OCT. 23: Manfred told Dan Patrick “all of the COVID-related rule changes,” including extra innings, the universal DH and seven-inning doubleheaders, are likely to “return to the status quo, absent an agreement with the players association” in 2021. Of course, a lack of a universal DH could have an effect on quite a few free agents, including Nelson Cruz. Meanwhile, Manfred once again did admit he would like to expand the playoffs, but not necessarily to 16 teams.
OCT. 22: Commissioner Rob Manfred hopes that a couple of 2020’s changes will stay as long-term additions to the MLB season, per Ronald Blum of the Associated Press. Manfred spoke in favor of an “expanded playoff format,” though he was careful to say that the 16-team format from this year might be a bridge too far.
Manfred would aim for something between the standard 10-team format at this year’s 16-teamer. He has previously advocated for a 14-team postseason, which would reward the top team in each league with a bye through the first round, with the bottom-6 playoff teams facing off in an elimination round much like this year’s Wild Card format to create the 4-team Divisional match-ups in each league.
Manfred is also in favor of keeping the man-on-second extra innings rule. Blum notes that the longest games this season were a pair of 13-inning affairs. The rule certainly drove more action in extra innings, and though eliminating the couple of marathon-type extra innings games would seem to be a small victory in the grand scheme of things, MLB can check that box, it would seem.
Once the season ends, Manfred will be back to the laborious process of negotiation with Head of the Players’ Union Tony Clark. It won’t be a total back-to-the-drawing-board situation, but given the temporary nature of this season, the changes that were made will need to be re-addressed this winter.
The stupidest rule that everyone hates is most likely but not the dh that most like- Manfred is the worst.
DH will be pushed by the Union. Unfortunately, I see it being permanent after next agreement.
The owners have wanted the Universal DH for awhile. I have no idea why the Union has not pursued the change.
Both the MLBPA and MLB front the DH, and they know they each want it, so they won’t negotiate for it. MLB wants the MLBPA to make a concession to adopt it full time, but the MLBPA knows that MLB wants it too so they won’t give them anything. It’ll be interesting if the two sides can somehow get past this. Probably nothing better illustrates the state of negotiations and distrust when both sides agree they want something but won’t agree to do it!
lordd99, that’s a very astute post.
I remember talking to a friend who said the owners don’t want it, I told him they did. So he texted a GM who is a friend of his, and the GM said the owners want the DH. I couldn’t figure out why they couldn’t get it done.
You are probably right, both sides are playing politics.
There was a point in time when owners were against it in the NL because they figured it would add another high-cost player to their rosters. They weren’t incorrect. That’s changed over recent years because the DH will allow all teams to maximize use of their high-cost players by allowing them to DH, to rest them in the hope of reducing injuries, and also provide additional protection for their investment in pitchers. So it’s still a financial issue for owners, but they’ve switched from not wanting to pay for a DH for cost reasons, to wanting to pay for a DH (or more likely the option of rotating players through the DH spot) to maximize their investments. All the things fans are writing about here regarding strategy? They don’t care about that even 1 percent. It’s a money call.
Actually in 1980 NL owners were set to approve the DH, but one of the teams — I think Philly — owners could not be reached during the voting bc he was on a hunting trip and the Phil’s rep abstained from voting. — something like that.
I’m for the DH. I’m a lifelong NL fan but watching pitchers “try to hit” is boring 9.5/10x. I dislike the 16 team playoff structure, but could get behind the 14 team structure if it means the division winners don’t have to play the bottom of the barrel in rd 1. And absolutely hate the runner on 2nd idea. A game should never be decided by a lead off single. If it HAS to stick, put the runner on 1st. Make a team utilize speed and bunt tactics to get that runner into scoring position. It’s what 9/10 teams would do if they DID get a lead off single anyway. Oh and I almost forgot… manfred sux.
The DH caters to the lowest common denominator and is used simply for ratings. It is for people who are too stupid to understand strategy in the game and just want to see a glorified home run derby. That is why they get bored without it.
Amen brother preach it. Hate the DH love real baseball!
There isn’t more strategy with the DH. Stanford Graduate Bob Boone who played in both leagues and managed in both leagues says it’s harder to manage in the AL.
The Pitcher Hitting strategy is about as complex as landing on a property in Monopoly and buying it. It doesn’t add complexity to the game, you only think it does.
That’s the typical depth of people who the complain. There is not a lot of thought behind it.
Because you narrow-mindedly consider it only from the view of the pitcher hitting.
Real baseball is about more than just hitting. I don’t think DH fans really understand that, but to say there is more strategy involved with the DH is just laughably ridiculous.
I have no issue with you preferring pitchers hitting, but the arguments pro pitchers hitting are not insightful. They are very basic. Such as “baseball is more than just hitting.”
And the DH is more than hitting. The double switch is not complex… right?
The hardest thing to do in baseball is to decide when to take out a starting pitcher and how to manage a pen.
In the NL, those decisions are easier. They are almost automatic, and when they get tough, it’s a double switch, which is not all that complex.
And what I hate about pitchers hitting is how easily it is to pitch around the number #8 hitter and how the #1 hitter becomes less valuable.
Also, There is a spot in this game for David Ortiz, Edgar Martinez and Ohtani
Yes, all that strategy…
ChiefTwoHands: “DH . . . is used simply for ratings”. Meaning more people would watch and enjoy. You do know the sports dying right?
Taking out the starting pitcher is pretty much based on pitch counts in today’s game. If he’s pitching well and he’s thrown 100 pitches, he’s going to be pinch hit for. It’s time for the universal DH.
You don’t have to double switch in the AL. You don’t have to decide whether or not to pull a pitcher based solely on who is coming up to bat. There is more strategy in NL ball. The DH was only supposed to be a 3-year experiment…it’s time for it to die. Expand rosters to 27 to make up for losing the spot. The DH is like the NHL old enforcer–not good for anything but mashing. Baseball is 9 v 9..this isn’t softball.
I really don’t care if the NL goes to DH or not. But the pitcher hitting doesn’t add much strategy. It’s different strategy, but it’s not complex strategy.
The double switch is not complicated. And since there are 14 man bullpens, it has become less and less necessary. I don’t know how that adds to the game.
In the NL, the score is the most important factor when deciding to remove a starting pitcher. It’s not complicated.
In the AL the pitchers effectiveness dictates when you take out a pitcher, and that is more complicated.
Placing “Stanford Graduate” in front of his name doesn’t add any value to his opinion, nor make it correct.
