CBA Stuff

[Banedon]

With the CBA set to expire at the end of December, we're gonna hear more and more stuff about negotiations.

 

http://deadspin.com/report-mlb-wants-to-screw-over-international-amateur-f-1787900383

 

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, MLB wants to make life even harder on international amateur free agents by implementing an international draft in the new CBA.

 

Olney reports that the league wants a 10-round draft over two days that would decide where any international amateur who is 18 years of age or older is allowed to play in the majors. MLB’s current CBA expires in December, and the international draft would reportedly go into effect in 2018 if it is approved by the league and the union during negotiations for the next CBA.

[Cubswin11]

Hoping to get at least 1 of NL DH, roster expanded to 26 or 27 and some sort of steps towards/promise of an automated strike zone. It sounds like they are going to change how the QO and draft pick attachments work with them again too, which I'm fine with I think. Edited October 18, 2016 by Cubswin11

[minnesotacubsfan]

whats the chance of a NL DH?

[Boris]

Is Soler going to be our DH?

[Banedon]

Is Soler going to be our DH?

 

Surely Schwarber would be if that ever came to be.

[Brian707]

Is Soler going to be our DH?

 

 

In the World Series, yes.

[Boris]

Is Soler going to be our DH?

 

 

In the World Series, yes.

 

YOU PROMISE??

 

:bananas:

[Derwood]

I only foresee incremental changes this CBA. A lot of stuff on the table is far too "radical" for a sport as conservative as baseball

[Rex Buckingham]

I doubt the NL DH will come this year, despite the fact that it is definitely a competitive advantage for the AL to have it.

 

I'm sure that if the owners really want the International draft they'll get it, because the players union doesn't care if it doesn't affect their money in a negative way (and it wouldn't), but the players may use that as a bargaining chip to get something they really want (26th man maybe? Could see the fringe guys really wanting that extra spot)

[davell]

Manfred is on record saying the DH isn't a priority in the NL currently.

[David]

Manfred is on record saying the DH isn't a priority in the NL currently.

 

It would be the players' priority, if anything. And it makes sense that his public position on it is against. I'm hoping the players win on it.

[hawkeyecub]

Hoping to get at least 1 of NL DH, roster expanded to 26 or 27 and some sort of steps towards/promise of an automated strike zone. It sounds like they are going to change how the QO and draft pick attachments again too, which I'm fine with I think.

 

Why do you want the roster expanded? I don't want more pitchers and more pitching changes.

[Cubswin11]

Hoping to get at least 1 of NL DH, roster expanded to 26 or 27 and some sort of steps towards/promise of an automated strike zone. It sounds like they are going to change how the QO and draft pick attachments again too, which I'm fine with I think.

 

Why do you want the roster expanded? I don't want more pitchers and more pitching changes.

I think with the way specialized roles are going it would benefit teams, it may not be used on pitching for some teams it could be for a defensive inclined player, etc. I don't care about pitching changes or time of game so that doesn't bother me at all. I think it would help push some teams to 6-man rotations which also may help with pitchers health.

[Cubswin11]

From the few things I've read on this in the past few weeks/months there doesn't seem to be any major points of contention from either the players or the league and it's assumed that the new CBA is going to get done quickly without any major hurdles.

[BigSlick]

Yeah I would imagine players would agitate for the DH as it would extend players careers and also give more players the chance to play in the majors

 

And naturally anything that gives players a better bargaining position owners would feel more lukewarm on. That and inertia, which is a huge thing in baseball

[Regular Show]

I am hopeful they'll change a few things or issues, but I don't see an NL DH coming anytime soon (Honestly don't even care for it that much). Theo wants a DH in the NL, but I'm almost positive Maddon does not. It would help when we have a player like Schwarber or older vets who can't play in the field anymore.

 

Manfred doesn't seem to care about it that much. His big pet peeve right now is pace-of-play and the increasing length of games. I agree it is kind of a problem. My solution is make relievers face more than one batter (min. 3 batters). Yeah, this will hurt LOOGYs and other situational RPs, but the way bullpens are being used now is too specialized and time-consuming. Also, a pitch clock needs to be enforced so we don't have situations like P. Baez who takes forever between pitches.

 

My biggest issue is the need for an automated strike zone (whatever technology works best). Human umps are terrible at determining strikes/balls on the edges of the strike zone and we've already seen too many inconsistent amorphous strike zones during this postseason. It would honestly solve so many problems once it's instituted and the majority of players/pitchers* will be happy with this change. Managers will also approve of it. Only ones who will complain about it are old-school players like Lackey who like the "human element" of the game and the Umpires Union. Do I see an automated strike zone coming anytime soon ... HELL NO. Why is there so much opposition to an automated K-zone you ask? I have no bloody idea :dontknow:

 

*Some pitchers will definitely not like an automated strike zone because their stuff isn't good enough to get hitters out in the strike zone, and/or get them to chase.

