Now that the millionaires & billionaires have settled their squabble and Major League Baseball is back, just what comes out of the CBA that will improve the game?
First off, the National League has adopted the designated hitter. The experiment worked so well in the 2020 Covid-impacted year that the DH is now universal in baseball. I'll admit, being an NL guy, I did like the strategy involved with pitching changes and the like. Not a big fan of pitchers who couldn't hit a bull in the ass with a two-by-four, though.
On paper, at least, this should speed up the game. And seriously, baseball could use it. Granted, here's a sport without a clock, but come on! Get in the damn batter's box already. The constant adjustment of this and that is painful to watch. Three hour games should not be the norm.
Limiting catcher conferences and mound visits was a step in the right direction. Now enforce the pitch clock. And umpires, would it kill you to call the strike zone the way it is defined in the rule book? I'm all for the human element, but consistency is lacking -- oft times severely.
The playoffs expanded by two teams, from 10 to 12. The best thing about this? No more one-and-done wild card games. Now it's a best-of-three with Team 3 meeting Team 6 and Team 4 playing Team 5. The top two teams in each league get the first round bye.
Baseball is going to have to figure out a way to wrap up the season before November, though. MLB was trying to start as early as possible this year (March 31st, pushed back by the lock-out), but there's only so much calendar to work with. Weather becomes a factor in the spring as well as the fall.
How about shaving the regular season to 150 games from the 162? Both owners and players will have to seriously look at this one, as it means less paid games for the players and a few less revenue shots for owners.
Players can only be optioned to the minor leagues five times per season. This will stop the conveyor belt that has moved pitchers back and forth. Can't tell you the number of times I flipped on a game and wondered "who the hell is THAT" pitching now? The addition of the DH helps pitching staffs, and this move means owners can't mess with a guy's "clock" -- the amount of major league time that keeps a player under contract to his team. This is why those top prospects, the no-miss guys, never get to a major league game until mid-May or later.
Any further rule changes, such as Robo-Umps or a limit on the defensive shift will now come from a committee, one consisting of four active players, six members appointed by MLB and an umpire.
They're probably not done tinkering with baseball yet. Things will continue to evolve. Hopefully for the better.
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