February 15th, 2023 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Among the many rule changes that will be in play for the 2023 Major League Baseball season (and presumably beyond) will be a size increase of first, second, and third bases from 15 inches to 18 inches.
(The Game Day MLB)
‘Why?” you ask.
A fair question with an almost acceptable answer: Presumably to reduce injuries at and around them – especially at first base – and presumably to increase the number of stolen bases.
Presumably.
But considering that the bases have been 15 inches for nearly all of MLB’s (thus far) 153-year history and were so for every one of Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson‘s MLB record 1,406 career stolen bases, MLB will now have to add an asterisk next to Henderson’s remarkable record – and oh, how baseball fan’s hate asterisks.
(Getty Images)
On the other side of the bigger-base coin and even though the larger bases didn’t create much of a change in either category while being tested at the Triple-A level over the past two seasons, they, coupled with new pickoff rules (which will also come into play in the MLB beginning this season) did create a significant increases in steals-per-nine-innings in the lower minors..
But here’s the kicker – MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and other MLB executives have openly said that they do not believe that the larger bases will lead to teams being unable to control the run game (despite doing so in the low minors). However, and this is a BIG however, injuries were indeed reduced at and around the larger bases throughout all of Minor League Baseball.
As for the actual ‘Why?’, here’s MLB’s explanation for increasing the base size:
The modification’s primary goal is to give players more room to operate and to avoid collisions. This is especially key at first base, where fielders will have an extra 3-inch advantage to stay out of harm’s way from the baserunner while receiving throws.
Kinda hard to argue that one, 153 years notwithstanding. Then again, based on those above MiLB results, you can argue this one:
The change will create a 4 1/2-inch reduction in the distance between first and second base and between second base and third, which will likely encourage more stolen-base attempts. The bigger bases could also have the effect of reducing over-sliding, whereby a player loses contact with the bag after sliding through it.
Regardless, you will probably have a hard time convincing old-school / diehard baseball fans that increasing the size of the bases after 153 years is even remotely a good idea.
On a somewhat humorous note, on Tuesday morning, current Boston Red Sox manager (and former Dodgers base stealer) Alex Cora had this to say about the bigger bases:
“The bases, they’re the bases. Wait ’til you see them – they look like a pizza box, to be honest with you.
“Talking to the minor league coaches and everybody that used the rules last year — it’s not that all of the sudden we’re gonna steal 100 bags with a guy.”
But make no mistake about it, the new stolen base rule will definitely have a Domino(‘s) affect on our beloved National Pastime.
…pun intended.
Play Ball!
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Posted in 
So, size does matter.
Ba-Dum-Bum, Ting
Eduardo Perez made an excellent point this morning on MLB Radio “The Leadoff Spot” – today’s minor league position players come up without the necessary fundamentals like base running — they stretch, do weights, and then get into the cage to hit. I think he is spot on! Outfield defense is no longer emphasized and often we see players assigned to first base who have not been taught the correct/safe way to receive throws — frequently putting themselves in position to be injured by putting their foot toward the middle of the bag when taking a throw. I could go on about the lack of priority placed on defense at other positions as well — it seems that fundamentals and nuances of playing the game the “right way” have been replaced by algorithms. The beautiful game is being destroyed by those with MBA’s rather than those who actually know how to play the game.
I usually agree with JP and do so again on the points he mentioned. For over a century and a half the beauty of the game is that great players (and anyone that makes it to the big leagues is a great player) come and go, but the game is consistent. Brooks Robinson, in my mind the greatest guardian of the hot corner to ever play, had a .267 career BA and 268 HR’s (he did have over 2800 hits) and made it to the Hall; it was his glove and every kid growing up in the 60’s and 70’s knew it. Graig Nettles was another amazing glove (though not in the HOF), that we all remember in the 70’s and 80’s. Arenado I think is in that caliber of defensive player, but to JP’s point, there is not a lot of emphasis on defense in this era. On the flip side of this, the bigger bag will hopefully help our man that is learning to play 2B, Miguel Vargas. The bigger bag should help him ever so slightly on turning two; just a thought.