When Does The Lockout End? Answer: March 10th, 2022

[owbc]

So how is MLB rescheduling the first two weeks of the season?

 

Hopefully single-admission doubleheaders. One can dream, right?

[TURBO]

Also ads on jerseys and batting helmets are in the deal. Gross.

 

Do you notice the sponsor’s logo on NBA uniforms?

 

How can you not notice them. They are right on the front of the jersey. Small, but easily identifiable, which is what the sponsors want, obviously.

 

I hate the idea of sponsors logos on uniforms and helmets.

 

It will start out small, but at some point, you will start to see multiple sponsors logos on uniforms. Only a matter of time.

 

I hate it.

[mtrebs]

Why hasn’t Stearns signed anyone yet?

[mtrebs]

I'm pumped. Time to get that Kris Bryant to Seattle deal inked and start the season.

 

I applaud them for getting it done and for playing 162. The only thing I resent is that I had really good seats for Opening Day and now I have to go through getting tickets again and clearing my calendar.

 

I talked to my season ticket ticket rep the other day and he said that they are going to take the 3/31 tickets and overlay them on the new opening day (which I’m assuming is now 4/14). Anyone that had tickets to the new opening day would be given first dibs at any available opening day tickets, but they won’t be guaranteed.

[sveumrules]

Sounds like the schedule formatting will change starting in 2023 so every team plays each other every year.

 

Maybe something like 3 games vs every AL team (rotate home & away every year, 45 games total) then 6 games vs non-divisional NL teams (3 home/3 away every year, 60 games total) leaves 57 games. 14 games (7 home/7 away) vs each divisonal opponent would be 56 games. Maybe that last game gets tacked onto the natural interleague rival or whatever it's called & they do the 2 home/2 away split series for those matchups?

[Vgmastr]

New home opener on 4/14 has an updated start time on Brewers.com of 4:14, that's pretty clever.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

From a Brewers perspective:

 

Any increased economic unfairness is offset by increase to 12-team postseason, methinks. Randomness still rules October, and now you only have to beat 9 teams in your league to make it. In the NL, it's really just the Dodgers who've shown a willingness to push the CBT regularly. I don't see that changing (maybe the Mets spend more?). It's still a matter of can we compete in the Central and be consistently better than the Colorados, San Diegos and Washingtons of the world.

 

From a global baseball perspective:

 

I think the players did about as well as they could've. Performance bonuses, believe it or not, are not something unions usually like, so credit to MLBPA for recognizing the results-based business is uniquely suited to that and giving young players pay bumps. The minimum salary is a nice increase too.

 

I still think the owners have a ton of leverage under the current system, and this doesn't really change that. We may well be here in five years all over again. Baseball, as a sport, is holding onto a revenue system that really tilts toward management. Bad circs. Players did best they could under them.

 

I don't like the no shift rule change next year. It just seems like a cheap way to get desired results. I'll get over it, but I just fundamentally disagree with making the game less fluid.

 

Pitch clock is great. Universal DH I'll live with, recognizing that it's necessary and can be fun while missing the strategy of the old way. Bigger bases great. Glad to see the weird pandemic gimmicks gone.

 

As I said, expanded postseason awesome for Brewers.

 

I'm with the players on the international draft. The owners want one because it gives them cheaper, lower risk access to talent, and that's bad for a lot of Latin American players. I also don't think a draft would change or alleviate concerns about corruption, cheating, or nefarious scouting. Maybe that's me.

 

As someone else said, pour some lighter fluid on that hot stove! Baseball fandom is morally complex, but so's everything. Go Brewers. Let's have a fun summer.

[Oxy]

Can somebody please rebut the "double hook" rule for the DH? In that the DH is only for the starting pitcher, and once the starting pitcher gets pulled the DH either has to enter the game to play defense or sit on the bench.

 

This seemed like the ultimate "best of both worlds" solution, yet I've never heard a pro-DH person point out why it isn't as good as the permanent DH. Instead, it's just like there is this foregone conclusion/momentum/whining about "nobody wants to watch pitchers hit." Well, the double hook rule would basically eliminate pitchers from hitting yet still keep the charm of the NL strategy and make a strong, versatile bench that can play defense VERY valuable rather than just have some ultra-specialists on the bench.

[Vgmastr]

Can somebody please rebut the "double hook" rule for the DH? In that the DH is only for the starting pitcher, and once the starting pitcher gets pulled the DH either has to enter the game to play defense or sit on the bench.

 

This seemed like the ultimate "best of both worlds" solution, yet I've never heard a pro-DH person point out why it isn't as good as the permanent DH. Instead, it's just like there is this foregone conclusion/momentum/whining about "nobody wants to watch pitchers hit." Well, the double hook rule would basically eliminate pitchers from hitting yet still keep the charm of the NL strategy and make a strong, versatile bench that can play defense VERY valuable rather than just have some ultra-specialists on the bench.

