Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that it will experiment with a pair of new rules during the 2021 Atlantic League season: a “double-hook” implementation of the designated hitter and moving the pitching rubber back one foot. MLB and the Atlantic League began a partnership back in 2019 wherein the latter would serve as a testing ground for rule changes and pace-of-play alterations.
The “double-hook” designated hitter rule will be in place for the entirety of the 2021 Atlantic League season. Under the new rule, a team will lose its designated hitter once the starting pitcher is pulled from the game. From that point forth, the team will need to either deploy a pinch-hitter or allow a relief pitcher to bat in what was the designated hitter’s place.
The goal of the rule, per the league, is to “incentivize teams to leave their starting pitchers in longer, increase the value of starters who can work deeper into games and increase the strategic element in the late innings of a game.”
Turning to the pitching rubber experiment, that change will only be implemented in the second half of the Atlantic League season. (The first-half data will then be compared to second-half data as a direct point of comparison.) MLB’s release notes that the average fastball velocity has risen from 91.6 mph in 2010 to 93.3 mph in 2021. The league posits that a hitter’s reaction time on a 93.3 mph pitch thrown from 61 feet, six inches is approximately the same as the reaction time on a 91.6 mph pitch thrown from 60 feet, six inches.
Within its release, MLB indicates that their analysis concluded a one-foot increase “would be the minimum interval needed to evaluate a change in mound distance,” adding that the change is “expected to be meaningful without being disruptive.” The goal, as readers have surely deduced, is to curb the league’s rising strikeout rate and increase the number of balls in play.
MLB feels the change has been sufficiently determined to be safe and free of increased injury risk, citing a 2019 study conducted by the American Sports Medicine Institute. Within that study, the ASMI asked collegiate pitchers to throw from 60’6″, 62’6″ and 63’8″, ultimately concluding that there were “no significant differences in key measures of rotational motion (kinetics) or acceleration (kinematics).” Pitch velocity and strike percentage also remained consistent, per that study.
MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince also raises an interesting point on the potential shift in distance from home plate to the pitching rubber, writing that league study found a standard deviation of seven inches for how catchers set up behind the plate. Catcher positioning varies on a player-to-player basis, with the difference between some catchers being as large as three feet.
It’s worth emphasizing, of course, that the experimentation in the Atlantic League does not necessarily indicate that either of these changes is any sort of lock to be added to Major League Baseball’s official rulebook moving forward. For instance, the Atlantic League experimented with a two-foot increase in distance between home plate and the pitching rubber during the second half of the 2019 season. They’ve also tested out TrackMan-assisted home plate umpires, measures to limit infield shifts, increased base sizes and the elimination of mound visits for any reason other than pitching changes. Some of those experiments have now been implemented at various minor league levels, and that would surely be the next step for either of the measures announced today.
There’s always a broad range of opinions regarding the changes to any rules and regulations regarding the game, so I’ve included a pair of polls for readers to weigh in on the pair of potential changes (**Note: the initial DH poll inadvertently left off an option for the standard, universal DH; I’ve created a new poll and added that fifth option. My apologies on the accidental oversight. Readers are encouraged to cast their vote in the new poll)…
(Link to mound poll for Trade Rumors iOS/Android app users) (Link to DH poll for app users)
I still dont like it but the creativity is neat. probably more likely just to anger both sides.
Will we even recognize baseball in 10 years? It really is not broken, so stop trying to fix it.
The issue being that it is broke. Pitchers have gotten stronger and increased spin on breaking balls. To little balls in play making the game boring. Has turned into a strike out or home run outcome.
bigjonliljon: That is an interesting take. I don’t find baseball boring at all.
Stronger? Can’t pitch 9 innings anymore.
@bigjonliljon: If pitchers have ‘gotten stronger and increased spin’ (ie, gotten better), then the onus is on the hitters to get better, not for MLB to start messing around.
And most of the reason baseball has turned into ‘a strikeout or home run outcome’ is because of the *hitters*. It’s the hitters who are swinging for the fences and not for contact. The hitters share much more of the blame than pitchers.
The game has to add more action and shorten the game or there won’t be as many new fans. I love basbeall as it is too, but I still want it to change so it can still be around when my kids are older.
THIS! A thousand times this, rct!! If hitters would adapt, the game would be SO much faster. If there’s a shift, hit to the opposite field. If you can’t get around with your big, looping swing, shorten it and drive the ball somewhere – like maybe where it’s pitched. All of these changes just cheapen the game.
Why not just play fewer innings if that’s really the goal? Why institute all these silly changes.
I don’t believe the issue is pitchers are stronger. Hitters in today’s game are rewarded for HRs regardless of balls in play. Strikeouts do not advance runners.
I prefer no changes if the DH is to remain.v That said. removing the DH after a starter gets taken out is weird alone. JDM has to come out or will a double switch be allowed? if you can double switch, then I’m ok with it but you’re still hurting a team with a straight DH.
One good point is by again getting your starters to go longer, you can have less pitchers on the 26 man roster. If pitchers are going to have to bat, teams will need more pinch hitters again.
Shane Bieber says “Hello, did you see my 9 inning masterpiece last night?”
Moving the mound back in fast pitch softball, made it a much more enjoyable game, IMO. I think it’ll have the same result in baseball.
But also: Leave your starter in to get knocked around more to protect your DH will lead to more baserunners and longer games.
@rct. I blame the agents and the contracts. Too many rewards for 20 homers, 50 rbi and 150 k’s while hitting .220.
Spin rates and 100mph just shorten careers and tax bullpens. How often do you see pitchers walk a batter after getting him to 0-2 or 1-2? Watching guys constantly hit into the shift is just embarrassing, especially when they have the entire off side to roll a ground ball through. Then again, there are no contract rewards for singles.
Want to end the shift? Beat it.
I think a lot of the perception that “games are too long” comes from non-fans watching big games like the playoffs where there are twice as many commercials that really make the games drag. Baseball fandom is generational but MLB’s focus is not on building fan bases with family friendly pricing, but maximizing short term profits with super expensive tickets and expensive cable tv packages. Baseball is more profitable than ever while fandom is declining and MLB keeps pointing at the length of games and blaming the attention span of viewers while MLB teams squeeze every penny out of their fans that they can, not caring that they are making the game unaffordable to a lot of Americans, thus shrinking their fan base and creating far fewer fans for future generations.
The game is too long. It’s frustrating to wait 30 seconds between pitchers. Pace of play keeps the game going.
I can’t even watch a live game on cable. I just zip through the offense on MLB.TV. Much better.
That’s because of the shift. Make guys stay in their position until the ball is hit and it’s solved.
Baseball is broken. It’s a boring, watered-down, limited action sport that relies on true fans—not casual, highlight-watching. limited attention span watchers—to continue to generate revenue.
