January 9, 2012

Pointless Rules

Cheap Talk looks at pointless rules in American football. What are the pointless rules in baseball? I suspect the intentional walk is one. The author of the post might also think the foul bunt strikeout rule is another. The balk rule? I actually think the running game would be a lot more interesting if the pitcher could deceive the runner!

5 thoughts on “Pointless Rules

  1. rbj

    Isn’t the IBB more of a strategy (or tactic) than a rule?

    I think we need the foul bunt strikeout rule, otherwise a decent hitter could run up 40-50 pitch at bats, which would be very boring.

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  2. Jeff A

    In some amateur leagues, a batter is allowed to just take his base on an intentional walk without the pitches being thrown. It speeds up the game a little. It’s not a big deal, but I could see doing that in MLB.

    I think we need the foul bunt strikeout rule, though. As rbj says, a good bunter could be at the plate endlessly bunting pitches just to wear out the pitcher.

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  3. Pete

    6.07. Batting Out Of Turn. (“Abel walks. Baker walks. Charles forces Baker. Edward bats in Daniel’s turn. While Edward is at bat, Abel scores and Charles goes to second on a wild pitch. Edward grounds out, sending Charles to third. The defensive team appeals (a) immediately or (b) after a pitch to Daniel…”)

    This rule, while admittedly amusing, turns managers and umpires into attorneys, and that’s pointless. Who cares when the appeal is made? Who cares which batter should be out? The team that cannot keep its batting order straight should simply forfeit the entire inning’s at-bat, giving up any runs that may have scored.

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  4. MSE

    I’d go the other way around on fouls–I’d make the third two strike (swinging) foul equal strike three. I see no value in letting the David Ecksteins of the world stall for ten or fifteen pitches when even the most durable starting pitchers aren’t often allowed to go beyond 120 pitches. If you can’t do something after five to eight pitches, sit down and let someone else give it a go.

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