6:48pm: There’s expected to be a COVID-19 injured list for players “who test positive, have confirmed exposure or are exhibiting symptoms,” Jeff Passan of ESPN tweets. That list would not be limited to a specific number of days.
6:40pm: Jayson Stark of The Athletic passes along more information (Twitter links: 1, 2, 3, 4):
- The league’s transactions freeze will end Friday at noon ET, though it’s still debating whether to let teams sign players to minor league contracts.
- Teams must submit their 60-player pool by 3 ET on Sunday, and they’ll be able to take three taxi squad players on the road, though one has to be a catcher. All 60 of those players will be invited to spring training, but clubs will have the option of sending 20 to alternate sites.
- Players have to be added to the big league roster by Sept. 15 to be eligible for the postseason.
- Even though teams won’t have to invite all players on their 40-man rosters to spring training, they’ll still have to be paid.
- MLB has been talking with Nashville about keeping two teams of unsigned players there as an emergency pool. Those players would make $400 per week, and teams would have to pay a fee to Nashville to sign any of them.
3:42pm: If there is a 2020 Major League Baseball season, everybody who follows the game knows it’s going to be unusual for myriad reasons. The regular season’s only going to last 60 games, for one, and that’s assuming the COVID-19 pandemic won’t stand in the way. There will also be quite a few changes to the rules, as Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com relays (Twitter links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7):
- MLB plans to implement 30-man rosters, up from 26, to start the season. However, the 30-man total will shrink to 28 on the 15th day of the season. It will go down to 26 on Day 29 and stay there for good.
- The trade deadline is normally July 31, but expectations are that it will move to Aug. 31 this year.
- A runner starting on second base in extra innings would only apply in the regular season, not the playoffs. The batter who made the final out in the previous inning would start extras on second.
- MLB may decide to suspend games that don’t last at least five innings due to weather. In other words, they’ll remain in limbo until the teams are able to finish them at a later date.
- Both pitchers and position players would likely have a 10-day injured list. For players who are seriously hurt, the 60-day IL would be cut to 45 days.
- Three days before the resumption of spring training, teams have to submit lists of 60 players who will be eligible to play for them during the season (40-man rosters plus taxi squads). All players would not show up to spring training at the same time. They’d report on a “staggered” basis, and they’d be at the ballpark at different times.
As an Angel fan I’m wondering what they are going to do with Joe Adel.
If he makes the team, they lose a year of his service, but how can you keep him off the 30 man MLB roster.
That’s interesting question. How long will they have to wait til they don’t lose a year of service time?
krillin89
Bryant missed eight games… right? So three? I really don’t know.
My guess is there is a provision on players with no service time. why would a team lose a year of control for this? if not, many expected call ups may not happen.
I believe it’s time, not necessarily games. Would be a good thing to find out. It was 15 days of the 187 calendar days to get the extra year. Is that still 15 or is is prorated down?
Service time is pretty easy, but super-two may be much harder to guage than usual.
Normal season is 187 days, and combined 172 days on mlb roster, or on injured list, counts as 1 service year.
So, I’d guess the way it will apply is whatever the start date, through sept 27, equals a set number of days.
172/187 is 92% of the days. Take whatever 92% of the eventual season days (not game number) length is and it should be your answer
So… a week.
I say keep him off the 30 man roster.
This year will be a joke. The Angels will wait till 2021 before introducing him to the majors.
Universal DH is for 2020 only at this point, right?
The universal DH is only for 2020. But the players want it, so it’s coming to an NL city near you in the very near future.
DH and Pitcher in the same Lineup is needed.
Trading Deadline no Deadline Trades 365 days a year.
The Blue Jays because of Canada shutdown,Mariners because not close to California Teams play this season either in Jacksonville or Orlando or New Orleans or Charlotte or where Colts play or Las Vegas or OKC or San Antonio. Also geographical Realignment for good mean Mets and Yankees in same division same with Marlins and Rays same to Cubs and White Sox.
Draft next year and every year in Offseason so trades can be in it that involve MLB or Minor League guys to and also shown live on CBS and Fox to besides ESPN and MLB Network and be NHL style with Teams coming up to announce pick but Manfred would still announce Trades and own the rights to a Draft Pick and if don’t sign like after 4 years goes back into Draft.