And baseball (as well as all sports) has changed and adapted to the times over the years. There was once a time when there was no DH, the mound was higher, pitchers ruled the game. Every change MLB has made has been to help the hitters, not the pitchers.
Manfred has ruined the game. The owners ought to fire him.
The owners love Manfred. He is the most ownership friendly commissioner the game has ever had. Sucks for the fans and players, but he is an anti-labor, anti-consumer lawyer who is making mlb more profitable every day. For the short term anyway.
You’re about Manfred being the most ownership friendly since King Bud Selig’s family is owners of the Milwaukee Brewers & that’s why the Brewers were chosen to change Leagues
Is that why it’s still a billion dollar industry?
Historically, baseball has been tweaked every few years.
@ all in the suit that you wear But they already ‘broke’ it to a degree by putting a runner on 2nd in extra innings.
Meanwhile, more balls in play rather than strikeouts likely means…. longer games.
So much for pace of play right?
I don’t agree…considering strikeouts take a minimum of three pitches, more likely five or six with full counts and fouls, the quicker the ball is in play the faster the game would go.
Not to mention, more than half of balls in play are outs.
@njbirds, you are absolutely right. There will be fewer foul balls, that alone will speed up the game.
The same mind sets that think baseball rules were thought out, perfectly at the games inception, likely thought the constitution can’t be improved on – because the creators were genius and considered absolutely everything- even the evolution of technology and physics.
How long was an average Greg Maddux game?
Bottom line is that we looking at 400 pitch games. That’s just ridiculous.
If you really want to quicken the games, call the freaking strike zone as it’s written. Bottom of the arm pit to the top of the knee.
Then require batters to keep one foot on the box unless a pitch was swung at. Does a hitter really need to tighten his gloves after taking a pitch?
Next, direct connect the crew chief umpire to a FIFTH umpire in the booth who is automatically reviewing every play. Isn’t it exciting to watch Joe West stroll over to the sideline, put on his headphones, wait for a connection to NY and watch him wait for a final determination when everyone in the stadium is watching the replay on the scoreboard? The review process is just sad.
MLB just can’t get out of its own way with all these ludicrous new rule concepts.
The MLB commissioner is an idiot and needs to go.
Absolutely!
To me, the umps are broken. Bring on the electronic strike zone.
You’re completely incorrect
Personally I’m fine with the way things are right now but it’s not as if the league hasn’t raised/lowered the mound in the past. Babe Ruth had a player run for him after he hit for gods sakes. All sports do it. Everyone wants to create offense because it sells. Think about the hand check in the NBA that gave the defender a big advantage of a slight nudge or feeling the players muscles in their back giving away their next move. Things like that are why we just can’t compare eras the way we’d like. I wish we could but unfortunately it’s not possible. Too many variables
We’ll get more offense by getting rid of the DH in the 8th and 9th innings. Genius! Who even wants to see Nelson Cruz and JD Martinez bat anyways?
yep, I dont want to see Nelson Cruz
The current AL DH rule in both leagues. Done and fixed
Or just leave the NL alone as plenty of NL fans like things the way they were. If you like the DH, watch the AL, if you don’t, watch the NL. Done and fixed.
Is that how it works?
So a fan in Seattle who likes the NL rules can’t watch hometown games?
I’m pretty sure people root for teams based off location and not what rules they follow or what league they are in
In the same scenario, a fan of the Pirates who doesn’t like nor want the DH in the NL should just live with it? Nothing will please everyone.
The only way the game should be played
The point is that you don’t become of fan of a team because of the rules but because of their location. So yes, live with it.
@Tom, I don’t think the Pirates can field 8 hitters, let alone 9.
Simply combine the options. Make the American League pitcher hit AND add the Designated Hitter to the National League.
HELL NO the DUMB HITTER does not belong in the National League
Let’s incentive guys to not even bother with defense by giving them a full time job for half the work. Sounds like the perfect encapsulation of plenty of Americans, mostly rural ones.
Aren’t we already paying pitchers who do half the work? I mean, a hit by a pitcher is more of a mistake than anything else, yet they’re expected to march up to the plate every game like they know what they’re doing.
If you think that pitching is equivalent to playing half the game, you aren’t paying attention. Any of the 7 players on the field can go the entire game without ever touching the baseball…can the pitcher? Even a player who’s extremely busy in the game will only handle the ball about 10-12 times. When a position player has a direct impact on the ball 150+ times per game, then they can say that pitchers only play “half the game” and the DH Is the same as pitching.
Shohei Ohtani says “Hi. If I can hit and pitch others can as well.
Actually, this incentivizes defense, as the DHs would prefer not to lose plate appearances despite your ridiculous assertion of it being “half the work” for them.
I think most teams would use a DH by committee to give position players a day off. It’s not laziness, it’s strategic
That’s more than made up for by the increased strategy in the late innings, the reason so many people are against the DH in the first place. This way is basically the best of both worlds.
Meanwhile, the offense would still be increased in the NL.
let’s see, what else can we do to ruin this game? pathetic
Game. Baseball so boring now I don’t wanna watch a hitter get a home run or strikeout every time. This is why I’m watching football and baseball is gonna lose viewership until they figure this stuff out. Incredibly boring
This is the fault of coaching and philosophy that everything is a home run or strikeout. For years experts have argued that over the course of a season that going for slugging provides more runs and that batting average doesn’t matter. Hitting .300+ isn’t valued anymore. Small ball is dead. Players in the majors and minors are told to sacrifice average for more power with things like launch angles.
This all ignores the fact though that when it matters the most hitting and small ball matter. Look at the last 10 years and see where World Series winning teams rank league wide in team batting average. Look at how bad that one game was in the Dodgers vs Red Sox WS where the game went deep into extra innings because every player was swinging for a home run. Moving the mound back won’t make them value average or contact again.
Manfred is literally a moron. Let’s handicap pitchers further because all we care about is runs. Garbage product
If you’re bored with the game, you’re not a true fan.
These rule changes are simply change, for the sake of change. It’s Manfraud’s, err Manfred’s green new deal.
True fans die off eventually. We aren’t here forever. If you’re not generating interest in the younger audience, eventually your league will dip in ratings, stadiums will lose attendance, teams will become even more cheap, and all of a sudden you’ll see less players aiming to be drafted as baseball players. They’re all tied together in some way.
Implying that scoring means younger fans will be interested is not necessarily true. You can have exciting baseball while two pitchers duel it out. Great defensive plays, balls in play, edge of your seat baseball. Scoring doesn’t mean fans.
I don’t think any pitcher is hoping for more runs being scored. Half of every roster is made up of pitchers. Half of every roster is trying to successfully NOT allow the other team to score. The losing team ALWAYS has fewer runs scored than the winner.
A 2-1 game rarely takes 3 hours to play. But a 10-7 game with 6 pitching changes and 12 walks?
