General Baseball Chit-Chat Thread

[Tim]

This has some really interesting implications: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/a-minor-cba-change-could-create-contract-wrinkles/

 

Basically, under the new CBA the tax implications of a contract recalculate after a trade. So, if the article is correct, if the Cubs ate all but $5M of Heyward's contract, the team taking him on would only have a $5M hit to the luxury tax. It also means that older players will probably be signing more front-loaded deals in the future. Heck, it probably means a lot more than that in the long run.

[Bertz]

 

I like these rule changes meant to increase the incentive for speed and steals. Interested to see which ones end up being implemented.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Combine that with the pickoff limitations related to the pitch clock and you create a lot of stolen base opportunities, how many current CS happen with more than a foot to the base? That would have the knock on effect of motivating pitchers to be faster to the plate(maybe limiting some velocity?) and putting a higher premium on catcher arms(especially if automated balls/strikes are coming).

[Irrelevant Dude]

Listening to the Cubs radio broadcast on Saturday, I learned that the shift restrictions are NOT being implemented this year. What happened to that? It's getting really hard to keep up with all the proposed and actual rule changes.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Listening to the Cubs radio broadcast on Saturday, I learned that the shift restrictions are NOT being implemented this year. What happened to that? It's getting really hard to keep up with all the proposed and actual rule changes.

 

All the gameplay rule changes(shift restrictions, pitch clock, etc) agreed in the CBA negotiations are set to happen next year so there's time to thoughtfully implement them. The exception is the universal DH, which does start this year.

[Cubswin11]

Listening to the Cubs radio broadcast on Saturday, I learned that the shift restrictions are NOT being implemented this year. What happened to that? It's getting really hard to keep up with all the proposed and actual rule changes.

 

All the gameplay rule changes(shift restrictions, pitch clock, etc) agreed in the CBA negotiations are set to happen next year so there's time to thoughtfully implement them. The exception is the universal DH, which does start this year.

And I think MLB has complete discretion to implement or not them next year, they just have to give a 45 days notice.

[Bertz]

Listening to the Cubs radio broadcast on Saturday, I learned that the shift restrictions are NOT being implemented this year. What happened to that? It's getting really hard to keep up with all the proposed and actual rule changes.

 

Yeah the messaging on this was not super clear. I think basically as part of the CBA Manfred can now propose rules changes and implement them for the upcoming year, while previously he would propose them and then have to wait an entire season to implement. So the stuff like the shift changes are not being implemented this year but will be next year. And then afterwards we'll start hearing about things at like the Winter Meetings and then see them the upcoming year. That is much better IMO, because it avoids this exact type of confusion.

 

I don't think we know exactly what will be implemented and when. The shift ban, the pitch clock, and the larger bases seem like 100% for next year. But beyond that the other stuff is less clear, my guess is they hold off for '24 but who knows.

[Andy]

Listening to the Cubs radio broadcast on Saturday, I learned that the shift restrictions are NOT being implemented this year. What happened to that? It's getting really hard to keep up with all the proposed and actual rule changes.

 

All the gameplay rule changes(shift restrictions, pitch clock, etc) agreed in the CBA negotiations are set to happen next year so there's time to thoughtfully implement them. The exception is the universal DH, which does start this year.

And I think MLB has complete discretion to implement or not them next year, they just have to give a 45 days notice.

Yes, they have an 11-person committee to discuss rule changes, but 6 are MLB reps while 4 player reps and an umpire are there. So while there will presumably be discussion and input taken from the other 5, MLB can push through what it wants.

[cl smooth]

 

[OleMissCub]

The only thing that would make the home run derby entertaining to me at this point would be to give them -5 aluminum bats and have a distance contest.

