I have read that baseball's new administration is thinking of reducing the strike zone to "improve" the game. The key word here is "improve."
"Score more runs," has been the cry. Then, with equal vigor, they scream, "shorten the game, it's far too long."
Shrinking the strike zone is not only a bad idea, it has not been thought out properly. Reducing the size of the strike zone will increase the length of the game.
Further, this rule change serves to benefit those who have reduced skills rather than trying to improve upon their abilities. Teach hitters not to swing for the fences but to make consistent contact with the pitch. Reduce the amount of strikeouts through hitter improvement. Learn to be a better offensive player rather than cater to lower quality players. This is the same thinking that went into lowering the entrance standards of colleges to allow lower quality brains to enter the halls of higher learning at the expense of those with better IQs.
When professional baseball expanded from its original 16 teams, pitching suffered greatly. There just were not enough talented pitchers to go around, but no one ever suggested to increase the size of the strike zone to equalize the situation. Instead, over the years, more and better pitchers have evolved to make them a premiere force in baseball. Now, it's time for the hitters to learn how to hit; to learn where the pitch will be called a strike; to avoid swinging at those pitches that are low and away, off the plate, or neck high.
This new regime is thinking poorly. Sooner or later, it may place a maximum on the velocity permitted for any pitch. (throw faster than 91mph and that pitch will automatically be called a ball). Get your act together baseball and train the offense to understand how to play the game. Babe Ruth, Pie Traynor, Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio and others of their era are all laughing at you.
Richard Bender