The DH is basically set it and forget it. How can that make managing harder? In-game you almost never see PH in the AL, so there is no thought there. Bullpen management has got to be easier because you’re not accounting for PH as much. There are no double switches, so you’re never forced to consider the ramifications of moving the pitcher’s spot.
I just don’t see how Boone’s opinion makes sense.
The strategy angle is a bit of a joke. Most of the strategy is built around trying to minimize the pitcher hitting. Well, there’s an easy way to do that. Remove the pitcher hitting.
If the game was invented today, and it was known how poorly pitchers would hit, the designers would recognize the pitcher serves a very unique function and would treat them differently than the other eight position players. They wouldn’t invent the DH, they wouldn’t let pitchers hit, they would simply have the eight other players be the ones who bat. Instead of a one through nine batting order, there would be a one through eight. That can’t happen now because it will result in the elimination of well-paid player, the DH, so they’ve settled on the next best thing. A DH.
Simple solution: Have the universal Designated Hitter AND have the pitcher hit in BOTH leagues. The pitcher is a position and every position should hit.
The DH is set and forget it, but pitching changes are not. Pitching Changing in the NL are more about score, pitching changes in the AL are more about evaluating the pitchers ability to get outs.
Any four year old can tell you the score.
Aren’t all pitching changes tied to evaluating the ability to get outs? You’re partially correct in the NL they are also tied to the score, which adds more strategy.
Say you’re managing the Dodgers and you’ve got Buehler on the mound, no DH. It’s the 6th inning, you’re leading 1-0 with a runner on 2nd and Walker is dealing. His pitch count is at 70ish, and he’s due up to hit with 1 out. Do you pull him for a PH, bunt or let him swing? These are strategic choices NL managers face. In the AL, you’ve got just another hitter coming up.
I totally agree. I was hoping the owners would agree to expand rosters to 28 permanently in return the AL scrap the DH.
Yeah because a double switch takes so much thought and strategy.
Appalachian_Outlaw
No, you are down 3-1 in the top of 7th inning, the pitcher spot comes up and the pitcher goes out of the game. His ability to get outs in the 7th is a moot point.
If you are ahead 1-0 in the sixth, Unless you have problems with his pitch count, you let him hit. Ten times out of ten he’s going to hit. If you are down 3-1. He comes out.
In the AL, both those moves are based on the ability to get outs, in the NL, it’s about the score. It’s much easier to figure out the score than the ability of a pitcher to get outs.
You’re changing the dynamic to better suit your argument, though. Yes in that situation the pitcher is coming out. It’s almost automatic. In my scenario you are faced with a choice not entirely score dependant. Strategy there. There are times both might come into play.
I could also counter your argument of pitching changes are based on an ability to get outs by asking what about when mop up guys come in? They’re rarely the best choice to get outs, but if the score is 12-2, that choice is about saving a pitching staff. Sometimes a score will dictate a move.
Mop up are both leagues.
And I don’t know if I’m changing the argument, you gave me a scenario, I told you want the manager would always do.
In the NL, pitching changes are based more on the score than the ability to get hitters out. The later is secondary. In the AL, it’s all about the later and the later is harder to determine.
I think it makes sense to have a 27-man roster as there are 27 outs.
How do you quantify the level of cheating? Bonds was perhaps the biggest cheater and Clemens stayed effective into his late thirties, with a lot of help from his “friends”.
I do think that the Hall should have a separate wing for the Steroid Era. Bonds snd Clemens would have been HOFers if they never touched the PEDs. The ones who are questionable are McGuire, Sosa, Palmiero etc. They put up their huge numbers after they decided to cheat.
Chief 2 Hands, you’re a moron. I absolutely know the game inside and out and I like the DH because it makes sense for everyone. Pitchers can’t hit and most can’t even bunt anymore so adding a real hitter helps the offense. Plus, it’s less chance of a pitcher getting an unnecessary injury. It also gives the starters a chance to pitch a little deeper in each game since you don’t have to sacrifice him for offense. It benefits the players to get extra rest also. As far as strategy, it’s still there but it’s just different. You need to get off your high horse.
I think with the new relief pitchers requirements, it makes the DH more feasible/pushed to be implemented.
I think the elitism of NL purists is a turnoff for real fans, you know the people who watch sports for enjoyment.
Yes there is a spot for them. In the American League.
I too don’t like the man on second rule. Reminds me of Little League and T-Ball. What’s next, base races after the game and everyone gets a granola bar and juice packet? The teams each have to gather after the game and chant “two, four, six eight, who do we appreciate?” The coaches have to take the whole team to McDonald’s after the game? The players mom’s have to drive them to and from the park? Each player’s little brother and sister gets a dollar to go to the concession stand? I think not. I digress.
Actually it protects the pitcher also… you got a high dollar pitcher get hurt batting or running your screwed.
I think the cheatism of the Astros is a turnoff for real fans, you know the people who watch sports expecting honorable play.
The DH is the most polarizing change in MLB. Sadly I think more are in favor of the dh these days
my question though is do most NL fans want it? it annoys me when fans of AL teams push for it, because the change doesnt affect them save in a few interleague games, and they don’t have the experience with the NL game style. having seen the DH this year as a NL fan, (even as a fan of a team, Philly, who had good use for it) i dont see the appeal unless you really hate double switches and seeing pitchers hit. (both of which i personally love, even as a younger fan)
Every Mets fan I know has has come to like the DH this season. Only idiots like “NL style” play, which is another term for “no strategy” because the truth is there is no strategy to “NL play”. Every situation where you’d wonder what to do has an obvious choice, and nobody I mean NOBODY, not even YOU, likes to see the pitcher bat.
You’re a liar, and so is anyone who says so.
I’ve been a fan of the 60s, I don’t care about the DH being in the National League, but it’s a better game with it than without it.
Because pitching changes are much harder in the AL, there is more strategy with it than without it. The number 8 and number 1 hitter have more value in the AL. You don’t have to play a horrible defender in the field.
And of course, pitchers hitting are nothing more than a novelty
The AL brand of baseball is just better, and if you watched more AL baseball you’d understand why. Pitchers have to work a lot harder in the AL.
But I really don’t care if the NL adopts it or not. It’s fun watching a novelty get a hit and run the bases every once in a while.
@wiffle and halos….These are possibly the stupidest posts I have seen on this site in a long time, and that is saying a lot.
Hey Chief, as usual, ad hominem attacks and hyperbole such as “real baseball” are typically the best counter arguments for pitchers hitting you have.
I see why you resort to such things.
