MLB: Should The Strike Zone Be Raised?

Last May, the MLB competition committee voted to raise the strike zone above the hitter’s kneecap pending approval of the playing rules committee. Would the change have a positive effect on the game?

Since Rob Manfred took over the MLB Commissioner’s Office in January of last year, the biggest focus of his tenure has been improving the “pace of action” of baseball. Between limiting dead time between innings and requiring hitters to keep a foot in the batter’s box at all times, Manfred has made his position clear on where he sees Major League Baseball heading.

Attempting to appeal to the younger generations of baseball fans, Manfred is looking to keep the game moving with exciting web gems filling up people’s social media feeds. In line with that thinking, he has led the movement for raising the strike zone in 2017.

MLB Pitchers have collectively posted an 8.05 K/9 so far this season, the highest mark in baseball history. By raising the bottom of the strike zone—the area where hitters struggle the most—to the top of the kneecap, Manfred is hoping to see a significant boost in offensive numbers.

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There is little doubt that raising the strike zone will give baseball the spike in offense that it’s looking for. Jon Roegele of Hardball Times wrote an excellent piece in July 2015 where he estimated that the change would result in approximately 1,000 more runs scored per season. 1,000! Strikeouts may be sexy, but if the ball is in play more often, there are more opportunities for home runs, stolen bases, and impressive defensive plays. Basically, the MLB will take anything other than a superstar hitter walking back to the dugout after having been rung up at the knees.

So is there a problem that really needs fixing? From the MLB’s perspective, it’s easy to see how they would want more offense. With the median age of baseball viewers an eye-popping 53 years old, more action would, theoretically, help draw in a younger audience. Sure, traditionalists are going to hate the change, but the MLB isn’t really worried about them—they already watch baseball anyway.

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Baseball fans should be thrilled about this rule change. Games will only get more exciting. In an age where dominant relief pitchers basically cut games short, offenses will have a better chance at making late comebacks. Pitchers won’t be too happy, but their run at throwing pitches in an area where hitters can barely make good contact has gone on for far too long. Chicks dig the long ball, and a whole lot more are about to be making their way into the outfield seats.