2019-2020 MLB Non-Phillies News/Notes Discussion

The single thing I hate most in all the changes coming is the runner starting on second in extra innings.

But I'm a product of the last century.

I just don't get the nostalgia for the unchanging game of baseball. It's a myth generated by baseball's endless comparison of stats across eras. Stupid, raw stats, totally unadjusted for changes in the game. In just the time I've followed baseball: the balls have changed, the bats have changed, the gloves have changed, the height of the mound has changed, the strike zone has changed, the time between innings has changed, the rule regarding blocking home plate has changed, the enforcement of balks has changed, the game has added a draft, arbitration years, free agency, compensatory picks for unsigned top picks were added to draft, then the comp picks were changed to only one pick below the one you lost, bonus picks for 'poor' teams like the Cardinals were added, amphetamines then steroids entered the game as did exotics like human growth hormone, the number of teams making the playoffs expanded drastically, the game added the unfair unbalanced schedule, rules for handling the injury list and moving players up-and-down-and up from the minors, even the length of the season -- all have changed. The DH and how to handle tie games are minor compared to the cumulative effect of all the other changes. I'm sure I've missed a number of other significant changes. Yet 'purists' talk about who is the all-time leader in HRs, RBIs, wins, strikeouts, even batting average. You can't compare raw stats across eras, precisely because the game has changed so drastically. But, by continuing to make those unadjusted changes, this myth of unchanging baseball tradition is reinforced.

Roger Maris didn't deserve an asterisk for breaking Babe Ruth's HR record because of a different season length, he deserved it because he was playing a very different game in which it was easier to hit a HR.

That's pretty much true of every other industry. I have not friends, family or contacts who have been given an option to not do their job and still get full pay. The fact that they' let the high risk players opt out with pay is pretty decent in my eyes.

It might make sense for the owners to provide a full season's service time to players who opt out (service time, not pay) as a small fig leaf to get players to accept the 60-game agreement. Clearly with the various positive tests going up there is not going to be an agreement for more games. The players could also opt to pay something to the opt-out players out of their own salaries if they wanted to.

No idea how many would voluntarily opt out, but I think they should be able to for any reason though getting paid their full salary would just make the whole thing fall apart.

I'm not against change. I support robots calling balls and strikes. I'm in favor of the 3 batter rule for relievers. I'm a fan of instant replay (but it needs to be quicker).

But the runner on second rule just stinks imo. Everything in the game should have to be earned. A game shouldnt end on one bloop single up the middle.

That would certainly work as an alternative to man on 2nd. The problem which needs solving is that marathon games destroy pitching staffs and ultimately the bodies of some relievers. The negative carry-over from a 17-inning game lasts for at least several days, maybe a week. Get two (or three) long games in a ten-day stretch and, win or lose them, the team is harmed. significantly. Back-up IFs as emergency relievers isn't a good look.

I think that if, IF, they play in 2020 it would be a good time to test some of the wackier ideas out - I mean, whole season will feel sort of weird anyway. Honestly, if they actually play I think I'd even be ok with a one month March-Madness type of tournament. Bracket them up and each team plays a best of 3 against someone else in the first 2 rounds, best of 5 after that, and championship is a best of 7.

I want to see Vince in the outfield again!

Moving this back here as we might actually have a (certain to fail) plan to play baseball now. The way I understand it is that we go back to the March agreement for pro-rated salaries and service time and luxury tax calculations (no adding salary because the competitive tax threshold is also pro-rated). What is not in this agreement is expanded playoffs, any forgiveness of the $170 million advance, ads on uniforms, or even a DH I think. Maybe the DH becomes a separate agreement but it is not there now as I understand it. I think there was language on expanded rosters starting at 30 and eventually getting to 26.

Clearly as Rosenthal said, there are no winners here. And it all might fall apart with more positive tests. But it might be refreshing to start talking about baseball as if it were Spring Training again.

Edit - it does look like both sides want the DH even if it was not formally in the agreement.

Why do so many Republican office holders think the way to advance their political careers is to out-Trump the worst of President Trump. Supports murdering unarmed black men and dissing common-sense protections against Covid in one breath. It's the proud staking out of the political position "no one will out-stupid or out-bigot me, so vote for the racist arse"