Due to the unprecedented nature of the 60-game season, Major League Baseball took some swings on rule changes this year that altered the way the game is played. These changes included the universal DH, seven-inning double headers and off course the controversial extra inning rule.
After watching these rules, along with the expanded playoffs, be instituted for this lone season we are left to wonder what was just a one-off and what rules are here to stay.
Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed this when speaking to the media yesterday ahead of the World Series. The two rules that he said are most likely to remain are the expanded playoffs and the extra inning rule.
With more teams included, there is obviously more markets that are part of the playoff push down the stretch of the season. This of course also gives MLB an entire extra round of playoff action that they can sell to their national television partners. Simply put, it’s too good for business for the expanded playoffs to go away.
Still, it may not return with the exact same 16-team format next year, as we saw two under .500 teams make it into October this season.
“I don’t think we would do 16 like we did this year. I think we do have to be cognizant of making sure that we preserve the importance of our regular season. But I think something beyond the 10 that we were at would be a good change.” Manfred told The Associated Press.
As far as the extra inning rule, Manfred has always been a proponent of shortening games whenever possible and by adding a runner to second base at the start of every extra inning, games never went past 13 innings this year.
“I think the players like it,” Manfred said. “I think it’s really good from a safety and health perspective that keeps us from putting players in situations where they’re out there too long or in positions they’re not used to playing.”
On the other hand, the universal DH appears to be less likely to return in 2021, as there is still some opposition for keeping it long-term. It is fair to assume that players would be on board with adopting the universal DH, because it opens up new jobs in the National League, particularly for veteran players.
Yet this is the type of rule change that needs to be collectively bargained between the MLB and the MLBPA, where the union will ask for the DH in exchange for agreeing to something the owners want.
Roster size is another dispute that will fit that criteria, after we saw a 28-man roster be employed during this pandemic-altered season. The active roster was eventually supposed to return to a 26-man unit, but that never took place due to the increase in injuries and uncertainty due to positive COVID tests.
Next year, it would be safe to assume that the 26-man roster will return, but the player’s could negotiate and get the league to keep it at 28 moving forward.
Finally, the seven-inning double headers do not appear to be a mainstay, as everyone agrees that they were a necessary element to this season but not one that needs to remain moving forward.
One of Major League Baseball’s priorities going into next season will be the return of fans in some capacity. The league lost $3 billion in revenue according to Manfred, with 40% of their usual revenue being gate-related.
If the league cannot work with health officials and city authorities to bring fans back into their ballpark, MLB could be in real trouble. With the offseason on the horizon there is going to be a ton of decisions that need to be made, as the player’s and owners need to figure out how baseball will proceed in 2021.