[Derwood]

The Real Sports piece on PitchFX showed how they could implement an automated zone. Pitch is thrown, computer in booth instantly shows ball or strike, operator tells ump through ear piece, ump calls pitch. They tested it independent league games and everyone was thrilled about it.

 

The road block is the umpires union. They had a retired ump on the show who bragged that when the league gave him video to review from his previous games, he would just throw it in the trash. He had no interest in someone telling him he could do better. He even went on to say that if he had an earpiece during his umpiring days that he would have ignored it. This mentality ruins everything.

 

A switch to PitchFX would have to be paired with a complete dismantling of the umpire union

[Regular Show]

Derwood wrote:

A switch to PitchFX would have to be paired with a complete dismantling of the umpire union

 

Yeah, I like PitchFX technology and it seems accurate enough. I agree about opposition from the umps. The problem is umps will still be needed obviously, and they know that. They know they wield real power and will oppose this like crazy. I wish Manfred could just explain to them (umpires union) that losing that responsibility won't diminish their significance and importance to the game. They can instead better focus on other parts of the game like if the batter checked his swing or went around, did the pitcher commit a balk, call catcher's interference, etc.

 

It reminds me of how difficult it is to reform police tactics and the opposition from their union to body cams, and other means of holding cops accountable for their actions. There was a lot of opposition to body cams, but we now know they work and EVERY single damn cop needs to be wearing one. I mean it's astonishing how long it has taken to get that in place and holding police accountable is far more important than fixing the strike zone and making umps more accountable.

 

Eh, I hope I didn't offend anyone who is a cop (majority of them are good!) here, but police brutality is a real problem in this country.

[biittner77]

Yeah I would imagine players would agitate for the DH as it would extend players careers and also give more players the chance to play in the majors

 

And naturally anything that gives players a better bargaining position owners would feel more lukewarm on. That and inertia, which is a huge thing in baseball

 

I'm not so sure. If the compromise is to add the DH in the NL but not expand the roster, that has a smaller impact on a number of teams. If rosters expand, all teams would be obligated to increase payroll. The poorer teams would not like that. While a full time DH makes more than the 9th position player/ first guy off the bench, the cheapskate teams wouldn't be required to pay a DH a lot of money. At the same time, richer teams would pretty much have to spend more money for a full time DH which gets them closer to the luxury tax or makes other players available from internal budgetary concerns. More available players drive down the price of mid level FAs. Those are all positive outcomes for the poorer teams.

 

Finally, a lot has been made over baseball's glacial speed with regards to change and breaking tradition. However, the implementation and relative success of replay demonstrates that the owners are more willing to listen to new ideas than ever before.

[Banedon]

 

 

[biittner77]

With the increased emphasis on interleague play, how does having 2 different rules make any sense? "this time it counts" hasn't made the all star game any more relevant. It just means that one team is getting screwed every year.

[Derwood]

With the increased emphasis on interleague play, how does having 2 different rules make any sense? "this time it counts" hasn't made the all star game any more relevant. It just means that one team is getting screwed every year.

 

Agreed re: interleague play. They also need to do away with player stats "resetting" when they're traded between leagues midseason.

[biittner77]

With the increased emphasis on interleague play, how does having 2 different rules make any sense? "this time it counts" hasn't made the all star game any more relevant. It just means that one team is getting screwed every year.

 

Agreed re: interleague play. They also need to do away with player stats "resetting" when they're traded between leagues midseason.

 

Hopefully this is just posturing for the sake of looking like they are making a concession when the actual negotiations start.

[mul21]

With the increased emphasis on interleague play, how does having 2 different rules make any sense? "this time it counts" hasn't made the all star game any more relevant. It just means that one team is getting screwed every year.

 

Agreed re: interleague play. They also need to do away with player stats "resetting" when they're traded between leagues midseason.

 

I'm pretty sure this has already happened.

[SRQCub]

With the increased emphasis on interleague play, how does having 2 different rules make any sense? "this time it counts" hasn't made the all star game any more relevant. It just means that one team is getting screwed every year.

 

What, you don't think it's fair that MLB's best team doesn't own Home Field Advantage because a Giants pitcher got lit up by two Royals and two Red Sox in an otherwise meaningless exhibition in July?