CHANGING TIMES: BASEBALL RIFE WITH NEW RULES, APPROACHES

For a sport that leans so much on familiarity and tradition, baseball seems to be changing at an unusually rapid pace. Whether it’s because of new technology, new strategies or new rules, the game could look a lot different over the next decade or so.

“I think the commissioner’s just trying to stay ahead of the curve, do what’s best for the game. There’s a lot of intelligent people thought this stuff over and there’s a lot of people involved,” said Jim Leyland, the longtime manager who is now a special assistant for the Detroit Tigers. “I’m a big believer thatChanges in baseball tend to happen at the margins. Basketball added a 3-point line and a shot clock, so NCAA Tournament games on YouTube from 35 years ago can look noticeably different from the current product. As for baseball? Go back through the decades, and you’ll see the same basic battle between pitcher and hitter — with fielders positioned mostly the same way.