Incorrect in so many ways
I haven’t been to a resort in years…I should do something about that.
Whatever you say Chief. You clearly just disagree with the universal DH and are not backing up your argument with anything other than insults, kind of making yourself sound stupid.
I grew up an NL fan (Astros) and hated it when they were extorted into the AL. I have always and will always despise the DH.
Wow, you managed to work in idiot and liar among the name calling and capitalize a few words. Work on that arguement all night, did you?
lol
“You’re a liar, and so is anyone who says so.”
That statement makes YOU one, WiffleBall
If pitchers could hit even a little then I could back it. When it comes to double switches it doesn’t take a huge IQ to figure those out. In more instances it is harder on the AL Managers to decide when to make a pitching change. Of course, as analytics take an even more decisions moot the less strategic the game has become. For example, Tampa Bay had zero Sac Bunts on the season. The game has devolved into HR, Walks and Ks.
* makes even more decisions
My bad.
Some pitchers even had trouble walking a guy intentionally. I’ve seen wild pitches and even homeruns off intentional walks. I hated that rule change also. This younger generation has no clue. It’s of course much more than pitchers hitting. If you don’t understand that you don’t understand the game at all. I miss seeing players breaking up double plays and of course the exciting play at the plate. The game has lost so much fun exciting plays no wonder the youngsters find the game boring and too long. They all think nowadays it’s a homerun derby with bat flips. I still enjoy the old style players like for example Paul Goldsmith hits a 400 foot bomb simply drops the bat puts his head down and circles the bases. The game has gone downhill the last few years and I doubt it will ever recover. Start a guy on second in the xtra innings. Ridiculous!
I agree. Small ball and strategy is much more interesting than players just trying to hit home runs and swinging away. Home runs obviously have their place, but there is so much more to baseball. Just having to intentionally walk a batter can throw a pitcher out of rhythm. I really don’t like any of the recent rule changes.
Other than the pitcher bunting, they play a lot of small ball in the NL?
The two top teams in SBs in 2019 were AL teams. Four of the top six were AL teams.
I’m a baseball fan of 30 plus years. I refuse to give MLB any more $$$ in anyway anymore until they can 100% respect the USA national anthem. That mean no more buying any MLB merchandise or any subscriptions to watch them on tv or watch them in a stadium. Time for these guys to realize we help pay them and we just want them to play and that’s it. I’m a no for the DH. Go back to the old playoff format. Manfred is terrible and should be gone. Last but not least reinstate Pete Rose. This is the one thing I was hopeful puppet Manfred was going to do. I’m not saying Rose is a great guy but there are murders who have got less time than he has served already. Bonds and Clemens are known cheaters and they will probably get elected into the HOF but not Rose???
@fredmcgriff 100% Rose never cheated while he played he fixed some game as a manager still wrong but bonds and Clemens both cheated while they played and lied about it yet they will get in? Ridiculous
didnt gamble while playing????
Being a baseball traditionalist is one thing while allow Rose to be reinstated is another. I, too, have read his book “Prisoner Without Bars” and he broke the rules and lied about it. Bonds and Clemens have their supporters but they’re two years away from falling off the ballot without a strong voter surge.
Bonds and Clemens appear more likely to be Veteran Committee selections than electees. Seems fair somehow. The only aspect of their cheating that is “admirable” is that they went the extra mile, so to speak, to be the best they could be.
Whether they had leadership roles or felt they had to go that route to keep up with others, I happen to think they would both have been HOFers without the “help”
Rose is looking more and more like posthumous recognition
id be fine with Clemens and Bonds getting in as long as its not an excuse for bigger cheaters to get in. to some degree, they were so good that i feel they would have gotten in anyway, even if that’s not completely certain. and as someone who leans towards innocent until proven guilty in most cases, it seems fairer to give them some benefit of the doubt. like Rose, the hall would feel a bit more complete stats wise with them.
Roger Clemens was the only accused steroid user to deny it and be found not guilty of lying in a court of law. That has to count for something.
Well, he did throw his wife under the proverbial bus, so that sets Clemens apart…he has that uniqueness going for him.
and he had roid rage on live t v. Too
I think MLB owes Rose an apology. They have endorsed gambling, daily fantasy baseball , which is the same as gambling, I have played real fantasy baseball over 20 years and this daily stuff is not it.
” dear Pete rose, we’re sorry you gambled on baseball” yeah thats good…how many daily fantasy players are in the m.l. ?
Who murdered ppl while playing baseball and belongs in the hall?…rose is a lowlife…..LIFETIME BAN MEANS LIIIIIFETIIIIIME BAN…. he signed the agreement..
Screw the national anthem and people who want to fistfight over it. It has lost its meaning to anyone who isn’t a hardcore traditionalist. The anthem means nothing if the people it’s supposed to honor aren’t actually taken care of..
I don’t spend my money on MLB either, but for other reasons.
Man Fred is a puppet that MLB can do without, killing this game!
Sports commissioners exist to be a puppet to ownership. It is how all leagues are constructed
This man needs to gtfo of baseball
I’d say the same with Clark. But yeah, you know Manfred’s bad when he makes you wish Selig was still in charge.
Manfraud is slowly but surely ruining America’s pastime.
It’s effectively dead.
wonder why all of us still care to have opinions on it then.
It really isn’t tho . Look at actual numbers
Because we are probably older. I don’t know anyone under the age 30 who cares. 4 hour games they are out. Why does a hitter have tomstep out , swing, adjust their batting gloves, get in the box and dig back in?
that’s funny, im under 30 and ive seen others here say that as well.
I’m younger but I still enjoy watching games. Although I prefer if I’m a bit behind so I can fast forward between pitches so I’m not sitting there for my entire evening just to watch a baseball game
oh, and dont get me wrong, im more of a radio guy anyway, and i havent watched many games even with having had more access to them recently, but im still very much a fan of the game and contribute monetarily to my team otherwise. (merchandise and such)
I actually agree with traveling man. The ratings might be as good or better than years past, but it’s only a matter of time before it starts dropping more and more, and this generation seems more focused on other things. Esports in particular has really taken off, and a lot of the younger kids love watching fortnite, dota 2, csgo tournaments who happen to have huge prize pools. MMA is another one that has gained more and more attraction. Not really a daily thing, but recognized as a sport, apparently (I also enjoy it). I think it’s only a matter of time before ratings start declining over every major sport. NBA and NFL have already decreased. MLB is next.
Darkside – agree
I come to the site for transactions, call ups, DFAs, trades……
God Manfred sucks
*Not a God
Your username really elevates this to another level
Puny god.
