Author Topic: MLB rules changes for 2020  (Read 580 times)

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Offline imref

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MLB rules changes for 2020
« Topic Start: February 12, 2020, 04:57:54 PM »
MLB has announced rule changes for 2020.  From mlbtr:

Quote
Three-Batter Minimum: The Official Baseball Rules have been amended to require the starting or any relief pitcher to pitch to a minimum of three batters, including the batter then at bat (or any substitute batter), until such batters are put out or reach base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the substitute pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the umpire crew chief’s judgment, incapacitates him from further play as a pitcher.  The three-batter minimum will become effective in 2020 Spring Training beginning on Thursday, March 12th.

Rosters through August 31st and Postseason: Active Roster limits from Opening Day through August 31st and including Postseason games shall be increased from 25 to 26.  In addition, Clubs will be permitted to carry a maximum of 13 pitchers from Opening Day through August 31st (plus Postseason games).

September Rosters: From September 1st through the end of the Championship Season (including any tiebreaker games), all Clubs must carry 28 players on the Active Roster. In addition, Clubs will be permitted to carry a maximum of 14 pitchers during this period.

Two-Way Player Designation: Players who qualify as “Two-Way Players” may appear as pitchers during a game without counting toward a Clubs’ pitcher limitations. A player will qualify as a “Two-Way Player” only if he accrues both: (i) at least 20 Major League innings pitched; and (ii) at least 20 Major League games started (as a position player or designated hitter) with at least three plate appearances in each of those games, in either the current Championship Season or the prior Championship Season (for 2020 only, this will include 2019 as well as 2018).  The Club must designate that player as a “Two-Way Player” in advance of that game. Once a Club designates a qualified “Two-Way Player” that designation will remain in effect, and cannot change, for the remainder of that Championship Season and Postseason.

Position Players Pitching: Any player may appear as a pitcher following the 9th inning of an extra inning game, or in any game in which his team is losing or winning by more than six runs when the player enters as a pitcher.

Extra Player Rule: The previous “26th player rule” will be replaced with the “27th player rule” for all applicable Championship Season games prior to September 1st. The 27th player shall not count toward any pitcher roster limits described above.  Thus, a Club may designate 14 pitchers in games under circumstances where the Major League Rules would permit a 27th Active player.

Injured List Reinstatements and Option Period for Pitchers: Clubs may not reinstate pitchers or Two-Way Players from the Injured List until 15 days have elapsed from the date of the initial placement for such injury – an increase from 10 days.  In addition, the option period for pitchers will be lengthened from 10 days to 15 days.

Reduction in Challenge Time: Managers will now have up to 20 seconds to challenge a play instead of 30.

Offline HalfSmokes

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Re: Re: Major Rule Changes being considered
« Reply #1: February 12, 2020, 05:49:44 PM »
I’m guessing smart teams will start putting relievers in the field to qualify guys as two way players

Offline catocony

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MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #2: February 12, 2020, 07:08:23 PM »
Rules changes for 2021 have been posted.

https://twitter.com/MLB_PR/status/1227699302757289985/photo/1


https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-rule-changes-for-2020-season

Major League Baseball made its rule changes for the 2020 season official on Wednesday.

There are four categories of rules going into effect: the three-batter minimum for pitchers, roster limits, adjustments to the injured list and option periods for pitchers and two-way players, and a reduction in the time managers have to challenge a play. All but one of these changes -- the one addressing manager challenges -- had been publicly reported prior to Wednesday, but now they are all locked in.

Here's a breakdown of each rule change.

THREE-BATTER MINIMUM:
This is the big one that's been grabbing the headlines since it was first reported.

All pitchers -- both starters and relievers -- now have to face at least three batters (or pitch until the inning is over) before they come out of a game. The only exception is an injury or illness that prevents the pitcher from being able to finish his three batters.

The main effect of this rule will be on specialist relievers, who are often used for only one batter to give their team a favorable matchup -- for example, a left-handed pitcher who faces only left-handed hitters, whom he is most likely to get out (often nicknamed a “LOOGY,” for “left-handed one-out guy”). There will be no more of that in 2020. The rule could also impact teams that use openers -- typical relievers who start a game to match up specifically against the top of the opposing order. Now, an opener would have to face at least three batters even if he has a bad matchup in that run.

The three-batter rule goes into effect in Spring Training on March 12.

