I’m a purist, plain and simple. Tried and true, through and through. Old school and old-fashioned. I believe baseball should be played the way it was invented, not manipulated for television ratings or made easier for the modern athlete. The game was built on strategy, skill, and toughness. Unfortunately, a lot of that has been watered down over the years.
Take the designated hitter, for example. When they took away the pitcher hitting, they removed a key element of strategy. Managers like Bill Virdon and Phil Garner thrived on making the right call—bunting a runner over, deciding when to pinch-hit, and finding ways to manufacture runs. Now, we just watch another slugger swing for the fences.
And don’t get me started on putting a runner at second base to start extra innings. Come on, man! Whatever happened to earning your way on base? How does the scorer score that anyway? You can get credit for scoring a run, without getting on base? Baseball is about battling through those late-inning duels, not handing teams a scoring chance. This rule feels like something borrowed from a beer-league softball game.
Then there’s the disappearance of the complete game. I know this is not a rules change, but it changes the rules of the game. Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson used to throw 300+ innings a season without blinking. Now, a pitcher gets to 100 pitches and he’s yanked like he just ran a marathon. Starters used to gut it out, giving their teams everything they had. Today’s pitchers are treated like fragile china.
I’m fine with closers, set-up guys, and even the occasional lefty specialist. But this new “bullpen game” trend where an opener pitches one inning, followed by a parade of relievers? That’s not baseball. That’s a managerial puzzle that no one asked for. Starters should be starters. Let them pitch deep into games and dictate their own fate.
And while we’re at it, let’s talk about defensive shifts. Back in the day, hitters learned how to adjust, not just hit into an analytics-driven wall of fielders. Would Ted Williams have let a shift take away his hits? Not a chance. He’d have bunted down the third-base line until they stopped shifting. Today’s players just keep swinging for the fences, refusing to adapt.
And don’t even mention robo-umps. Part of baseball’s charm is the human element, the argument at home plate, the manager kicking dirt on the ump’s shoes. You take that away, and you take away the soul of the game. Look, I get using replay for a close call at first base or a bang-bang play at the plate. Everyone’s human, and a little replay keeps the game fair. But now, we’re heading down a road from which we’ll never return. First, it was limited replay. Then it expanded. Now, we’re flirting with the idea of removing umpires altogether in favor of a robot calling balls and strikes. No thanks! Give me the occasional missed call over the cold, lifeless precision of an automated strike zone.
And while we’re on the subject of rule changes, what happened to actually throwing four pitches for an intentional walk? Now, the manager just holds up four fingers, and the batter trots to first. I remember players getting base hits off intentional pitches for balls. You take that away, and you take away a small but real piece of baseball drama. Just one more instance of the game losing its little nuances.
Look, I’m all about rules that protect player safety. We don’t need guys getting career-ending injuries in avoidable collisions. But let’s be reasonable. Don’t take away the game the way it’s meant to be played. Blocking home plate used to be a part of the game. Breaking up a double play used to be a skill, not a penalty. At some point, you have to let baseball be baseball.
And why did they increase the size of the bases? Sure, they’ll say it’s for player safety and to increase stolen bases, but what’s next? A 20-inch home plate? Baseball’s dimensions were just fine for over a century. Stop tinkering with the fundamentals of the game.
Call me old-fashioned. Call me stubborn. But baseball was better when it was played with grit, strategy, and heart. Let the boys play the game the way it was meant to be played.
Thanks for letting me rant. I started this blog 20 years ago, and I’ve earned that right. Just call me old, out of tune, and yelling at clouds. But hey, at least I still remember when a pitcher’s mound was for pitchers, not just a spot to warm up before the bullpen parade begins.
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
16 responses to “Baseball: The way it was meant to be”
Regarding robo-umps, “Give me the occasional missed call over the cold, lifeless precision of an automated strike zone.” I think we have Angel Hernandez to thank for this, as he gave us much more than the occasional missed call.
Regarding intentional walks, do you remember this one? https://www.mlb.com/cut4/tony-pena-and-john-hudek-s-fake-intentional-walk-strikeout-c215546572
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A classic! Old-school trickery tactics! Love it!
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20 years ago. Can’t believe it’s been that long.
You are old fashioned. And out of tune. And yelling at the clouds. Most importantly, you are right.
The game has seen many evolutions since scrap iron was scratching out runs and starters were making 40 starts a year and pitching 300 innings. You probably remember baseball from before they were even tracking saves as a stat.
