Any baseball fans know why MLB increased the size of the bases?

[brush]

Last edited Sat Feb 18, 2023, 03:23 AM - Edit history (1)

I haven't heard of any big outcry that the bases were too small. They're now to be the size of pizza boxes, and won't that give an advantage to a runner going to first trying to beat out a grounder as he'll get there a split second quicker?

[underpants]

1. Shortens the distance and gives runner more room to tag the base

That’s what I understand

[Cerridwen]

2. I found an article at "Sporting News"

A snip from the article:

Why did MLB make the bases bigger?

Baseball is making the bases bigger to promote player safety, with the happy side effect of creating more offense. The league hasn't had a 50-steal player since Dee Strange-Gordon pulled the feat in 2017, swiping 60 bases (worth noting there are a myriad of factors contributing to this, including the forgoing of small ball due to historic home run rates).

Trea Turner led the majors last year with 32. More area to grab onto should make it easier to steal bases, and it's going to be more difficult for a shortstop or second baseman to apply the tag to a player sliding behind the bag.

Link to the article: https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/mlb/news/mlb-bigger-bases-new-larger-2022/rrvpggytykvvzyzf2aqmj8ds

Hope this helps.

[brush]

9. Thank you.

[Alpeduez21]

13. I think the rule limiting pick offs

will increase base stealing as well

[CanonRay]

3. Batting averages were too low.

There will be a lot more hits this year. Stolen bases as well. Ricky Henderson would steal 150 this year.

[asiliveandbreathe]

4. Lots to digest at link..many more links on subject..

The size of bases will be increased from 15 inches square to 18 inches square as of September 1, according to Major League Baseball (MLB), in order to improve player safety and increase offense. Infielders will now have more space between themselves and base runners, allowing them to maneuver and avoid potentially damaging collisions with themselves.

https://tbonesbaseball.com/the-size-of-baseball-bases-essential-knowledge-for-players-coaches-and-spectators/#:~:text=The%20size%20of%20bases%20will%20be%20increased%20from,maneuver%20and%20avoid%20potentially%20damaging%20collisions%20with%20them.

[Blues Heron]

5. From 225 square inches to 324 square inches - half again as much real estate to defend

That’s a pretty radical change. They should have started with a 1 inch increase if they have to do this.

[WestMichRad]

7. They've tested it in the minor leagues

For at least a year, they’ve tested all the new rule changes in some of the minor leagues. The base size change is primarily for safety, to reduce the number of collisions (especially at first base).

The other changes adopted for MLB are:
> Pitch clock… to reduce the overall length of games;
> Limit the number of times a pitcher can throw to a base during an at-bat… to aid the running game (more stolen bases);
> Require at least two infielders on either half of the field (split by a line that goes thru home plate and second base) and no further from home plate than the outer edge of infield dirt… to improve batting averages (by limiting how much defensive alignments can shift).

Again, all these changes have been tested for at least a full year in some of the minor leagues.

I predict the change that will cause the most trouble (at least for some pitchers) is the pitch clock. Some veteran pitchers are slow workers and have used that as a strategy to freeze base runners. (Looking at you, Rich Hill.) They’ll catch on, but the learning curve may be rough for some of them.

[Blues Heron]

8. Not a bad idea to spice it up a bit and improve safety

[Auggie]

10. Rob Manfred is dumbing down baseball

[Rastapopoulos]

11. I'm ok with these changes

But I hate the 'ghost runner' in extra innings.

[RussBLib]

12. I like the fact that every team....

....will play every other team in the regular season. So there will be fewer intra-division matchups to be able to play every other team.

To me, it should have been like that long ago. Kinda funny that, among all the new rule changes, I have seen this one discussed only once.