How is it that with all the binder data, shifts, guys who throw 100 and all the emphasis on spin rates, pitch counts, right left match ups, etc., that a game STILL takes well over three hours to play even though hitters struggle to hit .250 and K 150 times per season?
It’s simple – THROW and CALL STRIKES.
How long does an average pitching change take? 5 minutes with stroll, mound visit, hike from the bullpen and warm up tosses?
Gee, two teams make 3 pitching changes each and right there kills half an hour.
Honestly, even the announcers find it brutal to watch 5 innings take 2 hours and lose interest.
If you combine a computerized strike zone with a mound that’s slightly further away from the plate, it’s actually suggested that pitchers will be getting an advantage as home run rates will go down. google.com/amp/s/www.baseballamerica.com/stories/m…
Good article to read on this subject.
Screw the electronic umpires because that would be the worst change baseball could make if implemented
This f****** guy (ManFRAUD) MUST be stopped!!
A fifth option in the DH poll should be “No, but allow the standard DH in both the AL and the NL.”
Agree. It seemed to work fine in 2020 despite misgivings by old traditionalists like myself.
Can we stop with feeling like we need to keep changing the game? The game was fine in the past. If you think making these changes and trying to knock off marginal time from games is going to get more people interested, you’re crazy. People who like baseball like baseball no matter how long the games are, etc. Just like any sport. Stop screwing things up.
The game wasnt “fine in the past” – it was segregated and no one wore helmets. Also MLB was not a billion/trillion dollar company then like it is now – money complicates everything, no? How can you think that when we all know its changed massively over the last 100 years?
Where’s that mute button @mlbtr???
Helmets and segregation aren’t in the same group as all these stupid proposed changes the past few years. The game got more rich because the talent that came along and TV deals. Maybe stay in the U.K. and take Manfred with you.
The game HASN’T “changed massively” at all. The addition of helmets came very early on. Segregation was more of a socio-political travesty in general, it wasn’t specific to baseball. Really baseball has changed very little in100 years but these new suggestions would be big and out of place with the flow of the games history. The game hasn’t needed radical change to bring in new fans in the past, and it doesn’t need it now.
I miss 70’s and 80’s baseball. Stolen bases are a lost art. No one can bunt. Wasn’t it just two or three years ago that there were more strikeouts than hits for the first time in major league history?
It’s not so much that no one can bunt but that analytics show us quite clearly that bunting is generally a dumb strategy. It’s never worth giving up the out just to advance one base.
Actually, it depends on who’s batting and who’s on deck. Even if the pitchers no longer bat, a sacrifice bunt can be worth it if the guy on deck is a much better hitter than the guy at the plate. Bunting with runners on both 1st and 2nd base with nobody out is also often worth doing.
Then there’s bunting for a hit, especially in this area of the infield overshift, as well as the squeeze play.
However, in general you are correct that it has been recognized that a sacrifice bunt isn’t anywhere near as valuable as managers used to think it was.
@cosmo2. Except that successful bunting in the right situation leads to WINS, not stats.
Whatever happened to stats like “the team that scored first wins 60% of the games” and how runners on base changes strategies and pitcher performance (stretch, defensive gaps, pitch selection, etc).
World Series Champions win close games. Bunting and small ball matters in close games. Playoff teams have better pitching and thus the games are lower scoring.
Pitchers like deGrom, Scherzer, Cole, Morton, etc (ie. intelligent, prepared and experienced) make hitters look stupid. Once a hitter’s weaknesses and blind spots are revealed, a good pitcher with command will reduce that hitter to nothingness unless HE adapts.
Most hitters and “coaches” refuse to adapt. Pete Alonso is going through it now. The difference is that you can see the Chili Davis input and can see how he is working pitches differently as the league is trying to attack his weaknesses.
The option for “standard DH in both leagues is missing”. Also I’m not at all in favor of gimmicks to trick managers into leaving their starters in longer. When it’s time to be pulled then it’s time to be pulled.
It is an option on the poll (although it may have been added later).
It’s a strategic risk. Do you leave the pitcher in for one more inning if it means you can get one more PA from your DH? It’s good strategy for the game just like all the other excellent strategic options in the current NL style of play, like do I pull my pitcher an inning earlier than I’d prefer if it means I can pinch hit for him now?
Did you not watch the World Series? Maybe the rule saves the manager from making monumentally stupid pitching changes.
Stop messing with the game!
both suck
Managers and GMs would be going nuts constructing rosters in a year such as this one. Would need and extra batter and one less relief pitcher. I bet what would happen is one would see more pitchers hitting the 10 day IL for tired arms etc. and more guys shuttling back and forth from the minors to cover the spots.
The standard DH rule is fine and long over due although I love seeing pitchers hit well, but other then that can we just let them play the game and stop all these stupid rule changes like this and the extra inning runner on 2nd and the playing only 7 innings during double headers and all the other dumb rules that have been implemented other the last year alone….
MLB is getting way to woke (get woke go broke) I wish all politics would stay out off sports
Every time I think MLB has come up with the worst idea ever, they come along and surprise me with something even worse.
And can we get rid of the running starting on second in extra innings rule yet too?
If we don’t want pitchers to bat why not just have position players bat? No DH and no pitchers batting. Batting order is 8 people instead of 9.
I think that’s a win-win, but unfortunately, the MLB doesn’t have the guts to do it.
Imagine a game your starter gives up 4 runs in the first inning and you take him out and lose your DH and #4 hitter at the same time.
Or it’s a tie game and your starter’s already thrown 148 pitches.
That one’s not an issue. Any manager would pull the starter before then in a tie game and simply rely on pinch hitters and/or double switches to try and break the tie like in any current NL game.
It’s a strategic risk. Is 4 runs enough for such an early hook if your DH hasn’t batted yet, or should you leave him in longer to try and get out of the inning (and then potentially pitch longer) at the risk of further damage? For that matter, should you even bat the DH cleanup in the first place or move him down to 6th or 7th in the order? It’s these kinds of strategic decisions that make NL Baseball so great in the first place!
The double hook just sounds like a way for the league to suppress wages once the universal DH happens.
How so? I do t see the connection. (I also think the idea that owners are “suppressing” salaries is a pretty biased point of view. They’re business men. Nothing nefarious about trying to avoid overpaying. Is it nefarious when players try to get the most money? These conspiracy theories are just a bunch of whining that millionaires don’t make enough money.)
With the rapid rate of TJS in the game the last thing they should be trying to do is incentivizing keeping your starter in longer, or making them throw from a longer distance. Thus making them potentially have to exert even more torque on their arm…
They don’t care about pitchers that why they lowered mound essentially causing thousands to blow out arms trying to up mph
True and now they want to decrease mph. Maybe just keep things the way they were?
yankeesnycrd: I agree. These are both bad deals for pitchers.
Put the mound back to the traditional 15 inches height rather than 10. Experiment with that and see how it goes.
Wait, can’t do that. Anything hurting offense will not be entertained.
