If you were the Commissioner of MLB

[Richard]

What would some of your initiatives be or changes to the game?

[Bazookadale]

I'd make the Yankees lower their ticket prices, order the Dodgers back to Brooklyn and insist that the Chicago White Sox actually wear white socks:twocents:

[Seattle1]

No artificial turf or fixed domed stadiums. A city without a team will be ineligible for an MLB franchise should you build such a stadium. A city with a team will forfeit their team should they build such a stadium. A city with an open-air natural-turf stadium will be found to move your franchise to.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I would:

-Ban any salary cap, maple bats, the DH
-Make the Yankees share all that TV revenue more evenly with the other teams
-Move a few World Series games to day games
-Force Joe Morgan to read Moneyball
-Reopen the Black Sox players' case
-Allow fans to bring their own food to games

[redban]

- I would move the Pirates to the NL East (Philles-Pirates rivalry), and move the Braves or Nats to the NL Central.

- Move a NL team to Canada . There should be two teams in Canada - one in the NL and one in the AL. My first pick would the Florida Marlins, since their attendance is so horrid. They could put them in Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal again or maybe another team in Toronto.

[sturg1dj]

I would be so hated (and the owners would fire me right away).


1. I would remove divisions (but keep the leagues)

2. top 4 teams in each league make playoffs.


3. make it a rule that if you buy a team you must show you can build a stadium on your own without public funds.

4. remove the loophole that allows players from certain countries to be considered free agents and exempt from the draft.

[Tampa Bay Giants]

I wouldn't last long either.


Ban maple bats.
Remove the winner of the ASG gets World Series home field advantage.
Have at least two day World Series games. One in the NL and one in the AL.
Shorten the season to 154 games so that the World Series ends in October.
No more "Opening Night" baseball.
Have the traditional NL opener in Cincinnati.
Make players wear their pants no longer than 4 inches above their shoes.
Either ban any player permanently that is found to be using PEDs and have all of their records struck from the record books or reinstate Shoeless Joe Jackson, Buck Weaver and Pete Rose.
Ban "walk-up/in" music.
Make all teams share in TV revenue.
Put a limit on the number of times that ESPN/TBS/MLBTV can show the Red Sox and/or Yankees on TV.
I agree with the Braves to the NLC and the Pirates to the NLE.
Put expansion teams in Portland, Las Vegas and Montreal so the speculators will stop saying to move the Marlins and/or Rays to one of those cities. :laugh

[metfan13]

Get rid of interleague play
Get rid of DH
Make all players on a team wear their uniform the same way. (It IS a uniform)
Get rid of All-Star winner getting home field for WS
Weekend WS games in afternoon. Weeknight games start at 7:30
Shorten season to 154 OR add several DH to finish season sooner.
Make those DH on the traditional holidays - Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day
Add international players to draft

[Richard]

1. get rid of the DH
2. reduce season to 154 games
3. start playoff and World Series games at 7:30 and 6:30 on the weekends. Once the ratings improve, play a day game.
4. What happened to the initiative to quicken the pace of games?
5. promote star players better. When I was a kid everyone knew Pete Rose and Johnny Bench(including people who did not follow sports closely)

[Ace Venom]

Reinstate the Black Sox under the strict interpretation that lifetime sentence meant during their lives. That's the same for other people banned by Judge Landis. Since they're dead, what's the point?
Reinstate Pete Rose.
Return the All-Star Game to its true exhibition roots, meaning it will no longer determine home field advantage for the World Series. Instead, home field advantage will alternate between the AL and NL.
Ban maple bats.
Promote expansion wherever possible.
End blackout restrictions for MLB.tv as a business practice.
Permit teams to trade draft picks.
Push for steroid clauses in contracts which will permit owners to void contracts of players who are busted for PEDs. If a regular worker can get fired for taking illegal drugs, why should a baseball player be any different? This would send a player directly to free agency.

[mwiggins]

1. Get rid of the DH
2. Scale back interleague play
3. End the unbalanced schedules
4. Move fences back whereever possible
5. Establish salary cap/slotting system for draft picks
6. Allow trading of draft picks
7. Go back to 154 game season
8. Contract two teams, Pittsburgh & San Diego

[wcs71401]

Here are mine not in order of importance.

1. Remove the DH rule
2. Schedule Double-headers like years past
3. No international games to start the season
4. Don't allow players to wear their uniform pants like pajamas (Sabtahia and Manny)
5. Have World Series day games
6. One thing I hate during the playoffs is a fixed schedule when the other series starts. Teams shouldn't have to wait a week to play the next round. The series should start immediately after both teams advance. Other than the All-Star Break teams never get more than one day off anyway.
7. Get rid of fan voting for All-Star team
8. Get rid of having each team have a rep on All-Star Team. Select team using statistics not popularity
9. Of course allow Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame
10. Zero tolerance for PED's. Lifetime ban.
11. Never allow Buck or McCarver to be in broadcast booth for baseball games.
12. Have international players eligible for draft
13. Force FOX to air more than Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets.
14. Somehow have ticket prices the same no matter what stadium you go to. You shouldn't have to take out a loan to bring your family to a game.
15. Change the interleague play so it is a little more even. The Yankees play the Mets 6 times which is obviously for money making than anything else.

I could keep goinig but I won't.

