Major League Baseball has now made clear its hope for players to report to a rebooted training camp on July 1 and a July 24-26 opener. ESPN’s Jeff Passan tweeted last night that the league expects the MLBPA to respond to those dates and the health and safety protocols by 5pm ET today.
Exactly what the final iteration of those health-and-safety protocols will look like isn’t yet clear, although there are some standing indications of what to anticipate. There’s been plenty of back-and-forth about what changes might be put into place for the 2020 season, and while it’s all subject to change until the two sides have a formal agreement, it’s worth taking a pass through where things stand.
The Athletic’s Jayson Stark tweeted yesterday that a universal DH in 2020 was included in the initial version of health and safety protocols. The lack of a formal agreement means that the arrival of the universal DH in 2020 isn’t yet official, but MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweets that “both sides see value” in its implementation — at least for this season. The two parties will presumably discuss its implementation in future seasons this winter.
Also likely to remain in place, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, will be the realignment that sees each team play only within its own division and against the five teams of the corresponding division in the other league. The exact permutations of that scheduling arrangement could take a variety of forms (e.g. a pair of three-game series and one four-game series against divisional opponents, plus one four-game series against each of the five teams in the opposing league’s corresponding division), but the goal will be to generally limit travel schedules to the extent possible, not that it’s a perfect setup for all clubs. It’s not as though Seattle and Arlington are exactly next door, for instance.
The travel schedule impacts the Blue Jays, in particular. The lone Canadian club in MLB, the Jays’ scheduling would appear to be up in the air after Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau extended the U.S./Canada border closure for non-essential travel until July 21. Non-essential air travel into the U.S. is still permitted, but returning to Canada would not be so straightforward.
Toronto’s Triple-A club is housed in nearby Buffalo, N.Y., so perhaps that could be deemed an acceptable alternate site, but that remains speculative. The Blue Jays last week closed down their spring facility in Dunedin, Fla. indefinitely after a player who’d been in contact with some of his Phillies peers displayed COVID-19 symptoms. The Wall Street Journal’s Jared Diamond suggests that the Jays could share Tropicana Field with the Rays.
Other changes may well be on the horizon. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote over the weekend that the league and union had already agreed to begin extra innings with a runner on second base in an effort to avoid marathon games. (Pitchers would not be charged with an earned run if said runner scores.) They’ve also discussed the possibility of allowing already subbed-out players to reenter the game once it reaches extras and even discussed the possibility of ties in 2020, per Nightengale.
None of that is set in stone until the MLBPA formally agrees to the league’s health and safety protocols. While the ridiculous length and contentious nature of the scheduling half of return-to-play negotiations should caution against any assumptions that they’ll be approved without any pushback at all, we’ll get a better sense of where things stand by 5pm ET today.
Interesting!
please no runner starting at second in extra innings as that is not baseball. either play the game right or don’t play it. as it is I want my MLB app refund.
You can’t be serious…
A quick Google search shows that only roughly 1 in 11 games go to extras.
I am pretty content that 10 of 11 games will be played under normal circumstances given the abnormal times
By your numbers, it’s five or six.
Anyway, if that’s what is causing people issues, then we are in good shape.
What difference does it make how many games are played by a stupid, nonsensical rule? If they open the hornets nest of changing the game to appease idiots should don’t like baseball anyway lots of fans will be leaving the sport. Starting with a runner on goes against the fabric of the game.
Did you guys even read the article? The “runner on second” change is not being implemented to appease viewers who are otherwise not inclined to watch baseball.
(What a stupid assumption anyway. How would that even work to get more people to watch? I mean seriously you guys, if there was going to be some gimmicky rule change that was solely designed to increase viewership, making a change that only affects 10% of games, and then only after the first nine innings were played is certainly not the way to do it.)
It’s being done to keep teams from having to a) play marathon games in the midst of such a short season, and b) to help mitigate exposure by trying to reduce the total number of innings each team would have to play.
BlueGreatDane
Nice post.
Fan is short for fanatic and fanatics seldom think.
Well said..
Fans have to accept this year is just going to be a one off year and either accept for what it is or move on. This is not going to be your typical baseball season and just be happy you got something.
