2022 MLB Non-Phillies News/Notes

[andyb]

This is kind of fun:

Aug 29, 2001

Serena Williams wins at US Open, Albert Pujols hits a HR and Vlad Guerrero Sr, Craig Biggio & Dante Bichette all record a hit.

Aug 29, 2022

Serena Williams wins at US Open, Albert Pujols hits a HR and Vlad Guerrero Jr, Cavan Biggio & Bo Bichette all record a hit.

— Dan Clark ( @DanClarkSports ) August 30, 2022

[andyb]

Our favorite umpire's lawsuit against MLB may not be going well. We also know they have current data on calling balls and strikes and am pretty sure Hernandez ranks near the bottom (though in what is logical it is mostly the younger umpires who place at the top with their young eyes and lack of pre-existing strike zone bias). In general I am actually OK with strike zone bias as long as the ump is consistent and not too far wrong.

The racial bias issues are different of course and possibly very real. I just don't think Hernandez is the right guy to call them out on it.

MLB: Hernandez blew ALDS calls, losing WS spot

[andyb]

MLB approves a bunch of rule changes for next season:

MLB approves sweeping set of rules changes

Pitch clock (good), ban shifts (not good IMO), limiting pickoffs (maybe good), and larger bases (good). Fielders will need both feet on the dirt and two infielders on each side of 2B. Just wish they deadened the ball to diminish the number of home runs before they did this.

Pickoffs limited to 2 free and then the 3rd is an automatic balk if unsuccessful. I think I like this because it will really entice pitchers to not do more than 1 pickoff (if the second is unsuccessful then runners will just take huge leads). This could cut as much time off games as the pitch clock rule. The 5-8 minute single at bat with 30 seconds between pitches and pickoffs is now over.

[zambonir]

Will be a wild season with the ban on shifts.

[xogfog]

Yeah, we might actually see some batting averages above .240!

[Philsmania]

I hate the larger bases, not crazy about the infielders needing to stay on the dirt but I like the other changes, especially the two fielders on each side of the field.

[andyb]

I don't mind the larger bases. Doubt we will even notice and it will make it harder for fielders to block the bases with their knee. I kind of wish they extended 1B into foul territory even if it is not aesthetically pleasing. The "softball" bag would eliminate some collisions and potential injuries.

[bkeich]

I love the pitch clock, speeding up the game is needed horribly.

The shift defeating rule will be hard to enforce. Will they paint a line? I hate this rule, better to start to teach hitters to take the easy hit when the other team gives it to you.

The pickoff rule is really stupid. Really stupid. I understand they want to increase steals but just enforce the balk rules correctly. I understand this is a speeding up the game, but they are taking too many swings at once at speeding things up. Changing too many rules for pitchers at once is tough.

I would rather see them just add a double first base bag, but the bigger bags aren't a bad idea.

[LoneStarPhan]

I don't think adding 3 inches to the bases will even be noticed. The idea of a double base at first so that runners would run to the part in foul territory while fielders would tend to always be at the other end seems workable as well.

I am concerned about the limit to pick off attempts but we will see how it plays out. The pitch clock will become something that we don't notice all thar much. I haven't really seen much of a problem when used at other levels.

[Lucky_Beagle]

i would have started with an additional pickoff ball counted as a ball instead of a balk.

[BostonRoss]

I think everyone likes the pitch clock except the players. I don't like the shift rule, but I assume most hitters do. In both cases, apparently, rules are needed because the players can't/won't adapt.

I kind of like the pickoff limits. It will be interesting to see how it affects the running game.

[allentown]

I kind of like the pickoff limits. It will be interesting to see how it affects the running game.

I agree. There is nothing so boring in baseball as a pitcher who lacks a plus pick-off move and compensates by throwing to first again, and again, and again.... This rule likely has very marginal effect on time of most games, but could shave a lot of time when dealing with this sort of pitcher.

[andyb]

This rule likely has very marginal effect on time of most games, but could shave a lot of time when dealing with this sort of pitcher.

I actually think this rule will save as much time as the pitch clocks. Did you catch that stepping off the rubber also counts as a pickoff move? Think of the pitcher-batter confrontations where they stare at each other for 20 seconds then step off. I bet there are 10+ step offs each game for each team.

Now there will be little need for the batter to call time because the pitcher is taking too long. And the pitcher simply has to throw the ball rather than step off the rubber. It will take a few months but I think pitchers will just get a rhythm of getting the ball and throwing it. If there are more stolen bases then so be it. There will be no more "that is not his good move" pickoff attempts. No more stare downs. A 10-pitch at bat could actually get done in less than 5 minutes with men on base (assuming foul balls which will always take more time).

Getting the MLB package this year and starting games an hour late has really given me insight into this rule. There is an easy 10-second skip on the app so you can see when a pitcher is in rhythm. Wheeler and Suarez are a joy to watch early in the game as they are very consistent with 10-12 seconds between pitches. When runners are on the rule is usually 2 clicks on playback (20 seconds). Some pitchers adhere to that. Some are not close to that (I am looking at you Kyle Gibson). Just about every reliever is around 20 seconds with nobody on base and 30 with runners. Then multiply times 2 or 3 with pickoffs and it is just terrible. One of the things I love about hockey on TV is that the last 10 minutes of the game move almost as quickly as the first 10 minutes (teams get only 1 timeout each and generally use that in the last minute). Baseball needs this.

[zambonir]

Our local (Oregon) High A announcer

I've been watching baseball without the extreme shift all season, and I can tell you this: you won't miss it. Middle infielders still shift, as far over to the bag as they can. By May of next year, you'll barely think about it. No one will be saying, "I really miss the shift."

— Rich Burk ( @RichBurk1 ) September 10, 2022

[Aquapong]

Man the Dodgers already have a +310 run differential.

[andyb]

I guess Michael Baumann has moved from the Ringer to Fangraphs. He is a fan of the new rule changes.

The 2023 Rule Changes Are Here, and They’re All Good

[Aquapong]

I think if they were do a pitch clock, they should start off with a little more time and then move down as needed. I also wonder how this is going to work with holding for challenges. Does the time run concurrently or consecutively?

[andyb]

I am not sure I am in love with this. Gold Glove award for utility players.

Rawlings to award Gold Gloves to utility players

[zambonir]

What they should really do is give a Silver Slugger to utility players.

[andyb]

The stats for a utility gold glove could be small sample at 3 positions, so it will be even more subject to non-objective criteria like the problems with gold gloves 2 decades ago (Bobby Abreu!). Basically all the best utility gloves are SS who can't hit enough usually to start at SS. Sosa would be as good a choice as any. More than half the teams have a Sosa however and the one that gets over 400 AB with 10+ HRs probably wins this.