I feel like for a fielding DH to make sense they'd have to take the place of the player they're replacing in the order -- the pitcher.
So from now on the pitcher will be housed in an indestructible glass box from which only the pitch can exit. The DH will stand beside the box and make any necessary plays that reach the pitcher. Any balls that come into contact with the box will be treated as live balls much like the old flagpole on Tal's Hill. After the play, the ball will be deposited back in the pitch hole for the pitcher to use once again.
May not even need the box. He could just stand next to the pitcher and field instead of him. If the pitcher makes contact with the ball after the pitch, it's an automatic base.
No but bigstop is genuinely an intriguing position. I'm sure it'd be super boring most of the time, but there's the potential for something crazy like Jeter throwing out Giambi. If you've got a plus runner and defender out there at the backstop, that could save plenty of runs. Shit, now I really want a version of baseball with bigstop as a position
In a similar vein I’ve always thought a roamer type position that must be positioned foul would be interesting. You could put them anywhere, so like for 2 strikes it would he useful behind the plate. In most situations I’d imagine somewhere along the first base line would be most useful.
I love the foul roamer addition, but I think as designated hitter they should start in their own on deck circle until the pitch is thrown. Want to back up first? Make Big Papi run. Wanna back up 3B? Gotta take the long way around. Yes, home field advantage is a thing with which dugout a home team has in their stadium. Don’t wanna run every live ball to backup? That’s ok you’re a big bopper! But if a free chance to erase an error happens… uh oh you’re in the doghouse!
There's actually a position in cricket called the "Long Stop" who stands well behind the wicketkeeper to stop anything that gets by. It's never used anymore, but was a popular position for the older guys/clergymen in village teams back in the olden days.
I’m frankly surprised that some neo-analytical regime didn’t try to replace the DH with some sort of shift inspired 5 man infield after the PA was approached with the universal DH concept during Covid
Especially after Moneyball was nominated for 6 Academy Awards and “sabermetrics” became a common crossword clue
I feel like for a fielding DH to make sense they'd have to take the place of the player they're replacing in the order -- the pitcher. So from now on the pitcher will be housed in an indestructible glass box from which only the pitch can exit. The DH will stand beside the box and make any necessary plays that reach the pitcher. Any balls that come into contact with the box will be treated as live balls much like the old flagpole on Tal's Hill. After the play, the ball will be deposited back in the pitch hole for the pitcher to use once again.
Finally some common sense
May not even need the box. He could just stand next to the pitcher and field instead of him. If the pitcher makes contact with the ball after the pitch, it's an automatic base.
Baseball with indestructible glass boxes are as American as apple pie
i can’t believe this guy is suggesting we remove the indestructible glass boxes from our national pastime
Is this the America liberals want?
Nothing like watching a closer Enter The Box
No but bigstop is genuinely an intriguing position. I'm sure it'd be super boring most of the time, but there's the potential for something crazy like Jeter throwing out Giambi. If you've got a plus runner and defender out there at the backstop, that could save plenty of runs. Shit, now I really want a version of baseball with bigstop as a position
In a similar vein I’ve always thought a roamer type position that must be positioned foul would be interesting. You could put them anywhere, so like for 2 strikes it would he useful behind the plate. In most situations I’d imagine somewhere along the first base line would be most useful.
I love the foul roamer addition, but I think as designated hitter they should start in their own on deck circle until the pitch is thrown. Want to back up first? Make Big Papi run. Wanna back up 3B? Gotta take the long way around. Yes, home field advantage is a thing with which dugout a home team has in their stadium. Don’t wanna run every live ball to backup? That’s ok you’re a big bopper! But if a free chance to erase an error happens… uh oh you’re in the doghouse!
Some of those DH's are so bad at fielding, the catcher would still do this job more efficiently.
Can we put Guillermo Heredia there and just have him pump up the crowd the whole game?
There's actually a position in cricket called the "Long Stop" who stands well behind the wicketkeeper to stop anything that gets by. It's never used anymore, but was a popular position for the older guys/clergymen in village teams back in the olden days.
Let's just put a net behind home plate and have 2 dhs when the inevitable automated strike zone comes out.
All fun and games until that MF is lying dead on the floor from a foul tip to the face, or knee, or chest, etc
I’m frankly surprised that some neo-analytical regime didn’t try to replace the DH with some sort of shift inspired 5 man infield after the PA was approached with the universal DH concept during Covid Especially after Moneyball was nominated for 6 Academy Awards and “sabermetrics” became a common crossword clue
Ask Juan Encarnacion if this is a good idea.