The rule has been on Manfred’s wish list for years. He already has it implemented in the minor leagues and the WBC, where he didn’t have to run it through the players.
He is now using the pretext of the pandemic to unload it on MLB. The rule is stupid and should never be used in a baseball game.
I was at a WBC semi final game between where they used this rule, and it made a complete mockery of the result.
Patrick… It might be. And it is on the players wish list.
So, I think you should be worried about 2021 and beyond. It may be for keeps.
But as for 2020, It’s is pretty near the bottom of my concerns.
If it’s about “marathon” games, then don’t use it until the 13th inning…
ExileInLA.
How do they do hockey? Five minute overtime then a shootout?
Giving teams three innings before implementing the rule seems like a pretty good idea to me.
So then just end the game in a tie
“Fan is short for fanatic and fanatics seldom think.” … very clever, how long you been waiting to polish off that little gem?
If it was on the players’ wish list, then why have they rejected it every time Manfred brought it up so far? And why did they reject it for 2021 in this round of talks?
No doubt that Tony Clark will sell out all that is sacred to get the players more money, or at this point in time- to recover some face that got eaten off his cranium by Manfred in the last CBA. The DH has been something that the players have pushed, but not this. They’ll sell out on this for value, just as quickly as they threw amateur players and minor leaguers under the bus for a fistful of dollars, but this is Manfred’s baby, and it needs to be aborted!
And I thought it was fup duck when Selig called a tie after 11 innings in the all star game.
This ^
Have a home run derby after the 11th inning. Two best hitters per side, hitting off their own pitching coach or other designated pitch groover.
I understand why players may want this, and even why owners would want this – more predictability and fewer innings results in easier to manage teams, and likely fewer injuries.
Why would fans want this? MLB seems to be dead set on reducing the time of games to increase fans, but who is complaining that extra inning games go long? Extra inning games are usually pretty exciting – especially if you’re rooting for the home team. If baseball could get the average game under 2:45, who cares if the average extra inning game goes 3:30?
I don’t understand why they don’t just end it in a tie after the 12th… end of issue, no convoluted nonsense
That’s what little league will do, lmao
supposedly I’m getting my refund! this is not baseball. concentrate on the next CBA!
I wonder when MLB start broadcasting games?
Factually speaking, as soon as the games start playing.
K
With everything that has been leaked over the last 3 months from both sides, I find it unusual that more info about the proposed “health and safety protocols:” has not been made public.
I get there will be lots of testing, but what about living with family, paternity leave, quarantine, hotels,etc?
That’s not about money, which has been at the forefront of these discussions.
Like your avatar – that is Bob in mine too
The least important part of the negotiations was the health and safety protocols. It’s always been about the money.
Maybe, but it’s the most important part in having a season.
The biggest to the most important thing is for them to expand the dugouts. I would say start construction now and make the dugout six times larger in length so the players could have six foot social distancing between each other.
Would that really be so easy or practical? Just to play one half a season? And still the possibility of the virus spreading anyway?
Why on Earth would they have to expand the dugouts when every stadium is going to have tens of thousands of empty seats? Doy. Y’all aren’t exactly the sharpest tools in the shed.
BlueGreatDane
Captain obvious strikes again.
@Iknowmore, even if they could enlarge dugouts like that quickly (which they can’t), how do you try to keep players socially distancing inside the locker rooms? Players are packed into locker rooms…..
That extra inning idea is a silly stunt. How many marathon games are there in reality? Most extra inning games end in the 10th or 11th inning. They’re worried about a rare occurrence.
Then would you be happy if it was the 12th inning and on?
Yes, but I’d still rather call it a tie at that point.
Alright
-Yawn-
This is such a mess… owners claiming there business isn’t profitable even in good times, millionaire players whining as if they’re being oppressed, fans not understanding the difference between not being paid for a job not being done and the concept of what “loss” means… meanwhile there’s a virus out there that’s gonna have final say anyway.
No the virus itself won’t have final say. The people who brought you the virus will have final say.
