# MLB Off Season/Hot Stove **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [March 11, 2020, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799 "2020-03-11T04:00:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2020, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/202 "2020-04-25T07:25:11Z")
any word on the didgers getting a new manager? (hopefully) ---
**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:** [April 25, 2020, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/203 "2020-04-25T10:04:46Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > [The 3 batter minimum is now official for 2020.](https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/nationals/mlb-officially-institutes-3-batter-minimum-2020-season?fbclid=IwAR3sXQoTXAPaoHR_QaHnMXxBAQ1L2h8KuZBvNSD_PvK7kt9o60fQRVTpPYc) I thought this was old news, but it just came up in my news feed. Other rule changes too. I’m kind of small-c conservative when it comes to rule changes, but this will speed up the game. Please have a gander at [this SI article](https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/12/03/three-batter-minimum-rule) and decide if the new rule will do more good than harm. I’m firmly in the ‘Manfred is goddamn idiot’ camp. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2020, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/204 "2020-04-25T11:11:59Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > I would be amazed if this saves more than 5 or 10 minutes in the average regular-season game. It will not save one minute per game. Not on average, anyway. As smarter people than me have pointed out, the number of pitching changes this would make illegal, the way things are now, is quite low. The limit only applies within an inning; if the pitcher finishes an inning on only one or two batters, you can replace him the next inning. How often do you think in MLB a pitcher is brought into a game, faces only 1 or 2 batters, and does not finish an inning? It’s VERY rare, actually. Maybe it happens more in the playoffs, but in the regular season you won’t see that happen very often at all. I randomly chose May 1, 2019 and looked at every game; there were 17 played, because there were two doubleheaders. It happened exactly… once, in the Phillies-Tigers game. Was I just lucky? I looked up June 1. Fifteen games. It did not happen a single time. It’s just not going to make a difference. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2020, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/205 "2020-04-25T11:12:17Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > I would be amazed if this saves more than 5 or 10 minutes in the average regular-season game. It will not save one minute per game. Not on average, anyway. As smarter people than me have pointed out, the number of pitching changes this would make illegal, the way things are now, is quite low. The limit only applies within an inning; if the pitcher finishes an inning on only one or two batters, you can replace him the next inning. How often do you think in MLB a pitcher is brought into a game, faces only 1 or 2 batters, and does not finish an inning? It’s VERY rare, actually. Maybe it happens more in the playoffs, but in the regular season you won’t see that happen very often at all. I randomly chose May 1, 2019 and looked at every game; there were 17 played, because there were two doubleheaders. It happened exactly… once, in the Phillies-Tigers game. Was I just lucky? I looked up June 1. Fifteen games. It did not happen a single time. It’s just not going to make a difference. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/206 "2020-04-25T23:29:27Z")
We all know that there are 3 areas that can actually reduce game time: 1. Make batters stay in the box (mostly) Do you really need to adjust your gloves between every pitch? 2. Make Pitchers throw the ball Get the ball, throw the ball, your own defense will love you for it. 3. Shorten commercial breaks Like that will happen \*\* So Bumgarner got a 5 year deal for $85m from the Snakes. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/207 "2020-04-26T06:04:11Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Please have a gander at [this SI article](https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/12/03/three-batter-minimum-rule) and decide if the new rule will do more good than harm. I’m firmly in the ‘Manfred is goddamn idiot’ camp. You and others make good points. I guess it is a bad rule. (Like I said upthread I’m really just a casual fan, so I’m sure some of the things i say will be kind of dumb.) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/208 "2020-04-26T07:53:06Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Please have a gander at [this SI article](https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/12/03/three-batter-minimum-rule) and decide if the new rule will do more good than harm. I’m firmly in the ‘Manfred is goddamn idiot’ camp. It will probably stay in effect until it causes some major disaster in a playoff game, and then be rescinded. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/209 "2020-04-26T07:59:25Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > [The 3 batter minimum is now official for 2020.](https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/nationals/mlb-officially-institutes-3-batter-minimum-2020-season?fbclid=IwAR3sXQoTXAPaoHR_QaHnMXxBAQ1L2h8KuZBvNSD_PvK7kt9o60fQRVTpPYc) I thought this was old news, but it just came up in my news feed. Other rule changes too. I’m kind of small-c conservative when it comes to rule changes, but this will speed up the game. Seeing as how my baseball sumo idea didn’t really take off, how about: Reduce the number of balls required for a walk. Every major league pitcher can throw strikes 9 out of 10 times, at least. Reduce the number of balls and you get more hittable balls instead of sliders that almost hit the batters back foot. Move the pitching mound back to the center of the infield 63’8" and give the batters a millisecond longer to decide whether to swing. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/210 "2020-04-26T08:04:36Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It will not save one minute per game. Not on average, anyway. > > As smarter people than me have pointed out, the number of pitching changes this would make illegal, the way things are now, is quite low. The limit only applies within an inning; if the pitcher finishes an inning on only one or two batters, you can replace him the next inning. > > How often do you think in MLB a pitcher is brought into a game, faces only 1 or 2 batters, and does not finish an inning? It’s VERY rare, actually. Maybe it happens more in the playoffs, but in the regular season you won’t see that happen very often at all. I randomly chose May 1, 2019 and looked at every game; there were 17 played, because there were two doubleheaders. It happened exactly… once, in the Phillies-Tigers game. > > Was I just lucky? I looked up June 1. Fifteen games. It did not happen a single time. > > It’s just not going to make a difference. It is infrequent enough that players joke about it: LOOGY=[Left-handed specialist - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-handed_specialist) ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/211 "2020-04-26T13:58:16Z")
according to this article, Francisco Lindor is supposed to be the savior of the dodgers anyone heard of him? [https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/why-the-dodgers-need-a-francisco-lindor-trade-to-save-the-offseason/ar-BBY3lyA](https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/why-the-dodgers-need-a-francisco-lindor-trade-to-save-the-offseason/ar-BBY3lyA) ---
**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:** [April 26, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/212 "2020-04-26T19:59:01Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Move the pitching mound back to the center of the infield 63’8" and give the batters a millisecond longer to decide whether to swing. I can’t imagine how damaging doing something like this would be to the game. > [@nightshadea](#): > > according to this article, Francisco Lindor is supposed to be the savior of the dodgers anyone heard of him? > > [MSN](https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/why-the-dodgers-need-a-francisco-lindor-trade-to-save-the-offseason/ar-BBY3lyA) Has anyone heard of Francisco Lindor? He’s one of the best shortstops in the league, and has been since he started in the majors 5 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/213 "2020-04-26T23:29:42Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I can’t imagine how damaging doing something like this would be to the game. Worse than baseball sumo? But seriously, why would it to unimaginable harm? I understand that the extra 3 feet would result in more hits but pitcher’s duels are boring. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/214 "2020-04-26T23:51:53Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > any word on the didgers getting a new manager? (hopefully) Why would you want to replace Roberts? His worst season was 91 wins and he’s been in the world series 50% of the time he’s been the Dodgers head coach and we just finished the best regular season the Dodgers have ever had. So is it because he’s too successful in the regular season or too successful in the playoffs. Even the argument that its the players and front office and not the coach falls short since Doc’s worst season would have been Mattingly’s second best season. The playoffs are a crap shoot and the Dodgers would be insane to fire a coach who balances the roaster this well while also paying attention to the math. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/215 "2020-04-27T00:04:18Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > according to this article, Francisco Lindor is supposed to be the savior of the dodgers anyone heard of him? > > [MSN](https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/why-the-dodgers-need-a-francisco-lindor-trade-to-save-the-offseason/ar-BBY3lyA) Lindor is a great player and the Dodgers would do well to get him. I think that article is crazy to suggest the Dodger aren’t the NL West favorites even if they do nothing. Also I think trading May is a bad idea, we saw last season that Ryu had trouble finishing so getting him some innings relief mid season might solve that problem. Kershaw is already the number 3 starter and is just going to get older so the Dodgers need to hold on to May and Gonsolin so that when our older stars fall apart the pieces are there to fill in the roles. Trading away Joc makes sense same with Kike or Chris Taylor since we’ve got more defensive talent then we could possibly field but trading the young pitchers isn’t worth it. