Rule Changes for rosters in 2020

[SeaBass]

 

Yeah jeez. Come on, this is the way baseball is meant to be played. With rules on top of rules to govern rules so much that nobody even knows what is what anymore.

 

So when a team is down 7-1 in the 9th and has mustered something like 1 or 2 hits all day, they are forced to waste a pitcher even though the game is essentially over. I hate all these rule changes. There is so much going on it’s hard to even keep track of everything like how many appearances 2 way players have for the year, mound visits, 3 batter minimum, different IL stays depending on if you’re a pitcher or position player, what can or can’t be challenged, roster pitcher limits, when position players can pitch, etc.

 

Can’t wait until the pitch clock is added next as well as pick off limits, time limits per inning, and foul ball limits where after 3 foul balls, you’re out. This is the game we all fell in love with.

 

I think the rule would allow a position player to pitch in that instance. 6runs or more from 9th inning or extra innings I read no? It's the 7th/8th inning roles they are removing.

 

I do find the multi-way player confusing. Let's say Ohtani DH's the first month of the season as his pitching arm wasn't ready to begin the season. The Angels would have to list him as a Pitcher during that time? It seemed that way. They had to start off as a pitcher and not a position player? I think MLB could have done better and just had a team fill out this player would be multi-way on the season and that player had to hit the mark to carry the title next season. Say if the player didn't meet the designation, the Team is penalized a 1st round draft pick. The player as stated loses the chance next season as a title multi-way and would be left being a pitcher or position player only the next season.

Not quite. A position player can pitch at any time after the 9th inning regardless of the score, so from the 10th inning on. A position player can also pitch at any point during the game as long as his team is winning or losing by 7 runs or more (the rule is worded "by more than 6 runs"). That could technically be the 1st inning if the score qualifies.

[brewerfan82]

So does that mean if you're down 7-0 in the top of the 8th, bring in a position player to end the inning, score a run to make it 7-1 going into the 9th, you're then *forced* to take out the position player and bring in a designated pitcher to pitch the 9th?

[jerichoholicninja]

Complicated rules to fix problems that don't even exist. Manfred must have worked for the government in a previous life.

[brewcrewdue80]

You're right I was thinking 6 runs or more vs more than.

[tmwiese55]

Complicated rules to fix problems that don't even exist. Manfred must have worked for the government in a previous life.

 

That's my take as well. They're going down the NFL road of over regulating things. This fixes a problem that didn't exist.

 

What kills for us is that these rules seem almost targeted at what MKE has done the last 2-3 years.

[Ennder]

It is trying to get ahead of a problem that is getting worse. There was a big spike of position players pitching in 2018 and another spike in 2019. The players don't like it, the fans don't like it. But if it can save your bullpen the manager is going to do it. There really is nothing wrong with the rule the way it is written.

 

I mean do you think a fan who is at a game that is say 5-1 in the 8th wants to see the shortstop come in to pitch because the manager wants to save the bullpen? I sure don't.

 

I am curious about the question posted above. If you have a position player in and the lead shrinks do you have to take him out?

[adambr2]

It is trying to get ahead of a problem that is getting worse. There was a big spike of position players pitching in 2018 and another spike in 2019. The players don't like it, the fans don't like it. But if it can save your bullpen the manager is going to do it. There really is nothing wrong with the rule the way it is written.

 

I mean do you think a fan who is at a game that is say 5-1 in the 8th wants to see the shortstop come in to pitch because the manager wants to save the bullpen? I sure don't.

 

Does that ever actually happen? I would guess 95%+ of the situations where a position player came in and pitched were already legal under the new rule.

 

Pitching a position player in a 10-1 game in the 8th is understandable. A 5-1 game in the 8th is a very bad look and demonstrates a lack of faith in your team rallying -- I don't think any manager wants to do that and therefore don't think the rule is necessary. Managers aren't throwing position players in 4 run games in the 8th currently.

[jerichoholicninja]

It is trying to get ahead of a problem that is getting worse. There was a big spike of position players pitching in 2018 and another spike in 2019. The players don't like it, the fans don't like it. But if it can save your bullpen the manager is going to do it. There really is nothing wrong with the rule the way it is written.

