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How baseball in 2020 will be different than you remember it

By Manny Gómez

LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 01: A detailed view of a pair of official Rawlings Major League Baseball baseballs with the imprinted signature of Robert D. Manfred Jr., the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, sitting in the dugout prior to the Spring Training game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 1, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 10-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 01: A detailed view of a pair of official Rawlings Major League Baseball baseballs with the imprinted signature of Robert D. Manfred Jr., the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, sitting in the dugout prior to the Spring Training game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 1, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 10-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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Sure, there will be MLB in 2020, but when the season starts you may not recognize the game.

For the most part, the news of baseball’s official return has been celebratory. When the confetti settles, however, MLB fans will be greeted with a slew of rule changes that will most certainly have them wondering what game they’re actually watching.

1.) The most obvious rule change to slap devotees across the face will be starting extra innings with a runner at second base. This rule has been floated around for quite some time as a way to shorten games, and though possibly effective, it is most certainly one of the least popular ideas among fans.

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A word of advice to fellow Fantasy Baseball participants, be wary of relief pitchers this year. The blown save will most certainly ruin many a matchup this season.

2.) The next major rule change will be the implementation of the universal DH. The last time you’ll have seen a pitcher pick up a bat in an MLB game was Gerrit Cole in Game 5 of the 2019 World Series.

For the most part, fans have been in favor of this rule. Purists, however, will mourn the abrupt departure of the game’s most traditional component.

3.) The schedule will also look very different in 2020. According to Jon Heyman, teams will play 40 games within their division. The remaining 20 games will be played with the opposing league’s geographical counterpart.

For example, the New York Yankees will play 40 games with opponents in the AL East. Their remaining 20 games will be played against teams in the NL East.

4.) According to Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports, the 3-batter rule for pitchers will remain in place for the 2020 MLB season.

5.) Finally, as part of the league’s health and safety protocol, per Bob Nightengale, MLB can relocate teams to neutral sites during the regular season and postseason.

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As baseball attempts to evolve enough to meet the requirements a COVID-world posts, it’s really no surprise that the game makes (some of) these changes. And though some of these rule changes have been discussed before the pandemic, what better time than now to try them out?

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