A Canadian team sharing a stadium with the Rays in Tampa…when they were floating the idea of the Rays splitting half the year in Canada (Montreal). smh
There is NO MLB team in Tampa.
Just as long as the Giants/Jets are still in NY
There is an MLB team in Tampa. They won 90 games. You can make the case there is no MLB team in Detroit or Baltimore.
I think his point was that the Tampa Bay team actually plays in St. Petersburg xD
How you going to handle a multi-player breakout on a team?
Won’t the whole team be quarantined?
Quarantines are for the sick, not the healthy.
Smokin Joe Charboneau.
Define sick. A large percentage of people who carry the virus are not sick. Do you know how long those Typhoid Mary’s have to be quarantined…. I don’t. But they still have to be quarantined.
Exposed, also.
I have to say I’m not a fan of the extra innings rule. I saw that in action in a AAA game and it takes away from things for me. Instant advantage for the offense.
It’s like a slow pitch softball league. Smh
You are factually incorrect. There is no MLB team in Tampa.
sorry. This response belongs in a different thread.
Clown show.
No info on roster size and the make up of the so called “taxi squads?”
Yesterday, I was pissed off. I had a rant on here about how every conversation I have about this mess either turns into a argument over who’s to blame, a political statement (despite it being political), or how the virus is no worse than the flu,( and that they should stop crying and play). Why people keep saying those three things over and over IDK, but what I do know is that we can start talking about other things now.
I’m being a homer, but just to change the tone of all of these talks, Bold Prediction, The Rangers will go to the ALCS, IF, they do not face the White Sox in the playoffs. If we do face the Sox we will get swept by them because for some reason they are our kryptonite. And we will only make it to the ALCS because the Rangers always find new and improved ways to dissapoint. (Still would be a good season though)
Hell in this shortened season, anything can happen and any team can get hot over a 60+ game stretch. Who am I to say it won’t be the Rangers? But it won’t be the Rangers.
Anything can happen. I wouldn’t count any team out.
Well, as a Tigers’ fan……
There’s always 2027!!!!
Feel free to count out the Red Sox with no Betts and no pitching… XD
If this season goes the way the last season ended, the Mets would be among the favorites. They started last year 40-51 and finished 86-76, 46-25 since the low point. Any team that goes close to 20 games over .500 in a short 60-game season is a virtual lock for the playoffs.
Lol, are you God and know the future
I HATE the stupid extra inning rule. It’s stupid. It’s an abomination that should never be brought up again. It’s a complete bastardization of the game of baseball. The entire scoring system of baseball is based on advancing a runner from home, around the bases and back home.
I’d rather they just call it a tie.
Or draw straws,
Or flip a coin.
Or give the win to the home team.
Or give the win to the team with the most hits.
Or give the win to the visiting team.
Or ANYTHING, but don’t screw up a perfectly good game.
Unintended consequence time — will sac bunts prevail to move the runner to 3rd, or intentional walks to set up a DP?
What about the new rule this year about relivers facing a minimum of 3 batters?
Yes if this proceeds it will be a mess, and embarrassing.
Perfect is the enemy of the good. If a temporary extra inning rule is causing some fans issues, those fans really need to gain some perspective.
In the big picture, who cares? Complain if it becomes law in the 2021 season. My hope is it doesn’t, but I’ll complain then.
uh, yeah you cant have 17 inning games go to 3am in the morning and then have them on their way the next day to play 10 games in a row still or whatever. its not about strategic implementation as it is to ensure you dont drag on games with players having to go out there everyday. in this climate, with the virus and safety a huge concern, a 17 inning 6 hour long game is ludicrous. and lord no, no, no ties, especially in a short season
Hey Rob, why can’t MLB just have a curfew like the AL did in the old days? Just finish the game some other time.
Not hard (and yes, a reference to naked baserunners).
Remember that? Games had to be suspended if they weren’t over by 1 AM!
I believe Baltimore was the only park where I remember a curfew and I think it was at Midnight.
Every one of your scenarios could see as much push back. I DON’T want a tie.
I really don’t have an issue with the way is reported to being. If they continue that on a regular length season, I definitely would, though.
I’m just happy to have MLB games.
