As humans, a lot of us hate change. As baseball fans, well -- some want to embrace change and others (like me) feel like you shouldn't mess with the game of baseball ... much.
And with all of the possible changes being brought to Major League Baseball, I put my two cents in for rules that should be implemented:
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Yes, I was a bit facetious with my suggestions, but it did spark up a conversation among my followers. And the universal designated hitter scenario isn't something I just dreamt about one day. It's actually something being discussed by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
With that said, my tweet brought out a wide variety of responses -- and that’s fine, but I always love hearing how baseball-obsessed nerds like me feel about the game. A lot of fans of National League teams hate the DH rule -- I completely understand that.
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But some of the suggestions for "changes" to MLB, well ...
"Ban Sweet Caroline." -- @danscan13
Dan, I have Red Sox fans that follow me on social media that would disagree with you -- they will die on that hill. Although, recently a former Yankees pitcher told me he hated hearing that song when he was playing at Fenway Park Pahk. So, you at least have some support in this.
"Ban getting up during the inning." -- @CoxRyan89
I mentioned on the Twitter dot com that I am not God and I cannot control when fans sit or stand up -- which is upsetting because no matter how much I hate the wave, fans are allowed to do it.
"But the DH isn't baseball." -- @NorCalStoolie
It's literally a thing that happens in baseball, so it's baseball.
"Agree with these. Would also add you need to know the fair/foul rule if you're sitting near the baselines. Don't need dumb fans interfering with the ball in play." -- @BlueJays_Giants
First of all, a Blue Jays slash Giants fan? Super cool. Secondly, yes fam -- I see you.
You know when you get on a plane and the flight attendant is telling you how to put your seatbelt on and you're ignoring him/her, but still paying attention? There should be a quick demonstration on how to be a fan and how not to reach over the concrete, trying to do your best impression of a web-gem play. Don't try to live out your junior varsity playing days, Jim.
"And outlaw talking into your mitt. It becomes a balk. It's as if every conversation is filmed and immediately translated by lip readers." -- @kemoslobe
Have you seen those bad lip reading videos? They are legendary.
And I find it hard to believe you would be able to tell a pitcher he or she was not allowed to speak into their mitt. That's part of the communication process. If Noah Syndergaard can't read what his catcher's beautifully painted yellow fingernails are trying to say, he should be able to have a quick meeting. And maybe the pitcher is just being polite because there wasn't enough time for the teeth brushing that morning.
This just opened the can of worms known as pitcher/catcher mound-meetings which is a completely different issue.
"Reduce beer prices." -- @fvignuli
I have your back on this one.
"I'm all for salary floor, banning shift, pitch clock and punishing franchises who tank." -- @chappy23us
There's a lot to unpack here ...
I don't think MLB ever has to worry about the salary floor.
Banning the shift is silly -- let the players adjust to wherever they need to go. That's part of the strategy. Imagine having a lefty walk up to the plate and not being able to move. That's a habit that would be almost impossible to break. Plus, how would you measure what is considered moving on the shift? Too much drama, no thank you.
Pitch clock. Meh, I'm impartial, but I get why you would want to execute it. I would have to talk to more pitchers and see how they felt about it -- I worry rushing through a delivery could lead to more injuries.
Punishing franchises who tank. I mean, everyone wants to hate another team, so have at it.
"Can we also ban 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' during the seventh-inning stretch?" -- @MKania04
Yeah, let's go around telling kids Santa Clause isn't real, too.
***
Some of you brought up something that I can get behind. And that's the fact that if the National League adopts the DH, we have a less-likely chance of seeing Bartolo Colon do this:
And you know what, that's something I will have to live with.
Well, I feel better now -- how about you?