God, Manfred sucks.
Happy now, you jackal?
Unspoken but apparent is the desire to mimic the NFL playoffs.
I’m just going to recycle a point someone else already made.
If the man-on-2nd rule is so great, why isn’t it used in the playoffs? If you have to hide the rule on the big stage then it probably isn’t a good rule.
Just call the EI games a draw after 11 and move on.
nhl does the same with 3 on 3 in the regular season and shoot outs if that doesnt work
nfl also has different overtime rules for playoffs
in short, poor point
You seem to dismiss the possibility that those rules are also bad.
I don’t like the man-on-2nd rule, but I can live with it if it doesn’t start until the 12th inning. I agree, though, that the rules should be the same in both the regular season and playoffs. Whichever way they go, it ought to be consistent.
I don’t know why there isnt more of a compromise on rule changes. 13+ im ok with the runner on second, or heck maybe runner on 1st i’d be ok with in 10+. Same for 3 batter minimum, why not meet in the middle with 2 batter minimum and see where it goes from there.
i think the 3 batter minimum and the limit of pitchers on the roster dont need to exist at the same time. either force the pitchers to stay out there or limit the number of pitchers. you dont need both.
14 man playoff good. less extra innings good. dh good. stop being such traditionalists. now if they would shorten the season by at least 20ish games we’d be good. would prefer 40ish games. less innings for pitchers and players.
DH is whatever but 14 team playoff and extra inning rule are GARBAGE! It actually means something to make the playoffs in baseball unlike the other 3 major sports. The extra inning rule is terrible because I watch the game to see the game come to a finish that is consistent with the rest of the game.
DH good. Expanded playoffs bad. Extra-innings rule terrible. Inter-league play terrible. Shortening the season idiotic. Two-team expansion great.
why are you so adamant about changing everything?
Casual fan alert
Let’s see I call myself a baseball fan, but I want less of it? How about you just watch your 40 games and ignore the rest. Baseball is a long season because it needs to be …
I’m not a fan of the wild card, let alone an expanded 14- or 16-team playoff. In order to compete for a championship, I think a team should have won something, not just come in with, say, the 6th best record. I think that winning an MLB division championship is the most difficult achievement in professional American sport because it requires sustained excellence. Winning the league championship or the World Series is just like having a hot streak, and almost any team is capable of that.
Frankly, I hate the one-game playoffs for baseball. It makes sense in football, but in baseball, for a 162-game season to come down to just one game, where the 2nd-best team in baseball can be sent home off of potentially one bloop single or one blown call, seems dumb. I get that the play-in game for the 2 WC teams is here to stay – fine – but I don’t want the playoffs expanded. The first series should be best of 5, the others best of 7.
Stop ruining baseball, Manfred!
That’s really the main problem with the 10 team playoffs, there shouldn’t be a 1 game WC play in, it needs to be a series because baseball is meant to be played in a series.
Obviously you have to incentivize division winners more than WC teams, but if it’s just a 3 game series between the 4 and 5 seed teams to see who plays the 1 seed, the division winners are incentivized enough by getting to skip the WC round.
No mention of the DH in the NL which should be a priority as teams are preparing for the offseason. The free agent and trade markets could be vastly different if teams know in advance the rule is staying
I’m almost certain that’s going to be universal. The players union should like it because it expands the market for DH-types. The owners should like it because it’s more exciting to watch a good hitter like JDM bat than almost any pitcher (the laughs from Randy Johnson’s at-bats notwithstanding). It also makes the strategy a little easier. I’m a bit of a traditionalist, but I don’t hate this idea.
You aren’t a Traditionalist.
Because I’m for changing one rule? I’m against expanded playoffs, the runner on 2nd rule, one-game play-ins, use of an “opener” (though I admit I’ve softened a little on that one), overuse of bullpens, pitch clocks, and the three-batter minimum. With all that, I’d say I lean more traditionalist than people who are pushing these rules.
status quo suggests no DH until the CBA at least so teams should assume this.
We hit peak pitcher hitting when Bartolo got his dinger. Every day since then without a universal DH has been a wasted day.
The 7 inning doubleheader was awesome.
I hated it
the 7 inning doubleheader does nothing for anyone save pitchers arms going forward, and shaving a few innings off a team’s season wolnt have a tangible effect on that most likely anyway. it doesnt benefit fans and it doesnt benefit viewership.
I would keep all the rules. I love the 7 inning double headers and starting on 2nd in extras. You know the DH is here to stay cause he creates jobs. 14 team playoffs again helps save jobs and keeps Dan bases excited which should help revenue
the DH creates at most 15 jobs and probably less given even every AL team doesnt have a dedicated DH. the teams will have to pay another hitter each and the union probably doesn’t care about a few of its members playing a few more years to make it a massive point.
Roster expansion creates jobs. Converting some of those roster spots to a DH has no net effect.
Baseball lost me prior to this year because of Manfred’s rule changes. I went from a diehard fan to watching a total of two innings this year because I was at someone’s house who had it on TV. I cancelled my season tickets as well. Baseball needed to realize it can’t change it’s rules and keep his longterm fans. Now it’s too late. And the playoff format is especially awful.
Exactly!
Why are the owners so ready to push out die hards just to nab a few more casual fans?
I’d love to know what their focus groups are saying about this…do younger viewers really want/like the new changes?
I too watched much less this year, mostly because of the playoff format change. Just like in basketball, why watch the regular season anymore? Except for a few late entrants there’s no reason to pay attention…
I can deal with the other changes for the most part, having a dh in both leagues makes sense, but why are we still dealing with these terrible umpires!?
If they’re gonna do all these crazy things I wish they’d give me the one thing I’ve wanted for baseball my whole life – an objectively consistent strike zone!!!!
Example: last game of the season, SFG vs SDP…why do we put up with the most talented players in the world (MLB) constantly interrupted and held back by amateurs that have no place on the field next to actual professionals?
We should demand the same excellence from the umps that we expect from the field maintenance crew, let alone the players
Do that for me Manfred! Ya putz
I don’t think owners like pitchers hitting or running the bases because they are a huge investment.
Baseball viewership was great this year.
Yeah because people were in a pandemic and many wouldn’t leave the house. Little leagues were cancelled, other sports were cancelled, and many people were unemployed/could not afford to do other things and so therefore were available to watch. And you say it was great, even with all that it was still only up 4.2% this year. Over the long haul many long term fans will quit, or more likely watch much less, and casual fans will pay a little more attention but won’t become diehards. Baseballs biggest misjudgment is it considered it’s longterm fans a control variable who would stay no matter what, and thought it could get the casual fans too. Or that that we would come back if they tried something new and it didn’t work and they switched it back.
the 2nd inning rule artificially impacts the result of the game and could impact playoff position. terrible rule.
