Proposed rule changes, taken from The New Bill James Historical Abstract.
James writes (and I agree) that too much of a baseball game consists of guys standing around scratching their nuts.
To speed up the game, he proposes:
1. A pitcher may make two pickoff throws per base per inning. The third throw would be counted as a ball. This rule would not only speed the game, it would create more base stealing, which would be a benefit. More stolen bases equal more excitement.
2. Once the batter enters the box, the umpire will not let him call timeout.
3. Cut the commercial breaks to 90 seconds, not two minutes. The advertisers would not mind, because a) a quicker game would generate more viewers, and b) the time would become even more valuable.
4. James wants the bat handles gradually returned to the width they were 30 years ago. Whippier bats create more bat speed. With thicker bat handles, we'd have fewer walks, fewer strikeouts, fewer homers, more hits, more doubles, more contests between hitter and fielder. All of this would lead to a more exciting game.
5. Move the batters box away from home plate, gradually, to more than four inches. By moving the batter off the plate, you make it harder for him to hit the outside pitch into the seats. Again, this would lead to more of a contact hitting game.
6. Limit mid-inning pitching changes. A manager could change pitchers once a game, or, after the pitcher has given up at least one run.
James believes these rules would not only speed the game, but make the game more of a contest of hitting and fielding, and not a contest of big, powerful men working the count for a pitch they can drive for a home run. This would be more of Whitey Herzog game and less of a Gene Tenace game.
James writes (and I agree) that too much of a baseball game consists of guys standing around scratching their nuts.
To speed up the game, he proposes:
1. A pitcher may make two pickoff throws per base per inning. The third throw would be counted as a ball. This rule would not only speed the game, it would create more base stealing, which would be a benefit. More stolen bases equal more excitement.
2. Once the batter enters the box, the umpire will not let him call timeout.
3. Cut the commercial breaks to 90 seconds, not two minutes. The advertisers would not mind, because a) a quicker game would generate more viewers, and b) the time would become even more valuable.
4. James wants the bat handles gradually returned to the width they were 30 years ago. Whippier bats create more bat speed. With thicker bat handles, we'd have fewer walks, fewer strikeouts, fewer homers, more hits, more doubles, more contests between hitter and fielder. All of this would lead to a more exciting game.
5. Move the batters box away from home plate, gradually, to more than four inches. By moving the batter off the plate, you make it harder for him to hit the outside pitch into the seats. Again, this would lead to more of a contact hitting game.
6. Limit mid-inning pitching changes. A manager could change pitchers once a game, or, after the pitcher has given up at least one run.
James believes these rules would not only speed the game, but make the game more of a contest of hitting and fielding, and not a contest of big, powerful men working the count for a pitch they can drive for a home run. This would be more of Whitey Herzog game and less of a Gene Tenace game.
