Too many watched pitches?

[TheLegend]

The problem is not the number of pitches that are being watched, it's the number of strikes being watched, so I have a proposal that won't punish batters for pitching mishaps (even though I do believe that with your team pitching to you this shouldn't be a problem).

Instead of having a hard cap on the number of pitches in an at-bat, why don't we allow the defense (i.e. the catcher) make one called strike call every X pitches (in my mind, by the way X=3 or maybe 4)?

For example if X=3...
A batter would see a minimum of 7 pitches (if pitches 1,4 and 7 called strikes), with no maximum (if the pitcher isn't finding the strike zone).

This way we don't end up having batters flail hopelessly at junk pitch number 10, but instead we have batters protecting the strike zone and swinging at pitches that are strikes. The thing that annoys me isn't that pitchers are throwing too many balls, it's that batters are waiting for that one perfect pitch at the exact right velocity, in the pinpoint accurate location, and if they don't get it they're not going to swing the bat. That's not baseball folks. If it's a strike, swing the bat!

I would like to be able to get two 9 inning games in between 11 and 5. Hustling in and out of the dugout and having the on-deck batter or catcher ready whenever possible should be helpful too.

[Baseball=Life]

I understand where you're coming from, and I certainly would like to take measures to ensure we can get the double header in between 11-5, however:

I think it is one-sided and unfair to batters if they can have strikes called against them yet cannot walk.

[TheLegend]

I understand where you're coming from, and I certainly would like to take measures to ensure we can get the double header in between 11-5, however:

I think it is one-sided and unfair to batters if they can have strikes called against them yet cannot walk.

but that's essentially what the pitch limit does as well.

at least this way they're guarenteed to see 3 strikes...

[gohlkus]

Fuck pitch limits, let's just play.

We should just all agree to swing the bat more often and feel more free to ask for our own pitcher.

It's not really that easy to hit the strike zone consistently, though I feel I can do it as well as anyone else (I've pitched a few rallies).

[retep]

The problem is not the number of pitches that are being watched, it's the number of strikes being watched.

I disagree. The problem is that some people can't throw strikes. If you can't throw a strike, take yourself out.

DONE!

[dtrizzle]

I hereby support the anti Peter/Daniel rule. I agree with Ken, that is, even if pitches are bad, the batter's team is pitching. In addition to speeding up the game and getting Peter + Daniel to swing the bat, it would also make the offensive pitcher play a more active role.

Graduation tomorrow and I'm black! Kiss my black ass America!

- Dorian

[retep]

What the fuck? I'm really not the worst out there. I think I had a series of at-bats when I took a lot of pitches, and now when I take anything within a foot of the strike zone, people start yellin.

What strike zone do people even use? The MLB seems to be around the belt (yes, I know that the MLB brass said it should be the letters, but in reality most seem to call strikes around the belt). I've taken pitches at my shoulders that people have hollered about.

I play in CF, so I have clear view of the strike zone, and I see some other people take plenty of sweet pitches as well.

Regardless, even the at-bats I have that people bitch about are shorter than some of those at-bats from last week when only a few people on Scott’s team could find the plate. To me, that’s a bigger problem. Its one thing to be (over?) selective, but if the pitcher makes it impossible for anything to happen, then you really have an issue.

[Tayster]

I hereby support the anti Peter/Daniel rule. I agree with Ken, that is, even if pitches are bad, the batter's team is pitching. In addition to speeding up the game and getting Peter + Daniel to swing the bat, it would also make the offensive pitcher play a more active role.

Graduation tomorrow and I'm black! Kiss my black ass America!

- Dorian

The moment I get good pitches on a regular basis, I'll start swinging. For me, a walk is good as a hit, so I'm gonna watch as many pitches as I feel necessary. If you can't deal with that, well then *shrug* you lose.

[retep]

I've watched and played enough baseball to know how easy it is to beat yourself while batting. I agree with all that Dan says. And the same theory goes in the live games. No strikes, no swings! If it's a close pitch, then it's just that: close!