I’ve been lax in my role as MLB Unofficial Commissioner so far in the 2018 season. My Royals are a dumpster fire so I’ve spent too much brain power figuring out their problems. Royals 2018 = Historically bad. The Royals and the Baltimore Orioles did something that’s never been done in the entire history of Major League Baseball. It’s the first time two teams have been below .300 at the Fourth of July point of the season.
But I still listen to almost every game. They’re my team…for better or worse.
There are a couple of issues which have been causing a lot of fuss over the past two seasons. The time it takes to play an MLB game and the defensive shift. There’s been so much fuss, I’ve decided it’s time to step into my Unofficial Comish role and suggest a few changes.
First, I have to rant against the anti-shifting crowd. Hitters have to adjust. Pitchers have to adjust. Managers, GMs, owners, scouts, and umpires have to adjust. It’s part of the game. Always has been, always will be. Hitters and coaches quit whining and start adjusting. Common sports sense states if the defense is giving you an open third of the field, take advantage of it. Burn their strategy. Do what it takes to succeed. Be a competitor instead of a whiner.
Okay, I feel better. Now on to my solution to those two current problems.
- Put in a pitch clock similar to the shot clock in basketball. 30 seconds might be a good place to start and adjustments made until a comfortable length of time is determined.
- Each defender must start with both feet in their traditional defensive zone. The defenders can then shift when the windup starts.
There you go. Simple solutions to complex problems.
On a side note, with the limits on mound visits this year, why do managers still burn a mound visit to make run-of-the-mill pitching changes? Just stand up at the top of the dugout steps, call time, and point to the bullpen. Save the mound visits for strategy and technical visits.
Enjoy the rest of the 2018 season! It’s shaping up to be a wild run to a World Series title.
Feel free to discuss or propose your own solution(s). My unofficial office door is always open to ideas.
Take care and “PLAY BALL!”
Unofficial MLB Commissioner is signing off.
THE COACH HAYS 