 

I mean do you think a fan who is at a game that is say 5-1 in the 8th wants to see the shortstop come in to pitch because the manager wants to save the bullpen? I sure don't.

 

I am curious about the question posted above. If you have a position player in and the lead shrinks do you have to take him out?

 

I do. There's a 1% chance you're going to come back, if even that high. Why waste a BP arm for an inning of a game you're almost certainly not going to win?

[adambr2]

It is trying to get ahead of a problem that is getting worse. There was a big spike of position players pitching in 2018 and another spike in 2019. The players don't like it, the fans don't like it. But if it can save your bullpen the manager is going to do it. There really is nothing wrong with the rule the way it is written.

 

I mean do you think a fan who is at a game that is say 5-1 in the 8th wants to see the shortstop come in to pitch because the manager wants to save the bullpen? I sure don't.

 

I am curious about the question posted above. If you have a position player in and the lead shrinks do you have to take him out?

 

I do. There's a 1% chance you're going to come back, if even that high. Why waste a BP arm for an inning of a game you're almost certainly not going to win?

 

Yeah, I mean the other part of it is that 90% of fans in a 5-1 8th inning game have either left the park or mentally tuned out. Very few are really going to care whether Alex Claudio or Luis Urias pitches the 8th inning with a 4 run deficit. And as I mentioned I don't think position players are pitching in even that close of games.

[wntrtxn21]

 

Yeah jeez. Come on, this is the way baseball is meant to be played. With rules on top of rules to govern rules so much that nobody even knows what is what anymore.

 

So when a team is down 7-1 in the 9th and has mustered something like 1 or 2 hits all day, they are forced to waste a pitcher even though the game is essentially over. I hate all these rule changes. There is so much going on it’s hard to even keep track of everything like how many appearances 2 way players have for the year, mound visits, 3 batter minimum, different IL stays depending on if you’re a pitcher or position player, what can or can’t be challenged, roster pitcher limits, when position players can pitch, etc.

 

Can’t wait until the pitch clock is added next as well as pick off limits, time limits per inning, and foul ball limits where after 3 foul balls, you’re out. This is the game we all fell in love with.

 

I think the rule would allow a position player to pitch in that instance. 6runs or more from 9th inning or extra innings I read no? It's the 7th/8th inning roles they are removing.

 

I do find the multi-way player confusing. Let's say Ohtani DH's the first month of the season as his pitching arm wasn't ready to begin the season. The Angels would have to list him as a Pitcher during that time? It seemed that way. They had to start off as a pitcher and not a position player? I think MLB could have done better and just had a team fill out this player would be multi-way on the season and that player had to hit the mark to carry the title next season. Say if the player didn't meet the designation, the Team is penalized a 1st round draft pick. The player as stated loses the chance next season as a title multi-way and would be left being a pitcher or position player only the next season.

 

The Angels can designate Ohtani a 2-way player from the start. The qualification for designation goes back to the 2018 season. If a team wants a new player to be a 2-way player, I would imagine they would designate him as a pitcher and then have him play a position or DH for the qualifying number of games and ABs.

[clancyphile]

Complicated rules to fix problems that don't even exist. Manfred must have worked for the government in a previous life.

 

That's my take as well. They're going down the NFL road of over regulating things. This fixes a problem that didn't exist.

 

What kills for us is that these rules seem almost targeted at what MKE has done the last 2-3 years.

 

I agree.

 

Reduce the September rosters.

 

Limit when position players can pitch.

 

Adjusting how long pitchers must stay down...

[djoctagone]

mlb announces rule changes for 2020:

 

--pitchers requisite stay for being optioned increases from 10 days to 15 days. position players can be recalled after 10 days.

 

--pitchers and two-way players must remain on the injured list for a minimum of 15 days--an increase from 10 days.

with the potential of an abbreviated season (and a season more aggressively played with as many as two doubleheaders a week), coupled with an uncertainty of how the minor league season will work (which normally ends early september), mlb and the players association have to be considering a modification to these new rules . . .

 

perhaps they go back to the 2019 rules of 10 days instead of 15 days? and/or further reduce the minimum from 10?

 

or perhaps with the cases above they change days to games played by the parent club while the player is on the injured list or on optional assignment (i.e. a major league club plays nine games over a seven day period, so as soon as the tenth game is played, the player can be recalled or activated)?