[Tenorman]

A lot of good points have been made, and my list will probably repeat a few of them. Here's my (exhaustive) Commish to-do list:

Scheduling

- Schedule more day games during the World Series.
- Schedule weekend/holiday doubleheaders during the regular season.
- Go back to a 154-game schedule (the World Series does not belong in November... who the hell wants to play outdoor baseball in Detroit or Minnesota in November?)
- Balance the schedule so two teams don't play each other 20 times a year.
- Discontinue interleague play. It was a nice gimmick but it is time to move on.

All-Star Game

- Make the All-Star Weekend just that… a weekend affair. Friday night, Saturday, Sunday.
- Make the All-Star Game an exhibition only. Best W-L record during the regular season (or runs scored if a tie) should determine WS home field advantage.
- Make the All-Star selections for starting lineup and pitching staff dependent on first-half performance, NOT popularity. Appoint an objective committee to make these selections. Allow one player per team (outside this starting lineup) to be voted on by fans. All-Star team manager should NOT be able to stack the team with his own players. Let him pick his coaching staff.
- Ban Chris Berman from announcing at the Home Run Derby.

Rules

- Bring the strike zone back to where it should be... and enforce it.
- Standardize the leagues with respect to the DH rule... either both have it or neither has it.
- “PED Clause” in contracts. First offense: Current contract becomes null and void. Automatic one year suspension, followed by automatic free agency. Second offense: Lifetime ban from baseball.
- Make all players on a team wear the uniform the same way. (Preferably with socks showing). Players have input, but owner decides on his team’s “look” (it is his team, after all).
- Ban maple bats before someone gets seriously injured.

Hall of Fame

- Immediately reinstate eligibility for all Black Sox players banned by Commissioner Landis.
- Immediately reinstate eligibility for Pete Rose based on his performance as a player, not as a manager.
- Any players or former players currently under investigation (or heavy suspicion) for banned substances will have their HoF eligibility placed “on hold” until such time as they are proven to have used or not. If they are proven to have used, institute a lifetime ban.

TV/Revenue

- Share all TV revenue evenly throughout MLB, with the stipulation that owners must spend it to improve their team, or lower ticket prices.
- Make national sports broadcasters not affiliated with a team (ESPN, Fox, CBS, NBC, ABC, etc.) cover all teams as evenly as possible during the season. Let regional broadcasters, or those affiliated with a certain team (YES, NESN, WGN, TBS, etc.) concentrate on their local teams.

[bob]

- Any players or former players currently under investigation (or heavy suspicion) for banned substances will have their HoF eligibility placed “on hold” until such time as they are proven to have used or not. If they are proven to have used, institute a lifetime ban.
How would you decide who is "under heavy suspicion", and how does one prove they did not take anything other than passing drug tests (which nearly all current "suspects" do pass)?


Anyway, here is what i would do:
- Take the leagues back to 2 divisions each. First place teams enter postseason, 2nd and 3rd place teams in each division play a 1 game playoff. This would reduce the length of the postseason which really needs to happen.
- The all star game goes back to the old exhibition format.
- Salary caps at max and min spending, reviewed every 2 years.
- Ticket price cap (max only), stop milking fans for every penny. This will encourage more families and low income fans to attend more than 1-2 games a season and result in a better atmosphere.
- Interleague play gone.
- Move 1 NL team to the AL to make both leagues 15 on each side.
- Weekly drug tests for all active players, with regular testing in offseason as well.
- 2 of the first 4 WS games to be played during the day (1 at each venue).
- For all star voting, 1 person one vote, not 25. Ballot stuffing needs to go. And not have voting open barely a month into the season.

[DodgerBlue8188]

What I find funny is almost eveybody wants a shorter season/playoffs and cheaper food.

If you shorten the season you're losing millions of dollars in revenue so I highly doubt the owners are going to be able to make up for it with cheaper prices.


Here are mine though:

-Keep 162 game schedule (because of records) but play enough double headers so that the season ends a week prior to the usual.

-At least 1 day game during the world series starting about 4 pm eastern. Possibly more in the future if good results.

-Automatic year suspsension for PED's. Second offense is the same, 3rd offense you're gone for good.

-An interleague schedule that mirrors the NFL. I'm tired of seeing the Mets/Yankees and Angels/Dodgers every year. I'd love to see the Dodgers go to NY vice versa once every 3 years.

-Raise the pitchers mound back to old standards.

-All Star game winner is simply exhibition. Home field in WS goes to team with the best record.

-All Star Fan voting will continue, however, the weighted value of the fans choices likely will not carry enough wait to make a difference. This way fans will still be active but it will prevent fan favorites from making it.

-No opening games in other countries.

-Cap a price on concessions at the ball park for basic food/drink necessities. I have no problem with beer being 8 bucks but water/burgers/ etc should be within reason so that a family of 4 can enjoy it without spending 20 bucks. .

-Cap a price on certain seats in stadiums. Certain sections can not exceed a X price based on the cities per family capita income. This way fans who live in areas that represent the team can enjoy a game at a legit price. Although I do think that some stadiums have cheap pricing it's not as cheap as it could be.

-Allow for incentive based contracts on statistics.