Don’t like the man on 2nd in extras at all – I felt like it just rewarded an away team since often you would have something like groundout, sac fly and then pressure goes to the home team to score which makes them impatient at the plate ending in a strikeout or popup. – leading to a loss by the home team.
Conversely it rewards the home team that’s able to put up a zero in the top half as well, knowing they just need to get the runner over and in with two at bats resulting in productive outs.
It’s a bad rule. I’d rather have ties than the extra innings/man on 2B rule going forward.
One game playoffs is a joke. A bad joke. The National League should keep the DH
I would like 12 teams for expanded playoffs with top two division winners in each league getting byes.
Runner on second base for extra innings was not as bad as I thought it would be, but I would start it in the 12th inning.
I’d rather not certain rules, but if they happened I’d be okay. I for sure do not want expanded playoffs.
im adamantly against the DH, but the real issue is the doubleheaders and runners on 2nd. those two actually impact the results of games in an artificial way, unlike the DH where its already in the AL and its impact is based off the player in question. personally if you’re that angry about the playoff rule above all else you should seek bigger priorities. the cream rose to the top this year even though it was quite an odd year overall.
“Seek bigger priorities?”
With 162 game regular seasons, eliminating less than half the teams is absolutely ridiculous and makes the long season completely meaningless…the season IS the tournament, there shouldn’t be another after that
We’re getting to a point where (including preseason) teams could end up playing 200 games in a season!
DH does NOT create new jobs, just different ones.
this year was an example. did it help Yasiel Puig? did it help any other solid remaining hitters? a few guys like Kemp and Forsythe benefited for it, but none of said guys proved the merits of a DH in the NL.
Dorothy Mantooth is a saint
I’m good with the runner on 2nd role, really. It shortened the extra inning affair and dictates a winner in a fair way without resulting in an 18 inning affair.
I’m opposed to the universal DH because I love the required strategy the NL game presents.
Expanded playoffs are a beautiful thing, if done right. Forcing the second best team in the league into a win or go home scenario is just silly. You want to remove the randomness of the playoffs while also maintaining the sense that anything can happen. I personally like the idea of a 6 team playoff. 6 vs. 3, 4 vs. 5 in a 3-games playoff, then the DS being a 5 game series and the CS and WS being 7-game affairs. The top 2 division winners, regardless of record get the top two seeds, and weaker division winners are forced to prove they belong by defeating wild card teams. It also burns the top pitching options for lower seeds and puts them at a distinct disadvantage vs. better teams which is what you want. It also makes it so that a 6-seed can dethrone a division winners just by winning the rubber game of a traditional three-game series, which gives you the element of anything-can-happen you look for.
DH rule needs to stay, and the runner on 2nd base rule was a lot better than I thought it was going to be, but I still don’t want to see it implemented as a regularity.
As for expanding the playoffs, I like it as it is right now, but if I were to expand it, I would go to 12 teams. It would be all the division winners (of course), and then 3 WC teams, not the 2nd place team in each division. You would have the WC game, consisting of the two worst WC teams that then move on to the WC series which is the best WC team vs the winner of the WC Game. Then move along to the ALDS and so forth as usual. It gives the division winners an entire week to rest up and get ready for their games. Yay or Nay? It would be better with 32 teams, but I still think this is better than 16 teams.
Oh, and there would be like maybe a day between the end of the season and the postseason so that the WC teams have just a little tougher go around.
Best regular season record (#1 only) chooses #2, #3, or WC as opponent in Division Series prior to start of WC Play-in game …with an automatic default (to WCS winner, e.g.), of course
1 game WC Play-in hosted by #5
3 game Wild Card Series – all three hosted by #4. WCS winner never gets to host the extra game in series against Division winners
I hate the DH but it feels like an eventuality so I’ve come to accept it. I didn’t like the 2B rule for extras at first, but I’ve grown to like it a little bit. I would prefer it to start in the 12th or 13th inning and stay out of the playoffs though. I’ve been in the minority it seems but I like the three-batter minimum. I would prefer the playoff format stay as it is. The WC games add the extra weight to win your division.
There was an interview once where Bud Selig said “You are going to miss me when I am gone.” Boy was he right.
The only reason I still don’t like the three-bater minimum is because of one incident in Oakland this season. The Rangers and A’s were tied, and we brought in Edinson Volquez to pitch the 9th. Every. Single. Pitch. Was. A. Ball. They would’ve pulled him two batters sooner, but because of the rule they had to keep him out until he loaded the bases. Then we brought it Jesse Chavez (not better than Volquez, but that’s on the manager), and he gave up a sac fly which won it for Oakland.
I do think that instead, a pitcher limit should be introduced. 6 bullpen arms a game, if you hit the 6 arm limit, then you pitch a position player. I also think this would help long relievers get more opportunities in the majors since if a pitcher comes out in the first inning, they’ll need a guy to go 5 innings. I think that would bring more strategy.
I don’t see a pitcher limit being implemented but the three-batter-minimum could be modified.
Maybe a 10-pitch-minimum as an alternate option?
If they implemented that second base rule in the playoffs the reds would have beaten the braves… that’s how dumb that is
ARGHHHHHH! Please Bob Manfred just go away.
Expand to 32 teams, create 4 divisions per league, end inter-league play, and expand the post season to six teams per league. Install the universal DH to level the playing field when signing FA’s.
I think if you have 32 teams then 12 or 14 team playoffs sound plausible in theory, but if you do that then you have to incentivize the division winners with byes or some KBO type scheme where they skip rounds. There’s got to be value to winning your division.
16 with 30 teams creates a situation where you’re guaranteed to have .500 and sub .500 teams sneaking in and that’s just not desirable.
What is games just ended in ties after 10 or 11 innings?
Get out of baseball Manfred. Its called “wild card” for a reason. Making any division winner play in it is a joke. Dont need 162 games just to put 6 teams season on the line in a best of 3.
Please fire Manfred he is killing the sport. 10 teams was already too much now 16 and he thinks 14 is good when the bye does not help in baseball. what a mercenary. the only change I liked was the 28 man roster.
