Also. There's the minor leagues. Officially, those are (high to low) AAA, AA, high-A, and low-A. Then there's extended spring training, summer leagues, and associated leagues in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Independent leagues, college, high school, and youth leagues down to 4 year olds. International major leagues in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cuba, and Mexico.

There's a lot of room to test out new rule changes, but it would take a lot of effort to get them adopted every where.

There are some common rule changes that only make sense in leagues to limit length and discrepancies in competition. Limited innings, run limits per inning, mercy rule, home run limits, starting with runners in extra innings.

However, the rules that the MLB are looking into wouldn't make any sense in non-professional leagues. MLB is looking at limiting visits to the mound and pitching clocks.

Your local high school game isn't going to have pitcher-induced piece of play problems because the player's just aren't that good. Or, if they are, then the game will be forfeited early.

I can't imagine MLB fans being okay with rules that stifle competition. Starting an inning with runners on feels 'icky' for lack of a better term.

I remember when the NHL introduced shootouts. As an NHL fan, I was upset, but I understand the reasoning behind it. There's a large constituency that doesn't like games that end in a tie. Penalty shots are exciting, even when they're manufactured. And, it's a common rule in other hockey leagues (and football/soccer). So, not a big change, but disappointing to a lot of fans; myself included.

However, the change from 4-on-4 to 3-on-3. That was excellent, imo.

Just thinking about the number of rule changes in the NHL, since 2005, is pretty amazing. Certainly it is more exciting, but to get back to baseball, it has me thinking of all the room there is to adjust the game of hockey. Eliminate two line pass, adjust equipment size and materials, regulate goalies, regulate defense, regulate fighting, instant icing, concussion testing, etc., etc., etc.

I couldn't even come up with did ways to make baseball "more exciting". And, even if someone did, then I feel that it would be detrimental to the game.

Just for fun.

1. The first batter runner dictates which base is "first" by running left (to "third") or right (to "first"). This would make indeed infield defense more difficult and add an extra degree of thought into the game.

2. Fielders must rotate positions each inning. Now you can't just put the lefty, 250lbs guy at first because he'll have to shag some balls in the outfield and be a nightmare at shortstop.

3. Rescind the "ball in cap", which is a ground rule triple if a fielder catches a ball with his hat. Instead, make it an ground rule double-play. Just for the fun of seeing someone try it and, as a result, for all the dropped balls.

4. Any player that hits a home run may go back up to bat. Why, yes, i would love to see a single player go back-back-back HRs before taking himself out of the game due to exhaustion.

5. The starting pitcher may opt to throw a red/hot ball once per game. If he throws a strike, then it's a strikeout. If it's a ball, a walk. If it's hit, then it can't be caught (else it's a ground rule double). Hit by pitch is a HR. A batted HR is a grandslam. A foul becomes a do over.

6. The opposing team sets your lineup. Starting pitchers must have a minimum days rest. And, the lineup cannot be changed in the first inning except for injury.