(This post is supposed to appear on Tuesday, December 12, but since I mention this in my funny auto-reply email away message at work, i’m posting it earlier)
On this day in December 12, 1930, Major League Baseball changes a rule that a ball bouncing into the stands is no longer a homerun, but now a double. Then on this day in 1949 the American League votes 7-1 rejecting a proposal to legalize the spitball.
What rule should they instate today? How about: If a fly ball hits a fielder on the head before bouncing, the batter is considered out. That would make for some comical highlights. (and then there would be the subsequent rule where fielders cannot wear a batting helmet on the field).
Do you have an idea for a new rule for baseball?
while batting, a batter swings and inadvertently throws his bat into the stands. He must then use a plastic whiffle bat for the remainder of his atbat.
A player spits onto the infield. That player must immediately put a flag into the spitted region. If he doesn’t then the following will happen: If a defensive player spits, but doesn’t flag, then the batter currently at bat gets on first base for free. Any runners currently on base will advance one base. It will be ruled BLSF (Base on Lack of Spit Flag). If it’s a runner who spits, but doesn’t flag his spit, then the runner is immediately out. Once a player flags his spit, then no player will be allowed to touch the flag for the remainder of the game. If a player touches the Spit Flag the following will happen: If a defensive player touches a Spit Flag, then the batter currently at bat will get on first base for free. Any runners on base will advance one base. It will be ruled a Base on Spit Flag Touching (BSFT). If a runner touches a spit flag, then he is immediately out. Imagine the strategy involved with the spit flags. Will teams want to put a ton of spit flags out there hoping their opponents touch a spit flag? Or will teams try to avoid placing any spit flags because their team is equally at risk of touching a spit flag? What will players who chew tobacco do? They may have some problems if they want to avoid making any spit flags. What if a player spits right before a pitch? He will be forced to flag his spit. He could misplay a fielded ball.
Managers must wear microphones the entire game. Everything they say will be broadcasted onto a dedicated AM frequency.
this would be funny: Move the bullpen 5 feet to the left of the pitcher’s mound. So the bullpen pitchers would be pitching parallel to the active game pitcher’s mound.