How many times are you going to post the same crap? We get it. You dont like the rule. Get over yourself.
Is there a designated team Mom to bring snacks after the ridiculous extra innings rules?
Any chance of fans? Or should I go ahead and request my refund?
There’s always a chance. In this case, that change is zero.
A few weeks ago Texas said they may allow some fans. That may change now that they have a few more infections. (but apparently no increase in ICU admissions, which is good).
Mayor Lightfoot in Chicago says all public gatherings are strictly verboten. I think Chicago will be on permanent lockdown.
Didn’t Cuomo say he wants fans in NYC? But his decision making hasn’t been the best.
I’ll be passing through Atlanta in August. If the Braves are playing and are selling tickets that aren’t outlandish, I may go.
Regarding your refunds ( and I have some coming to), I’ll bank mine for next season if that is an option
I like bonus baseball. Rarely does it last more then an inning or two.
right, 3 and out, no marathons
In order to have a season, these questions will have to be answered.
1) How often is testing?
2) Is a player contagious before testing positive?
3) How can you stop the spread in the clubhouse?
4) How can you stop the spread from team to team.
5) How many days is a player going to miss if he tests positive?
And to a lesser extent…. Who is going to take the place of the older and higher risk coaches?
1. I read that weekly is the default, but more frequent as the need arises
2. Players are likely.as contagious as anyone else.
3. You can’t. It’s a virus that is as easy to catch as a cold.
4. See answer to number 3.
5. Depends on the severity. Probably 10 at a minimum.
6. Other coaches and staff
Thanks for the attempt. Except for question #1, they can’t be answered.
1) If it’s a week, the season will be cancelled.
2) You didn’t answer the question.
3) You can’t, you’re right.
4) You can’t, you’re right.
5) Depends on the severity? You didn’t answer the question.
As far as managers and coaches, I’m curious who manages the Angels. Maddon can’t be there.
Are they going to be allowed to tag runners?!
only with the ball or the glove, not with their hand or face
Y’all are more what I’d call Corona fans than baseball fans. Maddon can’t be there? Surely you can’t be serious.
Like I guess I could live with the extra inning rule after they hit the 20th inning, maybe…..
Jerry Meals would never let that happen.
Even if temporary, it would be funny if Buffalo got the Blue Jays after years of Toronto wanting to steal the Bills.
MLB would significantly increase its TV ratings parameters by adapting the “runner on 2B” begining in the tenth inning….but only if that runner was required to be naked.
But seriously folks, what’s going to happen if, during Spring Training Part Deux, a significant amount of players test positive; it’s a situation more likely to occur than not. Will there be a 15-day Quarantine DL?
I think we will learn alot in the next 30-45 days if team sports will be viable in the US for the next year or so until there is a vaccine.
Vaccines don’t make a virus go away. Tens of millions get the flu every year even with a credible vaccine.
So, either learn to deal with the virus, or cancel sports (and everything else).
There is no DL anymore.
You should have lead with this.
“Will there be a 15-day Quarantine DL?
That is probably the most important question. How many days is a player expected to miss if he tests positive. It’s going to be at least 15 days. It takes five days just to validate it’s out of his system and it could easily stay in their system for two weeks. And then, what if they get sick? Not really sick, but just sick?
The second question is how likely is it to spread.
Does anyone know the answer to those questions?
what about spitting sunflower seeds?
masks in the dugout/bullpen?
will MLB/pro sports diminish availability of PPE/testing to the general public?
will there be protocols in place to determine if the season should be cancelled?
spitting has been canceled
PPE appears to be widely available
Manfred gets to decide
No spitting, bench reserves are not allowed in the dugout, players not actively in the game will be in the stands or bullpen practicing social distancing.
I’m stealing the naked runner idea—hilarious.
Hilarious? Awww, Bob has his first fan.
And has to run the bases backwards!
Nothing like hyperbole to advance a conversation.
rebop: depends on your (ahem) point of view……
Lets just start every inning with the bases loaded. Since nothing matters anyway.
Not everyone is going to be lining up to get a poisonous vaccine. Look up the ingredients. Vaccines do far more harm than good.