[Bertz]

 

The new service time rules are too soft to impact the next Kris Bryant, but they should hopefully help with guys a tier or two lower

[Cubswin11]

 

The new service time rules are too soft to impact the next Kris Bryant, but they should hopefully help with guys a tier or two lower

He’s also a pitcher and playing the service time game with them isn’t always the wisest thing with the attrition rate. Use the bullets while you can vs position players being safer bets to last/age better and it’s worth it to wait 30-45 games or whatever to call them up.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

What the horsefeathers is going on here? Wrong answers only please.

 

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[JudasIscariotTheBird]

https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/food-sex-or-cars/2861303

[Bertz]

 

For the Cubs specifically, I think that last point makes it more likely for one of the funner Iowa pitchers (i.e. Roberts or Rodriguez) to make the team from the jump in place of one of the NRI vets

[SouthSideRyan]

What does the count towards 5 mean?

[Bertz]

What does the count towards 5 mean?

 

One of the new things in this CBA is that players can only be optioned up and down from the minors 5 times in a single season. After that, they have to pass through waivers and you risk losing them. The Dodgers and Rays have been kings of cycling through arms for the back half of their bullpen, with some poor guys getting called up/down double digit times in a year. Big quality of life thing for players with medium sized strategic implications.

[Irrelevant Dude]

What does the count towards 5 mean?

A player can only be optioned 5 times in one season, so I think they are saying that count won't start until May 2.

[Clem Fandango]

What the horsefeathers is going on here? Wrong answers only please.

 

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I had to look it up. Like... I get it, but wtf.

 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33631323/mlb-announces-home-run-derby-x-global-tour-featuring-former-players

 

Gonzalez will represent the Los Angeles Dodgers, Gomes the Boston Red Sox, Soto the Chicago Cubs and Swisher the New York Yankees. The teams representing four of MLB's oldest franchises will compete July 9 in London at Crystal Palace Park, Sept. 17 in Seoul and Oct. 15 in Mexico City in venues to be announced later.

 

The competition will take place on a "reduced version of a baseball field" with a home plate mounted on a stage and a pitcher's mound on a podium, with a field of play designed to fit within a range of environments from festival sites to stadiums.

 

"Inspired by the success and simplicity of the Home Run Derby the day before the MLB All-Star Game, Home Run Derby X has been developed with the goal of attracting a new audience to baseball; creating high-energy live event experiences and opportunities for digital storytelling," MLB said in a statement.

 

Hitters will get to swing at 25 pitches and take up to 10 of them, with the opportunity to earn points by hitting targets placed 160 feet from home plate and two beyond the outfield fences, similar to the mini games in the legendary video game MVP Baseball 2005. Opposition will have players in the outfield and can earn points by catching baseballs that don't make it over the fence.

 

Teams will receive a point for every home run, target hit or catch, and players can call for a hot streak that will allow teams to double their points on the next five pitches.

 

Each event will feature a winner, and the tour will culminate in a knockout tournament to determine the Home Run Derby X Tour Champions at the final event.

 

Every team will feature players from four categories, including the MLB legends, superstars who hail from the world of softball and women's baseball, a rookie from the men's baseball development system, and wild cards who are "influential content creators."

[Andy]

Announced today that umps will be mic'd up this season to relay instant replay rulings to fans.

 

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't get why people are so excited about this. Why would anybody want more umpire involvement? They signal safe or out and we all understand what's going on. I don't need to hear some Hochuli wannabe overexplaining the simplest sport there is.

[Andy]

I don't get why people are so excited about this. Why would anybody want more umpire involvement? They signal safe or out and we all understand what's going on. I don't need to hear some Hochuli wannabe overexplaining the simplest sport there is.

I'm kind of with you. There's maybe a play or two every few weeks where it might help to have a quick explanation, but almost all replays are pretty simple.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

So happy Joe West retired before we had to endure listening to his pouch flapping while he gave a terrible explanation of what they saw.

[Banedon]

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't really care if(or how) they do it or not, but designating between whether a no change on replay was 'confirmed' or 'stands'/inconclusive would be nice. On the broadcast they often communicate that(though not all the time and not always with 100% certainty), and in the ballpark you never get that info.