Every player, manager, executive, and fan could oppose these dumb changes and Manfred would still go ahead and sign off on them. The man’s behavior is inexplicable.
Fact
I have a better idea, just get rid of the DH altogether.
A better idea would be to have more DH’s and more defense-only players. Sick of seeing bad-bodied guys waddle over to the ball and make a limp-armed throw, just because they can mash – these are two totally opposite skillsets btw, why do all players need to have both?
Cuz that’s how the game is designed. You play the field AND you bat. You’re kind of pulling at the fabric of the game if you complain about that.
It did wonders for football. There was a time when they didn’t have an offense and a defense. Of course, the pay structure would be a huge problem. Maybe it should have been done 45 years ago when it was first proposed.
That double hook rule is… actually not that bad. The only explanation I hear for keeping the pitchers hitting is strategy and this would actually increase that.
Nobody goes to games to watch the bench coaches play chess with each other.
No, but it does make the game better. Nobody goes to a restaurant for the salad dressing but try eating a dry salad.
Of course we do! That’s why we oppose the DH in the first place!
Which was actually supposed to be just a 3 year experiment and that’s not a joke.
Not a big fan of moving the mound back, but I like the double hook DH rule. I first saw the idea in an article for the Athletic, so wonder if that is where it originated? There are some downsides to it though… what if a pitcher gets injured in the 1st inning? Seems weird to possibly lose the DH and a pitcher in the 1st inning of a game. I think they should add an injury clause or not have the rule apply if the pitcher gets removed in the 1st inning.
But what if the pitcher gets rocked in the first inning? Then that team is at a further disadvantage, creating more blow outs and less competition = “still boring” to the “fans” that don’t like baseball. It just doesn’t make sense to do. Just put a DH in both leagues and call it a day.
Don’t have a DH that’s incapable of playing a position. I don’t see anything that says you can’t switch your DH to a different position, should you lose your DH spot.
That’s a very rare occurrence and completely worth the extra strategy. It’s also not that much of a disadvantage to rely on pinch-hitters over a DH over the course of 2/3rds of a single game that you’re likely going to lose anyway. Bench players are still (mostly) somewhat decent MLB hitters.
Allow the DH to take the field when the pitcher is removed. Allow the pitcher to hit in the the spot of the replaced fielder. As far as one foot, what’s the big deal?
The “double-hook” DH concept is unnecessary, confusing and doesn’t solve the problem of each league having a separate rule. As a fan of the current DH rule, I would have voted for it to be universal as is in both leagues.
The first rule proposition is even more ludicrous. What’s next? No pitching mound at all? Bigger baseballs? 3-ball walks? Shift banning?
On top of all this, I really hate many of the new rules the game has implemented, at least the ‘temporary’ ones for 2021 on the heels of those started during least season’s abbreviated schedule. The extra-inning rule and 7-inning double headers especially draw my ire, to say nothing of the LOOGY measure. MLB argues these rules are intended to speed up the game so they might attract more ‘casual’ fans. This is b.s. because they are also infuriating many of the die-hards like myself.
If MLB is really serious about speeding up their games they could do it very easily with two more sensible changes by prioritizing the automated strike zone and then have the home plate umpire ENFORCE the time clock rule that states a pitch needs to be thrown within 20 seconds. Of course, this also means no time-out delays from the hitters either. Instead, the commissioner seems more concerned about adding a more ridiculous rule like banning shifts and doing little about improving the quality of a game that basically has come down to 3 outcomes since the addition of advanced analytics into its sport.
They just have to allow pitchers to seamlessly occupy the DH spot, if they get pulled as a pitcher, they can stay in as a DH. This also allows any bad hitting pitcher who thinks theyre great because they bat .200 to make some outs and help them lose the game, if the manager thinks so.
It’s not confusing at all, keeps the NL style of strategy, and you just need to implement it in both leagues.
DH finagling sucks…leave it alone!
Wouldnt your curve ball break too soon?
manfraud must hate baseball. moving the mound back a foot is to increase scoring. which will result in games finishing at 1 o’clock regularly. and more pitching injuries.
Baseball has been just fine for 140 years. Now Manford and his radical Regime are ruining the game. Someone needs to stop this nonsense..
Baseball has been relentlessly evolving for 140 years. They never used to wear helmets!
Ugh with the helmet thing again. They added those very early in the games history. That is a far cry from “relentlessly evolving.” That’s a ridiculous, untrue claim. And helmets were an obvious necessity (and part of the early tweaking of the game); The DH, runner on in extras? No such obvious need.
Helmets are safety issues.
I coached tournament softball for 10 years. Those were the most exciting and high energy games I’ve ever seen due to one reason: no inning could start after a specific time.
Teams hustled, coaches hustled and umpires hustled. Strategy was involved as the game got longer because you knew if you wanted that last inning to start, you did things more quickly.
Two hours and 30 minutes would be my limit. No regular inning could start after 150 minutes. Game over at the end of that inning. If the game was tied and 150 minutes has not been passed, play on with standard rules. If after 150 minutes the game is still tied, last out goes to 2nd base each half inning until we have a winner.
You’d be surprised how much faster the game is played if you know you need to turn over your lineup or to get to your closer instead of your least talented pitchers.
Standard DH in both leagues is best. I’d also offer the option to allow pitchers to occupy the DH spot in the order if the manager deems it necessary, to cover the 2-way types like Ohtani, allow them to come out of the game as a P but stay in the game as DH.
So MLB is saying that despite analytical data showing that pitchers are significantly worse as the game goes on, they want to punish teams for using that data and taking their starters out “early”.
Well a good starter, even tired out from pitching several innings, is still often better than a fresh reliever. I believe managers pull starters too soon in general. And we’ve always known that pitchers tire as the game goes on. This isn’t new “analytical” info.
So did Mike Greenberge get his idea from this or did the Commissioner get his idea from him regarding the DH
The DH should be enforced all around the league 24/7/365. No exceptions. Don’t make it a confusing rule; we don’t want to be like the NFL.
As for the mound rubber thing, it’s interesting how the game has evolved to where the average velo now could be thrown from 61 feet just as it was from 60 feet 20 years ago. I’d like to see it in action before I make an assumption on it though. Who knows, it might be effective…
The only “confusing” part should come with two-way players. Allow pitchers to occupy the DH spot even if they get pulled from the game on the pitching-side is totally fine by me. I want to see Ohtani hit more (unless against Oakland)!
I’m totally fine with that provision.
Or just leave it the way it was. DH in the AL, no DH in the NL. There was zero confusion before. Just put it back.
Or just put it in both leagues and prevent unnecessary injuries.
I’m not really sure that changing to a DH would prevent as many injuries as some think.
Injuries *to pitchers* my bad.
