As we know, the 2020 season brought a few new rules. Right now, it’s unsure whether any of these rules will move forward with MLB. Let’s take a look at each rule and whether MLB should continue using it, and whether I think they will keep it.
Universal DH
The universal DH has been discussed for a few years with many believing it would be implemented starting with the 2022 season with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). When MLB shut the league down due to Covid concerns, part of the agreement to resume play was universal DH. This was the first time the NL used the DH in their home ballparks. The main reason for this was for the safety of the pitchers. With the league shut down from March until the resumption of Summer Camp (Spring Training 2.0), pitchers didn’t have their normal workloads. So to help combat the risk of injuries, MLB and the MLBPA agreed to have the DH. Personally, I loved this. I thought it was the best move MLB made. When you think about the mega contracts like Gerrit Cole received, their teams are paying them to pitch, not hit. Sure, some pitchers can hit, but they help the team mainly with their pitching. What would happen if Cole tore his ACL hitting 1B wrong trying to beat out a throw? What if Clayton Kershaw got hit by a pitch and broke his hamate bone in his hand? Both injuries would be huge blows to the Yankees and Dodgers respectively. This is why I think MLB needs to fully adopt the DH. It is my understanding that the players are for it. Just because you have the DH doesn’t mean you can’t have the pitcher hit. There can still be some strategy involved. There were a few times during the season when the DH was removed for a pinch hitter, then that pinch hitter took the field. That would bring the pitcher into the lineup. As it stands right now, NL will revert back to their regular rules of no DH. Should they keep the DH? Absolutely! Will they? I think so.
Runner on 2B to Start Extras
If you are a parent of a travel baseball or softball team, you are well aware of the rule where a runner starts on 2B to begin extra innings. MLB implemented the rule for 2020 with the hope that games would end sooner and players could begin their social distancing quicker. This brought a whole new strategy to the game. Many thought that the best way was to lay down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to 3B. More often, you saw teams try to go the other way. While I understand the idea behind it and it does bring in a whole new strategy, I don’t think it’s the best thing for MLB. Change is hard and maybe that’s why I’m not a huge fan of it. It sounded as if commissioner Rob Manfred liked it. I think he wants to keep it. Should he, I think it needs to be tweaked. Innings 10-12 should remain normal. Starting with the 13th inning, the runner should start at 2B. There aren’t too many games that go more than 15 innings, but I think there is potential to be a little creative by implementing different strategies.Â
7 Inning Double Headers
If you are familiar with minor league baseball double header rules, this is nothing new. Shortly after the season started, and days after the Covid outbreak within the Marlins organization, Manfred announced that both games of a double header would be only 7 innings. One of the big reasons behind this was that MLB could not extend the regular season due to their TV contracts. FOX wouldn’t allow it because the airing of the postseason would have likely been during the same time as the Presidential Election. Manfred decided to go this route so teams that were affected, either directly or indirectly, could still get their full 60 games in. Not only that, it allowed players to be done sooner and start their social distancing. The Marlins had their outbreak just after the first weekend of the season. They only had to make up about a week’s worth of games. The Cardinals, however, suffered the worst of it. They missed about 2 weeks worth of games. They then had to play 53 games in 44 days which included 11 double headers. I don’t think this rule is being considered to be continued, nor do I think it should.
Expanded Playoffs
Due to the shortened season, owners were worried about the loss of revenue. One way to make up for that was to have more teams in the playoffs. 2020 was the first year that 16 teams, 8 per league, made the playoffs. Here’s how they decided who would make it. Division winners were awarded seeds 1-3. Runners up in each division would be awarded 4-6. The 2 next best records after those 6 would be awarded seeds 7 & 8. The first round (Wild Card Round) was a best of 3, with all 3 games held at the better seed’s home ballpark. The Division Round then was a best of 5, like usual, however, MLB did a bubble type set up. The ALDS and NLDS were held at 4 stadiums in California and Texas. The ALCS & NLCS were held at Petco Park and Globe Life Field respectively. The World Series for the first time was at a neutral site: Globe Life Field. Manfred had been a big advocate of expanding the playoffs. After the conclusion of the postseason, he believes 8 teams are too many. It is my understanding that he wants 7 teams, with the top seed getting a bye to the Divisional Round. Prior to Covid, each league would have 5 teams qualify for the playoffs. I would like to see 6 teams make it. With that said, I hope he doesn’t have a stipulation where only the division winners and runners up qualify. I think the Division winners should receive seeds 1-3. Seeds 4-6 would be the next 3 best records, regardless. That could mean a single division may have 4 teams make the postseason (1 division winner and 3 wild cards). Seeds 1 & 2 would receive a bye. Wild card round would be a best of 3.Â
Expanded Rosters
Prior to Covid, MLB was already planning to expand rosters from 25 to 26. With Covid, rosters were initially 30 players, then reduced to 28 after a few weeks after the season started. It was then to drop to 26 after another couple weeks, but Manfred decided to keep the rosters at 28 for the remainder of the season. This was done to help if teams had to deal with outbreaks. I think MLB will expand to 26 for 2021 and beyond.
We won’t see all of the Covid rules stick, but we will likely see some stay for the 2021 season. The two rules I think we will definitely see, maybe not in 2021, but in 2022 ang beyond for sure, will be the universal DH and expanding the playoffs. Both seem to be on the table for 2021. I think a decision needs to come quick for the DH as players are starting to sign. What Covid rule would you like to see stick around?
