Why was the unenforced 12 second rule replaced by a 15 second rule? Can baseball get any dumber?

You can't make up stuff like this.

https://www.mlb.com/glossary/rules/pitch-timer

Pitch Timer (2023 rule change)

In an effort to create a quicker pace of play, a 30-second timer between batters will be implemented in 2023. Between pitches, a 15-second timer will be in place with the bases empty and a 20-second timer with runners on base.

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Enforce the EXISTING 12 second rule between pitches without asking the players union for permission! Wednesday, March 9, 2022

My post from NINE years ago:

On The Clock. Sunday, March 24, 2013

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2011/Official_Baseball_Rules.pdf

8.04 When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call “Ball.”
The 12-second timing starts when the pitcher is in possession of the ball and the batter is in the box, alert to the pitcher. The timing stops when the pitcher releases the ball.

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But wait. Pretty much everybody remains oblivious to the twelve second rule.

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Field Dimensions: 325 to 400 feet. Why not the same distance all around? You know, something fair?

https://www.mlb.com/glossary/rules/field-dimensions

No Major League ballparks are exactly alike ...

The rulebook states that parks constructed by professional teams after June 1, 1958, must have a minimum distance of 325 feet between home plate and the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction on the right- and left-field foul lines, and 400 feet between home plate and the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction in center field. However, some clubs have been permitted to construct parks after that date with dimensions shorter than those specified.

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There doesn't seem to be anything that precludes the outfield fences being the same distance all the way around. 400 feet works. A nice BIG curved outfield fence. So why not mandate it? It would be fair. The 75 foot difference between 325 and 400 is 23%. Why should a batter hit a fly ball to center 23% farther than a home run down the line and get an out? Oh, right, because it's always been that way. The baseball explanation for all manor of nonsense.

And what if the center field distance is more than the 400 foot minimum? What if it's 425? That's 31% more than 325.

OK, MLB will never have the imagination or nerve to mandate the same distance all the way around. But why doesn't some enterprising team do it? Any such change accompanied by a player roster that benefits (ground ball pitchers and fast line drive hitters) should give that team a competitive advantage ... at home. This would be especially helpful to small market teams, i.e., those in minor league cities.

It would mean fewer home runs. Limiting the shift in 2023 is meant to assist dumb hitters who mostly want to simply and simple mindedly jack up pitches with an uppercut swing, which minimizes the exposure of the sweet spot on the bat but enhances the possibility of a high fly ball that carries over the closest fence, that down the line: 325 feet away.

Argh.

Or, what about one of those frustrated teams in a minor league city making a mockery of its non competitive situation by making the outfield distances irregular? How about 400 feet to center but 325 in the power allies? And back to 400 feet down the lines. Or, ... 

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Why is the baseball field square? Eliminate the outfield corners. Monday, November 7, 2022

Eliminate the ridiculous and unnecessary mound. And move the pitching distance to the middle of the diamond: 63 feet.

60 feet, 6 inches. Yeah, right.

Bigger bases means more than stolen bases. Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Some baseball distances can be different from those of normal human beings. If you are sitting across the table from someone, you would judge the distance between you as the distance between your faces. But using baseball logic, it would be the distance between your face and the back of the other person's head. The two baseball examples:

1. 60 feet, 6 inches from the pitcher's rubber to home plate. It's actually that minus the 17 inches from the front of home plate to the back.

https://content.mlb.com/documents/2/2/4/305750224/2019_Official_Baseball_Rules_FINAL_.pdf

2.04 The Pitcher’s Plate

... the distance between the pitcher’s plate
and home base (the rear point of home plate) shall be 60 feet, 6 inches

Click link for MLB diagram 2.

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2023 rule change:

https://www.mlb.com/glossary/rules/defensive-shift-limits 

The four infielders must be within the boundary of the infield when the pitcher is on the rubber.