Not sure why people think pitchers should hit. Sure when i was a little kid, I was a purist and wanted to keep it the same, but I rooted for an AL team, so didn’t have to watch NL much. But come on. I don’t want to see the place kicker go out with the defense, I don’t want may goalie trying to go down field/ice to try to score a goal. Are those sports not pure enough for you?
To watch a pitcher feebly try to get on base, when there are quality hitters who could fill the role so much better. But wait, it doesn’t stop there, the number #8 hitter in any important at bat with 2 outs is ALWAYS pitched around, making him useless as well. Honestly when I see the bottom 3rd of a lineup coming up, I usually change the channel.
Life’s too short to be wasted watching a pitcher strikeout.
I don’t want my place kicker playing CB any more than I want my SP fielding SS. If the kick returner breaks loose on a kickoff though, I want him to make a tackle. I don’t want a designated tackler standing next to the kicker in the event the return man gets within 10 yards of him.
Then your argument is about the specialization aspect of the game.
At least I respect that argument. The arguments that “it isn’t baseball” or “it takes away strategy”, are pretty weak. Pitching changes in the NL are easier.
My biggest gripe about pitchers hitting is the #8 hitter is easily pitched around. It drives me nuts. If it was only the pitchers spot, I wouldn’t find it as bad.
Just put it back to how it was when the wild card was introduced
why would you ruin baseball and put a runner on second to leadoff extras
Here are some changes that I would like to see. No DH in either league. DH takes away some of the strategy of real Baseball use to have. IE Bunting and Pinch hitting.. Have a 26 man roster. No more than 13 pitchers. Teams could have a much better bench. Batter with two strikes are out after four fowl balls..
So you like watching terrible pitchers batting, number 8 hitters being pitched around, Eric Hosmer trying to play first base. As long as you have more strategy? Which is debatable, because whats to strategize, Starting Pitcher gets 2 abs, then is pulled, if game is close. Relief pitchers never hit. Never have to worry about pinch hitter for anyone else because you need all your good hitting bench players to hit for pitchers. I know there are situations which need decision making, but there’s your guidelines, not much to strategize. In AL theres more strategy, when to pinch hit.
I remember going to games in the mid seventies and when to take out a pitcher was much less obvious because of the DH.
A lot of that has changed. A pitcher throws 100+ pitchers, you take him out. The entire game has changed.
My biggest beef with the DH is pitchers don’t have to work as hard and the #8 hitter always gets pitched around in difficult situations with the pitcher on deck. I really hate that part of NL baseball.
Man on 2nd is terrible. Throw that one away. This isn’t a backyard game with ghost runners. What is the difference between a long extra inning game and a double header? If Manfred keeps messing with the game to draw a new audience he will lose a lot of current fans.
Heater, the players, owners, umpires, broadcast networks, stadium officials and even fans hate long extra inning games, just look at the empty stands.
This is going to be passed. I’d rather start it in the 12th inning, but this is coming.
Ahhh, no. When polled fans overwhelmingly said they like extra inning games. MLB polls fans every season and its consistent.
Team owners LOVE extra inning games because they get to keep on selling concessions and advertising on TV.
Local TV broadcast stations LOVE extra inning games because they sell more advertising. AND advertising in a baseball game is substantially more expensive than in most programming.
You obviously never played if you think players don’t like an extra inning game.
While I prefer no DH, I have always insisted that both leagues must play under the same rules since there is so much interleague play. Everyone with the DH is better than half and half.
i think it’s more interesting with there being two different styles of play tbh.
Im for the DH mainly because they don`t have it in the minor leagues so why bother and is a waste of time and an at bat . I’m for the 2 seven inning DH games granted they keep fans in the stand for the game.so they can watch 2 also it will make the season faster. Im not for the extra Inning second base thing , extra inning is a bonus for fans that pay too much for games and beer and dogs and whatever extravagant food they want like Garlic fries! Give the fans a deal not a dept!.
Baseball has killed itself and they’re too self-absorbed to notice it. Baseball has become increasingly boring with the twin focus on power pitching and power hitting. Yawn. Nothing happens until someone hits a homerun. Give me small ball, give me the play at the plate, give me some tension, give me baseball.
I have been watching baseball for over half a century. I have watched every level from t-ball to the majors and the most boring game I have ever seen was a D-backs-Orioles game last year. Nothing happened. The pitching wasn’t great and the batting wasn’t any better. The only runs scored either by home runs or being walked in. I have seen t-ball games with more excitement and drama.
Think of how most batters/teams deal with a shift. Up to bat with no one on the left side of the infield and the left fielder is barely left of straight away center. How do you beat it? Dah, I think I’ll try to hit it over the shift. Really? If the batter had more skill and relied less on their power, they could put a hard bunt down the third base line for a double, but no.
Universal DH, runner on second in extra innings, expanded playoffs? Just take the game out back and shot it. Save it from a slow death.
Baseball’s revenue is skyrocketing and it will go up to the tune of $70 million per team in new national TV revenue next season. Baseball is definitely not killing itself.
If you don’t like what is happening you have two choices, stop watching and spending money and time on baseball or shut up.
I HATE that a sub-500 team makes the playoffs. That is a bad joke. Even worse, this stupid commissioner sets up the playoffs so that said loser team gets the chance to knock off the best team in the first round. Further, he makes it easier for loser team to advance by having to win just 2 games. So what we get is a regular season that is largely worthless and a baseball tournament that takes away every advantage for winning your division.
You want loser teams in the playoffs? Fine. Make them EARN a shot to knock off a division winner since they sure didnt earn their way into the playoffs.
Boo this man
I don’t mind expanded playoffs, but I hate the best-of-3 first round for all qualifiers. Why not go to 6 teams per league and give the division winners with the 2 best records in each one a bye to the DS and let the other 4 teams play best-of-3, with the winners going to bye teams in the DS based on seed. So basically, the NFL model., which re-seeds after the first round.
As for the DH, I’ve always been a Dodgers fan and was resistant to making it universal up until the last few years. As much as I think it removes strategy from the game, the NL is at a distinct disadvantage when playing AL teams due to differences in roster construction required to support the DH. For that reason, I’m no longer opposed to the DH in the NL, especially after seeing it this year. The game just isn’t that much different either way, but both leagues SHOULD have the same rules.
I would love to see the 28 man roster made permanent, given all of the specialization we’re seeing now, as well as the reduced wear and tear on pitching (I assume that teams will continue to carry extra pitchers).
I echo some of the comments above on the extra innings base runners. Play the 10th and 11th innings as you do the first 9. If you get to the 12th, then put a runner on 2nd and play on.
