May 20, 2016

Smaller Zone

Major League Baseball is moving toward two rule changes, one to increase action (and offense) and one to speed the game along.

Both changes are designed to address concerns by commissioner Rob Manfred and others about pace of play and one of the commissioner’s favorite terms, “pace of action.” The end of the traditional intentional walk would eliminate dead time. However, the adjustment in the strike zone is designed to produce more balls in play, more baserunners and more action at a time when nearly 30 percent of hitters in the average game either walk or strike out, the highest rate of “non-action” in history.

The batter and pitcher working against each other is a kind of action. I for one, enjoy the the two battling, even if it ends in a walk or a strike out. I do understand that most fans want to see balls in play, hitters running, and fielders throwing.

The strike zone change will temporarily create offense. Throwing harder is good for pitchers, and swinging harder is good for hitters. As long as that is true, strikeouts will continue to climb. I will miss the occasional wild pitch on an intentional ball, or one that finds the plate and gets knocked out of the park. Those events are rare enough, however, that just giving the batter the base is fine.

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