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Aside from the general stupidity of banning the shift, "on the rubber" rather than when the pitch is released or hit, might give an infielder time to back up a step or two onto the outfield grass. I know I'd try it. There's time when the pitcher is off the rubber but before he releases the ball as he hurtles himself down the ridiculous and unnecessary hill adding inches to his fastball by simply getting closer to the plate.

David Robertson isn't that tall (5'11") but has a long stride.

In football the passer may not step across the line of scrimmage to throw a forward pass. That's how it should be for the pitcher. Randy Johnson (6'10") probably released the ball at least a foot closer to home plate than Whitey Ford (5'10") because he was a foot taller than Ford. Both are in the Hall of Fame. How is that fair to other pitchers or to the batters? The pitching distance should be a release point not a launch point.

And that release point should be in the middle of the diamond where most casual fans think it is anyway: a little more than 63 feet from the back of home plate. No, I don't think that would impact throwing strikes. Just aim it down the middle like when you play catch, which is really what you're doing. 90% of baseball is two guys playing catch.

Maybe getting pitchers down to ground level will deflate their egos, which enable them to deliberately throw at batters with virtual impunity, the most egregious and unbalanced act among the three American team sports: baseball, football, basketball. The batter's only recourse is to charge the mound, for which the batter will be suspended. Or the batter's pitcher teammate retaliates: an eye for an eye. Maybe literally.

Geez, come on.

Bring back the pitcher's box. And get rid of the stupid mound. Thursday, March 20, 2014

Pitching distance and height addressed in posts a year ago. Saturday, April 16, 2022

Brian Cashman quarter of a century as Yankee general manager: one championship in last 22 years.

1/22=.045 batting average

This is the 25th anniversary of Brian Cashman being promoted to  general manager of the New York Yankees: February 3, 1998.

Brian Cashman
press conference on October 19, 2021
YES Network, CC BY 3.0,
via Wikimedia Commons

The Yankees had won the World Series in 1996, their first since back to back in 1977 and 1978; previous to those: 1961 and 1962. The Yankees then won again in 1998, 1999 and 2000. People who want to give Cashman credit for those, must consider Roy Hamey the greatest general manager in Yankee history. Hamey succeeded George Weiss after both Weiss and Yankee manager Casey Stengel were let go following the Yankees losing the 1960 World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hamey was general manager 1961, 1962 and 1963. The Yankees won the pennant all three years and the World Series in the first two. Hamey had a pennant in every year he was general manager.

The Yankees won pennants in 2001 and 2003 but lost the World Series in both. So, in the last 22 years that Cashman has been general manager, the Yankees have won the World Series only once, in 2009. That means two dry spells of:

8 years: 2001-2008

13 years: 2010-2022 ... and counting

In what Yankee universe would that be considered successful?

The counter argument is that the Yankees have been over .500 every year. Over .500? That's a measure of success? Haven't the Yankees spent more money on team payroll almost every year in the American League during the quarter of a century that Cashman has been general manager? In 2022 the Yankees payroll was $240 million and they lost in the tournament to eventual World Series winner Houston Astros whose payroll was 5th at $165 million.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2022-misc.shtml

In 2009 the Yankees won their only World Series since 2000 and had the highest payroll:

1. Yankees: $210 million

2. Red Sox: $125 million.

And the 2009 Yankees still had the core four: Derek Jeter, Jose Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera.

Brian Cashman, fire yourself! Kenneth Matinale Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The Yankees lost to the Houston Astros in the semi final round ...

Initially Yankee general manager Brian Cashman blamed the hitters and absolved the pitchers. Cashman, of course, selected both the hitters and the pitchers. Then yesterday instead of firing the hitting coach Marcus Thames, Cashman fired the pitching coach, Larry Rothschild ...

If Hal Steinbrenner had any brains, he'd notice the inconsistencies. He'd also notice that Cashman is a giant weasel.

