Get a load of this upcoming experiment in rule changing.

[batmagadanleadoff]

This Summer, the independent Atlantic League, in conjunction with MLB, will experiment with a pitcher's mound that's a foot farther back -- 61'6". The mound change is expected to reduce strikeouts and this anticipated effect in particular, will be studied closely.



https://theathletic.com/2518208/2021/04/14/moving-the-mound-the-double-hook-what-mlb-and-the-atlantic-league-are-trying-out-next/https://theathletic.com/2518208/2021/04/14/moving-the-mound-the-double-hook-what-mlb-and-the-atlantic-league-are-trying-out-next/

[Benjamin Grimm]

I wish they had saved all of these stupid rule changes for after I was dead.

[Edgy MD]

I wish they realized they are operating ass-backwards.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Many of the effects should be able to he calculated precisely with math before a single 61'6" pitch is ever thrown. But what about pitchers who've been throwing off a regulation mound all their lives? How are they supposed to adjust?



I remember playing for a few days as a teen-ager on nine and a half foot basketball rims and how that screwed everything up for a while when I got back to regulation size rims.

Edited April 14, 2021 by Guest

[kcmets]

The dimensions of the diamond and location of the rubber are genius. It may have been lucky

genius, but it's wonderful how it is. Stop all experiments and go fix soccer or something.

[batmagadanleadoff]

The dimensions of the diamond and location of the rubber are genius. It may have been lucky genius, but it's wonderful how it is. Stop all experiments and go fix soccer or something.

It's not genius. It's the way it is and what everyone's used to. If the mound was originally 61.5" away from home and MLB proposed to bring the mound in by a foot today, you'd be complaining about the proposed change and claiming that a 61.5" mound distance is genius. You'd be used to a 61.5" mound distance and all the stats and style of game a 61.5" mound distance delivers.

[Edgy MD]

Well, 60'6" was arrived at after a lot of experimentation.

[Frayed Knot]

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=60872 time=1618431148 user_id=68]
... But what about pitchers who've been throwing off a regulation mound all their lives? How are they supposed to adjust?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: Well, 60'6" was arrived at after a lot of experimentation.

To reach a desired effect. If the "founders" were after something different, more offense, less base stealing, more groundouts, etc., whatever, they would've settled on different dimensions and rules. And everybody today would be saying how sacred those dimensions and rules are.



If they're going to experiment with a 61.5" mound, then the game isn't right, as far as the powers that be are concerned.

[seawolf17]

This is a rule change I can actually get behind. It's going to be barely noticeable for literally everyone, but it's going to tilt the balance juuuuuust a little bit back towards the hitters away from these roidheads who throw 104 mph. It doesn't fundamentally change the game at all.

[kcmets]

I did back off genius a bit and slipped in a wonderful.

[Edgy MD]

Inspired and enchanting, all at once.

[kcmets]

=seawolf17 post_id=60881 time=1618433355 user_id=91]This is a rule change I can actually get behind. It's going to be barely noticeable for literally everyone

[batmagadanleadoff]

In his rookie season, Dwight Gooden set the all-time single season MLB record for K's/9 innings with 11.3945.



Today, Gooden's rookie season ranks 39th on the all-time list of K's/9 innings in a single season.



https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/strikeouts_per_nine_season.shtmlhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/strikeouts_per_nine_season.shtml

[Frayed Knot]

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=60880 time=1618433147 user_id=68]
If they're going to experiment with a 61.5" mound, then the game isn't right, as far as the powers that be are concerned.

[batmagadanleadoff]

In his rookie season, Dwight Gooden set the all-time single season MLB record for K's/9 innings with 11.3945. Today, Gooden's rookie season ranks 39th on the all-time list of K's/9 innings in a single season. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/strikeouts_per_nine_season.shtmlhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/strikeouts_per_nine_season.shtml

In 1984, Gooden broke Sam McDowell's 1965 record of 10.7143 K's/9 innings.



Today, McDowell ranks 72nd on that list.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Frayed Knot wrote: =batmagadanleadoff post_id=60880 time=1618433147 user_id=68] If they're going to experiment with a 61.5" mound, then the game isn't right, as far as the powers that be are concerned.