How about a poll about the extra innings man on second rule? I for one really do not like it!!
The extra inning rule was ok on a temporary basis, but it should not be permanent. For one thing, it was not set up right anyway. The runner put on second should have been the next batter up just like an intentional walk, not the batter that made the last out. That made no sense whatsoever. I have been won over to the DH in the NL. I also liked the idea of seven inning doubleheaders but only when there is a postponement.
Absolute NO on the runner on second rule. It’s absurd.
Thr new rules are all garbage. Leave it to Manfred and the owners to use a pandemic to implement them under the guise of temporary changes, only to turn around and decide they might want to do them forever. Fan gets no voice, as usual. I wish there was an alternative professional baseball league.
Wrong. You get a voice, and that voice comes with your eyeballs and wallet. Don’t like the changes, don’t watch, don’t spend money on the game.
I don’t. No one went to a regular season game this year, obviously- but I wouldn’t have, anyway. I didn’t buy MLBTV, whereas in the past I would. I didn’t buy merch this year. I watched a few playoff games, but that’s it. I still don’t feel heard. I’m also not the only person opposed to these rules. Seeing lots of comments. Not really arguing with you. You’re right. Just frustrated.
The owners can do nothing long term without the approval of the players union.
The 3 batter minimum for pitchers may go away because the players union believes it is costing jobs. The players union wants the universal DH but the NL owners are against it because it will cost each team about $5 million per season. The players hate the man on 2B. That is going away. The players are not compensated for the expanded playoffs, so if Manfred wants to make that happen the owners are going to have to cough up some money and they are all crying poor.
You get a voice and you vote with your wallet and your eyeballs. If enough fans vote against the type of play the owners and players agree to, then it will change.
Have long been an advocate for universal DH. Pitchers for the most part can’t hit and watching them flail away is not entertainment. The strategy in the NL is overblown. It is pretty cookie cutter. Giving the pitcher one more difficult hitter to face requires a lot more strategy than figuring out how to double switch. The time has come for it to be adopted.
Baseballs biggest problem is that it’s pace is too damn slow. 3 hour plus games in the regular season and 3 1/2 to 4 hour playoff games is killing the game. Would not even need to consider a rule like a runner on second to start extras if they would just get the lead out and play more quickly. The game did not take 2 hours on average until the 1940’s and did not take 2 1/2 hours on average until the 1980’s. These slow games are a modern creation and not purely due to TV. Quit the screwing around and pick up the pace!!!
Of all the garbage Manfred spews, none is worse than his “expanded” playoffs. Talk about cheapening the value of a 162-game season.
I’ve seen a manager use a double switch. Brilliant strategy. How dis he think of it?
Expanded playoffs… I don’t like but I can live with.
Universal DH… I don’t like but I can live with it.
3-batter minimum… Very dumb. No.
Extra innings rules… Profoundly dumb. Hell no.
Lol,, I work with a couple of Stanford pedigreed colleagues, I haven’t found them to be more intelligent or insightful than other teammates – the pedigree may open the entry door a little more, however, you still must perform, lead, follow or get out of the way.
I concur with the anti DH arguments ( I would compromise with an AL DH) – the DH is simply an unnatural gimmick designed to create more scoring and appeasement to a new breed of fan void of patience or appreciation for the time proven tradition. of this great game of baseball.
I believe the collection and over dependence on analytics/sabermetrics, fantasy gambling and greed have gutted my enjoyment of MLB as a welcome distraction and relief from the daily responsibilities of the so called day job.
Considering the accelerating pace of the use of analytics in all sports, especially baseball, you may want to find a new hobby. Sports watching is not for you.
If he is so set on the man on second base, Why not do first base? Then it takes more than just a single or two sac flies to score.
I have no problem with expanding the wild card series: best of 3, best of 5… whatever.
But I want to see MLB expansion before we see postseason qualification expanded.
Most of the other rule changes didn’t bother, with exception to the extra-innings runner at second. With a 162-game season, I don’t know why MLB dreads having ties so much. Set a limit of 12 innings; call the game regardless of score (if it goes that far).
im a 52 yr old mets fan. The d.l. sucks..it was a stupid gimmick, how about having pitchers bat in the minors so they get at bats…runners on base to start extra innings? Are they 5 yrs old and have school in the morning?..2 wild cards are enough..go to a 4 man rotation….cant pitch to less than 3 batters? Thanks larussa for making them adopt this rule with your stupid lefty righty switch.
Teams that make the playoffs should have earned it, and byes are of no assistance to teams that win their division because at that time of the season you want to keep your eye in and play. You shouldn’t make any playoff with a losing percentage. Stop handing out participation prizes and rewarding teams for mediocrity.
If you don’t use placing a runner on 2nd in extra innings in the WS or other playoff games then you shouldn’t use it in the regular season just because you want to end the game quickly. Manfred needs to go and run a fast food chain or a restaurant where he can tell people to get out after an allotted time frame, even if they haven’t finished their meal yet.
definitely no first round byes
I would go back to two divisions per league instead of three. Have 12 postseason teams. The two division winners in each league get a bye while the four wild cards in each league play a best-of-three Wild Card Series.
The 7-inning double headers are stupid.
The extra-inning rule is stupid
Expanded play-offs is fine but make it a 5-game series at least.
Everything else I’m good with
figues
Dig the universal DH, dig the 7 inning double header.
Iffy on the 3 batter minimum.
Don’t like the runner on 2B for extra innings.
Like the expanded playoffs, but think 16 teams is too much. Would rather teams have a bye and would rather a series instead of a ‘play in’ game for the Wild Card teams
Expand by two teams.
Eliminate inter-league play
Go to four divisions per league
Go to 12 teams in the playoffs and the top two teams In each league get byes
No 7-inning double headers
No man on 2nd in extras
I like those ideas. What cities for the expansion teams? I like the idea of another west cost team and then either Nashville or Charlotte.
What about the DH?
I personally like the DH, but I understand other NL fans being against it. Las Vegas and Nashville?
Manfred is there for the huge paycheck he doesn’t care about the game !
The cheaters didn’t even get a slap on the wrist .
Are you really that dense? Do you not understand how collective bargaining works?
The issue that needs to change the most is Rob Manfred as commissioner.
The argument against a universal DH flew out the window when Selig instituted inter league play.
Once NL teams were playing AL teams on a regular basis the pitcher hitting concept should have been done away with. This is a case of “even a broke watch is right twice a day” and Manfred was right with the universal DH.
IMO, the pitcher hitting is kind of like having a rule in football where the Quarterback has to play defense in the NFC but not the AFC.
