Reports: Strike Zone and Intentional Walk Rules Changed

Sources say that the Competition committee of Major League Baseball has agreed to change the strike zone as well as intentional walks.

Having a new strike zone could be on the horizon for baseball while the intentional walk as we know it could disappear after the committee agreed to change both at owners meeting of Major League Baseball this week.

The dramatic changes, if actually approved could be placed in effect beginning next season.

The committee agreed to raise the lower part of baseball’s strike zone to the top of the knees of a hitter said sources. The rule currently stipulates that the strike zone start, “at the hollow that is beneath the batter’s kneecap.”

The change by the competition committee is due to a trend by umpires to call pitches strikes more often on pitches that are below the batter’s knees.

The intentional walk rule change would end the longstanding practice of throwing four outside lob pitches. Instead, a team will only need to say it wants to walk the batter intentionally and the hitter immediately takes first base.

These two new changes cannot go into effect without being approved by the playing rules committee of MLB, which Sandy Alderson the general manager of the New York Mets chairs and is a cross section of the league’s executives.

Sources have said that the two changes would be presented to the Players Association a part of the negotiations for a new contract.

However, there is no requirement that the rules committee must receive a signoff of the changes by the union.

The changes could be implemented as early as the start of next season even without the blessing of the MLB Players Association.

Both of the new changes have been designed to address the concerns of the Commissioner and others about the pace of each game. Ending the traditional four pitches for the intentional walk would end some dead time.

However, adjusting the strike zone is made to produce additional balls in play, additional base runners and more action during a time when close to 30% of the league’s hitters in a game either strikeout or walk.

Neil Walker the second baseman for the New York Mets gave his support of raising the strike zone’s bottom to above the knees.

Joe Maddon the manager of the Chicago Cubs said he was in favor of any change that produces more walks and is not positive that the change would put more balls into play.