Third to First move Lives!!

Even better that it was the Yankees!

One out of what....at least a hundred attempts?

Third to first and the spin feint to second will both be gone next year.

I do not understand why people seem so intent on speeding up a game that they profess to love.

The game is perfect just the way it is!

I'm confused....are you relating the loss of the third to first move to a speed up rule?

No, not to the "speed up rule" per say. But another effort seperate to that, meant to speed up the game. There is no other reason for this rule, that to get the next pitch thrown sooner.

I like a long game. I am always sorry when it is over!

That has nothing to do with the rule change.

The rules makers have decided that runners at all bases deserve the same protection as the runner at first base where a pitcher may not feint without first legally disengaging.

Next year a pitcher will not be allowed to feint to ANY base without first legally disengaging.

How long have the existing rules been in place?

quote:

Originally posted by floridafan:
How long have the existing rules been in place?

And what does that have to do with it? The fundamental purpose of pitching regulations vis a vis balks is to encourage offense, which, despite arguments to the contrary, the rules makers believe is what brings excitement, entertainment and ticket sales. This thought goes back over 100 years.

Indiscriminate feints stifle offense.

The rules makers discovered this early on and in 1900 made feints to first illegal to protect the runner and increase the likelihood of scoring.

The third to first move become popular in 1950 when the rules makers added the requirement that a step toward the bag must be made in any feint from the rubber.

Despite common belief, the rules of baseball are dynamic, not static, particularly in the area of pitching regulations.

If you want to play by the original rules, we can go back to putting out runners by plunking them with the baseball.

The rule change will make the rule consistent and provide protection to the runners at each base and make for a bit more offense.

It will not speed up the game. Feints will continue, they will just be preceded by a legal disengagement. And actual throws to the bases will probably increase.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy03:
And actual throws to the bases will probably increase.

Which will slow the game down, not speed it up.

The Red Sox and Rays played a 7-3, 9 inning "normal" game in 3:36 today. There was nothing special about it other than Beckett holding the ball like it was fine wine that required aging between pitches...

For the record, I've been a Red Sox fan since the early 70's

I consider myself a "traditionalist" when it comes to baseball; but, it seems pretty evident that baseball's future depends to a large extent upon being able to consistently attract casual fans to the ballpark. If this is a way to give a slight nod to the offense and speed up the game (also VERY slight in this case) without fundamentally changing the game, it seems to me that it'd be in the game's best interest.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy03:
One out of what....at least a hundred attempts?

Third to first and the spin feint to second will both be gone next year.

It does not matter how many times it actually works, but just the threat of it helps keep the runner in check.
Now if I understand your post correctly, you are saying that it will be gone based on rule changes coming down the pipe?
If so, must the pitcher throw to 1st after the feign to 3rd to be legal?

quote:

Originally posted by Prepster:
I consider myself a "traditionalist" when it comes to baseball; but, it seems pretty evident that baseball's future depends to a large extent upon being able to consistently attract casual fans to the ballpark. If this is a way to give a slight nod to the offense and speed up the game (also VERY slight in this case) without fundamentally changing the game, it seems to me that it'd be in the game's best interest.

While the casual fan should always be a goal, we need to get the next generations more interested in the game. One way to make a major impact is to have the games on earlier, not starting for prime time TV, thereby insuring most kids will be in bed before the conclusion of a game.