intentional walk counts toward fulfilling the number of required batters. Picking off a runner does not fulfill the minimum batter requirement, but would permit the early removal of the pitcher if the out recorded by the pickoff ends the inning.

So the creation of the new specialist LHPOG ( Left handed pickoff guy). The issue of a position player and pitcher reversal may have been anticipated by the rule, but it still would be an interesting maneuver . If intentional walks ( or HBP in Astros case) count towards your 3 hitters. Get the first out of an inning, notice that a LH hitter is the 4th guy due up , intentionally walk the next 3 to get the LH'er up with the bases loaded only to spring the LOOGY trick on them and get a DP ending the inning on one pitch. Adds excitement and speeds up the game instead of someone like Gardner hitting 12 foul balls.

[notin]

nope. cannot flip-flop the pitcher prior to the 3 batter minimum. good call Bell:
The starting pitcher or any substitute pitcher is required to pitch to a minimum of three consecutive batters, including the batter then at bat (or any substitute batter), until such batters are put out or reach first base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the starting pitcher or substitute pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the umpire-in-chief’s judgment, incapacitates him from further play as a pitcher.

Comments: To qualify as one of three consecutive batters, the batter must complete his plate appearance, which ends only when the batter is put out or becomes a runner. If the offensive team is put out prior to any substitute pitcher completing his first three consecutive batters, the pitcher may be removed from the game between innings; but, if he returns for the subsequent inning, he must complete pitching to as many batters as necessary to satisfy the three consecutive batters requirement, which total would include any batters that completed a plate appearance with that pitcher the prior inning (i.e., if he completed 0 PA in inning 1, he must complete 3 PA in inning 2; if he completed 1 PA in inning 1, he must complete 2 PA in inning 2; if he completed 2 PA in inning 1, he must complete 1 PA in inning 2). An intentional walk counts toward fulfilling the number of required batters. Picking off a runner does not fulfill the minimum batter requirement, but would permit the early removal of the pitcher if the out recorded by the pickoff ends the inning.

Stupid rule. And it was done because of the way managers abused other stupid rules...

[Kimmi]

Stupid rule. And it was done because of the way managers abused other stupid rules...

I like it, personally.

[Bellhorn04]

I like it, personally.

I don't like it-I love it.

[a700hitter]

I like the Connie Mack Rule. The pitchers go 9 innings and finish what they started because I am not paying another pitcher to finish your game. It should help with the Luxury Tax threshold.

[mvp 78]

Dafuq?

Heard @Buster_ESPN suggest that many more in the game are coming around on 7 inning games in the future, maybe within 10 yrs.

[notin]

I don't like it-I love it.

No one loves the 3-batter minimum rule.

Baseball has so many rules that need changing. Why is it they only propose changes to the stuff that doesn’t?

[Bellhorn04]

No one loves the 3-batter minimum rule.

Hard disagree on that one. We could take a poll on it, but there aren't too many people here with their minds on baseball right now.

[notin]

Hard disagree on that one. We could take a poll on it, but there aren't too many people here with their minds on baseball right now.

1. Isn’t that what we were discussing that you commented that you loved? Granted that post was from March 10.

2. Yeah no one is thinking/talking baseball, but there is no reason not to if you can find a topic. If a baseball conversation on a message board keeps you at home, it’s a good thing for everyone.,.

[notin]

Hard disagree on that one. We could take a poll on it, but there aren't too many people here with their minds on baseball right now.

I hate it, and the worst part is it’s not even going to do what we were sold it would do. From April to August, it will impact on average less than one pitching change per game. In September, it can be more as managers sometimes have 10-12 man bullpens and some do make pitching changes rather willy-nilly (I’m looking at you, retired Bruce Bochy). But why not just remove the stupid roster expansion?

[Bellhorn04]

I hate it, and the worst part is it’s not even going to do what we were sold it would do. From April to August, it will impact on average less than one pitching change per game. In September, it can be more as managers sometimes have 10-12 man bullpens and some do make pitching changes rather willy-nilly (I’m looking at you, retired Bruce Bochy). But why not just remove the stupid roster expansion?

Anything that reduces the number of pitching changes and prevents those innings where 3 pitchers face 3 batters is good with me. Maybe the impact won't be huge, but I don't see why that in itself is a problem.

The roster expansion is a whole different issue. They should probably do something about that too.

[Kimmi]

Dafuq?

Heard @Buster_ESPN suggest that many more in the game are coming around on 7 inning games in the future, maybe within 10 yrs.

That is messed up. That's as bad as starting extra innings with a runner on 2B.

[Kimmi]

No one loves the 3-batter minimum rule.

Baseball has so many rules that need changing. Why is it they only propose changes to the stuff that doesn’t?

I'm with Bell on this one.