The Rules and the Game

Of all the signs of spring, none is as exciting and as American as baseball’s Opening Day.

Yet recently, each new season has come with fresh complaints about the sport. It’s definitely not dying as some argue. But neither is its popularity rising. Many commentators and casual fans are concerned that the sport is too “boring” for modern audiences. And while more devoted fans would probably contest that description, there is a sense that something is amiss with the way the game is currently played. This has meant that for several years, a big part of the national baseball conversation has been about rule changes.