-Speed up certain aspects of the game. TV commercials do bring in a lot of revenue so you'll lose money if you make it too short but a target time period should be set for games. The ump has the right to speed up games either by keeping the batter int he batters box or decrease time between pitches. It should be used based on his judgement by aiming to keep the game under a X amount of hours. If the game starts off slow it will be his job to make up time else where.

[NYMets523]

-All Star game winner is simply exhibition. Home field in WS goes to team with the best record.

-All Star Fan voting will continue, however, the weighted value of the fans choices likely will not carry enough wait to make a difference. This way fans will still be active but it will prevent fan favorites from making it.

If you make the ASG simply an exhibition game, then fan voting should count the way it does. The problem with fan voting is that the game matters and the fans don't vote the best players in.

[DodgerBlue8188]

If you make the ASG simply an exhibition game, then fan voting should count the way it does. The problem with fan voting is that the game matters and the fans don't vote the best players in.

That's a good point but I just think All Star appearances should mean more on an individual basis. I dont' think the ASG should decide home field advantage and I don't think fans should be choosing the players when good players are left out for over the hill players who are still popular.

I remember watching the All Star Game in 99 and they brought out the All Century Team. For a lot of players they mentioned how many all star apperances they had. I remember Willie Mays had like 24? Well I was pretty impressed but what got to me is how somebody like Jeter may also sometime be mentioned as having 20 even though he might not have had 20 seasons worthy of being an all star.

[mwiggins]

That's a good point but I just think All Star appearances should mean more on an individual basis. I dont' think the ASG should decide home field advantage and I don't think fans should be choosing the players when good players are left out for over the hill players who are still popular.

I remember watching the All Star Game in 99 and they brought out the All Century Team. For a lot of players they mentioned how many all star apperances they had. I remember Willie Mays had like 24? Well I was pretty impressed but what got to me is how somebody like Jeter may also sometime be mentioned as having 20 even though he might not have had 20 seasons worthy of being an all star.

I doubt Mays deserved to make that many All-Star games either. Jeter would not be alone in going to more ASG than he technically deserved, depending on how you define who should be an All-Star.

[Seattle1]

Here are mine though:

-Keep 162 game schedule (because of records) but play enough double headers so that the season ends a week prior to the usual.

-At least 1 day game during the world series starting about 4 pm eastern. Possibly more in the future if good results.

-Raise the pitchers mound back to old standards.

-All Star game winner is simply exhibition. Home field in WS goes to team with the best record.

Those are pretty good ones. I'll be sure to incorporate them into my agenda when I become baseball commissioner. ;)

[DodgerBlue8188]

Those are pretty good ones. I'll be sure to incorporate them into my agenda when I become baseball commissioner. ;)

Well thank you :waving

[Rich the Giants fan]

It always confuses me that people want to shorten the season. Why does anyone want LESS baseball?!?

If I were commissioner, I would LENGTHEN the season to at least 180 games.

Increase the double headers to accommodate and decrease off-days. These guys are paid well enough and have several months off in the winter.


Alright, that's not gonna happen but I can dream.

Honestly though, I wouldn't shorten the season, that's for sure.

I would ditch the DH, Interleague Play and the stupid ASG Home Field Advantage rule. I would force the abolition of all artificial turf surfaces as well.

I like the idea of weekend World Series games and raising the mound back up.

Eliminate instant replay.

1-year ban for first offense for any PED (covering all substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency). A three-year ban for a second and lifetime for anyone stupid enough to get caught after that.

[Rich the Giants fan]

- Interleague play gone.
- Move 1 NL team to the AL to make both leagues 15 on each side.


You realize that making both teams equal in number requires one team from each league to sit idle every single day of the year unless you allow Interleague play?

[Rich the Giants fan]

What I would also do, would be to eliminate the Wild Card. Since it has tremendous popularity, due largely to the fact that it keeps teams in the race deeper into the year, I would compensate for this by pulling an old Pud Selig trick out of my hat. Radical realignment.

Yup, I would add two expansion teams to get to 32 teams and then split Major League Baseball up into eight, radically alligned, 4-team divisions. Then you would have all division winners in the playoffs and all the excitement that the Wild Card brings.

[CandlestickBum]

What I would also do, would be to eliminate the Wild Card. Since it has tremendous popularity, due largely to the fact that it keeps teams in the race deeper into the year, I would compensate for this by pulling an old Pud Selig trick out of my hat. Radical realignment.

Yup, I would add two expansion teams to get to 32 teams and then split Major League Baseball up into eight, radically alligned, 4-team divisions. Then you would have all division winners in the playoffs and all the excitement that the Wild Card brings.

Ugh, more expansion? NO THANKS.

Give me quality over quantity.

Raise mound, if unions doesn't allow that, allow spitter :crazy
WS ends before November, period.
Pete Rose re-receives lifetime ban. (nothing until he's buried guys, don't want him to enjoy it )
BlackSox are reviewed.
Retired players in need are looked after better.
Allow midgets to sign 10 day contracts.
Re-allign divisions to favor SF Giant's, shuffling every damn year if necessary to get them a WS ring.
Accept key to the city from SF mayor, and his wife.
:choke:
Expand 1 team in Honolulu, take caretaker job with Kona Gold and retire.

[redban]

I could never reduce the 162 game season because it messes up the single season records and player comparisons to those from the past. Keep it at 162 games.

