MLB News: Brian Dozier, among other players, speak out against the new rules for 2018.
MLB is in desperate need of fine-tuning, with the pace of play leading the charge. However, there is a right and wrong way of speeding things up. In recent MLB news, Major League players feel strongly about the newest rules implemented by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred.
Three of the most prominent adjustments for 2018 will be:
- 20-second pitch clock
- Limits on trips to the mound by catchers
- Raising the bottom of the strike zone.
Minnesota Twins second basemen Brian Dozier was vocal among the 30-MLB teams involved in recent talks regarding these very changes. The Star Tribune provides us with the juicy details.
"“We are all for speeding the game up, This is not the way to do it.”"
Wait, there’s more, which really struck a cord with Dozier and a majority of MLB players. Apparently, there are penalties for such violations. For example:
"Calling a ball for clock violations after the first offense, for instance, or adding a strike if a hitter isn’t ready in a timely manner — and that’s a step players cannot support."
Dozier believes these new rules damage the “integrity of the game,” and these changes do not “sit well” with the players. But, Manfred is pushing back, playing a bit of hardball in the process.
"“My preferred path is a negotiated agreement with the players… But if we can’t get an agreement, we are going to have rule changes in 2018, one way or the other.”"
Yikes. This is not good for MLB relations moving forward. With a Major League record of 6,105 home runs hit in 2017 and exhilarating postseason games the past few season, this is the last thing baseball needs.
After the strike of 1994, it took over a decade for pro baseball to get back on the map, with the NFL now reigning as the king of American sports. But, MLB has struck back, rising back towards the top of the sports world.
Still, baseball is in need of fine-tuning, there’s no doubt about it. But, this nitpicking and non-impactful modifications will not make much of a difference. So, why upset the hand that feeds.
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Keeping MLB players happy is a must ( within reason) and Rob Manfred needs to pick and choose his battles. This war, is not one of worth fighting, one that will bite him in the tail-end if he continues down this path. Hopefully, the next blurb of MLB news will be reconciliation between the Commish and players, with nothing but clear skies ahead for the America’s pastime.