My Take On MLB Rule Change Proposals
The current favorite complaint with baseball fans is the slow pace of play. This game, as I have argued in the past, is best when a game is completed in about 2.5 hours. In recent years, 3-hour games are the norm, a situation born of lengthy between-pitches routines by both the hitter and the pitcher, constant throws to first, mound visits, and the dreaded LOOGY (Lefty One-Out Guy) whose only job is to get 1 left-handed hitter out. This results in multiple pitching changes in most late innings.
MLB began addressing slow games last year by instituting a limit of 6 mound visits per game by the catcher. It made little difference, as no team ever came close to getting penalized. This year, a number of measures to speed up the game have been proposed. Let’s look at them, and how I feel about them:
A three-batter minimum for pitchers – The design is to keep managers from running 3 or 4 pitchers out there for 1 batter each, reducing the delays in game action for pitching changes. A secondary (hoped-for) consequence would be the elimination of the LOOGY from the bullpen, which could reduce the size of bullpen staff from 12-13 to 11, leaving 1-2 more spots on the roster for position players, which would mean fewer pinch hitters with a 50 OPS+ taking up space on big league rosters. Some players have come out against this concept, arguing that 1) nobody has stopped watching baseball because the game has gotten too slow and 2) the rule would cause managers to only use their 2-3 best relievers and run them into the ground. Objection #1 is probably valid, but those still watching the game are still frustrated by how slow it is. I’m not convinced of objection #2. I can't imagine Tito only using Brad Hand and Oliver Perez 4 days in a row. I was against this at first glance, but I’m coming around after considering the roster makeup portion. MY STANCE: FOR
A 20-second pitch clock – A no-brainer. Anyone who is a fan of the Indians or Rockies can tell many horror stories about being genuinely worried we might die of old age before Rafael Bettencourt delivered the next pitch. Mike Hargrove was known as "the Human Rain Delay" as a player for his endless routine to prepare for the next pitch. Ol’ Grover had nothing on Bettencourt. I don’t see any pitcher today who does either, but there is enough stepping off the rubber to annoy fans that make this a sensible change. MY STANCE: FOR
A universal designated hitter – Easiest call ever. This is less about game speed (unless you are sure this will result in fewer pitching changes) but more about what doing what is morally right. If there is one single thing that would make planet Earth a better place for humans to live, it would be the extinction of the bunt. Farms would produce better crops, Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi would enjoy each other’s company, gun violence would decrease, and climate change would reverse. OK, I’m exaggerating. But there would be no more talk about people with Bob Uecker batting averages being referred to as "good-hitting pitchers." Pitchers are paid big money to pitch. Everyone else on the roster is paid big money to hit. Let’s let these people stick to what they do best. MY STANCE: FOR
Other rule changes are being discussed that aren’t related to the pace of play. I have feelings on them as well.
A single trade deadline before the All-Star break – I’m split on this one. I like the idea of only 1 trade deadline, as opposed to the two that there are now, but I’m not so keen on the timing. It appears the intent here is to get teams talking trade more in the winter, and forcing roster finalization at the season’s halfway point (teams have generally played about 100 games by July 31 and 130 by August 31). If a team is looking to fill a hole in its roster that is a result of an injured player that may or may not be back before the end of the season, lopping 1-2 months off the time frame for a deal forces GMs and team doctors to have greater fortune-teller ability, in my opinion. MY STANCE: FOR 1 deadline, AGAINST date other than July 31.
The expansion of rosters to 26 men, with a 12-pitcher maximum – I can see owners having a fit, moaning about their profit margin going down 0.0000000001% by having to employ an extra utility infielder. If the 3-batter minimum is implemented, I think there is no need for a pitcher limit on the roster, unless your manager is Kevin Cash or Terry Francona. MY STANCE: FOR 26-man rosters, AGAINST 12-pitcher limit
Draft advantages for winning teams and penalties for losing teams – I understand the sentiment. Tanking sucks. Why, if you live in Seattle, Kansas City, Detroit, Miami, and perhaps Pittsburgh, should you even consider dropping large chunks of disposable income to come to the stadium to watch a team that is barely better than the AAA affiliate, and won’t be much better than the AAA affiliate for at least 3 years? I also understand the clubs’ aspirations. The Cubs and Astros did it, and they won World Series titles for the first time in 100 years and the first time ever. That doesn’t help the fan who has to lay out $300 for his family to see a game that the home team is almost certain to lose 10-2. So stop the teams from tanking by penalizing them in the draft. But the unintended consequences would be dire. As long as there is no true revenue-sharing and no salary floor (the luxury tax is at least a soft salary ceiling), the teams in New York, LA, Chicago, Houston and the Beltway are going to start every 100-yard dash with a 5-yard head start. The 10 or so richest teams will end up with the penalty draft picks, and their 5-yard advantage at the start of the race will become 10 yards. Yes, you can still have the occasional upset (Tampa 2008, Cleveland 2016), but for the most part, you will be able to eliminate 20 teams from serious contention on the day pitchers and catchers report. MY STANCE: AGAINST
A study to lower the mound – The study is touted as an option on improving pitchers’ health in response to the ever-increasing number of Tommy John surgeries being performed these days. And of course, when the mound was lowered from 15 to 10 inches after the 1968 season, offense took a major step forward. I’m not sure if it keeps more arms from falling off, but I'll wait to see what the report is before declaring. For now... MY STANCE: AGAINST
A rule that would allow two-sport amateurs to sign major league contracts – I agree, Kyler Murray is a fabulous athlete. Could he be the next Bo Jackson and/or Deion Sanders? Maybe. But do we need a rule to protect the interests of one player every 20 years? I doubt it. MY STANCE: AGAINST
With baseball being as change-averse as it is, I’m sure these changes would cause a lot of consternation, and guys like Goose Gossage will probably go into a profanity-laced panic attack. However, things that get games back to the steady-moving, 2.5-hour events they once were will make for a better game that will better hold the attention and affection of today’s society.