LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Ruben Tejada #11 of the New York Mets is hit by a slide by Chase Utley #26 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning in an attempt to turn a double play in game two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Major League Baseball is changing the rules to speed up the game, and to avoid serious injuries to players. This past week MLB and the players union voted to make changes to what is classified as a legal slide:
- Under the rules change announced today, a runner must make a “bona fide slide,” defined as making contact with the ground ahead of the base.
- Being in position to reach the base with a hand or foot and to remain on it, and sliding within reach of the base without changing his path to initiate contact with a fielder.
- An umpire can call both the runner and batter out for a violation.
They also are making changes to speed up the game, by limiting time that managers can spend chatting it up with the pitcher on the mound. Below, we discuss:
Do you think the changes will improve the game?