ROSTER LIMITS:
There are five parts to the roster limits rule change:

26-man rosters -- Teams' active rosters are being increased from 25 to 26 players for the regular season (through Aug. 31) and during the postseason. Teams are limited to carrying a maximum of 13 pitchers.

Smaller rosters in September -- MLB is adjusting the size of September rosters to 28 players, including a max of 14 pitchers.

Previously, when rosters expanded in September, any player on a team's 40-man roster could be added to the Major League club. And while teams usually didn’t use all 40, it was common to see 30-plus players active for a given game in the final month of the season. That often caused longer games in September with teams using a lot more relief pitchers or pinch-hitters in certain situations than they would have been able to with normal roster sizes.

Two-way player designation -- A "two-way player" -- someone who both hits and pitches -- is now an official designation. That lets them stay on the roster as a position player and pitch in games without counting toward their team's 13-pitcher pitcher limit. If you designate someone a two-way player, they have to stay that way through the end of the year.

This is for players like the Angels' Shohei Ohtani, a starting pitcher and designated hitter, and the Reds' Michael Lorenzen, who appears as a reliever and also plays the outfield. True two-way players essentially hadn't been seen in the Major Leagues since the days of Babe Ruth until Ohtani arrived from Japan in 2018.

Players have to meet certain criteria to qualify as two-way players -- in either the current MLB season or the previous one, they have to pitch at least 20 innings in the Majors and start at least 20 games as a position player or DH where they bat three or more times.

The two-way player designation for 2020 also allows players who met the requirements in 2018 to qualify this season. So Ohtani, who didn't pitch last year because of Tommy John surgery but did pitch as a rookie in '18, can still be named a two-way player for the Angels right away.

Position players pitching -- Position players are allowed to pitch only if a game goes to extra innings, or if their team is winning or losing by more than six runs. During normal circumstances in a nine-inning game, only the team's 13 designated pitchers -- or two-way players -- are allowed to pitch.

Teams were using position player pitchers more than ever before in the past couple of seasons. In 2019, more than 50 different position players pitched in at least one game, generally so teams could save their pitchers' arms if they felt a game was out of hand.

The 27th man -- What used to be the "26th man" is now a "27th man" thanks to the new 26-man roster size.

Teams used to be able to call up an extra player in special circumstances -- mainly for a doubleheader. They still can ... that player is now just the 27th on the roster, not the 26th. Teams are allowed to call up a 14th pitcher for these games.

INJURED LIST AND OPTION PERIODS:
Pitchers and two-way players are returning to a 15-day injured list. That is, once they're placed on the IL, they can't be reinstated for 15 days.

The injured list used to be 15 days for all players until the 2017 season, when it was reduced to 10 days. Position players will still have a 10-day IL under the new rules.

Additionally, pitchers who are optioned to the Minor Leagues now have to remain there for 15 days rather than 10. The option period for position players is still 10 days.

CHALLENGE TIME:
Managers now only have 20 seconds to decide to challenge a play instead of 30.

Offline Greg_SRT

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Re: MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #3: February 12, 2020, 07:16:41 PM »
Why not require Lightsabers to replace bats and every 5 minutes audience gets a Mountain Dew break.

Offline imref

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Re: MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #4: February 12, 2020, 07:41:11 PM »
Doolittle would like that

Offline mitlen

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Re: MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #5: February 12, 2020, 07:49:57 PM »
I have this naggin' feeling that all the rule changes, playoff considerations, etc. are being floated to take our eyes off the Astros.

Offline HalfSmokes

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Re: MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #6: February 12, 2020, 07:55:04 PM »
So how long until smart teams start trying to find ways to start relievers- better yet, tanking teams can start relievers and boost their value at the trade deadline since they’ll be two way players not subject to the roster limitation for the receiving team

Offline Natsinpwc

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Re: MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #7: February 12, 2020, 07:55:53 PM »
I have this naggin' feeling that all the rule changes, playoff considerations, etc. are being floated to take our eyes off the Astros.
I thought it was to because the Barves had lost in the first round again. 

Offline mitlen

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Re: MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #8: February 12, 2020, 08:05:46 PM »
I thought it was to because the Barves had lost in the first round again. 

McCann can only hope.

OT  Do you have one of those WS yard pennants like your avi?     If so, where did you get it?

Offline Natsinpwc

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Re: MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #9: February 12, 2020, 08:35:44 PM »
McCann can only hope.

OT  Do you have one of those WS yard pennants like your avi?     If so, where did you get it?
No, I just found it when looking for an avatar picture.

