MLB Possibly Changing The Strike Zone?

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The MLB is reportedly considering changing the strike zone due to the declining offense.

Since officially taking over for Bud Selig in January, new Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has been proactive about trying to speed up the game and add more offense. The most recent plan would be the biggest so far.

It's no secret that offense across MLB has been in decline. In 2014, the number of runs scored during the regular season fell below 20,000 for the first time since 1995, according to FanGraphs.

Any formal rules change would have to be approved by baseball's Playing Rules Committee. The committee will monitor the strike zone this season and potentially look to implement changes in 2016 at the earliest.

Over the past five seasons, the strike zone has expanded about 40 square inches, from 435 square inches in 2009 to 475 square inches in 2014, according to research conducted by Hardball Times writer Jon Roegele.

The largest part of that expansion is in the lower area of the strike zone, with umpires more frequently signaling strikes for pitches below the kneecap. Low pitches are generally considered more difficult to handle for batters, most of whom have a tougher time driving the ball when reaching down for it. Not surprisingly, the walk rate across the majors is down while the strikeout rate is up.

The last time MLB officially changed the definition of the strike zone came after the 1996 season, when the boundary for the bottom of the zone was lowered from the top of the batter's knees to the bottom.

Christine O'Connor