Steinbrenner Kids, sell the Yankees. Kenneth Matinale 10/23/19

Aroldis Chapman, please opt out so Yankees can sign Gerrit Cole. Kenneth Matinale 10/22/19

Yankee relief pitcher Zack Britton: "starting pitching gets you a World Series championship”. Kenneth Matinale 10/22/19

Brian Cashman needs a performance review. Kenneth Matinale 10/21/19

Brian Cashman and his bullpen strategy exposed. At best: win battle, lose war. Kenneth Matinale 10/20/19

Bullpen v. Bullpen: no starting pitchers in Houston tonight. J.A. Happ should tell Yankees: "If I ain't starting, I ain't departing." Kenneth Matinale 10/19/19

Brian Cashman called out. Kenneth Matinale August 2, 2019

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Bobby Richardson and Tony Kubek: 87 years old. Second and Shortstop on 1961 Yankees.

Bobby Richardson (1955-1966) and Tony Kubek (1957-1965) anchored the middle of the infield on the 1961 Yankee team that won 109 games and the World Series. Oh, and they also had the only teammates to hit at least 50 home runs in the same season:

Roger Maris 61
Mickey Mantle 54

The 1961 Yankees set a record with 240 home runs. Richardson 3, Kubek 8, the only regulars in single digits.

Bobby Richardson

Position: Second Baseman

Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right

5-9, 170lb (175cm, 77kg)

Born: August 19, 1935 (Age: 87-167d) in Sumter, SC

Tony Kubek

Positions: Shortstop, Outfielder and Third Baseman

Bats: Left  •  Throws: Right

6-3, 190lb (190cm, 86kg)

Born: October 12, 1935 (Age: 87-113d) in Milwaukee, WI 

Richardson was the starting second baseman 1959-1966.

Kubek was the starting shortstop 1958-1965. This includes only 45 games in 1962 when he was in the U.S. Army and was replaced by Tom Tresh until Kubek's return in August. Gil McDougald was the starting shortstop in the 1957 Series with Kubek playing left, third and center. Kubek filled in for Mantle in the 1957 World Series in center.

During their years as starters the Yankees won the pennant in 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964. World Series wins in bold. Kubek was injured and did not play in the 1964 World Series.

Kubek was from Milwaukee, WI. The Yankees played the Milwaukee Braves in the 1957 and 1958 World Series. In his third World Series game and first in Milwaukee, Kubek hit two home runs. Game 3:

Saturday, October 5, 1957

Attendance: 45,804

Venue: County Stadium

Game Duration: 3:18

Day Game, on grass

Yankees 12, Braves 3

HR: Tony Kubek 2 (2, 1 off Bob Buhl, 1st inn, 0 on, 1 out to Deep RF, 1 off Bob Trowbridge, 7th inn, 2 on, 2 outs to Deep RF); Mickey Mantle (1, off Gene Conley, 4th inn, 1 on, 1 out to Deep CF-RF).

Richardson was the starting second baseman on five consecutive pennant winners: 1960-1964. Bobby set World Series hitting records in 1960 and 1964:

1960 against Pittsburgh: most RBI (12) and most RBI in a game (6); game 3:

Saturday, October 8, 1960

Attendance: 70,001

Venue: Yankee Stadium I

Game Duration: 2:41

Day Game, on grass

Yankees 10, Pirates 0

HR: Bobby Richardson (1, off Clem Labine, 1st inn, 3 on, 1 out to Deep LF Line); Mickey Mantle (3, off Fred Green, 4th inn, 1 on, 2 outs to Deep LF).

1964 against St. Louis: most hits (13); at least one in all 7 games.