I just watched an A’s game the other day where Chris Bassitt (a pitcher) was hitting, and of course since he doesn’t train to hit baseballs, he had a super awkward swing that almost broke his ankle. WHY? Why should you make an untrained hitter, hit? That’s like saying Mike Trout should learn to pitch or else he’s not a good baseball player…. But he is a good player! Pitching and hitting are two different animals, and by telling one side to do the other is just ignorant imo.
Bassitt probably hit over 400 in high school..dump the d.h. in all of professional baseball..the gimmick is over
You’re not preventing injuries with the DH. That’s a myth. Any action you subtract from anything lessens the likelihood of consequences but the idea that pitchers running the bases is somehow a ticking time bomb is just wrong.
@rangers
That’s the problem! Pitchers aren’t even required to hit in the minors, which is stupid.
What’s next? Pitcher gets hurt fielding a ball so anything hit within the circle or in front of the mound is an automatic out?
Wait, how many pitchers get hurt THROWING the ball? Maybe we just use a pitching machine? Uh oh, batter got hurt running again. Let’s have a designated runner standing behind the umpire to run for the hitter if he puts in play.
Before pitch counts, how many Tommy John surgeries were there each year? Seems like we have 2 per week now that we are protecting all these guys.
Pitchers don’t hit after high school, that’s broken right there already.
How many HITTERS are under .200? How many pitchers are knocking in more runs than batters this year?
Play ball the way it was meant to be players. Nine men field, the same 9 men bat.
No hook, just standard DH in both leagues and call it a day.
Hitters are striking out more because there’s been the emphasis on ball elevation. Even in high school, players are being taught to lift the ball. This is a downstream effect of defensive metrics. The left handed base hit is basically dead. You have second basemen playing short right field. Clean up the shifts and you’ll see less strikeouts.
I intended to have an option for the standard Universal DH we saw in 2020 in the poll and omitted that as an oversight. I’ve created a new poll, with that option. Apologies on the oversight, and thanks to those who pointed it out.
I don’t normally bother commenting on the authors’ comments, but Steve, I appreciate you taking the time to not only fix the oversight, but also acknowledge it and thank the people who pointed it out.
A lot of times there are edits to issues in articles on here with no mention of it and it makes the comment sections very confusing. This post puts into context a lot of the comments on here asking why there isn’t an option in the poll that existed by the time I clicked on this, so it alleviates that confusion. TL:DR, thanks for fixing it and saying you did, makes it a lot less confusing for me as a reader.
Lets keep it going.
7 inning games are now official
No more base stealing
No more jumping up to rob a homer
Underhand pitching only if count is 0 and 2
Shut lights off when visiting team starts
All night games now begin at 1 a.m.
Topless female cheerleaders( i dont mind this one)
1st base is 140 feet
Lf and rf foul poles are gone
Dead center is 1200 feet
Fielders use fishing nets instead of gloves
From 3rd to home plate is a uphill climb with ice on it
I could go on
AND YOU PPL THOUGH SELIG WAS BAD!,this guy takes the cake and eats it by himself too
If it weren’t for the three true outcome outbreak in baseball it wouldn’t be so boring to get into. People want to ignore casuals, but at a time everyone was a casual to start, it’s how the league grows. People put on a game and they’re not seeing any action. Moving the mound back decreases the value of the elevated fastball and increases incentive to throw a breaking pitch (studies show off speed are move effective from a farther distance) less elevated fastballs and having to deal with nasty breaking balls may make hitters have a more contact oriented approach at the plate instead of always looking for the middle in fastball.
I’d rather the NL and AL stay the way they are, each with their own quirk, as unpopular as that opinion seems to be nowadays
No double hook – bring back the universal DH or leave it as it’s been since 1973. As for the pitcher’s rubber, if you want to do something to help speed up the game, return the height of the mound to its pre-1969 level. Sometimes, change is needed. Other times, it’s plain stupid – like these.
Everyone seems to be missing the point this only applies to the Atlantic league.
These are attempts to experiment with rules without doing anything to jeopardize the game itself.
I know people are upset about the 7 inning double header rule,but.if you’re concerned about the health of the players, two innings once in a while isn’t going to alter things much.
That being said, they’ve lowered the mound before – were people upset about that? I actually voted that I think it shouldn’t be moved back a foot.
Let the home team decide dh or not. Gives added home field advantage so increases fans leaving happy. Gives dh’s and pitchers that can hit a league wide market so players union is happy. Problem solved, MAKE ME THE COMMISH NOW!
Manfred has a relative that plays fantasy and is complaining he’s not getting enough points out of his starting pitchers.
Rob Manfred should have to sacrifice a finger for each new rule he wants to implement.
The problem being he could lose 4 very easily and still leave us with his middle finger sticking up.
MLB should stop changing the basic rules of baseball. We love baseball. It doesn’t matte if it’s a 4 hours game or 2 hours. Let’s the kids play!
Otherwise all record will have an asterisk.
On the other hand should investigate and show objective results for the juiced ball after they purchase the baseball manufacturer, and doctoring balls.
Im not joking about this but i think it was hulk hogan ( yes him) was pitching in h.s. or little league and his coach made him pitch behind the mound a cpl of feet further back. Blew out his arm.
My changes to add interest to the game are:
Implement the current DH system in the National League. Pitchers batting add nothing to the game.
Quit calling pitches out of the strike zone strikes. The strike zone has expanded tremendously in the last 50 years especially up and away from the batter. The ball should be entirely in the strike zone at some point to be called a strike.
Automate the calling of balls and strikes. Modern broadcasts which show whether the pitch was a ball or strike have revealed how many pitch calls are missed by the umpires.
Strike zone has not expanded the last 50 years. Don’t believe me? YouTube 1990’s games. Tom Glavine is a good start.
Glavine and Maddox were the ones who led the way in getting balls called strikes. Eventually everyone emulated them because they were successful.
Umpires are not stretching the plate that way anymore. Not even close. Calling more strikes above the belt? Yes. Not enough, but yes. No chance the zone has expanded as many pitches called balls today would have been strikes 25 years ago east/west.
Joe West is, just for the record. He must have had his karaoke slip called…
While pitchers batting doesn’t directly add to the game, all the late inning pinch-hitting and double-switching adds a LOT to the game.
My understanding of the DH is that a manager gets to substitute one hitter to bat in the place of one position player. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the pitcher, even though it always is.
What happens under the “double hook” when a two way player like Shohei OhtanI hits for himself?
I’m pretty sure it does have to be the pitcher, otherwise we would’ve seen the Angels DH for someone else like Andrelton Simmons while Ohtani was pitching (back before he had TJS) by now.
How about Manfred and his friends stop coming up with rules hurting pitchers, like a max number of pickoff attempts. Stupid.
David Phelps took a comebacker last night and thankfully it wasn’t at his head. If Manfred continues to destroy pitchers (Selig did too), it will destroy the game. Baseball’s greatest strength is protecting the players holding the baseball the most. Do more for pitchers and stop making their job harder.
