The Times’ Bob Oates asked longtime Dodger official Red Patterson to
give baseball’s new commissioner some advice. "I don’t think there’s
any way to improve baseball by changing a rule–I mean any important
rule," Patterson said.

Oates asked about taking bats away from pitchers or speeding up
intentional walks or having platoons of offensive and defensive players
like football. Each time, Patterson defended the status quo.

Here’s one question and answer:

Oates: "After 35 years in baseball, how would you define its basic
appeal to the American public. What makes it the National Pastime?"

Patterson: "It is a game of real finesse and great skill. The
essence is the battle between pitcher and batter. I never cease to
marvel at the skill and reflexes of major league hitters. They have
only an instant
to judge fastball or breaking pitch and get a piece of
wood on a ball coming at such speed and doing so many different things.
The other baseball value is that it’s the same game your father played
and your grandfather. Football can’t say that."

–Keith Thursby