1962 MVP voting:

		Voti	Voti	Voti		Batt	Batt	Batt	Batt	Batt	Batt	Batt	Batt	Batt	Batt	Batt	Batt
Rank	Name	Tm	Vote Pts	1st Place	Share	WAR	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	BB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
1	Mickey Mantle	NYY	234.0	13.0	84%	6.0	123	377	96	121	30	89	9	122	.321	.486	.605	1.091
2	Bobby Richardson	NYY	152.0	5.0	54%	3.2	161	692	99	209	8	59	11	37	.302	.337	.406	.743
3	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	99.0	1.0	35%	2.8	155	552	85	134	48	126	1	106	.243	.366	.545	.912
4	Leon Wagner	LAA	85.0	0.0	30%	2.0	160	612	96	164	37	107	7	50	.268	.326	.500	.826

Last games:

Richardson: Last Game: October 2, 1966 (Age 31-044d) vs. CHW 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB

Kubek: Last Game: October 3, 1965 (Age 29-356d) vs. BOS 4 AB, 3 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB

Let's celebrate Bobby Richardson and Tony Kubek being 87 years old.

Bigger bases means more than stolen bases.

One of three rule changes for the 2023 season:

Base Sizes (2023 rule change) MLB.com

Definition

One of the rule changes covers the size of the bases, which traditionally have been 15 inches square, but will now be 18 inches square. Home plate remains unchanged.

Though the base-size change may have a modest impact on stolen-base success rate, the modification’s primary goal is to give players more room to operate and to avoid collisions. This is especially key at first base, where fielders will have an extra 3-inch advantage to stay out of harm’s way from the baserunner while receiving throws.

The change will create a 4 1/2-inch reduction in the distance between first and second base and between second base and third, which will likely encourage more stolen-base attempts. The bigger bases could also have the effect of reducing over-sliding, whereby a player loses contact with the bag after sliding through it.

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Some baseball distances can be different from those of normal human beings. If you are sitting across the table from someone, you would judge the distance between you as the distance between your faces. But using baseball logic, it would be the distance between your face and the back of the other person's head. The two baseball examples:

1. 60 feet, 6 inches from the pitcher's rubber to home plate. It's actually that minus the 17 inches from the front of home plate to the back.

2. 90 feet from home plate to first base. That's to the outfield side of the base. Through 2022 we should subtract the 15 inch size of the base. Starting in 2023, we should subtract the 18 inches.

Using simple geometry, the increase across the middle of a base from the points, such as that between first and third is about 4.25 inches.

A squared + B squared = C squared. Then take the square root of C.

			A	B	C
old	15	15	225	225	450	21.21
new	18	18	324	324	648	25.46
					dif	4.24

But the larger bases impact more than stolen bases. The batter will reach first base sooner, forcing the infielders to play a little closer to the plate and to hurry a bit more. The first baseman will be a little closer to infielders throwing to first.

Another rule change in 2023 is to limit the shift. But the larger bases will cause that somewhat anyway as a second baseman must play closer to throw out a lefty batter at first.

There may be more sacrifice flies because the runner tagging at third base will be three inches closer to home plate.

There should be more doubles and triples.

More runners going from first to third.

More runners getting thrown out attempting all of the above.

More speed overall, for base runners and infielders.

https://content.mlb.com/documents/2/2/4/305750224/2019_Official_Baseball_Rules_FINAL_.pdf

Rule 2.01
2.00 –THE PLAYING FIELD
2.01 Layout of the Field

The infield shall be a 90-foot square...

When location of home base is determined, with a steel tape measure 127 feet, 33
⁄8 inches in desired direction to establish second
base...

The distance between first base and third base is 127 feet, 33
⁄8 inches...

2.02 Home Base
Home base shall be marked by a five-sided slab of whitened rubber.
It shall be a 17-inch square with two of the corners removed so that
one edge is 17 inches long, two adjacent sides are 8½ inches and
the remaining two sides are 12 inches and set at an angle to make a
point

2.04 The Pitcher’s Plate

... the distance between the pitcher’s plate
and home base (the rear point of home plate) shall be 60 feet, 6 inches

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Click link for MLB diagram 2.

90 feet to the back of first and third bases is not explicitly shown but is implied. Only 25% of second base is within the 90-foot square. Hey, baseball is ancient. We're lucky we have anything.

Why is the baseball field square? Eliminate the outfield corners. Monday, November 7, 2022