[Tenorman]

- Take the leagues back to 2 divisions each. First place teams enter postseason, 2nd and 3rd place teams in each division play a 1 game playoff. This would reduce the length of the postseason which really needs to happen.

I don't see how making the 2nd and 3rd place teams play a 1 game playoff for a postseason spot could be fair. What if the 2nd place team ends the season 10 or 12 games ahead of the 3rd place team, and the 3rd place team gets lucky for one game... :crazy

[Bennybosox]

* Allow teams to trade draft picks
* Re-work draft "slotting" system-- and then ENFORCE it
* have Managers wear a team polo shirt or sweater with slacks, rather than a "player uniform"

* Instant replay on plays at the plate, as well as home run calls
*Get rid of "no-trade" clauses so Jake Peavy can actually get traded, rather than "pick' what team he wants to play for

[DodgerBlue8188]

*Get rid of "no-trade" clauses so Jake Peavy can actually get traded, rather than "pick' what team he wants to play for

Teams should not sign a player for a long term contract if they aren't ready to commit.

[BiZmaRK]

1) Consistency in how all-star players are selected. Have the fans select all the players - not just the starters.
2) All-star game no longer dictates who gets the home field advantage in the WS
3) No more domed stadiums.
4) Open the roof at retractable roof stadiums if the rain stops during the game
5) No more Nazi ushers
6) No more wearing uniform numbers that have already been retired
7) Leave religion at home. No gestures such as pointing to the sky
8) All players become employed by MLB and not by the individual teams. MLB dictates what team each player gets assigned to. This will keep things competitive and small market teams like A's, Royals, Marlins and Pirates won't serve as "farm teams" for MLB.
9) NO more artificial turf
10) Players must sign within a reasonable period of time (such as two weeks) after being offered a contract - or they become uneligible to play for that year.

[sturg1dj]

I think its funny how many of us believe that the commissioner is all power...or at least without thinking we automatically give him those powers. I am included since so far all or most of us have said we would do things that the commish has no power over whatsoever. We can dream though.

[NYMets523]

* have Managers wear a team polo shirt or sweater with slacks, rather than a "player uniform"

This is what makes baseball unique among other sports. In fact, other sports should have their managers/coaches wear uniforms like the players.

[RubeBaker]

- The all-star game will kick off the start of spring training, in Florida, every year in March. Keep it in one place, it works well for the Pro Bowl. It's an exhibition, might as well use it to jump start the beginning of exhibition play. Either spread the revenue evenly to all frachises or donate it to charity.

- The team with the best record gets hime field advatage in the playoffs. Simple.

- Owners are elected by the local fans, every 4 years. That way, the idiots who put profit over building a good team will be gone.

- Any team that plans to don uniforms other than the ream colors must have it voted on and approved by the fans.

- Any player who makes $20+ million and who hits less than .250 or has an ERA over 5.00 has their at-bat music picked by the fans (or when they first take the mound). If you don't like Billy Joel's "Big Shot", then earn your paycheck.

[abolishthedh]

Good points, good discussion.

1. Raise the mound, then ignore complaints from the hitters.
2. Ban maple bats, then ignore complaints from the hitters.
3. Ban the DH, then ignore complaints from the hitters.
4. Cap the price to be charged per ticket, then ignore complaints from the Yankees.
5. Review the case of banned Black Sox players.
6. Review the case of Pete Rose...... while considering.....
7. Warning players of the possibility that once aware of family members' online gambling habits, or of extended family members' online gambling habits, that Pete Rose's gambling habits might not be tomorrow's problem.
8. Drop the nonsense over ASG winner having postseason homefield advantage.
9. Promote the game of baseball in America's inner cities, but also throughout America for heaven's sake. Do this by discouraging kids from being on Baseball-Fever or online at all in the summer. Sorry kids, but you need to be outside playing the game!
10. Provide high school draft picks an automatic scholarship to college, should they not be in anyone's minor league system by age 23. (If this is already done, please let me know, because I am unaware of it).

None of this is tongue-in-cheek. In fact, I am more serious about the second half of the list.

[Rich the Giants fan]

You know, when Maple bats are made correctly, they don't shatter. Most makers, however, do not make them correctly.

[DodgerBlue8188]

- The all-star game will kick off the start of spring training, in Florida, every year in March. Keep it in one place, it works well for the Pro Bowl. It's an exhibition, might as well use it to jump start the beginning of exhibition play. Either spread the revenue evenly to all frachises or donate it to charity.

- The team with the best record gets hime field advatage in the playoffs. Simple.

- Owners are elected by the local fans, every 4 years. That way, the idiots who put profit over building a good team will be gone.

- Any team that plans to don uniforms other than the ream colors must have it voted on and approved by the fans.

- Any player who makes $20+ million and who hits less than .250 or has an ERA over 5.00 has their at-bat music picked by the fans (or when they first take the mound). If you don't like Billy Joel's "Big Shot", then earn your paycheck.

How can an owner of a team be selected by fans if it costs money to own a team?

[RubeBaker]

How can an owner of a team be selected by fans if it costs money to own a team?

Details? Sheesh, tough crowd. :crazy

I guess it would be like our presidential elections, only the ones with the money get to run (and win) anyway.

[BiZmaRK]

I would get rid of meaningless stats such as a pitcher's W-L record.