Also Sunday’s ESPN Afternoon Game and CBS Evening Game. Mondays ESPN Evening Game. Tusedays TNT. Wednesdays ESPN Afternoon and Evening Doubleheader. Thursdays/Fridays MLB Network Showcase Games. Saturdays Fox Channels. For Postseason if ever gets Expanded more Games on ESPN. For World Series rotate between FOX/CBS and ESPN.
I’ve felt in the last decade or so that MLB should realign to something similar on a more permanent basis, but more in line with the NBA structure of an Eastern and Western League. If they had that in place, the realignment wouldn’t be a problem.
And yes, Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox should always be in the same division. And the Marlins, Rays and Braves should always be in the same division.
Well rob manfred is an idiot and he doesn’t care about expanding the game so you will never see this much exposure because of rob manfred
I hate to say it, but I think the last pitcher slot at bat in MLB history has already happened.
There’s no great pressing reason the NL had to use a DH this year. They took the opportunity to make the change with less pushback, but it’s very likely here to stay.
Why do we need changes like the extra innings rule. I get that they don’t want 17 inning games, which I have no problem with, but I’d rather they just set a limit of 12 innings and allow a tie. Not this little league garbage. And don’t get me started on the DH. It’s is simply blasphemy.
Just award it to whoever has more hits or something
Or have a home run derby decide the winner. Owners clearly don’t care about crowning a champion based on merit. Poor Dodgers may finally win their “piece of metal” this year only to have an asterisk added to the accomplishment. If their players wanted that, they would have asked that the Astros forfeit the 2017 “piece of metal” to them.
Which is what they do in Hockey. Give me this rule.
This adds strategy to the game. Many fans cry about the DH because of the loss of strategy. Well there is more strategy to this than to pitchers hitting.
Fans cry this isn’t enough small ball. What do you think this will do for small ball?
I think the triple and the inside-the-park HR are FAR more exciting than a dinger! Back up the fences, then hit in the gaps, RUN, catch, relay, catch, throw….cloud of dust…….wait for it……YES!,,
Why not award it to the team with the best baby pictures? This is nonsense.
If you think this is the equivalent to baby pictures, then you clearly don’t understand.
Maybe prom pix?
I hate ties in sports but I would rather have the game end in a tie after 12 innings instead of putting a runner on base
This adds a dimension to the game, you should give it a shot.
Execution, strikeouts, bunting all are amplified. I thought fans like that stuff.
I think people are not thinking about this rule, they are just reacting to it.
Disliking this simple and radical change to the game doesn’t require deep thought. I don’t like it. I never will and I fear it will open up the floodgates to further stupidity. I don’t like the DH, don’t like the no pitch intentional walk, but I understand and accept them. This is do not like.
Giving the right fielder a high powered tranquilizer gun to stop the runner from going to third adds a dimension to the game. That doesn’t mean it needs to be changed.
All this means is that player that failed in the 9th inning can score the winning run the very next batter in the 10th inning. It makes no sense.
A better extra inning rule would be to only have 8 fielders in the 10th, 7 fielders in the 11th and so forth. More scoring happens when fielders have to cover more ground.
And thus you eliminate the strategy. Where there a lot of post that said the WBC was a joke because of the extra inning rule.
If so, I don’t remember them.
hate the extra innings rule. id prefer ties or what the KBO does.
What does the KBO do?
12 inning limit which allows for ties. Unless it’s game one of a double-header, in which case there are no extra innings played
Interesting!
I’m not all against this extra baserunner, but I’d rather have a couple of “normal” extra innings before. Some 70% of extra innings games don’t go beyond the 11th
aladdinlee
I think I’m with you on this. Give them 12 innings to decide the game, then implement the rule.
Darkside. And I would hate the ties.
But I don’t think my world would end if they did it that way.
It blows my mind that people are more concerned about this than the virus.
Did you just want to complain about something dark side said? Because his opinion about the extra innings Rule takes nothing away from the coronavirus whatsoever. I seriously doubt anyone is forgetting about something that impacts literally everyone.
I like Darkside. But I’ve read a lot of “ruin the game” comments.
Out of all the baseball things I’m worried about, the extra inning rule is probably at the bottom of the list.