Thanks old man, I’ll be careful to avoid any vaccines with mind altering ingredients.. Meanwhile, you ought to finally consider sobering up. It’s never too late.
So no agreement was reached
What’s wrong with a tie in an abomination of a season?
Start an inning with last out in previous inning at 2nd? What does that prove? Lucky team wins and hard fought 9 innings are wasted!
At least put a good runner out there — might as well have a designated runner, that could be exciting.
And start him on 1st base.
Tie after 12 innings.
Just curious, was 1981 an abomination of a season? The Dodgers won the World Series based on a 57 game season.
First time i’ve seen that mentioned anywhere in all these months. Seems like everyone forgot.
Hey cubfever, there were several comments/articles/tweets last week about the 1981 season.
I think the comparison is apt. Does LA ’81 WS have an asterisk?
Saw you play at Comiskey Joe!
‘81 season an abomination? It kinda was, wasn’t it?
81 season was a complete joke. Let’s start by saying that in 1981 Major league baseball’s best team in the regular season which had the most wins and best winning percentage was not eligible to make the playoffs. They did not make the playoffs because of rules and ideas of stupidity.
Revisionist history much?
It was almost 40 years ago, (man how times flies) and other than Cardinals and Reds fans, in the last 40 years I don’t know anyone who considers that a tainted season.
Cardinals and Reds have a legitimate complaint, too. But the possibility should have been addressed in the preliminary discussions for how to award playoff spots.
Almost makes one think Tony Clarke was in those negotiations
I mean, you asked if folks thought the ‘81 season was also an abomination, probably thinking you where going to call out hypocrisy or something. Folks said, yes, the ‘81 season was also tainted. Now you’re arguing with that. What is it you’re looking for here?
Cardinal and Reds fans have a huge complaint. However, if the season ended after 57 games, I’m not sure they would.
they voted the Yankees and Dodgers into the playoffs, and kept two teams with the best records in their division overall out of the playoffs. But it was all motivated by fairness, right? For the good of baseball!
Just like shortening the season is based on health concerns! Riiiiiight.
Why do you keep spewing that nonsense? They had THE best winning percentage, by the qualifying criteria, of ANY team making the playoffs that year. They all play with the same rules, whether they play by them or not
I spew it because it’s accurate, what is nonsense is your take.
The Dodgers made the playoffs because they finished first in a 57 game season.
They finished 4th in the second season. The Reds had the best record in the NL West that year and didn’t make the post season.
Not questioning the accuracy of the facts. Spinning it to make it sound like it favored the Dodgers somehow is nonsense.
Here’s more facts (Full disclosure: I looked it up to refresh my memory. lol But I knew your choice was less than a half-truth.):
Yankees qualified by winning a 56-gamer, Philly, a 55-game season, …and Milwaukee, KC, Montreal, and Houston 53-gamers.
Excuse me but… huh?
I didn’t say it favored the Dodgers. I said the Dodgers won because they finished first in a 57 game season.
I used the Dodgers as the example because they won the World Series.
I hate the Dodgers. However, I don’t view their title with an asterisk.
How do you figure? The first half of the season was ~57 games. But they also played a second half of ~52 games. So it was 109 games altogether. This really isn’t the same.
And those 52 games were irrelevant. They could have finished 0-52 and still made the playoffs.
The fact is, and it is a fact. The Dodgers made the playoffs based on a 57 game season.
Once the Dodgers reached the playoffs, they won the World Series in an expanded playoff format.
I’m a Dodgers fan and consider their inclusion in the ’81 playoffs to be a joke. It was a weird season for me. Since I was ticked off at the sport because of the work stoppage, I refused to watch when the season resumed. I have watched every World Series since 1967 except that one. Tommy Lasorda owes his Hall of Fame plaque to Bowie Kuhn. Had Kuhn not wrongfully inserted the Dodgers in the ’81 post-season, Tommy never would have won a World Series because he would have been let go way before ’88.
Definitely an abomination!
What’s your suggestion?
The biggest to the most important thing is for them to expand the dugouts. I would say start construction now and make the dugout six times larger in length so the players could have six foot social distancing between each other.
