If you were czar of baseball what would you do? You have 100% unfettered power to do anything you want to MLB, how would you change it?

Change Rules?

DH yeah or nay?

Change schedule?

Everything is on the table what would you do?

I would allow replay on all calls except for balls and strikes, expand DH to the National league, shorten the schedule (begin May 1st and end in September) and start playoff and world series games before 9pm.

I'd make every ballpark uniform dimensions. It irritates me to no end that some stadiums have 307 down the line, while others are 340.

 

I'd apply the DH to both leagues. It allows pitchers to stay in games longer, and more offense, which equals more revenue IMO.

 

Make every call (outside of balls and strikes) automatically reviewable by a central location (i.e. how the NHL does it).

 

I wouldn't have a salary cap per se, but I'd have contract structure's a lot more similar to the NBA in terms of max dollars and years.

Any crazy radical ideas?

Eliminate barriers to league entry and begin a promotion/relegation system among all baseball teams from all leagues.

 

It's even more radical because in order for this to work well, you'd have to eliminate the idea of farm systems. A guy who plays for Louisville, plays for Louisville and his contract is available for purchase by any team that wants him.

 

End the draft. They're monopolistic and wouldn't be allowed in my new, more free system.

Either abolish the DH or bring it to the NL, but it would be uniform.

 

End PED testing and probably advocate for their legality.

 

That would probably keep me busy for awhile.

I like the uniform park idea to a point, maybe minimums and maximums for down the lines and straight away center. But I'd leave a little creativity to the teams.

 

I'd also have an umpire upstairs that is part of the crew that would review all close plays. Umpires would be paid a bonus based on the accuracy of all final calls, so as long as the booth Ump got it right crew would get paid based on percentage of correct calls. That would keep booth Ump from feeling pressure to back up field Umps.

 

Now for one the purist would hate, I'd call for automated Ball and Strike calls, players (Hitters and Pitchers) would love the consistency.

 

Contract would be limited to 4 years and I like the idea of the structured contracts with Max Contracts.

 

I would contract the league by at least 2 teams maybe 4, this would overall improve the product on the field.

 

Season would start when it currently does but regular season would wrap up Labor Day Monday each season.

 

Teams would only play four (4) games per week...they would either play Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun or Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon. All series would be 4 game series. Teams would only need a 4 man rotation. Players would play everyday for the most part, no making a 4 hour once a year drive to see your favorite team play only to have your favorite player taking a day off. Players would be more rested and more time to recover, again improving the product on the field. It would be interesting to see what order managers would pitch their #1, #2, #3 and #4 pitchers.

 

Mark Cuban would be allowed to buy a team.

 

Joe Johnson and Pete Rose would go into the HoF with full disclosure on their plaques as to what they did. Good, Great and Bad.

 

Hall of Fame voting would be changed, most writers and other Baseball Snobs would be out. Current Members would vote and one member of the press put forward by each team would have a vote.

 

Season would start when it currently does but regular season would wrap up Labor Day Monday each season.

 

Teams would only play four (4) games per week...they would either play Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun or Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon. All series would be 4 game series. Teams would only need a 4 man rotation. Players would play everyday for the most part, no making a 4 hour once a year drive to see your favorite team play only to have your favorite player taking a day off. Players would be more rested and more time to recover, again improving the product on the field. It would be interesting to see what order managers would pitch their #1, #2, #3 and #4

 

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You want to cut the schedule to 100 games?? I think the current season is too long, but, 100 is too short. 154 sounds about right.

 

I really don't see a need for contraction either. Really, I think the quality of play is very good. Hitters are better, pitchers are better. I don't see a ton of guys that I don't think belong in the league, any more than there was in the 70's or 80's before expansion. Heck, there were truly dreadful teams when there were only 16 teams in the league.

 

I also hate the idea of uniform ballparks. I like to visit other stadiums, to see how each is unique. If they are all the same , I have no reason to see other parks.

 

I'm all for instant replay, and adding the DH to the NL.

 

I'd like to see scheduled double headers again, maybe 1 per month. That would help shorten the season and add additional off days.

I love the differences in the parks.

 

I'd reinstate Pete. Could be the biggest ambassador for the game in history.

 

I'd let managers stop wearing uniforms, its silly.

 

I'd make pitchers wear helmet hats of old days.

 

I'd make hitters lose the body armor.

 

I'd make both leagues either use the DH or not, i can see positives of both. Just make it the same.

 

I'd modernize any and all forms of instant replay.

 

I'd get rid of Interleague play.

You want to cut the schedule to 100 games?? I think the current season is too long, but, 100 is too short. 154 sounds about right.

 

I really don't see a need for contraction either. Really, I think the quality of play is very good. Hitters are better, pitchers are better. I don't see a ton of guys that I don't think belong in the league, any more than there was in the 70's or 80's before expansion. Heck, there were truly dreadful teams when there were only 16 teams in the league.

 

I also hate the idea of uniform ballparks. I like to visit other stadiums, to see how each is unique. If they are all the same , I have no reason to see other parks.

 

I'm all for instant replay, and adding the DH to the NL.

 

I'd like to see scheduled double headers again, maybe 1 per month. That would help shorten the season and add additional off days.

162 to 154 basically the same as it is now...no real difference. By going to 4 games per week you would see the best 8 on the field together much more than you do now. You would also not be faced with watching your teams horrible 5th starter every 5 days. IMO less games and more rest would equate to a better product on the field every night and each game would be much more important.

 

As far as the Ballparks go I'm not saying they all need to be the same, just no 270 down the line or 450 to CF. Exception for Fenway in left field.

 

I hate DH but I think both leagues need to be the same.

 

Inter league games would be gone as they are now. Maybe a natural rival series each season Red/Indians Mets/Yanks but that would be all.

 

World Series Home Field would go back to rotating.

I love the differences in the parks.

 

I'd reinstate Pete. Could be the biggest ambassador for the game in history.

 

I'd let managers stop wearing uniforms, its silly.

 

I'd make pitchers wear helmet hats of old days.

 

I'd make hitters lose the body armor.

 

I'd make both leagues either use the DH or not, i can see positives of both. Just make it the same.

 

I'd modernize any and all forms of instant replay.

 

I'd get rid of Interleague play.

 

What's your reasoning? All sports play all teams, regardless of league.

162 to 154 basically the same as it is now...no real difference. By going to 4 games per week you would see the best 8 on the field together much more than you do now. You would also not be faced with watching your teams horrible 5th starter every 5 days. IMO less games and more rest would equate to a better product on the field every night and each game would be much more important.

 

As far as the Ballparks go I'm not saying they all need to be the same, just no 270 down the line or 450 to CF. Exception for Fenway in left field.

 

I hate DH but I think both leagues need to be the same.

 

Inter league games would be gone as they are now. Maybe a natural rival series each season Red/Indians Mets/Yanks but that would be all.

 

World Series Home Field would go back to rotating.

 

How is it possible to still have 154-162 games if you're ending the season a month earlier, and cutting back to only 4 games a week instead of 6 or 7?

How is it possible to still have 154-162 games if you're ending the season a month earlier, and cutting back to only 4 games a week instead of 6 or 7?

 

Old school weekend DH's.

I'd eliminate divisions.

My first order of business would be DH for both leagues.