 

Nobody is going to pay a Nelson Cruz type player $10+ million a year if he's only going to play 5-6 innings a game and not be around for the 9th. Likewise, no one is going to use the DH to give their star player a rest for a game for the same reason. Then the DH just becomes the last couple guys on your bench. The point of the DH is for more offense and more money for aging players, which are both wiped out in this idea.

Edited March 11, 2022 by Vgmastr

[homer]

With how abbreviated spring training is and all the unknowns, i wonder if some players in south/central american countries will run into visa issues or general issues getting into the country and reporting in a timely manner. I remember k-rod always was late to spring training, which for him isn't a big deal but for a freddy peralta who needs to stretch out...?

 

You would think/hope they'd all be stateside given how quickly spring training is starting after the agreement.

 

 

I guess the foreign players technically have work visas and given that they were locked out I believe those visas weren't valid since they didn't have jobs (for all intents and purposes). So you are probably right that there will be some delays.

 

I read a blurb about Ranger Suarez having a problem. I am not too familiar with how that all works so someone with more knowledge can chime in.

[Patrick425]

A few quick thoughts:

 

Shift Ban - Hate

End of one game playoffs (not talking about the one game tie breaker, which I actually like but now is gone) - Love

 

International Draft - What was decided on that? Maybe I skimmed over it. When I google it, everything that comes up are pre-agreement articles. As a Brewer Fan, I'm not sure how you could not want it to be a draft.

 

Is it made public anywhere which players voted against the deal?

 

edit: Also, in regards to the pitching clock (that was added, right?). Great if they actually enforce it. Didn't they enact some rule a few years ago that players had to keep one foot in the batter's box between pitches? Have never seen that enforced.

[owbc]

A few quick thoughts:

 

Shift Ban - Hate

End of one game playoffs (not talking about the one game tie breaker, which I actually like but now is gone) - Love

 

International Draft - What was decided on that? Maybe I skimmed over it. When I google it, everything that comes up are pre-agreement articles. As a Brewer Fan, I'm not sure how you could not want it to be a draft.

 

Is it made public anywhere which players voted against the deal?

 

edit: Also, in regards to the pitching clock (that was added, right?). Great if they actually enforce it. Didn't they enact some rule a few years ago that players had to keep one foot in the batter's box between pitches? Have never seen that enforced.

 

Implemented rule changes:

DH -- fine with it

12-team playoff -- support

No tiebreakers -- support so postseason can start sooner

9-inning doubleheaders -- support

No ghost runners -- I bet this comes back in the 11th or 12th inning at some point. I would rather reduce the number of players on defense to 8 in extra innings (presumably this would mean a 2-man outfield). I have no interest in watching extra inning games where guys try to hit a solo HR off a series of relievers throwing 100 mph.

 

Proposed for 2023:

larger bases -- strong support

shift ban -- several ways to implement this, opposed to the "2 on each side" approach but would be more open to requiring infielders to be banned from playing in the outfield.

pitch clock -- strong support (limit throws to 1B as well please!)

[nate82]

 

Proposed for 2023:

larger bases -- strong support

shift ban -- several ways to implement this, opposed to the "2 on each side" approach but would be more open to requiring infielders to be banned from playing in the outfield.

pitch clock -- strong support (limit throws to 1B as well please!)

 

For the limited throws to 1B you could give a pitcher 5 throw overs per PA and if they want to throw over again it removes a strike from the batter and if the count is already 0 strikes then the count adds a ball. This would bring in some more strategic situations where the pitcher has to determine if they want to try the pickoff or go after the batter. Would make for some interesting situations.

[markedman5]

International draft is going to be studied……if they can work it out then draft pick compensation will go away…..if they can’t then it will stay.

[ewitkows]

We should do a raffle on who the Brewers sign first.

[wntrtxn21]

 

Proposed for 2023:

larger bases -- strong support

shift ban -- several ways to implement this, opposed to the "2 on each side" approach but would be more open to requiring infielders to be banned from playing in the outfield.

pitch clock -- strong support (limit throws to 1B as well please!)

 

For the limited throws to 1B you could give a pitcher 5 throw overs per PA and if they want to throw over again it removes a strike from the batter and if the count is already 0 strikes then the count adds a ball. This would bring in some more strategic situations where the pitcher has to determine if they want to try the pickoff or go after the batter. Would make for some interesting situations.

 

Rules for 2023

I like a larger 1B for sure.

Infielders have to have both feet on dirt I would also strongly support

Pitch clock is a must as long as a batter in the box rule is tied to it. I would want to see the penalties though before passing final judgement.

I would never be a fan of limited pickoff moves. There are already a lot of bad things that happen during a pickoff so I think that's penalty enough. Too many nightmarish situations come with limiting pickoffs.

