IIRC the larger bases were more about injuries than game play, so maybe we have to wait til the end of the year to compile all the data.

I think steals are up, but I think that is more to do with the changes around the pitch clock and how many times a pitcher can go to first than with the base size.

I think, along with the throw to first limit, they have, but not much. But steal plays are often very close, so it does help
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FIRST TO SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD

Old 15-inch bases: 88 feet, 1.5 inches

New 18-inch bases: 87 feet, 9 inches

Difference: 4.5 inches
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so a decrease of about 0.425%


Stolen base rate:

Stolen bases are at their highest per-game rate since 1992, when five players stole 50 or more bases. At this rate we will see 1,087 more stolen bases this year than last year, an increase of 44%.

The stolen base success rate has jumped from 75% to 83%. That should encourage teams to run even more and tailor their roster more to fit this new game.

Dig deeper into that rate, and you will find that relief pitchers, who often don’t defend the running game as well as starters, are much more vulnerable to steals. Check out these splits:

MLB Stolen Base Success Rate, 2023

vs. Starters 79%

vs. Relievers8 8%

Innings 1–6 81%

Innings 7+ 86%

Oh, thanks for the input.

I can tolerate watching again now that the Phillies have decided to start swinging at only 75% of balls out of the (highly variable) strike zone.
I am a traditionalist, and hate the DH, but the robot home plate ump can't come soon enough.

My Mariners have been doing a lot of that as well. Maddening.

Umps have gotten steadily worse over the last couple of years. Last night at our game, they displayed a graphic that showed how many pitches out of the zone they called strikes. It was at least 10 or 12, maybe more. I'm not sure they were biased to one team or the other, but it was a lot. I can understand a little on the outside pitches, but it should only be a couple of times a game, not that many.

The thing is, bad calls by the ump encourage the guys to swing at the bad pitches because they think they'll get called anyway.

Really, though, I think the umps are pissed since they started with the replay system, which seems to get the call right almost always.

Nothing's perfect, I guess. I saw a video of the local farm team using the new system. Apparently, it's being used on a challenge basis, with limited challenges during a game. Seemed to work, though.

consistency. Or rather, lack of it. Establish a strike zone in the early innings and stick with it.

I haven't an issue with human umpires. They're part of the game. Teams invest time scouting umpires just as they do opposing players. They know them better than we do. Just be consistent in the calls.