Thoughts on current and future state of the mlb

Aug 11

By: Will Aimette

Introduction:

The MLB is constantly tweaking rules, making new ones, and advancing technology to the point where we might have robot umpires sooner than we think. I write this article not to criticize the state of the MLB, but to analyze the game’s future.

The MLB is too…

Commercialized. It’s too focused on giveaways and special events that spoil the game for more action and entertainment, mostly for sales purposes. Baseball is the chess of sports, it’s a strategy game. For example, real fans don’t want to watch a swing-off to determine the fate of the All Star Game because it’s not actual baseball. It’s basically another Home Run Derby. Sure, it’s fun, but it’s all really just a fundraiser for the MLB. Plus, all the Home Runs have taken away the real beauty of the game. Rarely do we see the once popular hit-and-run, bunt, and scrappy style in baseball. Instead, we get .240 guys who at best, will hit a home run every 30 innings. Again, it can be fun, but it’s gone too far. So if you want to watch a sport with so much action, I have a great sport for you: Basketball. (And you know it’s getting bad when a 15-year-old is saying this).

A rule i would change is to…

Make the ball have less pop. I’m not talking about another Deadfall Era, just toned down from what we have right now. Home runs have increased by over 200% in the last 15 years. Like I said earlier, it takes away from the beauty of the game. Ever notice why a team like the Brewers are consistently successful? Because they don’t rely solely on home runs as their source of offense. Just saying, there is a reason the 2024 Mets and 2025 Brewers were/are both fun to watch and it’s not because of home runs. What I’m mainly trying to say is if you take away some home runs, even by just a little, it makes a better game.

One thing that annoys me is…

How late the games are on now, especially in the playoffs. I get it, I am slightly biased because I am on East Coast Time, but the games are right in the middle of October. Kids have school and adults have work, meaning they both have to wake up early. Then the average game is from 8pm-11pm or even 9pm-12am, and you can’t watch them. And recording them? Don’t even try. Trust me, you’ll know the score before the end of the day. MLB has to fix this. I think the LATEST a playoff game should be is 8pm Eastern Time. I mean, I couldn’t even finish two full innings before 10:30pm in last year’s NLDS! That makes it so people can at least watch 6 innings on average in the East, and in the West the game starts at 5pm, meaning you will be able to watch the last 6 innings on average. At least that’s somewhat reasonable.

THe Problem is with mlb fields is…

Their fences are so inconsistent. I get how it adds a fun factor to the game. Especially when Pete Crow-Armstrong goes to Coors Field to track down a fly ball in the huge outfield grass, or in Rogers Centre when a foul ball goes into the bullpen… yet it’s on the field. That’s what gives each stadium it’s uniqueness, and I respect that. But there has to be a higher minimum for the home run fence. Take Yankee Stadium for example. Juan Soto, a lefty, had his best year of his career there. He bat .290 with over 40 home runs. Why? Well Soto’s a lefty, and the right field fence sure helps. Right down the line stretches only 314 feet, the shortest fence by far of any stadium in the Majors. (Or Minors, for that matter). Of course credit goes completely to Juan, but the ballpark certainly is a factor. Then Soto goes to the Mets, and fans expect the exact same offensive production with a fence 35 feet further in his first year there? It’s amazing to me that people never bring up, or even consider this fact. Or take a guy like Kyle Tucker, who is stuck in a prison of a ballpark, Wrigley Field. It’s not crazy to me that his home run production is less than usual. Another example, go ahead and put Schwarber in Yankee Stadium and see if he’ll compete with Judge’s record. So what I’m saying isn’t to remove the uniqueness from each stadium, instead just set a standard so stats aren’t so inflated by certain stadiums.

The Biggest problem in the mlb is...

Injuries. Especially for pitchers. Over 40% of current pitchers need or have had Tommy John Surgery. Those are numbers we’ve never seen before. Imagine you’re pitcher in the MLB, knowing there is a pretty good shot you’ll need to replace the tendon in your elbow with your tendon in your leg. Pretty discouraging, huh? But the numbers will tell you it’s not too surprising. In the last 15 years, fastball velocity has increased about 2.8 mph. That means at this rate in 2050, the average fastball velocity will be about 97 mph, a feat hardly any could accomplish only a decade ago. Since guys like Hunter Greene and Aroldis Chapman have raised the bar for not only themselves but the whole league, this means that other pitchers are constantly trying to match this, resulting in a way higher injury rate. So what’s the solution? Well from a young age coaches are constantly trying to max out one’s velocity and potential, while in reality it would be more beneficial to pitch a few mph slower for a longer and ultimately a better career.

One Rule i am excited for is…

Challenging balls and strikes. This is actually very useful and removes a little human error the umpires, which is a must-need especially after watching certain games this season. As long as it doesn’t get out of hand, the ABS System, shown in the All Star Game and Spring Training was both useful and efficient, and will ultimately benefit the game.

Conclusion:

While I do hate to end this article on a bad note, I truly believe MLB is eating in the wrong direction, as it is becoming too action packed and commercialized to get the most money and viewings. However, Commissioner Rob Manfred has all the tools necessary to correct these issues, as baseball might very well take a turn for the better.

Will Aimette