MLB in 2021

[bmfc1]

Here we go again: the owners want to get rid of some of those annoying regular-season games and the players do not. If the owners were sincere about it being about safety then they could extend the season by a week and back-load the schedule with doubleheaders but we know that they really want an excuse to cut salaries.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think that starting on May 1 is reasonable. Extend the season into mid-October and include a bunch of those 7-inning doubleheaders and you can still squeeze in 162 games.



And play the World Series in Hawaii.

[Edgy MD]

Or in New Zealand.

[Benjamin Grimm]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2021/01/11/rob-manfred-mlb-planning-normal-spring-training-start-season/6632573002/Rob Manfred: MLB teams should plan for spring training to start on time, full 162-game season to be played

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred informed clubs Monday that they should be preparing for spring training to start on time in February and to plan on a full 162-game season being played, three people with direct knowledge of the conference call told USA TODAY Sports.

MLB does not have the legal right to unilaterally delay the start of the season without approval from the union because of the collective bargaining agreement, and the union made it clear it wouldn't accept anything less than 100% pay for the season.

[Benjamin Grimm]

USA Today is all over the coverage of the 2021 season:



https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2021/01/12/mlb-fans-spring-training-regular-season-plans/6636390002/New MLB guidelines leave room for fans to attend spring training and regular season games

Regular-season tickets are expected to be sold in pods again with seating at least six feet apart

I wonder what percentage of the seats can be filled with this arrangement? Maybe close to 50 per cent, depending on the size of the pods? That's a wild guess, I really don't know for sure.

[Willets Point]

Seating in the stands isn't the biggest concern, in my opinion. I'd be more interested in how they're handling restrooms, concourses, as well as fans arriving and leaving.

[Frayed Knot]

Come to our stadium and enjoy the game ... just try not to eat or piss.

[ashie62]

Baseball will achieve some normalcy in 2020.

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: Come to our stadium and enjoy the game ... just try not to eat or piss.

And if you must piss, please use our recyclable plastic bottles. Our seating bubbles have been tinted to protect your privacy.



Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

USA Today seems to give this topic more coverage than anyone else.



https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2021/01/15/universal-dh-expanded-playoffs/4172704001/MLB rule changes: League still discussing universal DH and expanded playoffs for 2021 season

[bmfc1]

"the return of seven-inning doubleheaders and extra-inning games beginning with a runner on second base".



The writers love these rules to the point where they don't give the "cons" a fair hearing because they get to stop working quicker.



The runner on 2d in the top of the 10th rule gave us the Alonso lead-off two-run homer.

[Benjamin Grimm]

And the top of that inning only had two plate appearances, because the runner on second was doubled off.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Cactus League is asking MLB to delay the start of spring training. Things are especially bad in Arizona right now, and the forecast is that things will be a lot better by the middle of March. But starting spring training on March 15 for 15 of the 30 teams would make Opening Day on April 1 pretty close to impossible. I don't know if there's a possibility of the 15 teams starting workouts elsewhere. We'll have to see how this plays out.



https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30776834/cactus-league-asks-mlb-delay-start-spring-training-covid-19-pandemichttps://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30776834/cactus-league-asks-mlb-delay-start-spring-training-covid-19-pandemic

[Benjamin Grimm]

The extra-innings runner will return in 2021, as will 7-inning games in doubleheaders.





https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30864253/mlb-mlbpa-agree-health-protocols-7-inning-doubleheaders-runners-second-extrasMLB, MLBPA agree to health protocols, 7-inning doubleheaders, runners on second in extras

[batmagadanleadoff]

No DH or expanded playoffs. This second base rule is disturbing given that MLB intends to play a 162 game season. Whatever. Fans'll get used to it with time. If this rule was invented at the dawn of baseball, nobody would give it a second thought.

[Edgy MD]

I'm not sure I read you. Is it disturbing or is it whatever?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Both. Disturbing because the 162 game season tells me that this rule might have some legs beyond this year. Whatever because what the hell can I do about it if I don't like it? Write a letter to the editor?

[Benjamin Grimm]

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/2021/02/08/mlb-planning-implement-incremental-changes-baseballs-2021/4445628001/MLB slightly deadening ball, adding humidors in five more parks amid HR surge, according to reports

Associated Press wrote: Major League Baseball has slightly deadened its baseballs amid a years-long surge in home runs. MLB anticipates the changes will be subtle, and a memo to teams last week cited an independent lab that found the new balls will fly 1 to 2 feet shorter when hit over 375 feet. Five teams also plan to add humidors to their stadiums, raising the total to 10 of 30 MLB stadiums equipped with humidity-controlled storage spaces

[Fman99]

A dead ball is still better than Covid induced dead MLB fans, I guess. Going on record as hating the 7 inning DH (though I'm used to it, that having long been the standard in the minors) and hate hate HATING the runner on 2nd in the 10th. It's just so phony.

Edited February 9, 2021 by Guest

[MFS62]

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=55759 time=1612875540 user_id=68]
No DH

[Benjamin Grimm]

There's no reason to think that that would change.



And I agree with Fman. That runner-on-second thing is even stupider than the DH. I'd rather see games end after 12 innings in a tie than to have that stupid rule.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Did anybody know that the Mets were one of a handful of teams that were already using a humidor?



I didn't.

[LWFS]

7-inning doubleheaders aren't terrible. Neither-- deep breath, then proceed-- is the DH, really. (Our current personnel make it a much, much easier transition for me, mentally.) These don't change the fundamental game.



But, yeah, the second base thing. Hoo, boy. At least in fussball, they play a bunch of overtime before going to penalty kicks. Getting ON base and getting a guy in position to score is kind of the big challenge of, like, offensive baseball, right?

[seawolf17]

Rules That Are Stupid, Ranked:



1) Three-batter minimum

1a) (outlawing defensive shifts would go here if they try it)

2) Extra Inning Secret Bonus Runner

3) Fucking up the minor leagues

4) Not allowing position players to pitch

5) The DH

6) Seven-inning doubleheaders

[LWFS]

=seawolf17 post_id=55791 time=1612889128 user_id=91]
Rules That Are Stupid, Ranked:



1) Three-batter minimum

1a) (outlawing defensive shifts would go here if they try it)

2) Extra Inning Secret Bonus Runner

3) Fucking up the minor leagues

4) Not allowing position players to pitch

5) The DH

6) Seven-inning doubleheaders

[Edgy MD]

Yup.



They're engineering shit into the game.

[seawolf17]

Players have to be designated "hitter" or "pitcher" now (with the exception of two-way guys like Ohtani and the guy from the Reds), and "hitters" can only pitch in extra innings if there's nobody left.



Totally dumb.

[dinosaur jesus]

=seawolf17 post_id=55791 time=1612889128 user_id=91]
Rules That Are Stupid, Ranked:



1) Three-batter minimum

1a) (outlawing defensive shifts would go here if they try it)

2) Extra Inning Secret Bonus Runner

3) Fucking up the minor leagues

4) Not allowing position players to pitch

5) The DH

6) Seven-inning doubleheaders

[duan]

I hate the DH but I was looking forward to it this year. I really wanted it to solve the mets Smith-Alonso conundrum.

Having said that I can cope 90 games of Dom in Left, 20-30 Games of Dom in First with Alonso resting, and 10 DH Games meaning you have 122 games of Alonso on first and 10 of Alonso on First/DH.



They both get plenty of ABs and late innings defensive switcheroos can happen with either depending on batting orders etc.

[duan]

I hate the runner on 2nd and the 3 batter minimum.

Also the 3 batter minimum made more sense when there was a DH as there was no PH'ing for the Pitcher .