I love this idea. I hope it spreads like wildfire.
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Personally I think it does nothing but further take the ability to affect the final outcome of the game from more and more players. Why not decide the game on how precisely a ball is thrown or the accuracy of a ball off the bat? That way every player would have equal value when the time comes to determine the winner.
I like it. With the timer it's like fast break baseball. It should be exciting. The fans should like it.
That's pretty cool. It should be implemented in youth summer leagues. I'd personally prefer that to loading the bases.
Perfect idea.....but only for summer leagues. Those leagues are in place to get kids work over the summer and get them exposed to pro scouts. There's no reason to use up arms in the 12th inning of a game that may go until 11:30pm with 4 people remaining in the stands. Play 10, then go to HR derby. Fans will stick around....and it will add some excitement to the summer. Sure teams like to win games and championships, but ultimately that's not the goal of summer leagues.....getting kids work and keeping them healthy is
As some might know, we (PG) use our own rule for extra inning playoff games. Load the bases with one out. Over 20 years of using this and we have had less than 20 games go more than two extra innings. Almost always it takes only one inning. It is exciting and involves strategy. It forces pitchers to throw strikes.
At first we got lots of complaints from the losing teams. Now that most teams are used to it, we don't get complaints.
It will be interesting to see how this new rule works out in the Futures League. I applaud them for trying something new.
PG....I've seen a lot of tie-breaker ideas over the past 10 years. Some good, some not so good. Curious why you went with bases loaded instead of 1st and 2nd? The only reason I don't like bases loaded, especially at younger ages is a passed ball can score the go-ahead or winning run. It's tough enough on a pitcher to be pitching in tie game in extra innings without having to worry about a passed ball.
In your situation, I'd rather see it finished on the field instead of a HR derby because your events are tourneys where teams are there to win. Summer leagues that's not necessarily the main goal.
PGStaff posted:As some might know, we (PG) use our own rule for extra inning playoff games. Load the bases with one out. Over 20 years of using this and we have had less than 20 games go more than two extra innings. Almost always it takes only one inning. It is exciting and involves strategy. It forces pitchers to throw strikes.
At first we got lots of complaints from the losing teams. Now that most teams are used to it, we don't get complaints.
It will be interesting to see how this new rule works out in the Futures League. I applaud them for trying something new.
Would you say the team with a pitcher on the mound who could get a K right away was at a distinct advantage?
PGStaff posted:
As some might know, we (PG) use our own rule for extra inning playoff games. Load the bases with one out. Over 20 years of using this and we have had less than 20 games go more than two extra innings. Almost always it takes only one inning. It is exciting and involves strategy. It forces pitchers to throw strikes.
At first we got lots of complaints from the losing teams. Now that most teams are used to it, we don't get complaints.
It will be interesting to see how this new rule works out in the Futures League. I applaud them for trying something new.
Hitting HRs in a HR Derby setting may well be exciting to some, but since there’s absolutely no strategy to it, what’s the appeal to the players who will never be called on to try to win the game for their team?
Combined reply to both of the above posts
Two major reasons for the tiebreaker...
1. To shorten the game in order to protect pitchers
2. To shorten the game to maintain the schedule
Yes, a pitcher that can get strike outs is an advantage. So is the pitcher that can get the ground ball, double play. The reason we load the bases rather than runners at 1b and 2b is because it ends the game quicker. Yes, we have had games end on a passed ball or wild pitch.
Do summer teams not care about winning games? I haven't noticed that.
PGStaff posted:Do summer teams not care about winning games? I haven't noticed that.
I guess as a parent of a pitcher, I should have worded it differently. I'm sure they want to win games....but doing so at the expense of pitcher's arms won't help anyone...the league or the players. My son's summer league team played 30 straight days to start the season...with the first 3 or 4 being short on players due to the regionals just ending and CWS still going. A pitching staff has a hard time playing that kind of schedule....without having to go a bunch of extra innings. A couple extra innings is fine....but getting to the 12th or 13th just stretches pitching staffs too much
PGStaff posted:As some might know, we (PG) use our own rule for extra inning playoff games. Load the bases with one out. Over 20 years of using this and we have had less than 20 games go more than two extra innings.
Jerry, does the PGCBL do anything special for extra innings?