So what happens if your starter gets injured or bombed and doesn’t make it out of the first and your DH didn’t even get to bat? Now your pitcher and DH are out of the game and you can’t use that player for the rest of the game
Yea that’s a major flaw in that idea
It adds another element. This scenario rewards the better constructed teams. Lose a starter in the 1st? OK, that happens now. Do they have a swing-man/long relief option? Lose the DH? Is it a full-time DH that can’t field a position? If they’re employing a revolving DH to rest their players, do they have enough hitters on the bench to pinch-hit throughout the rest of the game? For the mad scientists, do they team their 5th starter with another pitcher at DH, so they still have that 9th regular hitter to bring in if they lose the DH early?
The rule could be beneficial. Get rid of marginal starting pitchers/openers, DHs that can’t field a position (now they’re pinch-hitters), late-inning defensive replacements (replaced with pinch-hitter s).
Introducing another level of strategy is a double-edged sword, however. Current baseball fans may be intrigued by the new rules. Newer/casual fans may just find it unnecessarily complex and confusing.
Don’t mind trying new ideas at the MiLB level. Am open to change.
So this new ‘draft league’ is supposed to help young prospects get noticed by MLB clubs and ultimately get signed. Why would they even consider messing with the mound distance? These kids have been pitching from the same distance since age 13. They tailor their breaking balls to break just at the right time to either catch part of the plate, or break just outside of the plate. Adding another 12” to the distance will completely alter their off speed pitches and approach. I think this idea is beyond ridiculous.
And the proposed DH rule is beyond stupid too. There’s no way the MLBPA would ever vote this is in so why even try it? DH’s will now have to hit 9th in the batting order (do teams really want their pitchers or PH batting in the 3, 4 or 5 hole late in the game? I think not). And people pay to see JDM, Cruz, etc.. hit for the entire game, not just for 4-6 innings. This would also get rid of the Opener entirely.
Neither of these rule changes make any sense. If they want to improve pace of play, institute the electronic strike zone and pitch clock. While I personally like the live ump calling balls and strikes, the electronic strike zone would at least make the game consistent across the board. Change for the sake of change doesn’t help the sport at all.
Man-fraud is making a joke of baseball.
“The league posits that a hitter’s reaction time on a 93.3 mph pitch thrown from 61 feet, six inches is approximately the same as the reaction time on a 91.6 mph pitch thrown from 60 feet, six inches.“
Except that the 93.3 mph pitch slows down in the last foot and so the batter actually has a smidge more reaction time than before. But I guess you need to be a mathematician to figure that out and it’s easier just to have marketing people running the show. Good job.
I think the mound can be any distance and batters are going to try and lift/drive the ball. Every starter can throw 88 and it won’t matter. The numbers just don’t support a small-ball style of baseball working as a primary means of scoring runs.
I love that there are guys who can really pitch and hit (Degrom, Kershaw, Scherzer) but most pitchers are automatic outs. I like the idea of the double hook because it forces you to use your bench and forces starters to go deeper in games. However, I would be for it after you use your 3rd pitcher. I don’t want a DH removed in the 3rd because your starter stunk. By the time your 4th pitcher comes in, it should be the 8th/9th inning anyways.
Overall, this is a sport that inherently believes by the people who run it that it isn’t a good sport any longer and wants to be cool, hip. The sport is following the NASCAR wacky rule path that won’t work. Nobody is now watching more baseball because we put automatic runners in game (that sure ruined the joy of that Indians/Sox game).
Of all this silliness, the only thing I want to see is a pitch clock to see its impact as players do stall more than they used to.
I’ll be honest, I don’t hate these potential changes. Reducing the “three outcomes” and putting the ball in play more has appeal, and honestly I’d rather have this DH rule than universal DH. Maybe it’ll be a dumpster fire in reality, but in theory I think it’s better than rules like a runner on second in extra innings or telling a defense they can’t shift.
I find that baseball fans are too fixated on the way things are, and that sometimes a little change can reinvigorate things rather than desecrate them.
They’re moving the mound back one foot so they’re making the bases longer and moving the fences out as well? Now that seems fair. Otherwise, it’s just pathetic.
The goal of the rule, per the league, is to “incentivize teams to leave their starting pitchers in longer, increase the value of starters who can work deeper into games and increase the strategic element in the late innings of a game.”
Limiting the number of pitchers on a roster solves this problem quite well while simultaneously adding to offense; all without the need to change the rules on the field.
Not really. Assuming there are guys with options left, teams can send down tired relievers and recall fresh ones.
So their solution is to fundamentally change the field and not force teams to encourage contact hitting. It’s lazy and short-sighted.
Here’s an idea. When there’s a righty pitcher, you run the bases clockwise and when there’s a lefty pitcher you run the bases counterclockwise. That way lefties and righties have the same view of the base runner. See, I can come up with clever rules to make the game more “ interesting”.
Heh, yea. And if you don’t like this change then you’re a knuckle-dragger who hates change and doesn’t want young folks to watch the game!!!
No NL DH please!!! I don’t want this stupid change.
If Manfred was in charge of all leagues: Basketball would have a 5 point line somewhere around mid court. Hockey would have another pocket in the back of the net that would count as two goals. Football would allow two balls in play at the same time for only 4 points instead of 6.
ok, I can’t wrap my head around this.
So if the Twins starter gets knocked out in the 2nd inning they lose Nelson Cruz’ bat for the rest of the game, how does that translate to more offense.
Moving the mound back by 1 ft. As a former pitcher I would be very concerned about injury, pitchers have been throwing from the same distance their whole lives. They say that the pitchers are far ahead of hitters now, the good hitters will adjust. The average runs per game in 2010 was 8.77, in 2019 in was 9.66, yet they replaced the ball this year because of too much offense, but by moving the mound back it will create MORE offense, which is it?
If the pitchers are so far ahead of the hitters then add two expansion teams, that will water down the pitching and create more revenue.
If you want to help the batters eliminate all the shifts, you don’t punish the pitchers and it helps the batters.
I’m just not sure what they want, more offense or less?
Molly, they want more offense. They aren’t coming up with proposed changes that ever help pitchers. They just can’t be upfront. They’d lose the PR battle if they did.
Losing the DH once the starting pitcher is removed ‘to incentivize keeping starters in longer’ is intriguing, except that there are a lot of starters who simply aren’t good enough (the logic in removing them earlier in a lot of instances is to avoid going through a lineup the third time, in part because they only have 2 “good” pitches) to go 6+ innings. And too many pitchers are getting injured already.
One interesting side thought though..are starters like Madbum going to ask if they can transition to the secondary DH once they are pulled as the pitcher..? Not that I think mlb would go with that..
So pull the guy after 5 and rely on pinch-hitters for the rest of the game. Meanwhile, teams will find those kinds of starters less valuable in free agency or for calling up from AAA in the first place, or they’ll eventually wind up moved to the bullpen in favor of someone who can pitch longer.
