Baseball Changes As The Brewers Hit The Stretch Run

 Major League baseball announced several changes coming for the 2023 season. One can only think it's about damn time and move on.

*Seems that first a foremost, the end of the dreaded defensive shift. I get that it's been around for ever, implemented against the likes of Babe Ruth and Ted Williams back in the day, but that doesn't mean it's past it's usefulness.

Let's just say that loading the field to either side, playing an infielder like you would a rover/outfielder in softball, doesn't help the game. So starting next season, baseball infields must maintain the two on the left of second base/two on the right set. And those infielders must have BOTH feet on the infield dirt.

*Pitchers will be limited during a plate appearance to just TWO pickoff throws. This will put a stop to the endless attempts to keep a runner close. If a third attempt is made, and is unsuccessful in producing an out, then a balk is called and the runner advances.

*Bases are increased in size, from 15 inches to 18, to promote safety and boost stolen bases. And a pitch clock will be used to help speed the game.

These all sound like pretty good moves to me.

The Milwaukee Brewers, in spite of themselves, are still in the hunt for a wild card spot. As I write this on Sept. 10th, the Brewers have 17 of 23 their remaining games as the friendly confines of American Family Field. They are a couple of games behind both San Diego and Philadelphia for the two wild card spots.

I keep track of games they could have/should have won and, since the All-Star Break, that's nearly a dozen. Win half of those and the standings look quite a bit different.

Speaking of AmFam Field, when Milwaukee faced San Francisco this week in a double-header, it marked the first two-for-one nine inning DH in the field's history.

During the Brewers' recent road trip to Colorado, two interesting things took place. First, Manager Craig Counsell picked up his 600th career victory. And along with that, struggling Christian Yelich hit a towering 499-foot home run.

Saw that Aaron Judge of the hated New York Yankees is chasing the American League (and Yankee) record for homers in a season. Bet his hair isn't falling out in clumps like it did when Roger Maris slugged 61 and fought the pressure of passing Babe Ruth.