As far as the “strategy” argument…. You don’t get enough strategy when a pitcher faces a hitter? Pitch selection, pitch location, defensive alignment isn’t enough for you? The posters who are saying there is more strategy involved with the DH is 100% accurate. The pitcher hitting was always pretty much a free pass for opposing pitchers. There is more strategy involved in facing a designated hitter than there is a pitcher. Claiming there is more strategy in the pitcher hitting is a cop out and a lazy argument. It’s such a small percentage where the pitcher was not going to get pulled in the situation regardless that the “strategy” argument is irrelevant.
There is a $5 million per team reason against the DH and the NL owners are not happy at all about the chance of it happening. Because of that the earliest we see it is 2022 after MLB and the MLBPA sign a new CBA.
I think it’s obvious that baseball will institute a universal DH with the new CBA, I personally think it’s stupid when something is best for baseball and both sides know it that they feel like they need to use it for posturing during negotiations.
We have however already seen some changes from Manfred pre-CBA like adding an extra roster spot. There is no need to change luxury tax caps because the 40 man doesn’t change. Baseball should be, although they are not, smart enough to understand the Universal DH is good for the game and should be instated now vs. 2022 and what should be negotiated on is the luxury tax.
I really think baseball should drop the QO and go to a similar restricted free agent format as hockey. I haven’t heard a good argument against it and when it comes to the bickering back and forth regarding service time, to me, it seems like good middle ground.
Keep universal DH, expanded playoffs. Extra inning rules go back to normal
I think if you keep expanded playoffs you have to keep the “no days off” format and to keep that format you have to continue using neutral sites.
I believe it would be doable BUT I think you would have to have something like a West Coast series, a Central series and a East coast series to maximize ticket sales revenue. Then again, maybe making the winners host all three game in the “wild card” round is enough of an edge.
I just personally do not believe you can have travel days in a best of three without pushing the playoffs too deep.
Manfred is truly horrible for baseball. Perhaps when his dementia is diagnosed and his enabler‘s quit enabling, we can get rid of this looney toon
Manfred is throwing a lot of ideas out there to modernize the game. Some will be good, some will be bad but he at least is forward thinking. I’m not going to bash the guy for not being afraid of change.
I think the Universal DH should stay. Even if the Union doesn’t agree for 2021, It’ll probably be in the next CBA
7 inning DH are good for Minors but not MLB
3 Batter minimum I can live with, but I also think there should be an ‘or 15 pitches’ added to it.
Runner on 2nd, I get the reason they it’s there, to stop the 18+ inning games, and it succeeded, but I think there’s a compromise here.. Play the 10th and 11th as normal, but if you get to the 12th, that’s where the runner starts on 2B
that’s not good news for the Phillies in my opinion I think the only way JT realmuto does come back to Philly is if there is a universal DH rule so the Phillies could use him at DH 2030 maybe even 40 times a season not good
Some of the “Manfred sucks” arguments are confusing. On one side you’re saying hes changing the game too far and in the same breath you’re saying the young Fortnite generation has lost interest. That’s the point: hes making changes to speed up and condense the game for it to have a future.
…
You and I may have an opinion, but honestly these changes aren’t for you and I. They’re for Johnny Fortnite and his 10 second attention span. Unfortunately, all of the major leagues are or will be facing these same challenges. MLB is not alone in its need to adapt.
Not going to be a universal DH yet. Maybe in 2022. Not because the players are not in favor, they are. The NL owners hate the idea because it will add $5 million per team in additional payroll.
The man on 2B is stupid. It needs to go away. So does 7 inning double headers.
A 10 team post season is enough. 1/3 of the teams make the playoffs. Anymore than that and it makes the regular season irrelevant. Last thing I want to see is a .500 team in the playoffs. Give me the best of the best.
Expanding makes sense in a shortened season when there’s 100 fewer games, but not in a full season. Even the wildcard games can push it with bringing mediocrity into the postseason. If they want expanded playoffs going forward they need to rethink how everything works… like shorten the season, upgrade everything to 7 games, and go for an entire extra round.
Unfortunately, the virus is not going to miraculously disappear when 1/1/21 arrives. MLB and MLPBPA are going to need to talk. Some health and safety protocols are going to have to remain in place. I think spring training can start on time because it’s inherently a bubble. The next problem is when season begins and fans are only allowed in certain markets in less than full capacity. Optimistically by All-Star break you might have full stadiums again. Money will be issue, salary Arbitration, free agency, etc. MLB wants it’s expanded playoffs, MLBPA wants Universal DH made permanent. Seven inning doubleheader might be necessary. Initially, MLB offered two year deal to MLBPA for all changes but wanted to prevent MLBPA from filing a grievance so it became 1 year deal. I think they’ll make one year deal for 2021 prior to CBA talks.
I don’t care for any of the rules changes. I will get use to them over time.
When there was little to no TV coverage and the AL added the DH, there was a reason to spotlight the All-star game. However, with a universal DH, inter-league games and wide TV coverage, it’s time for that event to die. it won’t because (money) is what is keeping it alive.
Adding playoff teams I think will happen (more money). I’m not in the win a WS or die “camp”
The problem isn’t the fact that Manfred is changing the game. It’s that he is changing the game and still failing to attract younger viewers while pissing off and alienating baseballs older and loyal fan base.
The product on the field is awful. 2-3 minutes can go by sometimes without a pitch thrown. HR, strikeout or walk is not entertaining to me and a large percentage of other fans. I have been slowly fading away from the game for over a decade at this point and it’s getting hard to even watch my own team.
I can rant a lot longer about all the issues of baseball but that is besides the point. The biggest issues in baseball are pace of play and the fact that these idiots in the front office refuse to tell their players to hit against the shift. The game will continue to sink until they address some of the basic problems in their sport.
It’s like lots of entertainment these days. They don’t know the difference between producing content for *anyone* and producing content for *everyone*. MLB is trying to appeal to everyone and in doing so they’re struggling more and more to appeal to anyone in particular.
Dead on. That’s definitely a lot simpler way of putting it. I never thought I’d be apart of the “get off my lawn” crowd but I’m there with baseball. The greed of the owners has really destroyed the product on the field.
If I want to see strategy, I’ll watch a chess match. I want to see hitters hitting and pitchers pitching. Long live the DH!
Universal DH.
Runner starting on 2nd in extra innings.
14 team playoff with the #1 seed getting a first round bye in each league.
Just my opinion but it made the game more exciting to watch?!!