What’s the reasoning behind shrinking rosters? If anything as the season goes on (and presumably the risk/number of covid cases within the game) goes up… wouldn’t you need more players not less? Is it just because P’s won’t have time to fully ramp up so theyre expecting more relievers to be used? Or is it because of the abbreviated (second) spring training and so giving more time to evaluate players? I don’t necessarily have an issue with it… I just find it weird that they aren’t sticking with 30 for the whole year (or some # between 26 and 30) just seems kind of odd to have a ‘shrinking’ roster size throughout the year. Also will options/waivers still stay the same or will teams be able to “shuttle” guys between the active roster and ‘taxi-squad’ more fluidly this year than a standard season?
The reason for most every decision is money. They can pay fewer major league salaries, accrue less service time, have fewer people traveling… Don’t bother trying to apply logic from the perspective of the game itself. Owners clearly don’t care about the actual game.
The reason the owners want the universal dh and limited innings have nothing to do with money, it has to do with keeping pitchers healthy.
The reason the players want the universal dh is all about money.
I agree that players want dh for the money, but the owners do too. DH should mean more runs that owners hope will add more fans thereby adding more money.
I respectfully disagree about the limited innings. If it were merely done for players protection, due to the disruption and short second spring training, it would be phased out a month or so into the season. Owners want it for 2021 too. I don’t believe advertisers pay nearly same amount when their commercials are repeated in extra innings. Fans in attendance don’t pay more for bonus baseball either. Beer sales are cutoff after 7 innings. From a financial perspective, what’s the point of an extended game?
It’s to protect pitchers. Both rules protect pitchers.
But I have a friend who talks to owners by the way, this friend is always 100% pro player.
Is that you, Arte? You have a friend that talks to owners. You’re pro-owner while your friend is pro-player. Are you his owner friend? Just kidding. I understand your point of view. I just see it differently. Thanks for the conversation.
I just texted him about extra innings. He said managers hate it, operations hate it, bullpens, tv, players.. Nobody wants extra innings.
This guy got me tickets 10 rows behind home plate at an all-star game. With tickets to every event. I’ve seen him with 100+ athletes. He’s told me things weeks before they happened.
A source like that, I listen to.
.
How does this protect pitchers? They are adding 4 additional roster spots in addition to the extra spot already added this offseason and they are making the games shorter? Pitchers are not being protected, profits are. Now teams can limit the number of innings for pitchers in order to keep their salaries down in arbitration. And limit the number of ABs for hitters for the same reason.
I believe all of that. They all have to work late without being paid a penny more. No one would like that. As a fan though, I find an occasional extra inning game very exciting. I expect most people that love baseball do enjoy it. Part of the intrigue is wondering how long the game might last and who is left to pitch or hit as the game goes on. I’m sure that not every fan enjoys it, but I do. I also don’t think that more kids will want to watch baseball because “Look Timmy, now they start extra innings with a man on second.”
The best part about baseball is that it is not ruled by a clock like so many other things in life. It harkens back to a time when the American worker did not have to punch a time clock, they just worked until the work was done or the sun went down, whichever came first. I guess baseball changing is just one more reminder than life is passing me by. Oh well, what can you do?
Are they playing spring training games or just Intrasquad?
I’m not a hockey fan, but how do fans feel about how hockey settles ties.
I wasn’t thrilled about the shootout but I’ve come to be ok with it. Not really sure there is an equivalent for baseball. Maybe give 3 hitters a chance to hit against opposing pitcher/defenders. Most hits wins.
I think the shootout is a terrible idea. It’s like having extra innings be decided by a home run hitting contest.
But I haven’t followed Hockey in decades.
I hate the shootout in hockey. 60 minutes if a team game then 5 minutes of sudden death overtime with only 3 skaters per team which can be very exciting and if no one scores then a single skater against the goaltender. So much for a team decision in overtime – 1 against 1 is not a team yet the team will receive the reward if an individual scores.
When the shootout decides an NHL game, I’m fine with it. Penalty shots are part of hockey. Shootouts are just a series of penalty shots. Score some goals. Make some saves. These are all hockey skills. And it’s dramatic and fun.
When the shootout decides whether my fantasy hockey goalie wins or loses, I think it’s really arbitrary and stupid.
