# MLB Hot Stove / Offseason / Lockout 2021-2022 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [October 15, 2021, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531 "2021-10-15T02:59:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/221 "2022-03-03T14:18:43Z")
Would that be the three division winners and three wildcards? Or the top two finishers in each division? And will there be baseball on Christmas day? ---
**Author:** ![gre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@gre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gre)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/222 "2022-03-03T20:22:03Z")
Putting everyone in the postseason means you can skip the regular season and lose nothing. And then you can skip the postseason because you’ve had time to develop other interests. Must be what they want. Worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/223 "2022-03-03T22:16:07Z")
If the season is lost, does everyone’s contract get extended for one year, or do, for example, the Nats lose out on one season of Juan Soto? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/224 "2022-03-04T00:10:30Z")
If the stoppage continues to go on, I’m sure that will become something addressed in the new CBA. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/225 "2022-03-05T23:40:52Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Would that be the three division winners and three wildcards? Or the top two finishers in each division? And will there be baseball on Christmas day? Three division winners and three wildcards, or so they say. Of course, if you go to a six team format where two teams get a bye, it would make vastly more sense to go back to just an Eastern and Western division, since it’s being the top two that matters most. I’ve said it before and will again; 6 new teams, 16 teams in the postseason. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/226 "2022-03-07T13:42:33Z")
Sounds like the two sides have agreed on banning the shift, implementing a pitch clock, advertising on uniforms, and making the bases bigger. Some or all of these would be effective staring in the 2023 season. All of this, I honestly don’t care about. I think the shift ban is probably not super impactful. A pitch clock is not a terrible idea, but you need a batter ready clock, too. Bigger bases is interesting. Not sure if this means an extension of first base only like you see on little league fields. Makes it a lot easier for runner and first baseman to avoid contact. Or are we making all bases bigger? Oh, and the union rejected robo umps. Not sure why the union would have a strong position one way or the other. They just doing a solid for the umpires? All this said, it actually sounds like things are getting uglier between the union and owners. MLB is accusing some in the media of poisoning the well with players. Baseball really doing its best to piss off the remaining fan base. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/227 "2022-03-07T15:05:33Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > advertising on uniforms, If this is something like a nike swoosh I don’t care. If it’s like MLS, I’ll be offended. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/228 "2022-03-07T15:36:34Z")
Take a gander at [Yankee Stadium](https://i.imgur.com/QLG7yok.jpg). It’s already effing hideous. They could make the players wear Ronald McDonald uniforms at this point, for all it matters. It can’t get much uglier. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/229 "2022-03-07T15:38:48Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Take a gander at [Yankee Stadium](https://i.imgur.com/QLG7yok.jpg). It’s already effing hideous. True. But that’s always been the case with baseball fields. It’s hard to believe they could make enough from uniform ads to justify the tackiness. It’s not like baseball doesn’t have enough revenue. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/230 "2022-03-07T15:41:27Z")
I really hope they won’t, but greed is batting a thousand. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/231 "2022-03-07T15:44:10Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > It’s hard to believe they could make enough from uniform ads to justify the tackiness. It’s not like baseball doesn’t have enough revenue. The NBA has allowed teams to place sponsor patches on their jerseys for several years; this article indicates that, as of 2020, those deals were bringing in an average of $7-10 million a year, with the Warriors’ deal netting them $20 million a year. I’d imagine that MLB teams could get at least that much. > **[NBA relies on jersey patch sales to offset pandemic declines](https://theathletic.com/2244758/2020/12/10/nba-jersey-patch-sales-pandemic-cash-declines/)** > > Jersey patch deals are helping NBA teams in times of financial uncertainty, as the league continues to enable ads to be sold. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/232 "2022-03-07T16:12:06Z")
I thought it was bad enough last year when the umpires hawked crypto exchanges. I’m all for banning the shift. Make them have at least 3 fielders (2 IF + 1 OF) on each side of second base. Put singles and baserunning back in the game. Pitch clock is meh for me. You know damn well that if gametime shortens, some genius is going to say “hey look! Now we have time for an additional 30 seconds of ads between innings!” ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/233 "2022-03-07T16:21:24Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Put singles and baserunning back in the game. I definitely agree with the sentiment, but not sure banning the shift is the answer. Hitters would have to actually put the ball in play. The average number of total hits per team per season is not dramatically down. But the average number of strikeouts per team per season is ludicrous. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/234 "2022-03-07T16:36:45Z")
Yes, there is another factor- pitchers are just too damned good. Checking for banned substances had a positive effect in reducing spin rates, but I’d like to see them try to do something with the balls to make them break just a little bit less. Maybe thinner thread would do the trick. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/235 "2022-03-07T17:12:15Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Put singles and baserunning back in the game. I don’t think that’s the end result here, but I hope it is. Regarding the bigger bases, they’ll all be a couple inches wider. More real estate for a sliding player to miss a tag, etc - it’s a good move. I’d also be in favor of moving them a couple feet closer to each other. Give baserunners a half step towards second, put the pitcher on a clock, and things get more exciting. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/236 "2022-03-07T17:31:12Z")
If there’s one thing I’d get rid of, it’s the use of replay review in instances where a runner clearly beats a throw to the base or a tag. Those times when he lifts his pinky toe off the bag for a nano-millisecond and gets “tagged out.” It’s not in the spirit of the game, and it causes a lot of delays. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/237 "2022-03-07T22:06:27Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Not sure if this means an extension of first base only like you see on little league fields. Makes it a lot easier for runner and first baseman to avoid contact. Or are we making all bases bigger? They are literally just making the bases slightly bigger. What you’re describing is a safety base, which is actually a much BETTER idea. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/238 "2022-03-08T01:38:41Z")
Agreed is a little strong. Players were willing to agree to in exchange for other things the owners rejected. At this point very little has actually been agreed to. At any rate, I’m okay with the pitch clock, though have concerns that will increase pitching injuries. Bigger bases seems like a minor but positive change. I’m be okay with further changes to lessen the path between bases. Banning shifts I’m against, though not vehemently so (unlike 14 team playoffs which is a terrible idea). It limits strategy (there are a lot of variation between shifting per team) without serving a great purpose. It is pretty clear that shifts haven’t made lefties pull the ball any less. Why would banning the shift not encourage them to pull even more? I will say however, that my instincts still say that line drives over 2nd should be hits, so that will be nice to get back. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/239 "2022-03-08T15:51:04Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > What you’re describing is a safety base, which is actually a much BETTER idea. SAFETY base, yes, I couldn’t think of the name of it. Anyway, yeah, that would actually be a good idea even at MLB level. Making all the bases bigger is kind of weird. Like, is that really necessary? Anyway, from the reporting out there I can’t tell if we’re close to a deal or if the season is going to be canned all together. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/240 "2022-03-08T16:10:53Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Making all the bases bigger is kind of weird. Like, is that really necessary? I don’t think so, really. The theory is that it makes life a bit easier to baserunners but I am struggling to believe it’ll really make much difference. I like safety bases at first because not only do you reduce the likelihood of an injury at first base, but it makes it easier for the runner to obey the rule to stay in foul territory on his way up the line and reduces a stupid judgment call likelihood. I cannot think of a good reason to not have them, to be honest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531.md?page=13)