The Revised Lineup Rule

[LouGehrig]

Closers don't always face the opposition's best hitters. The Revised Lineup Rule would change that.

http://major-league-baseball.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_revised_lineup_rule

[SamtheBravesFan]

That's a little absurd. It's almost like a playground rule.

[Mariano_Rivera]

It sounds stupid at first but really their isn't any reason not to do it

[Williamsburg2599]

It sounds stupid at first but really their isn't any reason not to do it

How about keeping the rules intact? Is it fair if the 1-2-3 guys come up in the 8th and the set-up man shuts them down, should the closer have to face them again? I guess any bad teams should be able to call up David Ortiz in the middle of the game and let him bat, to avoid "cheap wins." And who cares if more people stay in the park? they already bought seats. And I highly doubt it would keep people buying food as the article states, simply because if they stay to watch the 9th they're going to be watching the game, not walking around. So basically:

a)It's a cheap money making scheme

b)It's a cheap way to keep fair weather fans in the ballpark

c)It throws out a rule thats been around for a 162 years (every one bats in order)

Casey at the bat would be a pretty bad poem if this crazy and gimmicky rule was ever around. It will simply never happen.

[LouGehrig]

Then I guess you don't agree with the position that a strength of the DH rule is it gets rid of pitcher hitting, which many in the media feel is a waste of time.

Would fans rather see David Ortiz or Josh Beckett hit?

In the ninth inning, fans could see Ortiz hit again,even if he made the last out of the eighth inning. It also means that bad teams with one or two good hitters get the advantage of using them in the ninth inning.

[plask_stirlac]

I can't support this huge rule change. The closer isn't even a rule and there's now a counter-rule?

Can the pitcher face three hitters of his choice to start the game? How about repeat battles with a hitter to make up for the ninth. Santana versus Peralta or Pierzynski 5 times... people like strikeouts.

If you want to make a stat for "quality saves" then do so.

[Brian McKenna]

Silly topic - sounds like something for the frivolous between innings forum.

[rdonahue]

This is a terrible idea.

[LouGehrig]

Why is is crazy and bad? How is it different from the DH? Why not force the pitcher to face the opponents best hitters in order to close out the game? Support your opposition. Don't just knock it.

[rdonahue]

This isn't just like the DH (which is a terrible rule to begin with). Why not just not have a lineup all together. Bat whoever you want whenever? The whole point of having a team is everyone has to contribute. You manage a game keeping the rest of the game in mind. You'll see teams walk the #4 hitter to get to the 5 hitter and get him out so that in the 9th it'll be 6-7-8.

[ipitch]

"since closers pitch so few innings and make so much money, they should be forced to earn their money."


So, you want to make a major change to the rules just because some closers make more money than you think they should? :noidea :noidea :noidea I think you must be running low on things to write in your blog. :twocents:

What about a rookie who is hitting .350 and making the minimum salary? Should he be allowed to hit the ball off of a tee since he was so underpaid?

[Williamsburg2599]

Then I guess you don't agree with the position that a strength of the DH rule is it gets rid of pitcher hitting, which many in the media feel is a waste of time.

Would fans rather see David Ortiz or Josh Beckett hit?

In the ninth inning, fans could see Ortiz hit again,even if he made the last out of the eighth inning. It also means that bad teams with one or two good hitters get the advantage of using them in the ninth inning.

Bad teams should make their teams better, not rely on silly rule changes. And this is nothing like the DH (which I don't love anyways). And what if a closer comes in during the 8th, or with 1 out in the ninth? Then when do you make the switch? And what if the game is tied? Saves are a pretty bad stat, but like your blowing up your car and getting a new one because you have a flat tire with this one. Change the stat, don't entirely change the way the game is played.

[EdTarbusz]

a)It's a cheap money making scheme

b)It's a cheap way to keep fair weather fans in the ballpark

c)It throws a rule thats been around for a 162 years .

You've just described the Wild Card.

[Williamsburg2599]

You've just described the Wild Card.

What does the wild card have to do with anything we're talking about? Not to mention I don't see how the Wild Card "keeps fair weather fans in the ballpark" at all. Not to mention the AL-NL style playoffs have only been around for 103 years and has constantly been changed around.

[EdTarbusz]

What does the wild card have to do with anything we're talking about? Not to mention I don't see how the Wild Card "keeps fair weather fans in the ballpark" at all. Not to mention the AL-NL style playoffs have only been around for 103 years and has constantly been changed around.

The Wild Card is a cheap money-making ploy. It keeps fair-weather fans coming out, and I don't believe that second place teams made the baseball post-season until 1995.

[RuthMayBond]

Closers don't always face the opposition's best hitters. The Revised Lineup Rule would change that.

http://major-league-baseball.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_revised_lineup_ruleWhat's next, Calvinball?

http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=68125&highlight=calvinball

Scroll down a little

[Brian McKenna]

What's next, Calvinball?

No - next the opposing team gets to decide who they want to pitch against in the 9th - only thing is you can't use your closer.

[Williamsburg2599]

The Wild Card is a cheap money-making ploy. It keeps fair-weather fans coming out, and I don't believe that second place teams made the baseball post-season until 1995.

