By William Coppola/ Sports Columnist Bronx Chrinicle
Get ready fans, more changes could be on the way soon to the game of baseball or should we say the “Rob Manfred” game of baseball? On July 11th it was announced that Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) announced four additional experimental playing rules that will be in place during the second half of the 2019 Atlantic League Championship Season.
The list of changes is as follows: • Pitcher is required to step off the rubber in order to attempt a pickoff • One (1) foul bunt is permitted with two strikes before a strikeout is called • Batters may “steal” first base on any pitch not caught in flight (the batter can be thrown out if he attempts to run) • “Check swing” rule made more batter-friendly
These new experimental playing rules will be used along with the current rules and equipment changes that were put in place at the start of the 2019 season.
These include: • Home plate umpire assisted by radar tracking system and an MLB-defined strike zone • No mound visits permitted by players or coaches other than pitching changes and medical visits • Pitchers must face a minimum of three batters or reach the end of an inning before they can exit the game, unless the pitcher becomes injured • Increase size of bases from 15 inches square to 18 inches square • Time between innings and pitching changes reduced from 2:05 to 1:45
MLB will analyze the effects of these changes before deciding on potential additional modifications for the 2020 ALPB Championship Season.
The experimental playing rule and equipment changes are part of a new three-year agreement between MLB and ALPB. The agreement covers the transfer of players from ALPB to MLB and enhances MLB’s scouting coverage of ALPB games. MLB will continue to provide statistical and radar tracking data from ALPB games to MLB Clubs.
“We have seen a tremendous amount of interest in these initiatives from our players, coaches and fans throughout the first half of the season,” said Rick White, ALPB President. “We look forward to working further with Major League Baseball and observing these additional rule changes in action throughout the remainder of the year.”
Ok, let’s think about some of these things. A batter now gets an extra try at laying down a bunt. How about leaving that alone and teaching these “Pros” how to bunt? Pitcher has to step off rubber on pick off attempt? What about a lefty? So much for that “Great pick-off move”guy. Again, another exciting thing, the pick off, will be reduced significantly. Stealing first base on any pitch that gets past the catcher? What’s next, putting sewers on the field and using stick ball rules for doubles, triples and home runs?
Written by medical doctor and baseball league organizer Daniel “Doc” Adams in 1857, “The Laws of Base Ball” establishes rules familiar to fans of the modern game – nine innings, 90 feet between bases, and nine players to a team. You know why the bases are 15 inches square and 90 feet apart? Or why the pitching rubber is sixty feet plus six inches from the plate? Because it works. It is the perfect balance to a game that has been enjoyed for over 100 years by fans of all ages.
What are they trying to do to our game?
Remember that famous scene in the movie “Planet of the Apes” where Charlton Heston rides on a horse up to a destroyed Statue of Liberty on a beach and says: “You Maniacs! You blew it up!” That could be where we are headed with baseball.
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