I was on four separate American Airline flights last week and they were 90% full. There was zero social distancing. No big deal.
More effective than bigger dugouts is to not let someone cough or sneeze on you.
And wash your hands.
How do you prevent someone from coughing or sneezing on you?
Asking for a friend.
Make them wear a mask.
You tell them “hey don’t cough or sneeze on me. It’s rude”
If that doesn’t work obviously the only other option is for all the players to wear Hazmat suits
Teams are not going to expand dugouts. They have thousands of empty seats right outside of the dugouts. Just add a temporary door from the dugouts to the stands and you just increased the size of the dugouts and bullpens by 100X!
The bigger issue is the size of the clubhouses, especially in older ballparks like Wrigley and Fenway. There’s just not enough room in there to maintain a 6 foot distance from one another. If COVID spreads throughout a team, it will most likely be in the clubhouse / locker room versus from the dugout or bullpens.
God I guess he wasn’t joking. He posted it twice.
81 season was a complete joke. Let’s start by saying that in 1981 Major league baseball’s best team in the regular season which had the most wins and best winning percentage was not eligible to make the playoffs that year. It was simply because of rules and ideas of stupidity and this year will be more of the same
sack manfraud!
The Players deserve equal ire.
If I am reading this right, the idea of three divisions has been abandoned and the six existing divisions will be retained?
Was there a three division idea? I don’t recall that. I do recall the Cactus/Grapefruit leagues idea.
Absolutely. Three geographical divisions of ten teams each was the proposal on the table for a long time. It was reported and debated here a lot particularly as to how the teams should be assigned to the divisions. Took a lot of guff for saying blowing up the divisions was a bad idea so I am happy it was abandoned. I don’t even remember seeing anything different from any official source until now.
I don’t believe that was abandoned. There are parts of the March agreement that were agreed. Some were put into the health and safety protocols that were agreed but not finalized yet. I would expect regional play this season. Maybe 40 games vs division teams (4 x 10) and 2o vs the 5 teams in the corresponding interleague division (5 x 4). Or something like that.
Which leaves the existing divisions intact. The original proposal eliminated them, and the leagues, creating instead three mixed divisions of ten teams. This means a World Series of AL vs. NL, which would not have occurred with the three division plan. Huge difference.
Runner on 2nd in Extras and universal DH — they’re determined to ruin baseball. They want to make it like a video game.
Classic case of taking die-hard fans for granted in an attempt to pull in and make money off folks who don’t like the game.
I’d be down with seeing teams sign a track star to pinch run at 2nd for the 5 games they have that go to extras. Justin Gatlin already has the steroid past to play in MLB.
Where have you gone, Herb Washington?
I’m really curious about service time for prospects making their MLB debutwill work. It’s no secret that teams manipulate service time of top prospects every season by calling them up in May, since this season is only going to be about 40% if the size as a normal year, does that mean you can call your top prospects up after 12 games to manipulate that extra year of control? Obviously, there won’t be any minor leagues to call them up from but injuries happen every year and guys slump, call ups are inevitable.
Vladguerrerojr20
I agree completely. How is Jo Adell affected. As an Angel fan, that’s the player I care about.
I feel you, I’m thinking about big Nate Pearson myself but I also want to see Adell, Gore, Lux, Mize and many more.
NO TIES Please! For the love of home runs, no ties….
Also, play extra innings the regular way. No runner on 2nd.
I like the Phillies chances in a short season I hate to say
I think the Orioles will win the World Series, with ease too.
You can count on Chris “Crush” Davis hitting at least 30 homeruns and slugging .600+ in 60 games.
Ha-larious. Nothing like following up one unfunny comment by replying to your own comment with something equally unfunny. Well done there “weiner”.
Some life you live, searching through hundreds of comments just to find mine. Sorry bro, I don’t swing that way, I only like woman. So gtfo of here with that hard on you got for me, you creepy little freak.
Chris Davis will be World Series MVP. He will then demand a contract extension and Angelos will give it to him.
Or Arte will swing a trade for him.
And Cobb will win the Cy Young. HAHA
I wonder how far they will get into the rebooted spring training before they cancel the whole thing
Words from a sane contributor.
