Just have the top four teams in each league go to the playoffs. Eliminate inter league play and have everyone play everyone else in your league the same number of games. Just even the field for everyone. For example, this year, conceivably, you could have the top 4 records all come out of the NL Central. If that’s the case, those should be the teams in the playoffs.

This year has been absolutely ridiculous. Give the contract back to the college professors. They did a better job.

Pitchers should be required to hit and old guys who can’t play the field anymore should retire.

I hate when a SS is 3 feet from touching the bag, but still get’s the double play call. Drives me nuts.

… my big one is getting rid of interleague play. Here are a few smaller recommendations, too

- If a player gets hit and charges the mound, he (or his subsequent replacement) does not get first base. Its an out.

- While teams are allowed to expand their roster to 40 on Sept 1st, they still may not play with more than 25 on a given day. They must include the 25 with their starting line-up. If teams are limited to 25 players for 5 months, I don’t see why this should change.

- Home field advantage for the WS goes to the team w/ the better record in interleague play. Making an exhibition game impact the world series is inane.

DmL

All position players need to switch hit at least once per game. :) Think of the strategic decisions! Do you hit with your off-hand early to get it out of the way, or do you hope that you’ll have a lead late and won’t “need” a hit?

I haven’t worked out the details yet, and this is just a fun suggestion based on the name of the fanpost. There are loopholes aplenty in the concept, but ah well.

This is a perfect off-day fanpost. Good work to all of those who are posting!

Dave

Pitcher must pitch or throw to first within X seconds of getting the ball back. Batter can call time only once per X pitches.

No DH, anywhere ever.

If a pitcher makes an error that leads to a run, that run should count against the pitcher’s ERA.

If it has to be stat, make is such that it is only caculated for the person attempt to get the last out with one exception. I hate it when a reliver guy comes in the 6th inning of a game gives up the tie running and all of a sudden he has a blown save. To think he was saving the game in the 6th inning is crazy. The blown save stat should be reserved for the individual who came in to get the last out of the game. The one exception is this: If a guys comes into the middle of the “last” inning with runners on and he allows the tieing run to score, he should not be charged with the blown save…it should be the guy who let the runner get on.

1) Eliminate the DH – the other option is to institute it into the NL but seriously, the fact that the AL is “tougher” for pitchers because they don’t have an easy out messes with the system. It also leads to a slightly unfair advantage in interleague/World Series play for both teams. NL teams visiting AL parks have bench guys as DHs and AL teams going to NL parks have to find a way to get their DH on the field. If you can’t play baseball…all aspects of it…then you shouldn’t be playing.

2) Create AND enforce speed up rules. A batter must keep one foot in the box at all times and may only step completely out once per AB (maybe for 3B coach signals). Pitchers must remain on the mound at all times between pitches and once a batter has both feet in the box must have at least 1 foot on the rubber and begin his delivery within 8-10 seconds or the batter gets an automatic ball. Also, a batter who steps out of the box more than allotted would get an automatic strike.

3) Enforce the strikezone. It amazes me to no end that a pitch can just off the outside corner can be called a strike (Ramirez AB yesterday) just because the count is 3-0 and the ump is giving a pitchers strike, but the same location (a few of Marshall’s pitches) are called balls because the count is 1-1 or 1-2. If the count is 3-0 and the pitch isn’t a strike it isn’t a strike. Give him his base and move on.

4) Fix the schedule. Why is there an Opening Day, followed by a day off? What does it do? Who is it for? Didn’t the teams rest up enough the few days before OD? Is OD really that stressful? The main problem is that it’s a off-day when it’s not needed and shifting the schedule might give them an extra day sometime else…like say mid-July or August during a 20 games in 20 days stretch in 5 cities.

4a) Let humans make the schedule. Eliminate one Cubs-Sox series and alternate home-away 3 game sets each year. Let humans make the schedule. Keep the unbalanced schedule but skew closer to the middle. As it is the Cubs play the Reds 627 times and the Mets 6. Make interdivision teams 12-15 to allow the Cubs-Mets rivalry to reopen, Cubs-Phillies, Cubs-Marlins, etc. I understand the concept but its skewed too far to one direction and as it is, the Braves, Marlins, Rockies, etc are relegated to a similar status as interleague games. The Cubs see the White Sox as many times. Somethings wrong there.

I think every major sport could benefit, possibly excluding the NFL.

If you have two top contenders in the division having a relatively similar schedule, then for 3 games Cubs are playing the Rays, and Brewers are playing the Royals….

…How can this possibly be considered fair? If these teams are anywhere close at the end of the season, the Royals could possibly put the Brewers ahead of the Cubs.

NO MORE INTERLEAGUE PLAY.

’nuf said

changed to this: AC000000

…Dump Selig!