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MLB 2021 Season
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Nice. Have they figured out travel and schedule? Like are they going to do coast to coast traveling and stuff?
The season will be shortened, in effect. There will be COVID-related postponements. This will involve make-up games as part of double headers, since it's going to rain also. That takes 4 innings out of the season each time. I wonder, if there are fans in the stands, will they play games where the team on the road is the home team, like last season? Also, if there are fans who are holding tickets for scheduled games, that will limit the flexibility of changing game times or adding rescheduled games at the eleventh hour, as they did last year.
Glad to see the National League get rid of the designated hitter. Also glad to see the expanded playoffs ditched. I really liked the extra inning rule of starting with a runner at 2nd.
I'm also glad that the Senior Circuit is going to keep the DH. Forgot to mention that the balls are also going to be altered to temper the home runs.
Home runs can be exciting, but they don't encompass the range of skills used in small ball -- getting on base, bunting, base running, sacrifices, and skillful managing involving pinch hitters, relievers, shifts, etc. There is real strategy involved, not just "hit the ball as hard as you can" and hope that it goes out.
The rule change I'm still reluctant to embrace is the 3-batter minimum for a reliever (or no pitching change until you're starting with 0 outs). That's just taking too much away from strategy, IMO. Yes, I know they want to shorten game time. But, they are hypocritical. Since I haven't changed TVs, I know how many "skips" there are between half innings when I'm not live. And I know how many there used to be. They're not fooling me!
The league is not going to deliberately stack up a bunch of doubleheaders. They are already very aware that doubleheaders result in "poor product" (a.k.a. mediocre play).
We have already gone over this topic before in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season. For pitchers, it's not the number of games between starts, it's the number of DAYS since their last action. For a five-man starting rotation, two days of doubleheaders puts those starters on short rest.
Plus it increases the chance of injury even for position players.
Heck, the league has reduced the innings for doubleheaders to reduce the amount of time the players spend on the field. Remember with a normal 25-man roster, you field 8 position players, a DH and of course your pitchers. Teams run out of fresh bodies real quick.
I just don't understand why some people here are so gung ho about doubleheaders.
Doubleheaders are a last resort to make up postponed games due to inclement weather, COVID-19 restrictions, etc. Remember that before COVID-19 the league would rather reschedule a missed game on an off day rather than load up teams with doubleheaders.
The league doesn't like them for a good reason. They only do it to make sure all the teams play a full schedule of games.
The league wants games to be played in the most natural situation (162 x 9-inning games) which is why they don't like ending games early due to weather either.
We have already gone over this topic before in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season. For pitchers, it's not the number of games between starts, it's the number of DAYS since their last action. For a five-man starting rotation, two days of doubleheaders puts those starters on short rest.
Plus it increases the chance of injury even for position players.
Heck, the league has reduced the innings for doubleheaders to reduce the amount of time the players spend on the field. Remember with a normal 25-man roster, you field 8 position players, a DH and of course your pitchers. Teams run out of fresh bodies real quick.
I just don't understand why some people here are so gung ho about doubleheaders.
Doubleheaders are a last resort to make up postponed games due to inclement weather, COVID-19 restrictions, etc. Remember that before COVID-19 the league would rather reschedule a missed game on an off day rather than load up teams with doubleheaders.
The league doesn't like them for a good reason. They only do it to make sure all the teams play a full schedule of games.
The league wants games to be played in the most natural situation (162 x 9-inning games) which is why they don't like ending games early due to weather either.
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Yes, of course they want to avoid even two doubleheaders for one team within 5 days, or maybe even more. I think the main reason for the demise of 9-inning (18) doubleheaders is the almighty dollar. Heck, pre-2020, when forced to schedule a doubleheader, they went the day/night route, guaranteeing additional gate receipts for the second game.
There used to be a fear of injury while playing on a wet field, or during a steady rain. I think the fear for batters in those conditions has abated somewhat, but for outfielders, it remains just as high. There also seems to be an aversion for declaring a game completed after the top of the 5th if the home team is ahead (or at the conclusion of a subsequent full inning no matter who is ahead), as was done more often in the past when play was suspended due to rain.
There used to be a fear of injury while playing on a wet field, or during a steady rain. I think the fear for batters in those conditions has abated somewhat, but for outfielders, it remains just as high. There also seems to be an aversion for declaring a game completed after the top of the 5th if the home team is ahead (or at the conclusion of a subsequent full inning no matter who is ahead), as was done more often in the past when play was suspended due to rain.
Correct, more evidence that the league prefers a full 9 innings. They would rather resume a rain-suspended night game the following morning instead of declaring a winner after five innings.
The league does not want doubleheaders.
The league does not want doubleheaders.
Like all sports the way professional baseball is played continuously evolves over time.
It's 2021. The game is not being played today the same way it was played "back in the day" [sic].
Game durations are much longer, pitch counts are heavily followed, et cetera ad nauseam.
Feel free to be nostalgic about doubleheaders but the league does not find them appealing.
It is probable that the players find them unappealing as well since the MLBPA does not argue for more of them during CBA negotiations.
It's 2021. The game is not being played today the same way it was played "back in the day" [sic].
Game durations are much longer, pitch counts are heavily followed, et cetera ad nauseam.
Feel free to be nostalgic about doubleheaders but the league does not find them appealing.
It is probable that the players find them unappealing as well since the MLBPA does not argue for more of them during CBA negotiations.
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More reason for the players to want the universal DH. Would mean more money for them.
I can't understand why they don't want it.
Citation? Grammar websites do not take issue with that rendering or usage.
It's not only a matter of wanting it, it's also a matter of logistics for the teams and such. A Doubleheader presents challenges, as you say, for players but at the same time it's much easier to organize. Teams are already on location, hotels are booked, flights are potentially booked, and rest days can also be planned (although this might present a challenge). Playing on a different day causes all sort of issues, especially if the make-up game is far away on the calendar. TEX might have to play MIA for a scheduled series, then instead of a day of rest they might have to go to LAA for a makeup day, and show up for a NYY game on the following day. The closer to clinching the division, the more important this becomes.