How about this change——why don’t they make the batter’s box 3 or 4 inches deeper and give the hitter just a split second longer to react to the pitch? That’s very minimal but might create extra reaction time. (maybe six inches—I don’t know)
Baby steps without messing up too much.
The game has endured over 120 years, now they’re trying to build it better? I for one think they need to back off.
Two stupid rules… Leave the mound at 60’6″ and get rid of the DH in the American League…
Why change the rules if pitchers throw the ball harder and penalize them? Maybe the hitters should work harder to put the ball in play instead of just trying to hit a home run…
The NFL did the same stupid thing and always changes the rules when the defense is better than the offense… Can’t have a 7-3 game and a great defensive battle, it must be 45-41 type of game… MLB is going that way as well always thinking that trying to get more offense by penalizing the pitchers/defense and tinkering as much as they can, but of course if the hitters worked harder, things would be much better in the long run…
Hey Manfred, just leave baseball alone!!!
The “double hook” is pointless, unless roster sizes are increased to 30 and number of pitchers is limited to 13. If not, it will exhaust benches, or simply lead to more pitchers hitting.
The simplest solution for the anti-DH crowd: No DH and no pitchers hitting. Only the main eight position players bat. It’ll never happen though as it will remove a potential well-paying position (owners will like that and it’s probably the only reason it’s being looked at), and it will also eliminate a way to “rest” other well-compensated players by having them DH on occasion.
It doesn’t exhaust NL benches now to play that way (save for long extra inning games), and it hasn’t for the last century plus. You just need to have a bench with at least 5 players and manage them appropriately enough, including the proper use of double-switches.
Don’t favor either rule change though not opposed to the Atlantic league running the experiment. The problem with baseball isn’t in its rules, but its pace. The players just need to stop messing around and play baseball. Get in the box, stay there until your at bat is done. Get the ball, get your sign and throw the *&%^ pitch!
Both changes are junk. Moving the mound back is defensibe given the increasing Fastball velocity of current MLB pitchers and the precedent set in the 1960s when the mound height changed. But I’d prefer changes like this to err on the conservative end. The DH rule should be applied consistently to both leagues. Removing a DH after removing the SP is silly. Who wants to see pitchers throw >100 pieces every start or have a parade of pinch hitters after the 5th or 6th inning? Besides, the less managers manage the better. I never recall hearing anyone heap praise on LaRussa for pulling pitchers save on national broadcasts. So, this one can go into the dumpster fire at MLB Command.
Leave the DH rule intact in the AL. If they end up with the double hook in the NL, they need to make the 26 man roster permanent, and also I would allow the DH in the NL have the option of playing the field when the double hook happens.
For example, when the starter gets pulled, I would allow the DH to play somewhere like 1B. The relief pitcher would bat in the first baseman’s place instead of the DH’s place.
I mean these new rules in the upcoming Atlantic League season will probably have no effect toward MLB especially when considering the DH rules.
What if you were allowed to select 1
Person each game to hit as a DH even if they weren’t on your team? Like maybe 1 day it’s Big Mac, maybe another day it’s Garth Brooks etc.
MLB should experiment with a new commissioner.
+1
Commissioner Woke needs to leave the f&$&ing game alone already!!!! Quit tinkering with the rules and history.
I used to be anti-DH and wanted it gone from both leagues. But as long as both leagues are the same, I would be OK with universal, traditional DH now.
Drop the height of the pitching mound again as they di following the 1968 season when Yaz’s league-leading batting average would have dropped below .300 if one of his hits was ruled an error and when the second-place finisher’s BA had to be rounded up to get to .290.
This is sarcasm, right? Last thing the league needs is more offense. They need to figure out how to help pitcher’s stay healthy for longer periods.
Oh boy I’m so excited
That DH rule would make Ohtani’s career less exciting. Hard disagree.
Truly crack down on pitchers doctoring baseballs in any way and see if there is any effect there first. Maybe that solves some of the increased spin we are seeing, maybe there isn’t rampant doctoring, or maybe it is too hard to catch those who are getting a leg up. Of course this won’t solve the increased in speed, but hitters can hit the fastball. I think the increased spin rates are the bigger problem. Then get the balls back to where they used to be. Less home runs will bring back more variety in the game. Softening the balls will make it easier to bunt. Maybe we will find out that this will change the grip on the ball and lessen speed and spin rates? Then regulate the bats so there is the same amount of weight in the sweet spot on bats as there used to be.
I’m not entirely against this DH rule as it would encourage teams to actually let starters pitch deep into games, like the old days before we had 15 man bullpens to record the last 12 outs of games. I would of course include the caveat that if a pitcher is forced to leave early due to injury that the DH stays. I actually miss the days where pitchers had 10 complete games in a season, now we don’t see 10 complete games all season throughout the entire league
I am anti-DH, but I don’t think having the DH in both leagues or eliminating the DH entirely will solve baseball problems. In my opinion, MLB suffers from a host of problems among which are the pace of the game, the current philosophy of the game (win by either power pitching or power hitting) and failure to groom new fans.
The pace of the game is affected by a number of small things that add up: batter adjusting batting gloves even though they did not swing, catchers getting the pitch call from the dugout to relay to the pitcher, commercial breaks between innings (okay, this one isn’t so small), etc. Fixing commercial breaks is easy in theory but never going to happen because it is about money. Fixing the others would involve trivial rules that people would see as stupid, i.e. no adjusting of batting gloves.
Changing the philosophy of the game is even harder. Home runs and strikeouts make highlight films, not sacrifice flys and weak ground outs. Seeing a pitcher light up the radar gun gets on the highlight films. Highlight films attract the casual viewer which increases the money.
I’m pretty pessimistic about the future of baseball in general and not just MLB’s future. In the city I live in, the number of Little League teams has dropped dramatically. Their season is over by June so the “all-stars” can compete for the Little League World Series. Really? That means the bulk of the kids don’t get to play. The season for most kids is limited to April and May, the two windiest months of the year here. When I was a coach, we had snow outs, We had games when the majority of the players volunteered to sit out next inning because it was so windy and cold on the field. Why play baseball under those conditions when you could play soccer in summer? If you don’t groom kids to be new fans, the game will die.
Hmm, that’s a very interesting implementation of the DH. It keeps the weak hitting pitchers from almost never actually batting (which also removes the risk of pitcher injuries while batting), incentivizes longer starts, allows weak fielders or older veterans to still DH (while decreasing their value compared to position players), and it still keeps most of the late game strategy of the NL style of play. As a side effect, it also removes any value of the ridiculous “opener” strategy.”
I love it! If the universal DH is inevitable, then THIS is how it should be employed!
I guess we have to eliminate the pitchers’ risk of injury from throwing the ball, too? Smdh
Can we please get this clown out of the commissioner role. Asking pitchers to move back a foot is absolutely ridiculous. Baseball has been ruined already with this stupid extra inning rule and 7 inning double headers. What other sport changes regulation time? Just a moron all around.