[White Knight]

Abolish the pitch count, and have an automatic 30 game suspention for any player, manager, or coach cought counting.

[White Knight]

1) Consistency in how all-star players are selected. Have the fans select all the players - not just the starters.
2) All-star game no longer dictates who gets the home field advantage in the WS
3) No more domed stadiums.
4) Open the roof at retractable roof stadiums if the rain stops during the game
5) No more Nazi ushers
6) No more wearing uniform numbers that have already been retired
7) Leave religion at home. No gestures such as pointing to the sky
8) All players become employed by MLB and not by the individual teams. MLB dictates what team each player gets assigned to. This will keep things competitive and small market teams like A's, Royals, Marlins and Pirates won't serve as "farm teams" for MLB.
9) NO more artificial turf
10) Players must sign within a reasonable period of time (such as two weeks) after being offered a contract - or they become uneligible to play for that year.

No thanks, I want a commissioner, not a dictator.

[davewashere]

This is what makes baseball unique among other sports. In fact, other sports should have their managers/coaches wear uniforms like the players.

Football head coaches should have to wear a uniform with pads and a helmet. This wouldn't improve the sport at all, but it would amuse me.

[davewashere]

No thanks, I want a commissioner, not a dictator.

Wait a second, I just realized you posted this minutes after saying you'd like to give a 30 game suspension to anyone caught keeping a pitch count.

[White Knight]

Wait a second, I just realized you posted this minutes after saying you'd like to give a 30 game suspension to anyone caught keeping a pitch count.

Yup, the difference is there never was a pitch count, so I'm taking away a very recent thing. His list was far more unreasonable, particually 7 and 10.

[cardsfanatic]

Reading this thread it's now clear to me why fans have never liked a Baseball Commissioner. They think they have "magic beans" or something and can just snap their fingers and fix issues.

99.9% of the suggestions in this thread -- other than being horrible -- aren't realistic at all. You seriously think the Baseball Commissioner can regulate contract clauses and things of that nature? You think he can just unilaterally impose a salary cap and things of that nature?

Sheesh.

[cardsfanatic]

9. Promote the game of baseball in America's inner cities, but also throughout America for heaven's sake. Do this by discouraging kids from being on Baseball-Fever or online at all in the summer. Sorry kids, but you need to be outside playing the game!
10. Provide high school draft picks an automatic scholarship to college, should they not be in anyone's minor league system by age 23. (If this is already done, please let me know, because I am unaware of it).


Well, I skimmed this entire thread to find only two really good -- and realistic -- suggestions. :)

I'd be down for these two.

[Melottfan]

1. Get rid of the DH
2. Get rid of interleague play (mho, records are cheapened).
3. Get rid of the wild card, extra round of playoffs.
4. Go back to two divisions, east and west.
5. Go back to opening day with the Cincinnati Reds.
6. Order the players to wear their pants leg up to mid-calf. The way they wear their uni's today, they look stupid.
7. Retire Babe Ruth's number. Without him where would the sport be?
8. Would have given money to the people who had the intentions to save Tiger Stadium. Major League baseball, I believe would have come up with the money. Hey folks, if they can buy a portion of Barry Halper's collection for the Hall of Fame several years ago. They could have saved Tiger Stadium.
9. Conduct a complete investigation into "Shoeless Joe".
10.Put the World Series and All-Star games on during the day.


So there

[White Knight]

1. Get rid of the DH
2. Get rid of interleague play (mho, records are cheapened).
3. Get rid of the wild card, extra round of playoffs.
4. Go back to two divisions, east and west.
5. Go back to opening day with the Cincinnati Reds.
6. Order the players to wear their pants leg up to mid-calf. The way they wear their uni's today, they look stupid.
7. Retire Babe Ruth's number. Without him where would the sport be?
8. Would have given money to the people who had the intentions to save Tiger Stadium. Major League baseball, I believe would have come up with the money. Hey folks, if they can buy a portion of Barry Halper's collection for the Hall of Fame several years ago. They could have saved Tiger Stadium.
9. Conduct a complete investigation into "Shoeless Joe".
10.Put the World Series and All-Star games on during the day.


So there

It's all about the Benjamins, and #10 would be suicide for money. Millions would not be able to see the game, as they would be at work. I mean, I take off work for every All-Star game, but not everyone is as dedicated. :)

[BiZmaRK]

-Even out the number of teams in each league so that there are 15 in each league. With 14 in the AL and 16 in the NL, the AL teams have a slight advantage when it comes to winning a championship. I wonder if this makes (assuming all other things equal) an AL team more valuable than an NL team.

-Ban the use of pitcher's W-L record. Due to highly varied run support around the leagues, this has created the illusion that some pitchers are better than they actually are, and thus get bigger contracts than their performance justifies (see Storm Davis).

[DaleC76]

Lots of good ideas. Something different I would like to see:

Expand the first round to best of 7, and make the wildcard play the team with the best record in the league in a 2-2-3 format.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

-Even out the number of teams in each league so that there are 15 in each league. With 14 in the AL and 16 in the NL, the AL teams have a slight advantage when it comes to winning a championship. I wonder if this makes (assuming all other things equal) an AL team more valuable than an NL team.