HOW exactly does it keep the fair weather fans coming out? And the playoff rules have constantly changed, from 9 to 7 world series games, adding the ALCS, adding the ALDS, and then the wild card, giving the winning team of the ASG home field advantage in the WS. They haven't been the same since the AL-NL playoffs started.

[Brian McKenna]

It keeps fair-weather fans coming out.

Yeah, but they're the ones helping to drive this revenue explosion.

[uberpsycho]

I've got to admit, it doesn't sound like a half bad idea...

But I do agree that it is a tad cheap and ridiculous. Besides, it's novelty would likely wear off, once we realize that even the best hitters are going to fail more often than not.

[philkid3]

Why is is crazy and bad? How is it different from the DH? Why not force the pitcher to face the opponents best hitters in order to close out the game? Support your opposition. Don't just knock it.

Because the DH is set firmly in the lineup. You know exactly who is going to be where and it won't change for the game. That's the way baseball works.

And it shouldn't change. That's just silly. If your 3-5 hitters can't get it done in the 8th, you are out of luck. Sorry.

[philkid3]

"since closers pitch so few innings and make so much money, they should be forced to earn their money."


So, you want to make a major change to the rules just because some closers make more money than you think they should? :noidea :noidea :noidea I think you must be running low on things to write in your blog. :twocents:

What about a rookie who is hitting .350 and making the minimum salary? Should he be allowed to hit the ball off of a tee since he was so underpaid?

Good point. Also, if closing becomes even harder, than closers will become even more overpaid.

Shouldn't change the rules of the game because teams overpay a position and insanely reserve their best pitchers for the 9th inning only.

[EdTarbusz]

Yeah, but they're the ones helping to drive this revenue explosion.


They are the fans that the game is most heavily marketed to.

[EdTarbusz]

HOW exactly does it keep the fair weather fans coming out? And the playoff rules have constantly changed, from 9 to 7 world series games, adding the ALCS, adding the ALDS, and then the wild card, giving the winning team of the ASG home field advantage in the WS. They haven't been the same since the AL-NL playoffs started.

Hoe many fair-weather fans do you think these faux races bring out? And I'll repeat: Before the Wild Card, you had to actually finish in first to make the post-season.

[Erik Bedard]

This just doesn't make any sense to me. The game and the money behind it are two separate things, and rules that influence the game should not have anything to do with the money.

[Urbanshocker13]

This rule is very silly, I totally removes one of the things that makes baseball a great game. The fact that any player can effect the out come of the game. The least likely hitter can come up and hit one out. (think Boone or Dent, not best examples but you get the idea) or the scrappy hitter with speed at the bottom of the lineup bunts to get on or gets on by an infield hit setting up the top of the lineup, making more drama and a better game. It's also not always automatic that a good hitter is going to hit any better than a lesser hitter.

The other rule changes don't bug me that much, watching some pitchers is just painfull so the DH isn't that bad. The playoffs have made baseball more exciteing and given fans in more cities hope that their teams can make it all the way, just look at the Rockies! I wasn't big on the WildCard at first but it has made the season and playoffs more interesting.

[RuthMayBond]

Hoe many fair-weather fans do you think these faux races bring out? And I'll repeat: Before the Wild Card, you had to actually finish in first to make the post-season.Before divisions, you had to actually finish in first in the LEAGUE to make the post-season

[NightHawks2007]

Like Williamsburg said, it would eliminate a rule that has been around for 167 years. The batting order is one of the principles of baseball, if you change the way it works it would no longer be baseball anymore. Sounds like something the NFL would do to make the game more exciting, when in reality it makes the game more aggravating. That has to be the dumbest thing I have ever read.

[Erik Bedard]

Not something the NFL would do, something the XFL would do.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Not something the NFL would do, something the XFL would do.

What this proposed rule is is the equivalent to a race for the football instead of a kickoff. ;)

[DodgerBlue8188]

This is horrible. If they implemented this just think of what would be changed next. They'd probably make it since starting pitchers make so much money. They are allowed to come back into the game if they have a great match up against a particular batter.

[-Kyle-]

This is horrible. If they implemented this just think of what would be changed next. They'd probably make it since starting pitchers make so much money. They are allowed to come back into the game if they have a great match up against a particular batter.

If anything, to limit the money they get, the SP can only pitch 5 innings or less...so bullpen guys can earn their paycheck. :laugh

[SHOELESSJOE3]

I'm surprised this asinine idea is still a topic of discussion. The only salvation is that no one in the game would be dumb enough to ever put it in place.

[placount]

this is retarded. i wonder if the guy who wrote this has ever played a game by any rules. i imagine hes a huge fan of mma.

[philkid3]

this is retarded. i wonder if the guy who wrote this has ever played a game by any rules. i imagine hes a huge fan of mma.

Even if you don't like the idea, I see very little reason to be so abusive towards other members.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I'm surprised this asinine idea is still a topic of discussion. The only salvation is that no one in the game would be dumb enough to ever put it in place.

It's still a topic of discussion because it's so fun to ridicule it. ;)

[SHOELESSJOE3]

It's still a topic of discussion because it's so fun to ridicule it. ;)

That I will buy SAM.

[SamtheBravesFan]

That I will buy SAM.

Thank you, that'll be $50, please. :D