Prior to the 2019 baseball season, MLB and the independent Atlantic League entered into a three-year agreement. The Atlantic league would implement various rule changes that MLB wanted to evaluate. While some of these changes may never make it into the major leagues, we may see some fairly soon. The changes in the Atlantic League, for the most part, are more drastic than those also being tested in the minor leagues controlled by the major leagues. Some of these experimental rules sound ridiculous, others seem reasonable. For any of these changes to make it to MLB, they will have to be worked out in contract negotiations with the owners, players, and umpires. So, while the fans pay the freight, we don't get a vote.
- Home plate umpires are assisted by TrackMan. This is a system of cameras and radar that track all kind of action during the ballgame including the strike zone. Besides game statistics, it is used for evaluating and developing players and scouting. Now it will call balls and strikes.
- No mound visits. MLB has already limited mound visits since 2018. The limit is currently five (5).
- Pitchers must face a minimum of three batters. There are exceptions like the end of an inning and injuries.
- Increase the size of first, second and third base by 3 inches. The rationale is that this gives the runner a bigger target, especially when sliding. It encourages more aggressive baserunning. A downside is that more hit balls will be deflected by the bases.
- Require two infielders to be on each side of second base when the pitch is released. This eliminates drastic shifts.
- Time between innings is shortened. MLB has already reduced the time a little.
- The mound is moved back 2 feet. This rule was initially set to go into effect for the second half of the Atlantic League season. They decided not to implement it at all this season. We'll have to see if it gets resurrected for the 2020 season.
- Pitcher required to step off the rubber in order to attempt a pickoff.
- 1 foul bunt is permitted with 2 strikes before strikeout is called.
- Check swing rule made more batter friendly.
- Batters may steal 1st on any pitch not caught by the catcher
For the Atlantic League all-star game, all the pitches were called by TrackMan except for a few when there were technical pitches. There was a home plate umpire who relayed the TrackMan calls sent to him via an earpiece. He took over when the system hiccuped and also made any other home plate umpire calls. There were very few complaints by the batters. The robot strike zone is much more consistent but it does differ from what humans normally call.
My thoughts on these changes are mixed. I have no problem with the "no mound visits", the "larger bases", or "time between innings" rules.
I think if you watch enough baseball, you realize how inconsistent the strike zone is. It certainly varies from one umpire to the next. More aggravating is when it varies in the same game by the same umpire. We have all heard umpires being referred to as a "pitcher's umpire" or a "hitter's umpire". If the technology can be worked out, I'm open to more experimentation with a goal to work through the various levels of the minor leagues and maybe eventually implemented in the majors. That is a change intended to improve consistency and get the calls right within the current rules of baseball. Similar to the current use of the replay system.
I am undecided on the "no shift" rule. While the use of the shift has increased dramatically in recent years, it has been used for decades to some extent. Many teams used a shift against Ted Williams. He only had a .344 career batting average. I think there are ways for players and teams to reduce the effectiveness of the shift. It may require some new skills and a change in attitude.
I see the time benefits of the "three batters" rule. My concern is that it changes how a bullpen is constructed. Any change would have to have a couple of years lead time. A few specialists may be out of a job.
I hope the "move the mound back" rule is never implemented in my lifetime. That significantly changes the fabric of the game. All pitching and hitting records prior to the change would be rendered obsolete. More importantly, how can you change something so drastically for athletes who have thrown from 60'6" all their life? The extra length doesn't just reduce the effective velocity, it changes where and when the pitches break. Sinkers will be bouncing a foot or so in front of the plate, curves and sliders will break before they get to the batter. The only way this seems feasible at all to me is with about a 10-year phase-in that all levels of organized baseball buy in to. Kids start playing on a regulation size field at about 13 years old. All those fields would have to phase in the change. Babe Ruth and other youth leagues first, then high schools and American Legion, then colleges, then minor leagues, and finally the majors. You may also want to move Little League mounds back a bit too. That means almost every baseball field in the world would need to be modified. That is tens of thousands of fields in the US. If and when implemented in the majors, the statistics for all hitting and pitching categories would have to start over. You would then have the 60'6" era records and the new length era.
As for the second half changes, I don't see how a pitcher could ever pick off a runner. An extra foul on a bunt attempt is not outlandish but really not necessary either. I don't understand the checked swing change, it was not fully explained. So now you can steal first. How do you score that? Is it a force out at first on the "steal"? What if first is occupied? Will sinker ball and other breaking ball pitcher become obsolete? Will teams have to move the best athlete from shortstop to catcher?
It is obvious that these rules are designed to increase hitting and running at the expense of the pitchers. I think the pitchers will begin feeling like the NFL cornerbacks and safeties. All offense and screw the defense. Based on the current scoring levels in baseball, do we really need to encourage more offense?
I look forward to the post-season analysis of the Atlantic League changes. Let's hear from the players, umpires, coaches, owners, and importantly from the fans.
Take me out to the ballgame or whatever game they are now playing.
wjh
