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Potentially big MLB rule changes

Bankwalker

Starting in 2020, rosters now only expand to 28 instead of 40.

The bigger change, which would have irked Bobby Cox bigly, is that pitchers must now face a minimum of 3 batters. No more inserting a reliever for lefty on lefty matchups and then pulling him for another reliever.

This would have effected 674 relief appearances last season, 30% of which were in September during the pennant race (after rosters had expanded).

Any thoughts on how much effect this could have during crunch time of the season? Maybe we’ll start seeing more complete games, too.

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Comments

MarkBoknecht

I like that change -- the one where relievers have to face a minimum of three. Also, I'd like to see a rule change that prohibits the infield shift.

RxDawg

There are 40 players on each MLB roster? Holy crap... that can field 3 and a half teams.

Comparatively, the NFL can field maybe a 2nd.

Kasey

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/18655/potentially-big-mlb-rule-changes

maybe it'll mean some of these AL games will finish in under 4 hours

lmiked7

Just to clarify it's a minimum of three batters or until the end of a half inning.

Teddy

I'm generally a traditionalist when it comes to rules, but I like the pitcher rule. Baseball games are way too long, especially considering there's 162 of them. The roster expansion rule could also help on pitching changes in September too, as there won't be as many pitchers to choose from.

I'm all for speeding the game up. Shot clock on pitchers/batters, etc. I'm all for. Can you tell I think baseball games are wayyyyyyyyyy too long?

lmiked7

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/378685#Comment_378685

You want to see the shift end? These guys are supposedly professionals, just start lobbing a couple singles to the half of the field that is literally empty.

TNDawg71

Wonder how the will handle a struggling pitcher who walks the first 2 from having a mystery blister pop up to be removed from the game.

Bankwalker

This could set up well for the Braves, and explains the extra bullpen addition by AA. What was a weakness a year ago should be a strength this season.

Hopefully they will sign Donaldson to keep the lefty/righty 3 and 4 spots going in the lineup.

Teddy

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/378805#Comment_378805

I would assume an injury would allow for a substitution. Which then leads us to, will we see fake injuries to get a new pitcher in? If that becomes a problem, I guess you can require any "injured" pitcher that goes out before facing the minimum number of batters to sit out a certain number of games?? Like a special, temporary 5 day DL type thing.

TNDawg71

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/378813#Comment_378813

They need to sign Donaldson, or make a move for similar production. Otherwise it will be a big step back.

MarkBoknecht

@lmiked7 Absolutely I'd like to see the shift end. And these professionals you so highly tout? You would expect them to lob a few balls to the opposite side of the infield? Easier said, than done my friend.

Home runs are up, but so too are strikeouts. What are teams averaging now, especially in the NL? Twelve a game? So many times you see teams scoring runs and the pitcher still strikes out the side. It's ridiculous. The pitcher doesn't need any help getting hitters out.

Let's aid the hitters, starting with the pitchers mound. MLB lowered it in the 60's when strikeouts went up and BA's went down. Yastrzemski won the batting crown in 1968 with a .301 average in "the year of the pitcher" prior to lowering the mound. Why not change it again? Just make it flat.

amacdad101

Just wondering, will these potential changes be seen in the winter league play to actually see the "cause and effect" of a change?

Teddy

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/378990#Comment_378990

I believe I once heard they usually test these changes in winter ball or lower levels first. Not 100% sure though

Bankwalker

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/378990#Comment_378990

Be hard to test the effect on reducing roster expansion from 40 to 28 in that setting. I also don’t think the winter leagues are managed as hard as real major league baseball games

oddsbodkin

Can we get rid of the Wild Card game and make it a Wild Card Series? Min 3 games.