In the immortal words of Jimmy Dugan, “There’s no Tying in baseball!”… or was that crying? Doesn’t matter – no ties!
There is plenty of lying.
We haven’t yet seen ridiculous – the negotiations are just the warm up.
Now, job one for both sides is legal positioning in anticipation of lawsuits and grievances ahead. Re-opening the game is secondary…
Money first, always.
I don’t really see what the players are posturing for. It is a global pandemic and the owners ask them to take a pay cut. The players said no pay cut we will just not get paid at all. SMH.
They are going to file their $1b grievance.
That’s why they turned down pay for extra playoffs, forgiveness of $33m in advanced salaries, etc.
tony — please expand your comment. regarding why the players did this, and if the grievance is filed, why would the owners not just cancel the season, Thanks,
The players were offered a series of financial incentives to not file suit – they voted the package down to retain the right to file a grievance similar to the one that players and agents discussed a month ago ($1b and it was not denied by anyone on the players side). Both sides are now scrambling to stay in compliance with the March 26th agreement as a misstep could cost them in court.
I’m not siding with the owners. I’m saying that there will be lawsuits, grievances and counter-grievances filed.
The MLBPA will decide the best timing for filing grievances and it could be after the season. I’m not an attorney so can’t speculate on the when if it all.
These players are giving up a lot. Especially with a lock out coming in 2021. I don’t know specific contract numbers but wow. The players are willing to lose their salary’s this year and go back out and lose them in 2021?
If I was a player in the prime of my career, I would not sacrifice for the greater good. These players are getting older and slower everyday. Also they are not on the field making money right now! Free agency will be awful heading into 2020.
Wow… I can’t believe the players are this crazy!
These rule changes are plain silly. Even if they are only for 1 season. Universal DH and ghost runners are nonsense. Manfred is a joke.
Oh did I mention Manfred is a joke?
I generally don’t care too much about rule changes, but putting a runner on second base in extra innings is a bit much even for me. Almost as silly as college football overtime rules.
Yes, giving each team a tie after 9, like the NHL, and have a Home Run Derby to get the other half game makes more sense. Fans love Home Run Derby’s. It saves arms and time. Marathon games are nuts except in the playoffs.
That’s just too out of touch with the spirit of the rest of the game. Just end it in a tie after 12.
Why HRs?
Why not strikeouts? At the end of each extra inning check how many Ks if there is no score winner.
Why take a well played tie game and turn it into a circus.
Ties are fine.
I’m wondering what took Manfred so long to do something he already had the power to do?
Implementing the season under the March agreement came at the expense of expanded playoffs, which the owners badly wanted. But that had to be bargained with players, per the language in that March document. Implementing was always a last resort largely for that reason.
Thank you Steve.
So I assume you’re saying expanded playoffs are now off the table, when you talk about implementing by the commissioner, and we are back to a 10 team playoff format in 2020. Right?
There could be some more bargaining before they start the season.
As of now, the players have no playoff revenue since their cut is based on gate receipts, and there’s no gate as of now.
They had agreed on $50 million playoff pool, but the owners’ last offer cut that to $25M, with $ 33M in salary advance write off. All that is gone, but negotiable.
The owners would love to get that extra $125M-ish per season from expanded playoffs, but that’s gone too, unless they cut a deal.
If they stuck to just the money issues, they’d still have the grievance possibility.
If there was ever a perfect time to try some gimmicks in baseball, this is the season to do it. Remember what the NHL did? They changed overtime from 20 minutes to 5 minutes, then went to 4 on 4 and when that didn’t help much, they went to 3 on 3. Then they added the ridiculous shootout to ensure one team always wins.
Now that this season is only 60 games and schedules are being changed, let’s try everything this year. Pitch clock, robot umps, universal DH, runner on 2nd in extra innings; heck, why not a HR derby if the game is still tied after the 10th? The season is already somewhat of a joke; now is the time to experiment and see if any of these changes make the product better. The game should be back to normal in 2023 so let’s experiment now and make it a better long term product. Changes are definitely needed; just not sure which ones will really improve the game.
