2020 Rule changes

[TheHurl]

Worthy of it's own thread https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/mlb-rule-changes-2020-season.html?fbclid=IwAR3YSPvKOoG-hFIZorSq8vPN7oF14vRbwOwIIKTZt17XQAFstwzZZmvWlsw

 

From the league’s official release:

 

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.

[glory]

I like the 3 batter minimum. I hated relievers coming in to face one batter, and it got worse in September with the expanded rosters. It won't be an issue now with the 3 batter rule and shortened September rosters.

[Sammy225]

I like the 3 batter minimum. I hated relievers coming in to face one batter, and it got worse in September with the expanded rosters. It won't be an issue now with the 3 batter rule and shortened September rosters.

 

I don't hate the rule but I liked the idea if a game with in the game that managers played with each other.

[z3r0s]

I think what is gained by less pitching changes outweighs what is lost in gamesmanship (like the pitcher hitting in the NL brings in some strategy, but results in an overall worse game).

Death to LOOGY's (metaphorically)

[max silver]

Hopefully MLB actually goes about enforcing the challenge time rule this time around. That certainly didn't seem to be the case last season, there were challenges that took forever that were allowed to stand even though they were well above the allotted time.

[EMK19]

I don't hate the rule but I liked the idea if a game with in the game that managers played with each other.

 

Yeah, as an example I remember that tactical game between Cox and Cito in 92 WS Game 3 before the final Candy at bat... was very interesting how that played out in a tense, game-on-the-line situation.

[TheHurl]

I don't totally understand the two way player rules still. Like once one qualifies why do they need to designate each game. They just should count as a hitter who is allowed to pitch.

[z3r0s]

What I don't get about the 2-way player rule is that it doesn't seem to apply to minor league IP/AB's. Or am I reading that wrong? Like would Ohtani have to spend a whole year without it before being designated a 2-way player the following year?

[Beans]

I still really dislike the new three-batter minimum rule, but the rest is fine.

[Deadpool]

What I don't get about the 2-way player rule is that it doesn't seem to apply to minor league IP/AB's. Or am I reading that wrong? Like would Ohtani have to spend a whole year without it before being designated a 2-way player the following year?

 

The way I read it is that they can either pitch in games, or hit in games until both 20 innings pitched, or 20 games started (with at least 3ABs). So if Ohtani were debuting this year, he'd have to get 20 games as a position player, and 20 innings as a pitcher before he could be called a "two way player", then he can be used as either going forward, and all future seasons (provided he qualified the year before, like... if he only bats in 2020, then he needs 20 innings pitched in 2021 before he can be listed as a two way player again...)

 

I like the changes, don't see much of a negative from any of them.

[Laika]

Okay, the Two Way Player (TWP) rule seemed weird to me to. Here is my breakdown:

 

- There is a new rule saying you can only have 13 Pitchers on the 26 man roster

- There is a new rule saying a Position Player cannot pitch unless it is extra innings OR there is a 6 run gap

- A TWP can pitch without counting as one of the team's 13 pitchers (this is stated in the rule)

- I am assuming that a TWP can also pitch whenever and they are not restricted by the new rules on Position players pitching (this is not stated anywhere in the release unless I missed it; it would be stupid if this wasn't the case)

- I am assuming there is some rule about automatic TWP qualification if a player met the quotas in the minor leagues (this is not stated in the release but should exist)

- The rules create a weird situation. If a player does not qualify as a TWP, the team must either a) consider them a Pitcher, in which case they count towards the 13 Pitcher limit, or consider them a Position player, in which case they can't pitch unless it is a blowout or in extras. I am assuming teams can change this day-to-day, e.g. if Ohtani is starting the Angels just consider him a Pitcher for that day (if he is not a TWP for some reason.)

- If the above is not true and teams cannot change Pitcher vs. Position Player day-to-day, then teams must either a) consider a player a Pitcher until they can get them 20 position games started (not hard) or consider a player a Position Player until they can get them 20 innings pitched (much harder given the rules against Position Players pitching!)

- The rules create another weird situation. You might see teams do some weird player usage late in seasons so that a player qualifies as a TWP. If the Reds are out of it they could just start Michael Lorenzen for their last twenty games so that he gets TWP designation next year. Then he doesn't count towards the 13 Pitcher limit next year and the Reds can effectively carry 14 Pitchers every game. This makes me wonder if even I am missing something!? There is a slight negative to being a TWP vs. just a Position Player, and that is longer IL and option times.

 

In summary: I hate it.

[Brownie19]

I don't hate the rule but I liked the idea if a game with in the game that managers played with each other.

 

The 3 batter rule will just create new strategies and new 'games within the game'. 8th inning of a tied game, 2 out, runners on 2nd and 3rd. Do you bring in the lefty to pitch to the other teams top left handed hitter? If he walks that hitter, he has to stay in to face their top right handed batter who tears up LHP....

[TheHurl]

The 3 batter rule will just create new strategies and new 'games within the game'. 8th inning of a tied game, 2 out, runners on 2nd and 3rd. Do you bring in the lefty to pitch to the other teams top left handed hitter? If he walks that hitter, he has to stay in to face their top right handed batter who tears up LHP....

 

And teams have at least 1 more pinch hitter to get a more favourable match up.

[glory]

I don't hate the rule but I liked the idea if a game with in the game that managers played with each other.

 

Managers will have to think extra hard about which relievers to use now since that RP will have to face at least 3 batters. It will still involve a chess game with managers, just different.

 

Multiple mid inning pitching changes are obnoxious. That needed to go away.

[Boxcar]

I also find the two way pitcher rule convoluted and stupid. Wasn't the issue this was trying to address already solved by 3 batter minimums? Do we really have a huge issue with position player pitching in close games?

 

More dumb changes from dumbass Manfred.

