The MLB’s competition committee has reportedly agreed to raise the bottom of the strike zone, which could be instated as early as 2017 (ESPN). The current rule states the bottom of the zone is at the “hollow beneath the kneecap,” while the rule change would make it the top of the knee.
The committee has also passed the motion to make intentional walks automatic. Instead of the pitcher having to throw four balls, the manager would just put up four fingers in the dugout and the runner would be awarded first base.
The number of called strikes in the bottom third of the strike zone has increased over the last few years. Mets’ second baseman Neil Walker thinks the rule change is a good idea, saying:
“I think if you ask hitters, most of the complaints they would have would be about low strikes. They’re probably the hardest to call for umpires, and catchers have gotten so good at presenting them.”
I think Walker is a very good and very smart player. However, he is looking at this situation through the eyes of a hitter. I am a college pitcher, so let’s look at this from atop the mound.
Walker went on to say, “As a hitter, when you see the ball out of the pitcher’s hand and it’s going to be down, you usually think about taking it, because it’s harder to do damage with that pitch. Us as hitters, we want that ball up, thigh or mid-thigh.” As a pitcher, I respond to that by saying, well why do you think I’m throwing the ball low in the first place?!
I’ve had many pitching coaches over the years and they all preach the same thing. Keep the ball down. The reason for that is exactly what the Mets second baseman is saying; They’re harder to hit. If a pitcher leaves a pitch up at the belt over the plate to a good hitter, he’s going to pay for it.
This motion is obviously another attempt to increase offense in the game. However, this could prove to be ineffective accomplishing that. If batters are taking these borderline pitches now, they’re going to take them with the new strike zone too. In that case, though, they will be called balls, leading to more walks.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon agrees. “If you’re going to shorten the strike zone, it can be counterproductive. If a guy is pitching down below that and we’re just taking them, you’re going to get less action.”
While, obviously, pitchers wouldn’t want to walk people, at the same time, they’re not going to want to give batters easy-to-hit pitches. This would almost certainly lead to more walks.
Manfred is trying every little thing he can to decrease the length-of-game. This change would almost certainly lead to more walks, and because of that, longer game times.
Maddon also addressed the change to the intentional walk rule, saying, “By taking that away, there is the potential that a wild pitch could occur that could impact the game. And I’ve seen it happen.”
There are many things that could happen during an intentional walk. As Maddon said, there could be a wild pitch. Conversely, if the pitcher leaves the pitch over the plate, the hitter could take a swing at it.
The last reason throwing four balls for an intentional walk should not be eliminated is… Why? To shave 30 seconds off the length of the game? Come on. Leave the game alone, Manfred, it was fine the way you found it.
