MLB Off-Topic

[Mercury112491]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The 3-batter minimum will certainly bring the DH to the NL.

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Why? It doesn’t carry over between innings. RP aren’t going to be forced to hit all of sudden. I mean the DH is coming to the NL. It’s inevitable but I don’t think this will specifically be the catalyst.


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[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't know why people think this is removing strategy from the game.

If anything, it just goes through a different strategy. Do you really trust this guy to get all 3 batters out? This other guy has problems with the first batter, but he's dominated the other 2. Etc.

This exactly. There's probably even more strategy with this rule

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[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Why? It doesn’t carry over between innings. RP aren’t going to be forced to hit all of sudden. I mean the DH is coming to the NL. It’s inevitable but I don’t think this will specifically be the catalyst.


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How would it not carry over to multiple innings?

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[Mercury112491]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

How would it not carry over to multiple innings?

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Because that's how the rule is written. Pitchers must face a minimum of 3 batters unless the inning ends or there's an injury. So if you bring in a pitcher with 2 outs, the first guy walks and the second guy strikes out to end the inning then thats it. The pitcher doesn't have to come out at the beginning of the next inning to face his 3rd batter.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Because that's how the rule is written. Pitchers must face a minimum of 3 batters unless the inning ends or there's an injury. So if you bring in a pitcher with 2 outs, the first guy walks and the second guy strikes out to end the inning then thats it. The pitcher doesn't have to come out at the beginning of the next inning to face his 3rd batter.

So if a guy comes in with 2 outs in an inning, throws 1 pitch, gets an out, you don't have to bring him back next inning?

I like that rule. Don't need to see 2-3 pitching changes in an inning. Like people said, it'd change strategy, and also impact type of reliever you have. No focusing on "specialists". Be a reliever who is good vs various types of batters. It's not going to hurt a specific team because every team has this rule. So you can't "lefty specialist" them, but they can't to you either.

Anyone hear anything about shortening breaks between innings?

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Because that's how the rule is written. Pitchers must face a minimum of 3 batters unless the inning ends or there's an injury. So if you bring in a pitcher with 2 outs, the first guy walks and the second guy strikes out to end the inning then thats it. The pitcher doesn't have to come out at the beginning of the next inning to face his 3rd batter.

Oh I didn't know there was a catch.

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[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Oh I didn't know there was a catch.

It would be strange if it was inflicted otherwise. How can you account/assure for a pitcher to have to come out into another inning unplanned if they are not geared to do so? Now, one could say: "Of course you should expect it. If you come into the game with one out, there is always the possibility that you get the next two guys out to then start the next inning." It's not that easy, though.

What if a pitcher enters an inning with no outs, and a batter unexpectedly hits into a double play? What if there is a pickoff or a runner is caught stealing? Those can't be pre-anticipated by any sort at all, and it could be damaging to force a pitcher to come out into the next inning as that was not an expectation entering said inning. Furthermore, what if your team has an offensive outburst in your half-inning and you are in the dugout for 30 minutes? Many people know that this can both ruin a pitcher's funk and possibly even cause injury. Then there is the obviousness of the National League and having a pinch-hitter, but we have already gone over that.

Personally, I don't think the rule is dreadful and the league will be fine with adjusting to it over time (plus Bochy is retiring after this year, so he won't be affected). However, it does change game-to-game management (some relievers may not be attuned to pitching consecutive games anymore) and it is simply there not to make the game itself better, but rather to make the game a more enjoyable viewing experience when it comes to increasing pace of play. So I don't like the reason itself for the change.

I still would like to see restrictions on defensive shifts, though. This has been a long time coming, long before the influx of them in the league from analytics (I'm talking "mid-2000s" long ago).

[Mercury112491]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

So if a guy comes in with 2 outs in an inning, throws 1 pitch, gets an out, you don't have to bring him back next inning?



Anyone hear anything about shortening breaks between innings?

Correct

Local inning breaks will be reduced from 2:05 to 2:00. National games will be reduced from 2:25 to 2:00. MLB reserves the right to further shorten the breaks on both to 1:55 in 2020.



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[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Correct

Local inning breaks will be reduced from 2:05 to 2:00. National games will be reduced from 2:25 to 2:00. MLB reserves the right to further shorten the breaks on both to 1:55 in 2020.