Online JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Re: Major Rule Changes being considered
« Reply #10: February 13, 2020, 09:32:32 AM »
I’m guessing smart teams will start putting relievers in the field to qualify guys as two way players
Being a 2 way player means you have to stay on the DL 5 days longer.  Also, I think the 3 batter rule still applies.

i'm assuming the advantage of being a 2 way player is that you don't count against the 13 limit on pitchers?

I think the need to have 3 PAs in the field or DH in 20 games would discourage doing this with relievers.  It's McKay, Ohtani, and maybe some others you don't mind DH'ng that will benefit.

Offline Natsinpwc

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Re: Re: Major Rule Changes being considered
« Reply #11: February 13, 2020, 09:43:38 AM »
Being a 2 way player means you have to stay on the DL 5 days longer.  Also, I think the 3 batter rule still applies.

i'm assuming the advantage of being a 2 way player is that you don't count against the 13 limit on pitchers?

I think the need to have 3 PAs in the field or DH in 20 games would discourage doing this with relievers.  It's McKay, Ohtani, and maybe some others you don't mind DH'ng that will benefit.
Lorenzen has been doing it a couple years for the Reds.

Offline HalfSmokes

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Re: Re: Major Rule Changes being considered
« Reply #12: February 13, 2020, 09:47:29 AM »
Being a 2 way player means you have to stay on the DL 5 days longer.  Also, I think the 3 batter rule still applies.

i'm assuming the advantage of being a 2 way player is that you don't count against the 13 limit on pitchers?

I think the need to have 3 PAs in the field or DH in 20 games would discourage doing this with relievers.  It's McKay, Ohtani, and maybe some others you don't mind DH'ng that will benefit.


it's the 13 limit, but if you're tanking anyway, a reliever who doesn't count against the 13 is going to be more valuable than a reliever who does (even if its marginal)

Offline hohoho

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Re: MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #13: February 14, 2020, 12:45:25 PM »
So what happens when a pitcher claims an injury before 3 batters? He should be forced to go on the DL. But what if it is the last game of the season or WS?
Also, extending the playoffs is just plain bad. It makes 162 games almost meaningless.

Offline HalfSmokes

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Re: MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #14: February 14, 2020, 12:52:53 PM »
So what happens when a pitcher claims an injury before 3 batters? He should be forced to go on the DL. But what if it is the last game of the season or WS?
Also, extending the playoffs is just plain bad. It makes 162 games almost meaningless.

Seems like a good way to invite union grievances since you’re punishing players for attempting to protect their health. It’s possible for a pitcher to feel something is off but to not need a dl stint, it’s also possible that pushing through will do real damage

Offline Elvir Ovcina

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Re: MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #15: February 14, 2020, 01:18:17 PM »
The interesting this is that the 3-batter minimum isn't that at all.  LOOGYs are still LOOGYs with two outs.  You just get into some hurt if he doesn't get the first batter out.

So how long until smart teams start trying to find ways to start relievers- better yet, tanking teams can start relievers and boost their value at the trade deadline since they’ll be two way players not subject to the roster limitation for the receiving team

You'd have to take your lumps pretty badly, as they'd need to bat three times in each of those games.  Someone might try it, but it'd stop as soon as some reliever tears an ACL chasing a fly ball in a game he's just in as a fraud.

Offline bluestreak

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Re: MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #16: February 14, 2020, 10:19:45 PM »
Seems like a good way to invite union grievances since you’re punishing players for attempting to protect their health. It’s possible for a pitcher to feel something is off but to not need a dl stint, it’s also possible that pushing through will do real damage

How often do pitchers get an injury after 1 batter? It seems like that’s going to be a pretty rare occurrence. And if it does happen and you really want to avoid the IL then walk one or two batters.

Offline Duke of Earl

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Re: MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #17: February 17, 2020, 10:05:26 AM »
So what happens when a pitcher claims an injury before 3 batters?
What happens now if he injures himself on the first pitch?  I've never seen it happen so I don't know what the rule is, but I have always assumed that the batter gets a walk.

Offline bluestreak

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Re: MLB rules changes for 2020
« Reply #18: February 18, 2020, 12:32:11 PM »
What happens now if he injures himself on the first pitch?  I've never seen it happen so I don't know what the rule is, but I have always assumed that the batter gets a walk.

under previous rules he would come in and the new pitcher would inherit the current count.