Thursday, September 26, 2013

On 3-2 limit the batter to three swings.

Here is the complete idea:

Tuesday, October 13, 2009  If I could change only one rule ...

Start the count on 3-2 and limit the batter to three swings.
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Monday, March 11, 2013  Start The Count At 3-2.

Come on, we've all thought it.  Admit it.  The game is dragging on interminably.  Each batter seems to go 3-2.  Then foul off even more pitches.  What the heck?  Just start the damn count at 3-2 and get it over with!  ...

Here is a basic baseball tenet: three swings and you’re out.  The batter also has an obligation to achieve the objective of putting the ball in play.  The batter may not simply foul off pitches until the pitcher finally throws ball four.  If the batter cannot put the ball in play after three opportunities, then the batter is out.

If any of the three pitches thrown to a batter is a called strike or the batter misses, the batter is out.  If the batter fouls off three pitches, the batter is out.  Any pitch outside the strike zone is ball four, a walk.

Elegant, right?
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Monday, July 22, 2013  Four hours, 46 minutes for eleven innings. That's entertainment?

Brett Gardner walked in the 7th; it took 15 pitches and about ten minutes.  That's about three pitches every two minutes.
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It does not appear that starting the count on 3-2 will happen any time soon.  Too bad.  So, how about just the second half?  Yes, when the count naturally reaches 3-2 limit the batter to three more swings.  Potentially, that's a minimum of five swings, which seems more than fair and certainly enough.  Brett Gardner had ELEVEN swings in the plate appearance mentioned and took forever.  Do something or get the heck out of the box.  Oh wait, batters get out of the box after every pitch (except Jonny Gomes).

Sunday, September 8, 2013  Watch Jonny Gomes between pitches.

...  try watching his Vaudeville routine between pitches when he bats.  He deliberately smashes his helmet down onto his head in addition to the more pedestrian stuff like adjusting his batting gloves.

What distinguishes the Gomes Vaudeville act is that Gomes does not even step out of the batter's box.
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OK, what I mean is complete the plate appearance as expeditiously as possible and move the damn game along.  Geez, is that asking too much?

Throw the ball, hit the ball, field the ball, run the bases.  Anything else is pretty much dead time.  Right?

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