Calvin Ball, perfect analogy, Auggie!

At least make someone dance the Hokey Pokey or something …..

From the S.F. Chronicle, written by columnist Scott Ostler:

I mean we are changing these rules for the "fans", right?

I hate those virtual strike zones. They don't adjust them to the player. The strike zone is between the batter's knees and numbers and can even change during an at bat.

There might be a buzz among owners cause a growing number of them don't give a shit about baseball, just TV revenue.

I will make one of those threats/vows that get made here on DU all time, if they institute this rule, I will never watch another MLB game. The cheesy runner on 2nd base in the 10th inning was bad enough, this would violate one of the most basic rules of the game, an established batting order both sides have to work with and around.

There is a reason they make it a little ceremony at the beginning of each game, the exchange of lineup cards. The umpires are overseeing this because it is vital to know who bats and in what order. Pitching decisions are based on this rule, offensive and defensive decisions are made inning or innings in advance cause of who will be batting in key at bats, players are saved on the bench to use as pinch hitters with an eye to adjusting the line up for a big moment.

Jeezus this is so lame.

Interested to hear what Olbermann thinks of the idea.

It needs to be ridiculed.

I know we aren't representative of the public at large.

Almost as crazy as Trump's rambling about annexing Canada as a state.

The Yankees want Aaron Judge to get another at bat after he strikes out with bases loaded.

If this goes through I’m done.

Never liked it, never will like it.

Every commentator I've seen on ESPN either hated it, ecoressed disdain or LAUGHED AT the idea.
The fols on MLB Network are probably not allowed to take that position, but it's fitting skewered on the big boy network

All I've seen is people calling it the stupidest idea ever. This article quotes managers and players and not a single one can say anything good about it.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/04/sport/golden-at-bat-criticism-spt-intl/index.html

Former Seattle Mariners catcher Chris Howard criticized Manfred for not focusing on what he felt was a more pressing issue – the blackout rules which prevent fans in certain areas watching certain games on TV, to encourage them to attend in person. “Please tell me the ‘Golden At Bat’ rule is just an April Fool’s joke a few months early,” he wrote on X Tuesday. “Someone needs to tell Manfred to stop watching Savannah Bananas games. You want to do something, stop the blackouts.”

Meanwhile, seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens simply said of the proposal on X: “This can’t be real.”

BTW, Chris Howard is spot on about the blackout rule.

And, I supported a lot of the other rule changes. But, not this one.