[wildcat83]

I honestly expected a flurry of moves once the lockout ended. It's been surprisingly slow, but I guess if they couldn't even talk, it will take time to work out some deals.

[CheezWizHed]

Does the pitch clock have a maximum AND minimum? Just wondering if Suter should be worried.

 

If they do a shift ban, I wonder how many people will be doing the metrics to figure out which batters are most impacted by the shift D to find the latest market inefficiency...

[owbc]

If they do a shift ban, I wonder how many people will be doing the metrics to figure out which batters are most impacted by the shift D to find the latest market inefficiency...

 

What is Logan Morrison up to these days?

[Patrick425]

Limiting throws to 1st - Very strongly oppose.

Larger base size - oppose

 

How about this. They put targets in the bleachers and anyone that hits them gets 2 Homeruns?! Or wait, let's eliminate one of the bases. More runs make baseball so much more interesting.

 

Someone posted earlier (I think in this thread) about the ADD generation. I'm beginning to agree with that.

[Patrick425]

Just saw also that one of the changes for 2023 is playing every team at least once. I think that's great but would also like to see with that the elimination of divisions (you could still play "regional" teams slightly more often). Then just rank the teams (NBA style) for the playoffs.

[Axman59]

I always laugh when I see baseball fans wringing their hands over every rules change in baseball as if the first rules had been handed down on tablets by God.

 

The NFL changes their rules every year and no one gives a hoot. And it's still the most popular sport in the USA by a wide margin.

[BradWI]

Just saw also that one of the changes for 2023 is playing every team at least once. I think that's great but would also like to see with that the elimination of divisions (you could still play "regional" teams slightly more often). Then just rank the teams (NBA style) for the playoffs.

 

Starting next season:

 

DIVISION GAMES (56): Clubs play all four teams in their division 14 times. (Current total: 19) So that means one three-game series and one four-game series each, both home and road.

 

OTHER 10 LEAGUE OPPONENTS (60): Those non-division teams within your league? You’ll play them six times apiece — three at home, three on the road. (Current total: six or seven apiece)

 

INTERLEAGUE SCHEDULE (46): Every team plays its interleague “rival” (Mets-Yankees, Cubs-White Sox, you know the deal) four times — two at home, two on the road. (Current total: four or six games, depending on the season)

 

As for the other 14 teams in the opposite league, you’ll play three games against every one of them. Half are at home. Half are on the road. Then that will flip the following year. So if you miss Mike Trout in your NL city one year, he visits the next year. Get the picture? (Current total: three or four games each versus either four or five nonrival interleague opponents)

 

As a result of the adjusted schedule, teams within the same division will have 91% of their games in common, an increase from 84% under the old schedule. Schedules among teams in the same league will feature 76% of common opponents, up from 52% in an unbalanced schedule.

[sveumrules]

Just saw also that one of the changes for 2023 is playing every team at least once. I think that's great but would also like to see with that the elimination of divisions (you could still play "regional" teams slightly more often). Then just rank the teams (NBA style) for the playoffs.

 

Starting next season:

 

DIVISION GAMES (56): Clubs play all four teams in their division 14 times. (Current total: 19) So that means one three-game series and one four-game series each, both home and road.

 

OTHER 10 LEAGUE OPPONENTS (60): Those non-division teams within your league? You’ll play them six times apiece — three at home, three on the road. (Current total: six or seven apiece)

 

INTERLEAGUE SCHEDULE (46): Every team plays its interleague “rival” (Mets-Yankees, Cubs-White Sox, you know the deal) four times — two at home, two on the road. (Current total: four or six games, depending on the season)

 

As for the other 14 teams in the opposite league, you’ll play three games against every one of them. Half are at home. Half are on the road. Then that will flip the following year. So if you miss Mike Trout in your NL city one year, he visits the next year. Get the picture? (Current total: three or four games each versus either four or five nonrival interleague opponents)

 

As a result of the adjusted schedule, teams within the same division will have 91% of their games in common, an increase from 84% under the old schedule. Schedules among teams in the same league will feature 76% of common opponents, up from 52% in an unbalanced schedule.

 

Looks like MLB was reading some BF.net...

 

Sounds like the schedule formatting will change starting in 2023 so every team plays each other every year.

 

Maybe something like 3 games vs every AL team (rotate home & away every year, 45 games total) then 6 games vs non-divisional NL teams (3 home/3 away every year, 60 games total) leaves 57 games. 14 games (7 home/7 away) vs each divisonal opponent would be 56 games. Maybe that last game gets tacked onto the natural interleague rival or whatever it's called & they do the 2 home/2 away split series for those matchups?

[gebc1997]

And technically, The Brewers and Cubs , for example , would only have one true game of difference . Cubs would play the White Sox, and Brewers would play the Twins 1 e tra game. of the 148 games they wouldn't be playing each other, 147 would be EYE---- Dentical