I hated the universal DH as much as anything. I remember watching a game probably 15 years ago now where LaRussa and Pinella were going head to head, Cubs vs. Cards, it was like the 7th inning, Pinella had one lefty in his bullpen named Marshall. LaRussa had Jon Jay (a lefty hitter that was crushing righties that year) available to pinch hit for the pitcher (coming up 3rd in the inning) and our old friend Colby Rasmus due up to start the inning. I don’t remember the exact sequencing anymore but basically in that inning that started with the score tied Pinella had burned through 3 relievers that included Marshall playing LF for a batter to try and make LaRussa not use Jay as the PH for the pitcher – but LaRussa still managed to squeeze out 1 run in an inning that included a sac bunt and a stolen base – that ended up the difference in the game. It was one of my favorite all time baseball moments that just can’t exist in today’s environment.
In defense of how baseball pitchers are handled today, with the kids gloves, in 1985 there were fewer guys in the entire league that could throw 95 than what is on the Astros roster right now. In pursuit of velocity we changed the game because that velocity has made everyone more injury prone. Ryan and Johnson were outliers, along with Clemens (apparently with a little assistance) – as guys that could maintain that velocity and the durability.
Baseball has the same disease the NBA does. They sit around and run the exact same offensive sets every possession now, trying to create open 3s. The Rockets were a big part of that evolution in Harden’s best years. Now its draw walks, wait on the 3 run homer. LaRussa and Pinella are relics of the past. Now its managing personalities and egos more than it is games.
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Outstanding article Chip!
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I love the game. But it sure has changed. Remember the old days? Two ten team leagues. Everyone went home except the two clubs playing in the World Series. And then it was over way too soon. I guess I’m not a purist.
In argument after argument, I fought against the DH. Especially when rumors started circulating the Astros would be bribed out of the National League. I can’t even fathom watching Framber trying to get a bunt down today. I’ve changed.
Alas, when the Astros go into extras, I turn the game off. The extra inning rule is a tawdry stunt, sadly embraced by owners, managers, players, broadcasters, everyone but the fans, so they can get home at a reasonable hour and keep stadium labor costs down. Fans were not a consideration. I still hold on to a bit of my roots.
Fragile china. That’s what happens when 9 year old kids are taught to throw breaking balls. It continues through high school and collage. And velocity is pushed and pushed. And when the time comes, there is plenty of fragile china entering the big leagues, still trying to add MPH. I don’t think the fragile china problem will ever go away. And most of the damage is done before a kid enters professional baseball.
Totally with you on defensive shifts. The players would have fixed that issue eventually.
No charm in crappy umps for me. They’ve ruined too many important games. Unless we go back to radio broadcasts only, give me the technology if that’s what it takes to get a call right.
Chip, I’m pretty much on the fence about the rest of the stuff. But drilling a guy at the plate and wiping out a career does give me some pause. Especially when it happens in an All Star game.
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Chip and I are OG’s in alignment on most things.
Now we are not quite homicidal in yelling at the MLB to “get off the shed” …..
Get Off the Shed: New Friends – SNL
(Don’t know why that one came up – but I love some of those old skits – others I don’t love so much).
Ranking my hate:
(The worst) the extra inning rule – maybe if we had the type of team like we had with Craig (Mr. bunt) Reynolds – where we could squeeze out runs – maybe I would like it…..ahh no I would never like it even if we won ten in a row.
The use of openers – this just seems like something that is against the nature of the game
The “wimpy” starting pitchers. I guess if the stats showed that arm injuries had plummeted to nothing I could understand how they are coddling the pitchers, but if the Astros are typical – it feels like the injury train has accelerated.
In some ways I do hate when obvious pitches should be called the other way by replay. But how far are we away from having robot players playing in front of robot umpires?
Ranking my love:
I do like the expanded playoffs. They are reasonable in baseball unlike basketball where it seems like way too many teams get in.
I have my feet in both sides on the video replay world. I do like it when an injustice is reversed. I don’t like it when it looks like the guys in NY are wimping out and saying there is not enough evidence to reverse the call (when I think there is).
I have to admit that after first hating the designated hitter that I do like it, especially since they made it that both leagues have it. I guess in my mind, pitchers batting is kind of like when there is a blowout and some backup SS is throwing 65 mph fastballs to finish off the game.