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/216 "2020-04-27T02:11:55Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Worse than baseball sumo? > > But seriously, why would it to unimaginable harm? I understand that the extra 3 feet would result in more hits but pitcher’s duels are boring. Not “more hits.” WAY more hits. Slo-pich levels of offense. Baseball doesn’t lack for offense. The current mix of offense, where everyone hits homers but strikes out a lot, is not the most exciting thing ever, but it’s still a fair amount of scoring, about 4.8 runs/team/game. Moving the mound back three feet would result in levels of scoring unprecedented in professional baseball. 1930 would look like 1968 in comparison. Game length would soar; the average game would be like 12-10. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/217 "2020-04-27T05:44:45Z")
Is the new rule limiting September call ups in effect for 2020? I assume it’ll help fantasy players as teams will be forced to use the IL rather than just keeping guys on the bench that are likely shit down for the season. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/218 "2020-04-27T20:50:24Z")
latest scuttlebutt since they wont be able to get Lindor they want Mookie Betts from the red sox [https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/dodgers-red-sox-discussing-trade-for-superstar-mookie-betts/ar-BBY5JFB](https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/dodgers-red-sox-discussing-trade-for-superstar-mookie-betts/ar-BBY5JFB) ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/219 "2020-04-27T23:22:59Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Not “more hits.” WAY more hits. Slo-pich levels of offense. > > Baseball doesn’t lack for offense. The current mix of offense, where everyone hits homers but strikes out a lot, is not the most exciting thing ever, but it’s still a fair amount of scoring, about 4.8 runs/team/game. > > Moving the mound back three feet would result in levels of scoring unprecedented in professional baseball. 1930 would look like 1968 in comparison. Game length would soar; the average game would be like 12-10. I’m not sure that high scoring games would be horrible for the sport (if high scores bother you, we can deaden the ball to keep more balls in the park) and I don’t think that game length is the issue so much as it is the lack of action. Football games last longer than baseball games and no one complains about their length. AFAICT die hard baseball fans genuinely enjoy pitcher’s duels. Unfortunately, for the rest of us, pitcher’s duels are not a lot of fun unless you are sitting right behind the catcher. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/220 "2020-04-28T06:02:01Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > I’m not sure that high scoring games would be horrible for the sport (if high scores bother you, we can deaden the ball to keep more balls in the park) and I don’t think that game length is the issue so much as it is the lack of action. We aren’t discussing a bit of an uptick in offense; moving the mound back three feet DOUBLES scoring, increases the length of a game by an hour or more, and would mean every offensive record in baseball history except for stolen bases and strikeouts would be blown away. Baseball does not need more scoring. It has lots, and there is no reason to think a lack of scoring is hurting attendance or hurting the game. Baseball could use a better paced game, though, and needs to figure out where the Rays are going to play because St. Petersburg ain’t it. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799/221 "2020-04-28T23:01:18Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > We aren’t discussing a bit of an uptick in offense; moving the mound back three feet DOUBLES scoring, increases the length of a game by an hour or more, and would mean every offensive record in baseball history except for stolen bases and strikeouts would be blown away. Are those the stats with steroids or without? Historical consistency of stats has been compromised for a while now. And lots of hits also means more potential for plays, which could lead to shorter innings. Maybe. > [@](#): > > Baseball does not need more scoring. It has lots, and there is no reason to think a lack of scoring is hurting attendance or hurting the game. Baseball could use a better paced game, though, and needs to figure out where the Rays are going to play because St. Petersburg ain’t it. Scoring and offense helps the pace of the game. I’m not familiar with the problems with St. Petersberg but it seems odd to me that a market like Las Vegas or Charlotte doesn’t have a team and Tampa does. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-off-season-hot-stove/842799.md?page=12)