Well said !
Yes, I agree 100%
Never is a good time to try that particular rule.
And if not never, try it in the Korean little league.
In T ball games.
Starting in the 18th inning.
I mean, two sacrifice bunts wins the game!
I’m afraid that this method might actually go well and be exciting, which will prompt people to change to a shortened season moving forward. Forever. Maybe 100 games. I hope not. Leave it alone at 162.
Is it because we all went business casual that we don’t want ties anymore? Put on a pair of khakis and trot out to second base. Let fans be the base runners in the extra innings. At the end of nine innings, you have a drawing and select two fans, one for each team. Then each inning after that replace one defensive player with another fan. Let the fans take over the game in extra innings. The 20th inning would be a hoot! Make baseball great again. MBGA.
Just an idea for 2020 and I didn’t see anyone mention anything like it… maybe extra innings could be settled with a homerun derby? Pick 5 batters (like 5 penalty kicks in soccer) and get 3 pitches each. Just spitballin’ here… sell the homerun balls and all proceeds go to charity, etc.
I’ve always wanted a tie to end with a HR Derby after 9 innings, during the regular season. 1/2 win each and then an additional 1/2 win to the HR Derby winner.
No thanks, not after nine innings or 20 innings. Leave that sort of scoring system for exhibition type competition. There are too few extra inning games of great length to consider such a thing… in my opinion. I would much rather super long games be suspended and resumed as quickly as possible.
I’d prefer to see it end in a tie then. It’s a major waste of time and a joke when they put in a RF to pitch. Not to mention all the pitchers arms they wear out. No I definitely cant agree.
The problem would seem to be time. Very limited amount of play days in 2020. I’m a purist by all senses; I abhor the idea of the NL DH but in the interest of “2020 ball” I’m a bit more lenient on getting games done, one way or another. The thought of ties makes me shiver but I could be amenable to this idea. Speaking for 2020 only.
Anyone can come in to pitch HRD just like at All Star Weekend; Bryce could have his Dad toss again. Stats from HRD wouldn’t count. Just a random idea in the interest of efficiency.
Home run derbies are slow and boring and favor a certain type of team. If you are going to have a derby based on offense, why not have a total baes derby. Each team sends their nine person line-up to bat. Each player in the lineup bats once. Team that accumulates the most bases wins.
Or better yet, just play extra innings till someone wins.
Fair enough although the main problem seems to be having enough time to finish.
Teams will also be trying to maintain a healthy pitching staff for as long as possible amongst new 3 batter rules and other random 2020 strangeness. If the league wanted to truncate games, whatever is clever.
I never considered the hockey type scoring system! Might be cool for a random type year.
Other ideas that were discussed for extra innings included
– letting more substitutions come back into the game
– ending the game in a tie after some point (after teams can’t get the runner in from second for a few innings, or they’re still tied)
Soccer should let subs come back in for OT
But then, they haven’t figured out how to put a great big clock in the stadium to keep the time
How is it any safer to fly from Pittsburg to Texas than Pittsburg to Philly?
This season, if played, should eliminate al vs nl games. It’s pretty simple, really. 60 games, four games against every same league team and five against same division. 4 x 14 is 56 plus one extra game against your own division. 56 plus 4 = 60.
Play the entire series, test, move on and test everyone again before they leave the airport. Less travel, more off days. Does anyone really believe that a team is going to quarantine its entire bullpen for two weeks and just call up a 6-8 minor leaguers? One 2 week quarantine is the equivalent to 25% of the season! How much does anyone trust that organizations will be full disclosure and testing in October with post season revenue on the line? Testing needs to be done by an independent, unbiased organization league wide. Not to mention, if a player really gets physically sick, the recovery time could be 4-8 weeks.
I wonder, instead of playing out a series with known positive clubhouse cases, will teams just forfeit? Imagine that. The Phillies have 12 active, known infections and the Mets refuse to take the field against them or the Phils can’t field a healthy 8 man pitching staff in time for tonight’s game because they used 5 guys the night before and 5 other active arms just tested positive. Game time is 2 hours away and your starters can’t go because it’s “not their day”. What happens?