Readers add their two cents about Star Tribune's three-day series on baseball

The Star Tribune's three-part series on the state of Major League Baseball drew a wide range of thoughtful online comments. Here are some of the best reader comments from all three parts:

• crpict: "Does it really matter if a game is 15 minutes shorter? With everyone swinging for the fences the game has become one-dimensional. To me the most boring thing to watch in baseball is not the slower pace, but a game that is one-third strikeouts. Also, the more exciting and strategic plays like stolen bases and bunts are way down. If players would just learn how to bunt (like it worked for oh, 100-plus years), the advantage of defensive shifts would take care of itself."

• ronhextall: "I would like a rule that says if you bring in a relief pitcher he must complete the inning. If he leaves because of injury he must go on 15 day DL."

• jastke: Electronic strike zone? Absolutely, and get it instated as soon as possible! Pitch clock? Absolutely, but also with a batter-in-the-box clock and ONLY with the bases empty. Restrict shifts? NEVER!"

• redeye12: "I'm all for the computers calling balls and strikes. But the computers need to call the strike as defined — letters to knees. The zone is basically belt to knees today."

• pan81621: "Anything with the possibility of providing more action and speeding the current pace of play should be at least be given consideration, and the better ideas (should be) tried out in the minors."

• jweidt: "I think soccer has connected with young people because it has a party atmosphere, it is affordable, and the games are over in two hours. Baseball can talk as much as it wants about tradition, but four-hour games and $90 tickets are a problem for a large percentage of the audience."

• gofar37: "The home run craze and acceptance of the K has stifled the careers of players whose physical assets would make them more successful if they learned to be technicians with the bat rather than home run hitters. I believe Byron Buxton may be a good example of that. He has an automatic double, just by getting on base, yet his mental frame seems to be to hit for power."

• gofar37: "Let the game evolve. Every defense has holes somewhere. The next phase will be for hitters to develop a hitting approach that finds them. The home run or nothing thinking has skewed the game in one direction. The defensive shift is an invitation to hitters to change their approaches."

• blowpher: "Why don't all you whiners just quit watching? I have no problem with a five-hour baseball game. What else am I going to do? Mow the lawn? Do the dishes? Go back to the office? Thanks, I'll chug brews and watch baseball as long as they wanna play."

• roadworthy: "Why does the game of baseball feel the need to change? The answer to this question, like most discussions involving sports, is a matter of opinion — and your opinion depends upon how you view the game; is it a game or is it entertainment? I see baseball, and other professional sports, as a game that has been transformed into entertainment. The result is a conflict of two desires pushing and pulling against each other: competition and entertainment. Can we truly have both at the same time?"