How about a new rule. If game is tied in the 9th the inning starts with loaded bases and the home team has to select a member of the crowd to get out of the jam. If he does they win. And hey it adds the reality element to the game.
So now we want pitchers to go deeper into games. With or without pitch counts, I wonder. All this tinkering is stupid. Move the mound back one foot, why?? So batters have
…have more time to see the ball? How is that going to keep starters in the game longer?
Listen, change what needs to be changed. Stop allowing batters to leave the box after a pitch. Get rid of that damn foam finger slide pad that is 18” long. Stop allowing left handed pitchers to ball when throwing to first. Put the infielders back in their positions OR allow a shift three times per game. Allow a team to challenge an umpire’s ruling once per game UNLESS the challenge is won.
I’m good with runner on second after two extra innings. It definitely adds excitement and a much quicker final outcome. Should also do it spring training to eliminate ties and makes players learn fundamentals like bunting and hitting behind the runner.
While I’m at it, umpires should be fined for missing pitches and plays in the field. My goodness, officiating has been horrible this year. Ron Culpa (sp) missed 4 of the first 10 pitches he saw and about 30 total in the Phillies/Mets game. Then they blow the play at the plate AND the Conforto hbp. Geez.
I haven’t read all the responses so this may have been mentioned previously, but if you want to speed up the game and generate action quicker in each AB, call more strikes. Call the high strike, give pitchers the corners, etc.
If batters are ahead in the count, they can sit on their pitch and be more selective leading to longer ABs, less action and quick hooks for pitchers due to high pitch counts.
If hitters are behind in the count, they are forced to protect the plate and swing at borderline strikes resulting in ABs with fewer pitches thrown, action occurring earlier in the AB and pitchers going deeper into the game.
And quit calling time out to let the batter take all of his battle gear off and give to the base coach to relay to the dugout once they reach base. If they can wear all that armor to the plate and run out a hit wearing it then they can continue to wear it one the base paths.
Has anyone noticed how many pitchers are driving in runs this year while big money stars struggle to hit .150?
Manfred and his colossal power trip! He must be thinking ‘every day’, what else can I change so, ‘my name’ will be on this one too. He really needs to go!!!
Moving the pitchers mound back 1ft. is insane! Because fast balls increased in velocity?! Hitters are striking themselves out because everyone’s trying to hit the ball into orbit these days. That’s on them! There’s hardly any DJLM’s left!
There are some pitchers that can’t even throw 90 MPH. It will be like BP for hitters. Those that are under contract for years will be worthless to their teams and will be sent to the minors as the team will have to pay them in full.
What about other pitches, like splitters, curves, etc. etc. Pitchers will not be the same. They’ve been pitching 60:6″ all their lives! So, they all have release points to their pitches and they will need major adjustments. I can see a ton of balls in the dirt or even the grass! Especially veterans pitching all their lives throwing at 60’6″. Many if not all will have a hard time adjusting. If they do at all. An ace may no longer be an ace.! Then there’s the injury factor! You see where I’m going. Not to mention, this will make games longer, not shorter.
Removing a DH (which most get big contracts) when a starter gets pulled is absurd! It makes absolutely no sense. It should be all or nothing! Starters will be left in longer when they’re not on that game or gassed when they should be pulled just to keep the DH in. It’s just crazy to even think about, let alone implementing it. Even if it’s just in the Atlantic League. Which means it’s a test to implement in in the majors in the future.
Manfred’s already enforced ridiculous rules. Here’s just a few…
A man on 2nd in extra innings?! C’mon… One team may have the bottom of the order coming up when the other team has heir best hitters coming up. Result: 10th. inning, Game over!
None of what I’m about to write is justified. These are all going on career stats! The runner who scores gets a run scored. Just ignore the fact that he made an out to end the last inning. The batter gets an RBI. The pitcher gets a run against him (although not an ERA run), The pitcher gets a loss. That’s beyond nonsense, etc. None of these are earned. It’s so wrong!
7 inning double headers. What if someone’s about to break any hitting record but, didn’t get enough AB’s.
Pitchers may not make 200 innings or 200 strikeouts when their pitch count is low and can complete a game. There’s even more…
This is by far the worst. No defensive shifts?! A team should be able to play anyone where ever they want! Even if it’s in foul territory! lol
I can’t imagine what idiotic rule Manfred will think of next. Change the name of Baseball to Manfredball. I wouldn’t be surprised that he’s go that far at all. He’s ruining the game with his humorous! I can keep going but, I need to puke now.
That was an awesome post!!! Couldn’t agree more
I’m sick and tired of Manfred and all his changes. I’m okay with a full time DH in both leagues. But for the love of all things good GET RID OF THE RUNNER ON SECOND IN EXTRA INNINGS! Baseball was the only sport that forced teams to fully earn the victory. There no clock or over time coin flips. Starting a runner on second isn’t earned at all by anyone. I’d rather watch a game go 19 innings with no hits than end because someone got on base without earning his way there getting knocked in on a bloop
If for some incomprehensible reason we just absolutely cannot get rid of this stupid rule, at least move it to the 12th inning or something so the vast majority of games are unaffected.
Cool. Im taking credit for the double hook idea. Talked about it on a podcast last season. I still dont think itll stick but itll fun to see it tried out.
here is my 2 cents for what it’s worth, instead of moving the mound back let’s instead undo the gibson rule and raise the mound 15”. second i like the dh rule for the nl until the sp is pulled, that seems like a good compromise for the pro/anti dh guy/gals out there. i’ll admit i don’t like the dh i think the pitcher should bat like everyone else, keeps them honest because if you pitch dirty you’re eventually going to have to face the other teams pitcher.
They should try having wild boars roam the outfield. Make it that much harder to track a fly ball. If more offense is what Manfred wants, what could be more exciting than watching an outfielder try to play a ball in the corner all while not getting gored by a wild boar.
I have watched baseball for almost 70 years to know when comments are uninformed.. The game of baseball is becoming unwatchable because of record strikeouts and pitching counts. It will only retain its standing if it becomes a hitters game again rather than the all consuming pitchers game it is today.
The AL would throw a fit over the double hook rule, since it effectively defeats the purpose of having the DH in the first place.
#1. Pitchers no longer pitch. There is an art to it (see Maddox).
#2. Hitters no longer hit. Just straight grip and rip. It’s painful to watch.
#3. Increase strategy in the late innings? That WOULD make sense IF the manager had not already been hamstrung by the 3 batter minimum.
#4.If you want to shorten 4 hr games,eliminate 1 1/2 hours of commercial time.
#5. There is a TON of action on the field in a 0-0 ballgame. If you don’t think so,you don’t know what to look for AND you don’t know the game AT ALL!
Nailed it!