New Rules - Sports (9/15/2024)
Baseball
Major League baseball has implemented some new rules that have enhanced the game by speeding up play.
By incorporating a pitch clock three-hour games have become a thing of the past.
Although I am not a fan of the phantom runner on second base for extra-inning games,
I do not miss eighteen inning marathons where a team's position player is used as a pitcher to finish the marathon.
I am not sure why it is that when position players are asked to pitch, they feel the need to throw the ball as if they are playing in the senior men's softball league.
Most of these athletes have probably pitched for lower-level teams on their way to the majors and they all have strong arms or they would not have made it to the big show.
New Rule
Position players cannot be used to pitch unless every member of the bullpen has already been used.
New Rule
If a pitcher blows a save, he cannot get the win if his team goes ahead in the following inning.
New Rule
Oven mitts for baserunners? What is this the cooking channell?
Football
One of the most deflating feelings for a football fan is to watch their favorite team execute a spectacular play only to hear the television broadcaster utter those dreaded words -
"But a flag is down". There are just too many penalty flags thrown in professional football.
Sometimes it seems as if the referees are just "flag happy" and looking for their moment to be on television.
Honestly however, most of these penalties seem to be justified.
The problem is that too many coaches are trying to prove themselves to be smarter than the room and resort to chicanery.
Perhaps the game just needs to be simplified.
With today's fast paced offenses, defenses have been forced to find a loop hole to slow down the offense.
Usually at the end of the game and sometime just on a sustained drive, a player on the defense will lay down and fake an injury.
This has proven to be an effective way to slow down the "hurry up" offenses.
New Rule
When the team breaks the huddle the players must stay where they originally line up. No more players in motion.
More times than not the only ones they fool is themselves. This will eliminate the illegal motion penalties we view all too often.
New Rule
Whether it is a false start on the offence or encroachment on the defense, there are just too many off sides penalties.
The snap count should be uniform for all teams. The quarterback can make all the play changes and yell "OMAHA" one hundred times if he wants but his last words must be:
"One, two, three, hike!" This is when and only when the center can snap the ball. Both offense and defensive players will know the snap count.
New Rule
Any player who is injured must sit out for the entire series or until their team uses a time out. This will discourage bogus injuries.
Basketball
The problem with professional basketball is that there are too many timeouts. Especially at the end of the game.
With the number of strategic fouls committed the end of the game is reduced to a snail's pace.
New Rule
With two minutes left if the game, teams cannot call more than two timeouts. Teams will also not be permitted to take consecutive timeouts.
Hockey
Of all the major sports hockey games seem to be the most efficient. It is a fast- paced game lacking in many stoppages of play.
Penalties are called quickly yielding an exciting two-minute power play. Instant re-play reviews are not often called for but when needed they are completed promptly.
The only issue I have with pro-hockey occurs during overtime.
New Rule
During overtime issue a penalty for reverse off-sides. This occurs when the team possessing the puck passes it back into their own zone behind the checkered line.
This creates a game of cat-mouse with little action in the attacking zone.
If a team violates this rule the opposing team will be awarded possession in their own zone.
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