And with contact rates as low as they are, maybe things aren't all right.

[Edgy MD]

I would suggest that they're confusing the outcome with the problem.

[Lefty Specialist]

This will screw up every hitter and pitcher in the Atlantic League. It'll throw their timing off just a bit, but it'll be enough. Amazing how many dumb ideas they come up with these days.

[MFS62]

Probably won't hurt the fastball pitchers too much. But I think it will drive breaking ball pitchers who "live on the black" nutz, because their pitches will now be outside the strike zone instead of on the corner. It may necessitate changes in delivery/ release point and will also give hitters an extra split second to pick up the spin on the ball to follow it better.

Later

[Edgy MD]

I also object to what was meant to be "unaffiliated baseball" going into partnership with MLB and essentially becoming their laboratory.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I'm not against experimenting, and if you do it may as well be in the minors. I think we all would have preferred that extra inning rules and 3-batter minimums and the like we're confined before shoved at us.



I'll also go as far to say that games are too long now and I might prefer adjustments to the pitching lane to say, reducing the number of foul balls or balls per walk or whatever

[bmfc1]

Edgy MD wrote: I also object to what was meant to be "unaffiliated baseball" going into partnership with MLB and essentially becoming their laboratory.

Especially for players who desperately want to show that they are good enough for a MLB minor league system and won't be playing on the same playing field--literally!

[Centerfield]

Lefty Specialist wrote: This will screw up every hitter and pitcher in the Atlantic League. It'll throw their timing off just a bit, but it'll be enough. Amazing how many dumb ideas they come up with these days.

Yup.

[Ceetar]

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: I'm not against experimenting, and if you do it may as well be in the minors. I think we all would have preferred that extra inning rules and 3-batter minimums and the like we're confined before shoved at us. I'll also go as far to say that games are too long now and I might prefer adjustments to the pitching lane to say, reducing the number of foul balls or balls per walk or whatever

yeah but it's not the _Baseball_ that's too long, it's the other stuff.



If MLB wasn't completely inept and able to reliably manufacture a baseball, they could do all these tweaks that way. They tried to deaden it a little this year, and I think i saw that maybe it kinda works the way they wanted, but the indication is the last few years have mostly been due to random manufacturing outside of their control. Make the ball spin less, or more, or fly father, or not.



I'm generally okay with moving the mound back, maybe even the bases to 91", that sorta stuff just factors in bigger strong players. Stupid rules about runners on second or removing the DH halfway so we can do weird things like play Villar at first for 5 innings are dumb. (more on that on Mets On Tap Episode 4!)

[Fman99]

I play in a weekly darts league. The stripe is always a certain distance away from the front of the board.



We started up again about five weeks ago, after a multi month layoff. They moved all the boards around. We took some practice throws at one board and immediately noticed it was off. Everything we threw was hitting the bottom of the board. Turns out the difference was about 3" off the usual.

[Benjamin Grimm]

In 2021, the Pioneer League will use a Home Run Derby as a tie-breaker instead of having extra innings.



What an absolutely terrible idea. I hope this one never makes it to the big leagues, but every other stupid rule so far has, so this one might too.



https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/pioneer-league-will-decide-games-with-home-run-derby-instead-of-extra-innings-in-2021/Pioneer League will decide games with home run derby instead of extra innings in 2021

[Fman99]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: In 2021, the Pioneer League will use a Home Run Derby as a tie-breaker instead of having extra innings. What an absolutely terrible idea. I hope this one never makes it to the big leagues, but every other stupid rule so far has, so this one might too. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/pioneer-league-will-decide-games-with-home-run-derby-instead-of-extra-innings-in-2021/Pioneer League will decide games with home run derby instead of extra innings in 2021

Yeah that's hella r-word stuff there. Ugh.

[Edgy MD]

https://www.milb.com/pioneer/news/pioneer-league-installs-new-rules-for-2021Pioneer League installs new rules for 2021

Designated pinch-hitter and pinch-runner; Extra innings “Knock Out” added



https://i.pinimg.com/originals/91/b2/6a/91b26a59eb3b043f0bb78cd91fbe6017.gif>

[Frayed Knot]

[espn]But Home Run Derby is the highlight of the entire baseball season!![/espn]