For the better part of 10 years now, I have been writing and blogging about baseball. Most of my coverage has been first hand accounts of games, tournaments, stadiums, events, and I have loved every minute of those experiences. Some of my writing has focused on what baseball is doing well, what it can improve on, and even some fantasyland ideas on how to grow the game here in the US and around the world. And for the past several years (I embellished a little bit on the 10 year thing), I have been opining about changing certain rules at the Major League level to improve the already amazing game of baseball. So, without further ado, here are my 2024 MLB rules suggestions and ideas:

1. Make the home run trot, the “shower me with attention” running around the bases after a home run, happen in less than 24 seconds. The penalty – the batter must return to second base and is credited for only a ground rule double. The run comes off the board, the RBI (s) come off the board. If there are runners on base, two bases will be awarded instead of just trotting home and celebrating with your other teammates. The major league slowest home run trot for 2023 was about 30 seconds. The major league’s fastest home run trot was around 18 seconds. Split the difference and you get 24 seconds. That should give a batter enough time to flip his bat, hot dog it around the bases blowing kisses to the crowd, doing his little dance at the 3rd base bag, then making his way slowly down the 3rd base line to home plate. Rationale – If MLB is intent on speeding up the games because they are too long, and they make pitchers speed up their pitches on a pitch clock, and batters into the batter’s box, why not speed up the home run trotters who take forever to get around the bases.
2. Allow for a maximum of 3 defensive shifts per game. Ok, I actually like the defensive shift rule for the most part. Players who typically pull the ball between the first base bag and the second baseman in a typical defensive alignment were royally screwed out of 1000s of hits because of the defensive shifting of the past 5 years. Putting a guy in short right field to field a grounder from a heavy set left power hitter is quite genius and it worked 90% of the time (not an actual stat). However, in a key situation in a tight ball game, wouldn’t you like to the cuffs off and prepare your defense as best as possible? I am suggesting that a team have a maximum allotted number of shifts per game and use them wisely. This way you have your best defensive situation ready when you need it most. Once the three shifts are used up, you cannot use them later in the game, you are done. Rationale – This allows for more strategy and management by teams in critical situations. Or it can take out the best hitter on the opposing team by eliminating the gaps by which he typically burns you.
3. Get rid of the balk to first base. Under the new MLB rules changes of 2023, a Pitcher has 3 attempts to pickoff a runner leading off a base. If they are unsuccessful in 3 attempts, the runner is allowed to advance one base. Steals were way up in 2023, so the rule change favored the running game, which had been all been extinct for most teams for nearly 10 years (another made up stat). Ok, I admit, I love the St. Louis Cardinals style of baseball from the 1980s with the entire lineup stealing bases like no tomorrow. This more modern, home run or strike out version of baseball is boring as heck. So, I like the running game being back in the fold. Now what about the pitchers. 1-3 lame attempts at picking off a runner, and then the runner gets a gigantic lead and steals the base easily? That’s not exactly playing fair in my opinion. You know what would be fair? No balks when attempting to pickoff a runner at first. Those look the other way lefty moves by Andy Pettitte or Barry Zito or Bruce Hurst back in the day, they would nab tons of runners. You know what the actual stat was for most pickoffs last year? According to MLB stats, 7 by the Washington National’s Patrick Corbin. Many others on the list had like 3 or 4. Rationale – Utilize the balk on bases 2nd, 3rd, and home plate. Let Pitchers have a small hope of picking off a runner by eliminating the balk on his 1-3 first base pickoffs.

The game of baseball is fringing dangerously on the entertainment of baseball. Many, many rules are being put in place to make the game more interesting and entertaining for a wider audience. Yet, many of these rules would be/are frowned upon by a generation or two (like yours truly) who grew up with a simpler, more enjoyable game in the 1970s and 1980s. I love that the players can express themselves on home run trots, just do it in a timely manner, please. In my opinion, it shouldn’t take 30 seconds to run 360 feet. As for the shift, what are they going to outlaw next? The curveball? You can’t throw anymore curveballs because they are hard to hit. Only fastballs – c’mon that’s a joke. Shifting is part of the strategy of winning games. Allow it up to 3 times per game. And as for the balk to first, get rid of it. Let pitchers have a fighting chance to throw a runner out if they only have 3 attempts to accomplish that. If they steal on a pitcher’s best move, I will tip my cap to them. Spoken as a former Pitcher, myself.

Have a comment or opinion or a pie to throw in my face? Great, email me at ribaseballexperience@gmail.com or fill out this contact form. I respond to all emails, good/bad/indifferent.