These rules are simply killing the baseball purist side of me! Starting with a man on 2nd base in extras? Are you kidding me? We didn’t even do that in our “Town & Country” leagues in middle school! And there are so many gray areas when it comes to service time for players. That’s going to be ALOT to keep track of for teams like Detroit and Baltimore who will probably be doing the most moving and shaking of MLB teams out there. I hate to say it b/c I LOVE baseball, but they’d almost be better off just starting fresh in 2021. This SUCKS
That rule existed in my very competitive fast pitch softball league.
The home team has a huge advantage, but overall you don’t even notice it.
When I played fastpitch we also used the “runner on 2”, but only starting in the 10th, and usually in tournaments when teams had to get back on the road sunday nights to make it home for work monday morning! LOL!
I HATE ties in sports! Why play at all!.,. I cancelled my mlb.tv as well….they refused to pro rate my subscription for a REALLY shortened season, and I will not watch if NL adds the DH. It’s not baseball….it becomes slowpitch at that point.
Ok, go ahead and hate on me.
Ragarm
I don’t hate you. 🙂
If you played with it, you understand the strategy. As for the DH. I was a fan long before the DH and having a pitcher hit adds so little strategy.
But the major reason I Iike the DH, is I hate seeing the number 8 hitter pitched around. It drives me nuts.
yeh, I know…but it’s later in the game where it gets REALLY critical for how a manager works his game. pinch-hit, sac bunt, double-switch…more like chess than checkers. LOL!
I just requested a refund from MLB. I’ll watch in 21. Hopefully they’ll work to get a new CBA.
If they don’t do what I want them to do I’m going to take my ball and go home.
We live in an entitlement world.
On this one I side with dewey though…. if the product isn’t what I originally bought, I get the right to refuse the substitution they offer, can’t just cram it down my throat.
It’s such a small thing. I really think you will give it a shot.
When you consider all the strategy and execution involved, it’s really very interesting.
My two biggest problems are…. this is different… Which is 100% emotional, and it really helps the home team.
But football overtime helps the team that has the ball second as well.
He isn’t getting what he paid for and as such is requesting his money be refunded. How is that being entitled?
Because he’s throwing an online tantrum, and he’s not waiting for 21. That’s a fib. Nobody who takes the time to post on this site will boycott the game entirely. If he/we/anyone enjoys baseball, this is the baseball we’re getting. To be fair, I don’t think it will work and I don’t think it will make for compelling TV for very long without fans in the stands. But I’m still going to watch and see what happens. And you know who else will? The entitled keyboard warriors who claim otherwise.
Hate the tricked up extra inning rule. Why ruin integrity of game? Then why have different rules for post season. Let’s just play slow pitch softball⚾️
Don’t mind any of the rules execpt the extra inning rule. Only .75%, or 109 of all games made it to at least the 13th inning from 2011 to 2016.
Suspended players? Domingo German?
Somewhere, Matt Kemp is saying, “Yes, I will be back for another year! I’m not getting cut in favor of Lewis Brinson! I’ve still got it!”
I don’t like many of the rules especially extra innings and the DH.
Two outs bottom of ninth tied, bottom of lineup hitter up. Just pinch hit with your fastest guy in every case. If they don’t get on base, you get your fastest bench guy at 2nd to start the 10th.
This could give even more value to speed role players like Gore. Especially early on the season why wouldn’t you have a guy like that. Don’t really like how this changes extra innings into who can get the first single.
The DH could give AL teams an advantage in inter league or WS since NL teams went into the offseason not needed a DH. Puts many teams at a disadvantage. Now some NL teams will be lucky to be able to benefit from the DH without ever having planned for it, just luck. For instance the Cubs can now DH Schwarber. They didn’t plan on that. Teams that prioritized defense lose out this year.
why not send in pinch runner after a few pitches
Same thing. I just like the over complicated strategy of pinch hitting so that guy starts on 2B the next inning.
It makes no sense as a strategy honestly. Just pinch run with them the next inning.
That’s why the rule is dumb. Why make it the last hitter and not just a bench player of the teams choosing? That would reduce any of the more bizarre strategies I’ve seen proposed.