I do like that unlike my childhood, that most games are available somewhere to watch. Back in my childhood they would televise Sunday road games only. Of course I did love to listen to the radio back then (go back to Chip’s previous post).
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I’m more of a purist too. In 1969 remember they lowered the pitching mound from 15 to 10 inches to provide more “hitting”. I’m still not a fan of the DH since it took that aspect of strategy out of the game. I absolutely despise the extra innings rules, but I do like the playoff system but I think they might have overdone it. Before it’s over they might just take the 8 best teams in each league and put them in a bracket and do like the NBA (spit). The driving force behind all of this stuff is the almighty $.
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Lowering the mound, in 1969, was a pointed spear at Bob Gibson. The result of the lowered mound caused Gibson’s ERA to add a full run at the end of the ’69 season… to 2.18!
His ’68 ERA average for the season… 1.12!!!
Same for Denny McClain.
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Gamel is a goner, cut on Saturday along with his $1.2 million salary, which looked like a smart move only a few months ago. It was a $200k gamble since that was his signing bonus. Will he pick up with another team at this late juncture, or will he be back in Houston sooner than later?
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singleton cut today. This looks interesting.
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The Astros are trying to get younger and more athletic, versatile too. Singleton was none of those things. I’m with that decision all the way. No doubt there will be growing pains. On the flip side, I really hope Jose can quickly develop into a serviceable left fielder. The club obviously recognizes his deficiencies at second base. They don’t want to have to play him there too often. And we’ve got to hide him somewhere for half a decade.
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You and I agree they should get younger and more athletic. I don’t think that’s why this happened though. Dezenzo and Smith are just simply better than. Whether I think younger and more athletic is on Dana’s mind is irrelevant though because they just got younger and more athletic.
From all the things I see on the internet all over it seems there are a whole lot of people that hope Cam is the answer to a club that has watched more stars walk than they have been able to produce over the last 6 years. I hope they aren’t putting to much pressure on him.
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I think if Singleton was more athletic and more versatile, he’d be on the roster. But he just does not do enough things well.
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A few notes –
Bowden is reporting that the Astros have committed to Cam Smith as the opening day RFer. I guess the slow start scares Dana more than the 16 days and another year. Or maybe he thinks he is so special that he is winning RoY and getting that service time anyway.
He also reported that Guillorme has been told he isn’t making the opening day roster. With Singleton and Guillorme either on their way to Sugar Land or opting to become FAs its more apparent that Dezenzo and Smith are here to stay.
I think Rodgers is a mistake, but its likely he opens in some sort of shared PT with Dubon at 2B. Stuck a finger in one hole (LF) and created another (2B). Personally, the Astros would be better if Paredes moved to 2B and Dezenzo went to 3B, but I get their defensive concerns in that alignment. But Zach Dezenzo is a much better option to hit 8th than Dubon or Rodgers.
Maybe that Jake/Chas bromance is about to get tested, because they will probably split some time out in CF and if one starts hitting and the other continues not to hit….. I’ll go on record and say neither will hit and both will probably be out of Houston in 2026.
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I’d rather both Smith and Dezenzo play everyday somewhere. I just don’t see enough starts with both guys on the ML roster, unless we get told Walker is going on the injured list. Maybe that’s it.
Allegedly, Paredes is not a better option at second than Altuve. And Jose in left is far from ideal, but where do you hide him? Our two best hitters need to be hidden. We only get one DH a game.
Given the opportunities, I think Chas will hit and Jake won’t. I’m just going by history. But for now, Jake gets more starts simply because he can cover a bit more ground than Chas. Ordinarily Chas would be a good option in center, but he’s put himself at a real disadvantage.
I think plenty will change during the 2025 season and that might mean Chas or Jake goes somewhere, earlier than 2026.
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I’d rather both Smith and Dezenzo play everyday somewhere. I just don’t see enough starts with both guys on the ML roster, unless we get told Walker is going on the injured list. Maybe that’s it.
Allegedly, Paredes is not a better option at second than Altuve. And Jose in left is far from ideal, but where do you hide him? Our two best hitters need to be hidden. We only get one DH a game.
Given the opportunities, I think Chas will hit and Jake won’t. I’m just going by history. But for now, Jake gets more starts simply because he can cover a bit more ground than Chas. Ordinarily Chas would be a good option in center, but he’s put himself at a real disadvantage.
I think plenty will change during the 2025 season and that might mean Chas or Jake goes somewhere, earlier than 2026.
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