I'm not positive if the PGCBL plans on doing anything, but I don't think so. I think the plan in the Futures League will be very interesting to follow. I think they will probably run into some snags, but I applaud them for trying. It's great when people try new things.
I know if we did a HR derby to break a tie it would take too long. Just little things like getting the L screen out there would take time. And some teams are lucky to have one player capable of hitting a HR, let alone three players.
It seems different to have a tie breaker based on power hitting alone. I mean that is kind of like having three guys run the 60 to settle a tie. Of course the HR contest would be more entertaining to most fans.
PGStaff posted:I'm not positive if the PGCBL plans on doing anything, but I don't think so. I think the plan in the Futures League will be very interesting to follow. I think they will probably run into some snags, but I applaud them for trying. It's great when people try new things.
I know if we did a HR derby to break a tie it would take too long. Just little things like getting the L screen out there would take time. And some teams are lucky to have one player capable of hitting a HR, let alone three players.
It seems different to have a tie breaker based on power hitting alone. I mean that is kind of like having three guys run the 60 to settle a tie. Of course the HR contest would be more entertaining to most fans.
Will it change the strategy on how the teams in the future's league are built? I know most teams love to have power hitters. But don't some rely more on small ball? Get players on base and move them over.
What ball does the Future league use? Will we see a change to a harder core? If so does this put players at risk, to save a pitchers arm? If they use a harder core ball, will it only be for the Home run derby portion?
I don't want to take this thread off the rails. So I hope this does not devolve into power vs small ball strategy discussion. If it does, My apologies to the OP.
Once again I think this is great that the Futures League is doing this. It will be very interesting to see how it works out.
Obviously it will put batting practice power at a premium. Also will make the BP pitcher an important part of winning a game. There are hitters that show amazing power in BP, but can't hit good pitching in the games.
I know other sports have tie breakers, but not sure I know of any that just have one skill involved without competition from the other side. HR contests are fun to watch, but until now they have never determined which team wins or loses a game.
On the other hand, the entertainment value might be great. And entertainment is very important. And best of all, it is going to help save some arms. Who knows, maybe this will catch on because a lot of fans like it.
Unless It is a HR derby without HR's. 
BishopLeftiesDad posted:Unless It is a HR derby without HR's.
You know it will happen... but that might prove entertaining in its own way. The Futures League HR Derby rules allow for a tie in that case. I would image that a decent number of games still end in a tie (with and without HRs), but the derby gives fans a reason to stick around, and gives the hitters a chance to have some fun. To me, these are really exhibition/development games. No harm in ties or HR Derby.
BishopLeftiesDad posted:PGStaff posted:I'm not positive if the PGCBL plans on doing anything, but I don't think so. I think the plan in the Futures League will be very interesting to follow. I think they will probably run into some snags, but I applaud them for trying. It's great when people try new things.
I know if we did a HR derby to break a tie it would take too long. Just little things like getting the L screen out there would take time. And some teams are lucky to have one player capable of hitting a HR, let alone three players.
It seems different to have a tie breaker based on power hitting alone. I mean that is kind of like having three guys run the 60 to settle a tie. Of course the HR contest would be more entertaining to most fans.
Will it change the strategy on how the teams in the future's league are built? I know most teams love to have power hitters. But don't some rely more on small ball? Get players on base and move them over.
What ball does the Future league use? Will we see a change to a harder core? If so does this put players at risk, to save a pitchers arm? If they use a harder core ball, will it only be for the Home run derby portion?
I don't want to take this thread off the rails. So I hope this does not devolve into power vs small ball strategy discussion. If it does, My apologies to the OP.
I sometimes bike over to Navigators games. The league is not one of the top college summer leagues. It's D1 and quality D2 and D3 players (unless something changed since 2015/didn't see a game last summer). They take the best players they can get their hands on. If the Cape League did something like this maybe recruiting style would change. But I believe the best college summer leagues want the players most likely to make the majors regardless of their playing style. It's good advertising and recruiting. Besides, how many games are going to be decided in this fashion?
RJM posted:It's good advertising and recruiting. Besides, how many games are going to be decided in this fashion?
The article says 15 games went more than 10 innings last year. If their on-line stats are accurate, that's out of 274 games. That has me wondering... does a coach change his strategy late in the game if he feels like he has a decided advantage or disadvantage with the HR Derby?