Like intentionally walking a hitter to force the player you want to be the guy on 2nd. Like say the other teams Catcher, someone they may not be able to pinch run for. I don’t like that stuff to be a factor in an extra innings game.
A valid point on the DH, especially since there will be more “interleague” play with any realignment.
A runner starting on second base in extra innings —LAME that is not PRO Ball that is softball for retired folks
seeing these rules makes a case for no season in 2020….seems like this could ruin future years… what is next have teams pitch to themselves and get only 6 pitches per at bat.
runner on 2nd base no fault of the pitcher……how do they score that if that said runner scores? does pitcher get marked for a run or earned run for something they did not do?
They addressed that, will be counted as an unearned run. Same scoring as if the runner on second reached on an error.
MiLB gives them an unearned run.
July25,2019 Everett vs Vancouver for reference.
A pitcher can theoretically throw a perfect game and LOSE! 9 perfect innings, and in the 10th sac bunt, sac fly, game over. Way to go, MLB.
I anticipate that happening dozens of times.
Is there any definitive word on the qualifying offer for free agents? I know they talked about getting rid of it, but not sure if that was connected to the whole league-wide DH/expanded playoff package that the players shot down.
Anyone remember this was used in the World Baseball Classic.
Did anyone think that ruined the WBC? But now so many think it will ruin this.
Love seeing it in MiLB!
Getting out of the jam seems so tough but sometimes it appears like situational hitting is even tougher. Watching a team choose not to bunt in the 10th, then getting a second life in the 11th and choosing to bunt, but still failing to cash the runner each time is just the way things go sometimes in baseball.
More excitement early, less waiting to get deep into the bullpen or deeper into the utility guys.
If the DH comes into fruition in the NL there’s a number of trades that would not have been made this season and end of last season with power hitters who are terrible in D traded simply because they couldn’t field their position.
GM’s were aware that the DH could/would be coming in the near future. Of course this is sooner than anticipated but no one anticipated a pandemic shortened 60 game season either.
Could apply that same thinking to just about anything. With uncertain revenues I’m sure there’s quite a few contracts that were just given out that teams would like to reverse. I’m sure teams wouldn’t have given up quite so many prospects for rentals either. IE. Mookie Betts.
Such is life.
Its going to be a wacky season 60 games and then expanded playoffs. Could see teams like the Reds, DBacks, Padres, Blue Jays, making the playoffs.
If baseball starts extra innings with a runner on second, even for just this year, I’m out forever. I won’t watch baseball or spend any more money on the game permanently.
This isn’t a Covid change. It’s a pace of play change.
Nashville expansion team 2022/2023 confirmed?
I was curious about that too. How did Nashville luck into getting to be the host city for this? And who is getting the fee paid in Nashville if a team wants a player?
Remove a player from the lineup each inning of extras until you have a winner. 10th inning starts with 8 players on defense then 7 in the 11th and 6 in the 12th. No game will ever go past the 12th inning
A complete farce of a season. 60 games? Extra innings with softball rules? DH in the NL? I think I’ll wait until next year to see if I give a damn about the game anymore.
Well sixty games better than zero, IF virus don’t shut it down. As a Brewers fan would like to see a game or two, wonder if possible?
Highly doubt it.
Can’t wait for the first time a team has to quarantine its pitching staff for two weeks. “Ok, call the next 8 pitchers on the list and tell them to suit up. Closer? I don’t know, give it to the guy with the lowest uniform number.” The league is going to be filled with guys from A ball before you know it.
What happened to all the talk about “getting up to game speed” when a player misses a few weeks? Teams are now going to have 60 guys on call with more than half of them NOT playing regular games and then expect kids to jump in cold? Here come the injuries.
There are going to be some monstrously long, dreadful innings with the three batter minimum rule and minor league caliber pitchers who aren’t close to being ready. Three batters, get no one out, pitching change. Rinse and repeat. Gonna be a lot of painful 10 run innings. I wonder when Trout has his first three homer INNING?
When’s the All-Star break? Can we vote or will Republicants whine about mail-in ballots?
Why does one of the three have to be a catcher? What if a team has 3 catchers and another player that is capable of catching? Why water the spot?
MLB always does this. Just like saying you have to have so many pitchers on your roster and having to designate who is a pitcher and who is a position player.