This can't work. With an odd number of teams in each league, then one team in each league would be off for 3-4 days in a row or you 'll have to have an interleague game every day of the season.

[ol' aches and pains]

I know the All-Star Game is for the fans, but having the fans select the starters is not working very well. As the voting stands today, Josh Hamilton is going to be elected as one of the starting outfielders for the AL squad, and Jimmy Rollins, currently batting .221, is leading the field for the starting shortstop slot on the NL team. :shrug:

[BiZmaRK]

This can't work. With an odd number of teams in each league, then one team in each league would be off for 3-4 days in a row or you 'll have to have an interleague game every day of the season.It could work.

One team from each league would play an interleague series. That would be 54 interleague series (162/3 = 54). This would equate to an average of 3.6 interleague series for each team (54/15 = 3.6) Last time I checked, each team plays six interleague series per year.

[BiZmaRK]

I know the All-Star Game is for the fans, but having the fans select the starters is not working very well. As the voting stands today, Josh Hamilton is going to be elected as one of the starting outfielders for the AL squad, and Jimmy Rollins, currently batting .221, is leading the field for the starting shortstop slot on the NL team. :shrug:
Another problem with the All-Star game selection process is that it's weighted toward stats over the first half of the season.

If player A hits .300, but hits .400 in the first half and .200 in the second half, he stands a better chance of being selected to the All-Star game than another .300 hitter who hits .200 in the first half, but .400 in the second half.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

smaller leagues, maximum of two divisions per league, no wildcards

no interleague games

no DH

smaller all star teams, less players, not every franchise has to have a representative (that works with 8 team leagues, not 16 team leagues). no home field world series advantage for winner

do not allow the Cubs to schedule a day home game for teams the first game of a series

no 1:00 PM games on the east coast for west coast teams (that is 10AM on the west coast)

correct the leaning in to get hit antics of players like david eckstein

balance media coverage so the world does not revolve around the yankees mets and red sox

get rid of the overcompensated fields (defense/pitching - seattle, san diego; offense - houston, new yankee stadium?, philadelphia)

no baseball in high elevation places like denver

release past all star world series and other great historical games on dvd (original broadcasts with commercials)

ban former owners from becoming commissioner

get rid of donald fehr

do not compare post season records of today (3 rounds of playoffs) with the past (a single world series)

install a true salary cap like the nfl so teams can't just buy rebuy and rebuy again and again to fix a need

no jack buck, tim mccarver, chris berman or dick stockton on national broadcasts

...just a start for me

[BiZmaRK]

No more of this 16 teams in one league and 14 in the AL.

Either:
Move an NL team to the AL so it's 15 each
Get rid of two NL teams
Expand the AL by two teams

[downstairs]

Work with the owners/union to either get rid of the DH (my preference) or use it in the NL. Its the last rule to conform the leagues, and its getting less and less "quaint" and more and more of a problem every year that the rules aren't conformed. I'll take DH or no DH for both, as long as they're conformed.

I'd make home field advantage for the World Series dependent on the overall interleague records of ALL teams. Its the closest thing we have to knowing that the NL champion played in a more/less difficult league. Plus, it'll add a little bit more excitement to EVERY interleague game. Now Arizona vs. Cleveland means something to everyone.

And a little pet peeve: I'd insist on uniforms being, well, uniform! If your team chooses stirrups, everyone wears them, all the same. A team has to come up with their uniform set head to toe, and that's that. I like stirrups, but if you insist on going with the baggy look- EVERYONE needs to.

And, I would severely limit the number of times an alternate can be used. The sheer majority of your games need to be played in your standard home/aways.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

No more of this 16 teams in one league and 14 in the AL.

Either:
Move an NL team to the AL so it's 15 each
Get rid of two NL teams
Expand the AL by two teams

odd number teams in a league can not and do not work re scheduling

[BiZmaRK]

odd number teams in a league can not and do not work re scheduling

It could work.

One team from each league would play an interleague series. That would be 54 interleague series (162/3 = 54). This would equate to an average of 3.6 interleague series for each team (54/15 = 3.6) Last time I checked, each team plays six interleague series per year.

[downstairs]

One more thing: instant replay similar to the NFL.

Managers get X number of challenges per game. Maybe its only one, but its limited.

Use it successfully, you get it back. Use it unsuccessfully you lose it for the game. (Almost any play can be challenged, but not balls/strikes and stuff like that).

The NFL is brilliant. Think about it: It puts the "bad call" scenario in the coaches' hands for the most part. The refs do the best they can (they do) and then rely on the coach to point out the problem.

If a coach as lost all his challenges, and a bad call gets made- its the coach's fault!

You could consider some punishment for challenging and getting overturned, but it may not be necessary.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

It could work.

One team from each league would play an interleague series. That would be 54 interleague series (162/3 = 54). This would equate to an average of 3.6 interleague series for each team (54/15 = 3.6) Last time I checked, each team plays six interleague series per year.

no it would not work

it is very hard to make a schedule

it is not practical at all

try to make one you will see

[nerfan]

Better yet, have 4 leagues of 8 teams each, no wildcard.

[NYMets523]

no it would not work

it is very hard to make a schedule

it is not practical at all

try to make one you will see

As he pointed out, it could work if Interleague games were spread out over the season.

He can't try to make a schedule since he doesn't have the necessary tools to do so.

