On the TunneySide of SportsAfter further review… Some of Major League Baseball’s rules are confusing: like the pitcher and the use of him as the designated hitter. You can Google that the starting pitcher is also the designated hitter and then see what happens when that starting pitcher is replaced but can continue as the designated hitter. The manager (that’s what baseball calls the head coach) must list 10 players, not nine, when he presents his lineup at the start of the game, if the said manager, is planning that move. For many years it was only the American League that used the designated hitter to step in for their pitcher. Now both leagues use the designated hitter. There are recent new rules as to how often a team can change pitchers. Oh, my!
In 2023 MLB will prohibit the infield shifts making all infielders play in their normal positions, The purpose of that is to open the hitting and thus have more scoring.
The expansion of the pitching clock debate is not yet settled since it is negotiable between MLB management and the MLBPA. This is an attempt to speed up the game. The MLB tests in the minor leagues showed a decrease in the time of the games. When the step-off or pick-off attempts were limited to two, the runners attempted more base stealing which eventually led to more scoring.
It appears that PitchCom will be coming to MLB in 2023. PitchCom is a wireless communication system allowing the catcher to request pitches without using visible signals. The pitcher, shortstop, second baseman, and centerfielder will have such hearing devices. All in the name of stopping sign-stealing. As it is in other sports with the replay system, MLB has that too, the powers-that-be are trying to get a game that is not perfect. Hmm!
Just last week a San Francisco vs. Colorado game was decided when replay ruled a runner had, indeed, been tagged out when the third base umpire ruled him safe on a close play. “Game over,” said the umpire.
Will you agree that MLB needs to make changes to its game and if so what changes?
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