 

also, with the potential of two double headers a week, what will happen to the extra player rule? in 2019, it was the 26th player rule. for 2020, it was going to be the 27th player rule. if two double headers are scheduled within the same week, will mlb require that the 27th (or extra) player be a different player than the one from the doubleheader just days prior? or, will mlb waive the physical reporting requirement for an optioned player and allow that player to work out with the club as an inactive player until the next scheduled double header? if a double header is scheduled just three days after a double header, it doesn't make sense for the extra player to have to physically report to where ever the assigned minor league club is playing only to have turn around and fly back to the major league club.

[djoctagone]

it is reported here that rosters up to 45 - 50 players are expected if baseball resumes in 2020 (based on approximately an 80-game season).

[pacopete4]

Holy. That is a lot. Counsell is going to earn that money this season.

[djoctagone]

Holy. That is a lot. Counsell is going to earn that money this season.

i think it signals that there won't be any minor league baseball played in 2020. the minor league teams' owners don't benefit greatly from radio or television--their main source of revenue is paid attendance (and the additional revenues from such). if fans aren't allowed to games, how can they justify agreeing to develop players for the major league clubs?

[adambr2]

Can't help but feel like this puts a team like ours with a very weak farm system at a big disadvantage. We simply don't have good depth from 26-50, and although this might get guys like Corey Ray and Zack Brown a shot, teams like the Dodgers and Braves have numerous young MLB ready weapons at their disposal in the minors.

 

It's good news for guys like Corbin Burnes though who might have otherwise been only given a shot to figure it out in the minors this year.

[AJOHNSON104]

I would think MLB experienced / AAAA players could have an advantage in a "no minor league" environment. If teams end up with larger rosters they will also be more prone to carry guys with a plus skill. Examples are pinch runners, defensive players, etc. Be curious to see if they drop the 3 hitter rule because of this, which would increase the value of LHP specialists again.

[MrTPlush]

This is actually really terrible for guys who “need to figure it out” in the minors. Can you imagine the sporadic playing time guys like that will get? It’s good in the short term ($$$), but long term many of those guys will be wishing they could have seen consistent game competition in 2020.

 

No way they drop the requirements for pitchers needing to face so many batters etc...can you imagine how long games would take? You’d have 80 games of expanded rosters, no thanks.

[markedman5]

[AJOHNSON104]

Universal DH has been mentioned a few times, but with the possibility of combining leagues into geographical divisions, you would think it gives the AL teams an advantage. The AL teams already designed their rosters for a DH. On the other hand, with expanded rosters, the teams could really mix and match based on situations. I still think a team with a legit full-time DH might have an advantage though.

I also prefer the idea of doing tie games or Hockey-type standings if they are going to try to force a winner by using extra base-runners or similar rules in extra innings.

[djoctagone]

if rosters do expand to as many as 50 players, it's going to be interesting to see if any transactional rules change when it comes time to pare the roster down to 40 (i.e. are they subject to being claimed if placed on outright waivers).

 

i'm also curious how rule 5 players drafted in 2019 will be handled in 2020. if they spend the entire (albeit abbreviated) season on the active roster, does their club retain their rights in 2021 and beyond?

[pacopete4]

Braun’s going to hit 50 dingers!

[AJOHNSON104]

if rosters do expand to as many as 50 players, it's going to be interesting to see if any transactional rules change when it comes time to pare the roster down to 40 (i.e. are they subject to being claimed if placed on outright waivers).

 

i'm also curious how rule 5 players drafted in 2019 will be handled in 2020. if they spend the entire (albeit abbreviated) season on the active roster, does their club retain their rights in 2021 and beyond?

 

Hadn't thought about the Rule 5 thing. Wouldn't be fair to count a half season with expanded rosters as meeting the requirements. I'm looking forward to seeing the proposed roster rules, options, etc. One thought I had was around service time, especially with the possibility of lots of roster manipulation.

[adambr2]

Braun’s going to hit 50 dingers!

 

In 80 games?!

[pacopete4]

Braun’s going to hit 50 dingers!

 

In 80 games?!

 

I doubt he plays them all. Probably around 65-70.