[Bulldog19]

1. Drop each league to 14 teams. If a team can't average 30-35,000 per home game then they should be on the list to be dropped.

2. Do away with domes, retractable domes, and artificial turf.

3. Get rid of the STUPID hill in Houston!

4. Do away with the All Star game dictating WS home field. The team with the best record should earn that honor.

5. Schedule doubleheaders on Memorial Day, Fathers' Day, Mothers' Day, Labor Day, and AT least one Saturday or Sunday a month.

6. Teams can only play the "game of the week" or "Sunday night baseball" once a month. None of this Cubs being on National TV every weekend crap.

7. Get rid of the DH.

8. Alter interleague play greatly. Quit making the Cardinals go to Detroit every year and quit making the Cardinals play the Royals 6 times EVERY year. I understand the Royals have to make a LITTLE money, but that's their problem-- not the Cardinals!

9. Hold the umpires accountable when they are complete idiots. If they completely blow a call, it's an automatic 2-game suspension.

10. The rule says that except with a passed ball or foul ball, the batter is to keep one foot in the batter's box in between pitches. ENFORCE the rule!

That's all for now ;)

[Tampa Bay Giants]

1. Drop each league to 14 teams. If a team can't average 30-35,000 per home game then they should be on the list to be dropped.

That eliminates (based on this season so far):
Atlanta
Florida *
Washington *
Cincinnati *
Houston
Pittsburgh *
Arizona *
Colorado *
San Diego *
Baltimore *
Tampa Bay *
Toronto *
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland *
Kansas City *
Minnesota *
Oakland *
Seattle
Texas *

* - At least 1 other season prior to 2009 at or below 30,000.

2. Do away with domes, retractable domes, and artificial turf.

That eliminates:
Toronto *
Houston
Seattle
Arizona
Tampa Bay *
Minnesota *
Milwaukee

* - Dome and turf.

So, by your logic, get rid of Minnesota, Tampa Bay and Toronto?

[Bulldog19]

Wow.. maybe my numbers are too high for the first one?

As for the second, Minnesota could survive since they'll be outdoors next year. There is no need for Tampa to be playing in a dome. There is no need for Houston or Arizona to be playing in a retractable-dome stadium. Seattle possibly; Milwaukee probably not..

[spark240]

2. top 4 teams in each league make playoffs.

and presumably,

5. Rename the baseball season, "the qualifying round."

[Tampa Bay Giants]

Wow.. maybe my numbers are too high for the first one?

As for the second, Minnesota could survive since they'll be outdoors next year. There is no need for Tampa to be playing in a dome. There is no need for Houston or Arizona to be playing in a retractable-dome stadium. Seattle possibly; Milwaukee probably not..

Apparently, you have never been to the Tampa Bay are in the summer time.

BTW, the Rays play in St. Petersburg, not Tampa.

Houston and Arizona the same way, with Milwaukee having crappy weather in the early and late months of baseball season.

[Bulldog19]

Apparently, you have never been to the Tampa Bay are in the summer time.

BTW, the Rays play in St. Petersburg, not Tampa.

Houston and Arizona the same way, with Milwaukee having crappy weather in the early and late months of baseball season.

Well I've been to Gainesville and to Key West during the summer, is that close enough??

Is it too hot for the ballplayers in Houston and Arizona? :sorry:

And what is so awful about Milwaukee weather that isn't experienced by Chicago teams or Detroit or.......???

Or is it that the fans are just a bunch of crybabies that can't stand dealing with baseball weather?!?! Maybe that's why those teams don't win anything....

[Brad Harris]

- Declare a general amnesty for all PED users prior to the implementation of testing penalties and end that controversy. Announce that no asterisks will appear in any official records.
- Develop penal system for MLB personnel and teams which fail to police/report PEDs in the clubhouse.
- Continue to work with the MLBPA on the implementation of more advanced PED testing and push to get an 81-game/162-game/lifetime suspension penal system in place.
- Increase lengths of standardized suspensions for other infractions (corked bats, doctored balls, etc.)
- Appoint a commission to look at developing a staggered system of standardized punishments for varying degrees of "gambling" infractions. Any applicable changes implemented retroactively for Pete Rose, creating the possibility he could be removed from the Ineligible List.
- Remove all deceased individuals from the Ineligible List.
- Elimate the DH rule after a 3-year phase out period.
- Grant two expansion teams to cities in North America (Brooklyn, Portland, Charlotte, Montreal presumably the top candidates)
- Immediately cease practice of holding major league games in exhibition stadiums to open the season (particularly overseas).
- Alter revenue sharing to include 50% of all local revenues, pool to be divided equally among all teams
- Eliminate the luxury tax
- Turn the Commissioner's Discretionary Fund into a trust providing grants for construction of new ballparks, to reduce the burden on state and local municipalities in the building of new stadiums.
- Count every pickoff throw to first as a ball.
- Disallow practice pitches except for (a max of three) when a new pitcher takes the mound.
- Mandatory suspensions and forfeits standardized for fights and brawls
- Reduce commercial breaks between innings to a maximum of 60 seconds.
- Create a standardized system of bonuses for amateur draftees.
- Mandate that drafted players are reserved by the team initially drafting them until they would normally become free agents, whether they sign or not.
- Make foreign players eligible for the amateur draft.
- Create a small licensing fee ($10/yr?) for bloggers and internet users to use MLB and team logos on their websites.
- Eliminate interleague play
- Four four-team divisions in each league, with an unbalanced schedule
- At least two doubleheaders per team per month
- Increase Division Series to best-of-seven series
- Eliminate wildcard
- Eliminate minority quotas in team hiring preferences
- Extend voting privileges for Hall of Fame to fans
- Eliminate the "home field advantage" perk for All-Star winner
- Promote, at every opportunity, all players, teams, records and chases
- Sponsor, to a larger extent, the College World Series
- Let the players and the games, not the distractions and marketing gimmicks, sell the sport.

