Making Baseball Better

In my previous article, I wrote about how baseball is the best game of them all. Yet it could be even better. Here's how:

Modify or Eliminate the Luxury Tax

It's not working. The Pittsburgh Pirates have had 18 losing seasons in a row. Because of the way revenue is shared (or isn't shared), the Pirates can't afford to get and keep good players. That's bad for the game.

Baseball needs to find a better way to distribute revenue

Make It Harder To Steal a Base

The best catchers only throw out about 40 percent of attempted base-stealers. That's too easy. A stolen base attempt should be a 50-50 proposition at best. They could accomplish this by...

Simplifying the Balk Rule

 The balk rules are so complicated, I'm not even sure the umpires understand them. Baseball should adopt the NBA's "no harm, no foul" approach. If it's not a clear attempt to unfairly deceive the runner or batter, it's not a balk.

Quit Making the Starter Go 5 Innings To Get the Win

If a reliever can get a win with one pitch, the starter shouldn't have to go five innings.

Eliminate Day-Night Doubleheaders

Every time they schedule one of those awful things, I root for the first game to go 19 innings with a couple of rain delays to screw up the start of the second game. The fans deserve two for the price of one now and then.

Limit Throws to First

The defense should not be allowed unlimited pickoff attempts. Allow the pitcher three throws to first per batter. After the third unsuccessful pickoff attempt, the runner goes to second.

Expand Use of Instant Replay

No more "imperfect games."

Balance the Schedule

In some divisions, the teams play each other 18 times a season. I understand creating rivalries and all but I get tired of seeing the same teams play each other all the time. I think 12 games per year between division rivals is about right.

Baseball is such a great game that it's hard to believe it can be even better. But it can.