MLB announces rules changes for 2020 season

[Recursion]

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-rule-changes-for-2020-season

Major League Baseball made its rule changes for the 2020 season official on Wednesday.

There are four categories of rules going into effect: the three-batter minimum for pitchers, roster limits, adjustments to the injured list and option periods for pitchers and two-way players, and a reduction in the time managers have to challenge a play. All but one of these changes -- the one addressing manager challenges -- had been publicly reported prior to Wednesday, but now they are all locked in.

...

All pitchers -- both starters and relievers -- now have to face at least three batters (or pitch until the inning is over) before they come out of a game. The only exception is an injury or illness that prevents the pitcher from being able to finish his three batters.

The main effect of this rule will be on specialist relievers, who are often used for only one batter to give their team a favorable matchup -- for example, a left-handed pitcher who faces only left-handed hitters, whom he is most likely to get out (often nicknamed a “LOOGY,” for “left-handed one-out guy”). There will be no more of that in 2020. The rule could also impact teams that use openers -- typical relievers who start a game to match up specifically against the top of the opposing order. Now, an opener would have to face at least three batters even if he has a bad matchup in that run.

This will really change some of the bullpen strategies, I think. Also, it's pretty cool that we're back to having two-way players.

[murielm99]

1. It will be interesting to see how that works out with pitchers.

I can't wait to run this past my husband. And my brother! I am sure he knows already. He is a real student of the game. I can't wait to hear his comments.

Thanks for posting.

[underpants]

2. Ump: He hasn't faced 3 hitters. Manager:He's allergic to left hand hitters. We have a doctor's note.

I am curious about starters who are getting hammered in the first inning. They have to keep pitching when it's already 6-0?

[Recursion]

3. OMG could you imagine an MLB mercy rule? (nt)

[underpants]

6. Cartoonist corrected me below.

But still. A reliever could give up 5 facing 2 batters.

[Cartoonist]

4. Don't worry

They can't score 6 runs without sending 6 men to the plate.

[underpants]

5. Okay. That's was my first cup of coffee.

I forgot to....uh... yeah.

Good point.

[CaptYossarian]

7. These rule changes don't bother me.

It hasn't been baseball for several years. Now it's "swing hard in case you hit it". This kind of play makes hitting coaches obsolete. (And all those strikeouts! Sickening.)

I remember guys like Gossage, Fingers, and especially Mike Marshall, would regularly pitch 3 innings in relief. There were many others too back then. A lot of starters (Palmer, Seaver, Jenkins, Hunter...) would pitch 300+ innings per season. None of these athletes made $20 million a year either.

Marshall pitched 90 games one year in the AL and then followed that with 106 games for the Dodgers and won the Cy Young in 1974. After baseball, he earned a PhD.

Of course, we all know Goose Gossage and Rollie Fingers are in the Hall of Fame. So are most of the 300 inning pitchers from that era too. Not just the ones I mentioned. Let's not forget these pitchers also got in some at-bats as well.

As I read this, I sound 30 years older than I really am. But it's not really baseball today.

[Recursion]

8. I hear you

[CaptYossarian]

9. "I don't drink anymore.

To get the same effect, I just stand up fast."

A comedian once said that during his show. That's about where I'm at and I'm only 58.

[stopbush]

10. So, a reliever has to pitch to three batters, but the batting team manager

is free to pinch hit to get a better match-up against the pitcher.

Sounds fair...not!