[Tampa Bay Giants]

Well I've been to Gainesville and to Key West during the summer, is that close enough??

Is it too hot for the ballplayers in Houston and Arizona? :sorry:

And what is so awful about Milwaukee weather that isn't experienced by Chicago teams or Detroit or.......???

Or is it that the fans are just a bunch of crybabies that can't stand dealing with baseball weather?!?! Maybe that's why those teams don't win anything....

You haven't been following baseball that long, have you?

[Bulldog19]

You haven't been following baseball that long, have you?

Hopefully you'll get to your point at some time.. because I apparently know nothing about the game of baseball. I've only been around it for 20 years. Yes I know the game of baseball--- get to your point!

[Tampa Bay Giants]

Hopefully you'll get to your point at some time.. because I apparently know nothing about the game of baseball. I've only been around it for 20 years. Yes I know the game of baseball--- get to your point!

OK. You know have only a casual, passing knowledge of baseball and the cities that it is played in.

In Houston, on Monday it is going to be 97 degrees.

In Phoenix(where the Diamondbacks play, in case you weren't aware) on Monday, it is going to be 112 degrees.

In St. Petersburg, it is going to be 90 degrees and 87% humidity.

It snowed out a whole series or two in Cleveland a could years ago. They moved the games to Milwaukee, who has a dome and comfortable conditions.

It is not necessarily about the players, fans don't want to sit out in those conditions. Henceforth, the domes to make it more comfortable. The more comfortable it is, the more you want to go and watch a ball game. No rain, no humidity, no heat, no cold. Then the more money in the owners pockets.

That is why they build domes. Understand now?

They build domes in cities with extreme climates, Toronto, Montreal(RIP), Milwaukee, Seattle, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Houston, & Phoenix for the comfort of the fans.

[Bulldog19]

OK. You know have only a casual, passing knowledge of baseball and the cities that it is played in.

In Houston, on Monday it is going to be 97 degrees.

In Phoenix(where the Diamondbacks play, in case you weren't aware) on Monday, it is going to be 112 degrees.

In St. Petersburg, it is going to be 90 degrees and 87% humidity.

Last I checked we play baseball in the summer. Summer it is warm and HOT. Therefore it sounds to me like the weather is perfect for baseball. I've played games in 100+ degree weather with 90% humidity. I survived.

Having worked in minor league baseball (currently doing so) where I am actually in the dugout and everything, heat is just not the same. Gatorade, fans, cold towels. Let's remember these are paid players. They can withstand the heat.

It snowed out a whole series or two in Cleveland a could years ago. They moved the games to Milwaukee, who has a dome and comfortable conditions.

It is not necessarily about the players, fans don't want to sit out in those conditions. Henceforth, the domes to make it more comfortable. The more comfortable it is, the more you want to go and watch a ball game. No rain, no humidity, no heat, no cold. Then the more money in the owners pockets.



That is why they build domes. Understand now?

Yep I understand-- America is full of a bunch of babies.

They build domes in cities with extreme climates, Toronto, Montreal(RIP), Milwaukee, Seattle, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Houston, & Phoenix for the comfort of the fans.

I could understand domes in Canada. Not in the US. Baseball is an outdoor sport. Hmm.. I'll bet you'll never seen Green Bay move to a dome for football. They are in "extreme weather" areas according to you...

[NYMets523]

"Having worked in minor league baseball (currently doing so) where I am actually in the dugout and everything, heat is just not the same. Gatorade, fans, cold towels. Let's remember these are paid players. They can withstand the heat. "

What about the 40,000 people in the stands?

[NJMetfan4life]

... Henceforth, the domes to make it more comfortable. The more comfortable it is, the more you want to go and watch a ball game. No rain, no humidity, no heat, no cold. Then the more money in the owners pockets.

That is why they build domes. Understand now?

They build domes in cities with extreme climates, Toronto, Montreal(RIP), Milwaukee, Seattle, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Houston, & Phoenix for the comfort of the fans.

Wow. You just taught me, a random thread reader, something I never knew before. I honestley thought they made domed stadiums just to avoid rain outs/delays.

[Tampa Bay Giants]

I could understand domes in Canada. Not in the US. Baseball is an outdoor sport. Hmm.. I'll bet you'll never seen Green Bay move to a dome for football. They are in "extreme weather" areas according to you...

We aren't talking football, are we? Nope.

Being in the dugout and all, are you the bat boy?

[Rich the Giants fan]

Domes are good for attendance. They suck, but they're good for attendance. Of course, Interleague Play is good for attendance, but it sucks too.

I'd ban 'em both.