Should mlb adopt the extended first base?
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Im watching some college world series and they have it.
I say yes. What ya'll think? -
I get it, but I don't like it.
I'm very much a baseball traditionalist and feel like they've messed too much up already.
To be honest the majority of the issues that happen at first base recently come because of poorly trained first basemen not playing the position correctly. -
I understand the concept and can appreciate the outside-the-box thinking of the one who came up with this idea. I like the idea of trying to find ways to minimize the number of collisions that occur at first base. I would like to see how the concept actually plays out to see if it truly will make a difference. I am a bit skeptical that it would make a significant difference because as humans we are creatures of habit and especially baseball players. They are trained to run down the line and not a foot off the line. Even though it seems like running a foot off the line instead of down the line would be a simple adjustment, I think we would still find that most will still end up running down the line. I think it would be easy to say that if the play seems close, the batter/runner could just peel off at the last second and still would have that extended part of the bag to step on. I think the timing of these collision plays happen faster than most would be able to respond to, so I don't know if waiting to the last split second to move over a foot would actually avoid the collision. Even though I was playing the devil's advocate on this, I understand the concept and the reasoning for it but I would like to see how the concept would play out in real life in other leagues (college) before MLB implements it.
I think the photo below illustrates my thoughts on how a batter/runner knows there is the base extension, but continues to run straight down the line and not actually utilize that extra room they have from the first basemen.
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@Finn_Scotus_MLBTS Looking at this photo again, I think it also illustrates your point that many first basemen being poorly trained and not playing the position correctly. Look at the first basemen's foot! That and the batter/runner still running down the line and using that extended part of the bag could easily have got both of them injured.
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The current MLB rule is nonsensical, as it assigns a duty to the hitter running to first a requirement to stay inside a running lane and then somehow contort his footing instantly to side slip to his left anywhere from one to two feet while running full speed.
That's biologically impossible. So, the rule is compromised.
The MLB rule should have been changed decades ago, or the base changed to facilitate the current rule. Extending first base so that it firmly rests in the running lane is a reasonable solution.
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No! Absolutely not. Keep that hideous thing away from MLB & MiLB.
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@Finn_Scotus_MLBTS said in Should mlb adopt the extended first base?:
I get it, but I don't like it.
I'm very much a baseball traditionalist and feel like they've messed too much up already.I agree with this part, the drastic increase in pitching injuries over the past couple years can be traced directly back to both the introduction of new balls with lower seams, and the pitch clock, forcing them to hurry up their deliveries they've had their entire lives.
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@Sarge1387_PSN said in Should mlb adopt the extended first base?:
@Finn_Scotus_MLBTS said in Should mlb adopt the extended first base?:
I get it, but I don't like it.
I'm very much a baseball traditionalist and feel like they've messed too much up already.I agree with this part, the drastic increase in pitching injuries over the past couple years can be traced directly back to both the introduction of new balls with lower seams, and the pitch clock, forcing them to hurry up their deliveries they've had their entire lives.
Sorry, no, but the MLB balls have not had their seams lowered. Moreover, the number one reason for the increase in pitcher injuries is the requirement that pitchers throw every pitch at max effort -- max velocity with max spin rate. Teams are willing to trade longevity for getting batters out more regularly. Pitchers are now very disposable and if someone chooses to be a pitcher in baseball today, he has to enter the sport knowing his odds of getting to MLB free agency is under one in a million odds, and that's one in a million for people who actually play organized baseball.
Most teams have already concluded they won't bestow long term contracts to MLB pitchers who reach free agency. The odds for injury are too high. This will be the prime reason for the death of the 300-game winning pitcher, and except for the strikeout record, it may spell the end of all career pitching records being breakable.