[Bobthe4th]

I don't totally understand the two way player rules still. Like once one qualifies why do they need to designate each game. [/Quote]

 

They don't, once someone qualifies they are a 2 way player for the rest of the season.

 

They just should count as a hitter who is allowed to pitch.

 

That's literally what a 2 way player is. A hitter who can pitch despite not being designated as a pitcher. Any pitcher can be used to hit, but there's only a roster limit on the number of pitchers you have on the roster. So these rules effectively allow you an extra pitcher on the roster.

[Deadpool]

I also find the two way pitcher rule convoluted and stupid. Wasn't the issue this was trying to address already solved by 3 batter minimums? Do we really have a huge issue with position player pitching in close games?

 

More dumb changes from dumbass Manfred.

 

I think the issue was more with saying "yeah, no this guy is TOTALLY a hitter as well as a pitcher, yeah, absolutely!" to circumvent the 13 pitcher max rule.

[Bobthe4th]

I think the issue was more with saying "yeah, no this guy is TOTALLY a hitter as well as a pitcher, yeah, absolutely!" to circumvent the 13 pitcher max rule.

 

Exactly.

[DigitalRock]

I think the 3 batter minimum rule is dumb.

[wilko]

Later LOOGY. I Guess one way around it is to throw at the batter and get tossed..

[Abomination]

Later LOOGY. I Guess one way around it is to throw at the batter and get tossed..

 

Yeah, but that also gets your manager tossed and fines for both, and you'd be risking a passed ball plus an additional base runner.

[Brownie19]

Later LOOGY. I Guess one way around it is to throw at the batter and get tossed..

 

Yeah, but that also gets your manager tossed and fines for both, and you'd be risking a passed ball plus an additional base runner.

 

You can just fake an injury...

[Orgfiller]

You can just fake an injury...

 

I assume the MLB will eventually counter with anyone who can't finish through his three batters automatically has to be placed on the 10 or 15 day IL.

[Dick_Pole]

Later LOOGY. I Guess one way around it is to throw at the batter and get tossed..

 

...or just draft, develop and sign pitchers capable of getting outs from both sides of the plate.

 

Is there anyone who is upset at the extinction of Randy Choate careers?

[Laika]

...or just draft, develop and sign pitchers capable of getting outs from both sides of the plate.

 

Is there anyone who is upset at the extinction of Randy Choate careers?

 

Maybe Randy Choate?

[glory]

...or just draft, develop and sign pitchers capable of getting outs from both sides of the plate.

 

Is there anyone who is upset at the extinction of Randy Choate careers?

 

Exactly. If you have good relievers, they’ll be able to get 3 outs regardless of the splits.

 

I don’t know why anyone would be against this. There will still be strategy involved. I know Manfred is an easy target nowadays but this and the IBB were both good “pace of play” decisions. If it means less lefties who face one batter and throw 85 mph junk, then so be it.

[Beans]

This 3-batter minimum rule is retarded and does not address pace of play.

 

Of all the pitching changes that happened last year, this rule would have only affected 691 (once every 3 and a half games). The slash line on those pitching appearances was .393/.518/.657. These are not pitching changes that happened because the manager was playing matchups. They're pitching changes that happened because the pitcher was getting lit up. And very often in a high-leverage situation—the average leverage index for these appearances was 1.75 (with 1 being average). That's basically a late-game, runners-on-base, close-score leverage situation.

 

Managers are making these pitching changes to try to win games, not to play matchups in a clean inning.

 

It's a stupid rule.

[TheHurl]

This 3-batter minimum rule is retarded and does not address pace of play.

 

Of all the pitching changes that happened last year, this rule would have only affected 691 (once every 3 and a half games). The slash line on those pitching appearances was .393/.518/.657. These are not pitching changes that happened because the manager was playing matchups. They're pitching changes that happened because the pitcher was getting lit up. And very often in a high-leverage situation—the average leverage index for these appearances was 1.75 (with 1 being average). That's basically a late-game, runners-on-base, close-score leverage situation.

 

Managers are making these pitching changes to try to win games, not to play matchups in a clean inning.

 

It's a stupid rule.

 

This is about more offense, nothing else. Yes, it is also a stupid rule

[Abomination]

This 3-batter minimum rule is retarded.

 

Of all the pitching changes that happened last year, this rule would have only affected 691 (once every 3 and a half games). The slash line on those pitching appearances was .393/.518/.657. These are not pitching changes that happened because the manager was playing matchups. They're pitching changes that happened because the pitcher was getting lit up. And very often in a high-leverage situation—the average leverage index for these appearances was 1.75 (with 1 being average). That's basically a late-game, runners-on-base, close-score leverage situation.

 

Managers are making these pitching changes to try to win games, not to play matchups in a clean inning.

 

It's a stupid rule.

 

Where did you get those numbers from? That doesn't sound right.

[Deadpool]

This 3-batter minimum rule is retarded and does not address pace of play.

 

Of all the pitching changes that happened last year, this rule would have only affected 691 (once every 3 and a half games). The slash line on those pitching appearances was .393/.518/.657. These are not pitching changes that happened because the manager was playing matchups. They're pitching changes that happened because the pitcher was getting lit up. And very often in a high-leverage situation—the average leverage index for these appearances was 1.75 (with 1 being average). That's basically a late-game, runners-on-base, close-score leverage situation.

 

Managers are making these pitching changes to try to win games, not to play matchups in a clean inning.

 

It's a stupid rule.

 

I don't think you can get "lit up" by 3 batters. The most runs you could possibly give up would be 6, that's assuming you came in with the bases loaded and gave up three straight homers, and those first 3 runs would be credited to the pitcher that loaded the bases to begin with. 6 runs isn't ideal, but like... don't bring in a gas can with the bases loaded, I guess?