How To Fix Baseball - Part 6 - In Game Rule Changes I Think Will Help the Game

 Parts 1-5 in this series dealt with changes I think will impact competitive balance going forward in baseball.  All these proposed changes would have to be negotiated between the owners and the MLBPA in the next collective bargaining agreement.

What I will discuss in this final segment in this series is changes in in-game rules.  These changes would not require inclusion in the next CBA and, so, could be implemented starting next season.  One such change, the use of a challenge system for ball and strike calls, is already due to be implemented in 2026.

Let's talk about some other changes (NOTE: I may update this over the winter as I read/jear other ideas).

LOWERING OR RAISING OF PADDING ON OUTFIELD WALLS TO ELIMINATE DEBATE REGARDING BALLS GETTING STUCK UNDER THE PADDING

 From the controversy in the recent World Series, I propose that padding on outfield (fair and foul territory) be raised 6 inches to a height of one foot above the ground.  This will eliminate balls being caught underneath padding.  This could also be accomplished by lowering the padding to no more than one inch above the warning track but it just seems to make sense to raise it a little to avoid shoes getting caught under the padding.  

I would also like to see a committee look at all 30 ML parks and even parks that have been replaced to review what, if anything, needs to be done to limit the number of dead balls generated during a game. 

CHECK SWING AND APPEALING IT

Currently the catcher or pitcher needs to ask the home plate umpire to appeal whether a player has checked him swing on a pitch.  It is obvious now from instant replay that these challenges could be handled as other challenges are during the game, by replay evaluation in the New York replay office.  

After seeing how black and white some of these calls would be using a camera that was directly across from the batter, I am suggesting that 

(a) The rule be clarified on what is and is not a check swing 

(b) Create a rule that says the team in the field can still ask for a determination of a check swing as they do now but that determination can be the source of a challenge separate from the challenge system used for other in-game challenges

(b) Two unsuccessful challenges be granted to each team each game to challenge check swings

This rule changes seems like a no-brainer to me, given the state of the video technology.

RULES RELATIVE TO TWO-WAY PLAYERS

What has been dubbed the Ohtani rule allows a starting pitcher to hit and, once they are removed from the game as a pitcher, they can remain in the game as a designated hitter at the same spot in the order they were in as the pitcher.  This seems like letting a team have their cake and eat it to if they have an exceptional hitter who is also a pitcher.

I suggest changing the rule to say that a starting pitcher who is removed may stay in the game as a hitter if they go to a fielding position.  The team then designates another player to be the DH who then hits in the position in the order for the player removed from the game.  

While this eliminates some of the advantage to having a two-way player it still gives them the advantage of keeping the player in the game and is more in line with the way the playing rules used to be before the DH was implemented throughout baseball.

GHOST RUNNER

Though some people see the high drama in 16 inning games being good for the game, I don't.  Look at game 7 of this year's world series.   Quality starting pitchers pitching on 0 or 1 day's rest because it is an all hands on deck game 7.  I feel the risk of injury out weighs the drama factor.

So, I leave the ghost runner in place for regular season extra inning games.  In the playoffs I modify it to something like college football uses if games continue to go on and on.  Here's how my plan would look in all playoff games

(1) Innings 10-12, no ghost runner.

(2) Innings 13 and beyond, ghost runner at 2nd base like in regular season.

RULES I DON'T THINK NEED TO BE CHANGED

I have seen some rule changes being proposed that I don't think need to be changed: number of disengagements per batter, pitch clock length, the shift rule, go back to no ghose runner in extra innings.