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I knew national games were longer, but never knew it was because of commercials! 20 seconds per break, that's like several minutes a game of more ads.

5 seconds on regular games isn't much time off, but 2 minutes a break isnt so bad.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

This exactly. There's probably even more strategy with this rule

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How does leaving the same guy in there increase the amount of strategy needed? A manager is potentially making 1/3 as many decisions per late inning.

You could say that he has to pick the right guy at the start of an inning, but then you just kinda watch it unfold with very little input or ability to change on the fly.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

They're also reducing mound visits from 6 to 5.

No more 40 man rosters as of next year. 28 I believe is new September limit.

How does leaving the same guy in there increase the amount of strategy needed? A manager is potentially making 1/3 as many decisions per late inning.

You could say that he has to pick the right guy at the start of an inning, but then you just kinda watch it unfold with very little input or ability to change on the fly.

Because your strategy is more long term. You're making fewer decision, but those decisions have a longer effect. Not like you decide who faces 1 batter, and if things ever go south you can just switch pitchers. You have to plan for at least 3 batters ahead.

[BigOscar]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Also glad it kills the latest emerging trend before it becomes a thing, where you bring in a lefty to face a lefty, then move the pitcher to 1B/LF and bring in a righty to face the next righty, then move the lefty reliever back onto the mound to face the next lefty.

The Rays experimented with it a few times last year and it feels wrong on pretty much every level.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Because your strategy is more long term. You're making fewer decision, but those decisions have a longer effect. Not like you decide who faces 1 batter, and if things ever go south you can just switch pitchers. You have to plan for at least 3 batters ahead.

I'm somewhat both here and there on the strategic aspect of it, but you can play devil's advocate with this all day long and place it in other scenarios:

• Set your lineup for the day, no position player substitutions can be made. #strategy
• Switch-hitters have to declare which side of the plate they will bat on the entire day. #strategy
• No call-ups or send-downs mid-week. They all have to be made on Sunday nights from the hours of 9:00-midnight PST. #strategy
• Mound visits reduced from FIVE to ZERO. They should have conversed before the inning started regarding what to do in any situation. #strategy
• Nonverbal signs are not allowed to be given anymore. Every indication of a sign must be done verbally. Now it's up to the other team to decide if "Fastball" and "Steal!" really are what we expect them to be. #strategy

My point is that strategy may be involved in these actions, but more strategy doesn't always equate to being better in the long run. Just depends on who you are. For example, I love the strategy involved in NL ball and assigning the pitcher a batting position in the lineup.

Right now, I just think the greatest argument people can make is that it increases pace of play. For some, that's perfect; for me, I couldn't care less. Do what it takes to win, and if that decreases pace of play then fine. Don't be reckless with decreasing it for the sake of it, but do your thing at all costs. I mean the Diamondbacks and Rockies used to have lefty relievers specifically geared toward getting Barry Bonds out. That was their main priority on those teams in those seasons. I think if they want to spend time doing that, then it's rather nifty.

And it's interesting that people aren't intrigued by baseball specialists. I would argue that designated hitters are specialists, right-handed platoon hitters against LHP starters, Doug Mirabelli for Tim Wakefield... you can jump all over the map with them. I think they should play more than what they're designed to play for, but I also think they have a place in the sport and shouldn't be annexed because "pace of play."

But again, I don't hate the rule. I just don't like why it's being implemented.

Also glad it kills the latest emerging trend before it becomes a thing, where you bring in a lefty to face a lefty, then move the pitcher to 1B/LF and bring in a righty to face the next righty, then move the lefty reliever back onto the mound to face the next lefty.

The Rays experimented with it a few times last year and it feels wrong on pretty much every level.

I thought this was disallowed in MLB. If it is allowed, then it shouldn't be.

[BigOscar]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I thought this was disallowed in MLB. If it is allowed, then it shouldn't be.

I'm almost certain I've seen Jose Alvarado playing first base. I feel like I've seen the Cubs do it as well

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm almost certain I've seen Jose Alvarado playing first base. I feel like I've seen the Cubs do it as well

You may or may not be correct, I have no idea. I've seen pitchers play other positions before, normally as a cause of deep extra innings. I just didn't know that you could re-enter as a pitcher if you have already pitched in the game, even if you are not ever substituted out during that time.

If you can though, I'd like to see the first pitcher in history to record both a win and a save, lol.