Proposed Rule Changes

[Junkballer]

1 hour ago, gotbeer said:

Changing the strike zone.  Personally, I'd like to see them go away from knee caps and belts, and go to a fixed zone of so many inches above the plate on both upper and lower.  This would make the transition to computers so much easier, because it is a fixed zone for all batters.  The current zone is near impossible because every player is different.  Do you make the zone when they are standing?  When they are addressing the pitch?  When they are swinging?  Because all three are different.  And that's why when you watch a game, you see the pitch track and what was pitched is way way off. 

They are supposed to determine the zone each time as the batter is prepared to swing so that would be immediately before they begin their swing.  Obviously a lot of room for interpretation there.  A fixed zone seems too contrary to the historic customs of the strike zone.  I'd prefer a zone based on standing anatomy.  Quite simply, something like so many inches above the hipbone and so many inches below the top of the knee measured standing.  This eliminates any advantage a player can get from stances, as zones are slightly different based on bent knees and wider stances, while keeping zones fairly proportionate to the height of the player.  They can have every player measured in spring training and require the measurements prior to call-ups & enter those into the Ump-o-matic.

[Glen]

Napoli just signed with Texas. Suddenly, I'm okay with the new IBB rule.

[Blarg]

I think walking him on one pitch works better.