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For the first time in a decade, Major League Baseball has implemented new rules:





-- 1) When the bases are empty, pitchers must deliver within 12 seconds (formerly 20)

------ Penalty for Violation: Automatic BALL added to count



-- 2) Batters must keep at least one foot in the batter's box throughout each at-bat

------ Penalty for Violation: Automatic STRIKE added to count



-- 3) Games called with a tie score will now be resumed (not replayed entirely)





Focusing on #1 and #2, do you think these rules will be effectively enforced by umpires? Do you think they will be strictly enforced, or even overly emphasized, like the balk rule was several years ago?



What effect will these rule changes have on player performances?

Nice post Rodger.



I have to say, It's about time with rule #3. How many HR's have we all lost or good pitching starts, etc.



As for rule #2, I'm not sure if that will be followed or not. Kind of difficult to stay consistent with this.



Rule #1...any fans in Baltimore should be down on their knees thanking God...as anyone who has ever been to a live Mets game and watched Trachsel pitch will tell you, hot dogs and drinks cost too much as it is for that hack to stretch things out longer. I was at a Phillies game a couple years back, they were playing the Mets and Trachsel was pitching. During one inning, Trachsel must have lobbed over to 1B like 3-4 times in a row, but in between it seems like Paul LoDuca could have gotten up and circled the bases in between. (I can't recall the runner on 1B, but I remember it was someone slow...possibly Johnny Estrada, which made it all the more aggravating.) After about the 4th "pick off lob to 1B," Trachsel straddled the mound, looked in for the sign, came set, checked the runner at 1st out of the corner of his eye for what seemed like an eternity, when a fan about 3 rows behind me screamed out, "Just pitch the f***ing ball!"

It was like a horror movie, half the people in the area jumped, and if I had paid more than $7 for my ticket, I'm sure Trachsel would have jumped too!







Trachsel