MLB has become unwatchable, terrible, awful, no good.

[Yavin4]

It's all strikeouts with a few HRs scattered about. These are the batting averages for 10 teams: .200, .205, .211, .214, .215, .218, .222, .223., .224, .227. The list include teams like the 1st place S.F. Giants and the Oakland A's.

In April, there were 6,924 strikeouts and 5,832 hits, a difference of 1,092. Too many players are just taking big cuts and not doing enough to put the ball into play. This is not good for the sport. Sitting around for 4 hours to watch one or two HRs is not the kind of compelling game that will hold fan interest.

[exboyfil]

1. Move the mound back?

Other than the Cubs Game 7 I haven't watched baseball in 25 years.

[Yavin4]

2. I would not do that. I would outlaw the defensive shifts.

And limit the number of relief pitchers that a team can use. What's happening today is that the starter goes out for 4.5 to 5 innings and throws 90+ mph. Then a parade of relievers come in throwing even harder.

The only chance the hitters have to hit it hard enough to leave the park which leaves you with a ton of strikeouts.

[TheRealNorth]

3. +1 Eliminate defensive shifts

Batters now swing for the home run because of defensive shifts that decrease the chances of getting base hits.

I don't have a huge issue with the relievers - although I miss the days of more pitchers going 9 innings, it probably wasn't good for their pitching arms.

[GP6971]

6. I know Double A

is testing "Defensive Positioning" for the infield. It doesn't eliminate defensive shifting, but does require all the infielders to remain in the infield...no longer can they be in the shallow outfield.

Triple A is experimenting with larger bases and I heard the independent Atlantic League is experimenting with moving the mound back a foot, but I haven't been able to verify that.

[Sibelius Fan]

7. Yep. The shift is causing this lack of hits. The stats prove it.

[Bristlecone]

10. I thought they changed the reliever rule to force at least 3 batters

Per reliever.

[TheRealNorth]

12. Yes, I heard that too

I think the only thing that stops is bring in a left or right pitcher to face a particular batter in a critical moment in a close game. Again, I really don't think its as big an issue as the shifts.

[brush]

4. Probably too radical for hidebound MLB but I say shorten the games and the season.

The women's college softball games are more entertaining to watch at seven innings. The pace moves along swiftly, plus the hitters put the ball in play resulting in plays at second and third, not to mention first and home.

Ok, how do we get more balls in play? Pitchers are too strong now for most of the hitters so there needs to be offense and defense like in football. Only the best hitters on offense and defensive specialists when the other team is at bat. Then we'll get some action.

And 162 games? That's way too long. Baseball hasn't been the only game in town for decades now. People have other sports to watch and other things to do. 100 to 120 games is more than enough to decide which are the best teams.

There you have it. Baseball of course will never consider any of this as unlike the other sports, rule changes are just about forbidden as the record book is so sacred. Also MLB is not going to give up all the revenue from the long, long season, even though it shrinks every year because the game has gotten to be so boring.

[broiles]

5. This is why I prefer college ball. It's much more exciting.

[calguy]

8. I haven't watched MLB since the Catfish Hunter days.

[rickford66]

9. As kids we were out if we hit it over the fence into the crabby neighbor's yard.

Plus we had to climb over and get it before the crab got it. Wiffle Ball of course. Moving the mound back seems reasonable.

[Kingofalldems]

11. Mets fired their hitting coaches.

[Auggie]

13. +1,000,000 ...

The S.F. Giants seem to be trying to play the entire field still, though their average is indeed among the lowest.

Buster Posey (finally healthy) has been excelling at hitting to the opposite field and finding holes. His average is .350+.

However ...

DO NOT move the mound back.

DO NOT limit shifts.

DO NOT install the universal DH.

DO NOT swing with your dick. Use your head.

[Brother Buzz]

14. Everybody is hitting....foul balls and fly outs

This is a dead ball season. After record breaking home runs for the last few years, MLB made a change to the ball, only they were ham fisted and went to far.

Apparently the ball is also a pitchers wet dream. LA Dodger pitcher, Clayton Kershaw claims the stitches are bigger (I believe he was referring to the height of the stitches). If this is true, where are the knuckleballers, because they would be in high cotton?

60'6" is a magical distance. For shits and giggles, I could entertain the idea of laser leveling the mound just to see how the submariner pitchers do with it.

[Auggie]

15. Could be those who are struggling are pressing too hard as well

Dead balls are not affecting everyone.

[Brother Buzz]

16. The dead ball is working well in that monster park, Coors Field

The smart hitters are not aiming for the fence, but are punching bloopers into that undefendable real estate between the infielders and the outfielders.


Home runs fill the stands, base hits win the games