MLB shifts regulations for next two seasons
National League teams like the Giants now use a designated hitter (DH).
May 24, 2022
Every year, the MLB (Major League Baseball) and the MLBPA (Major League Baseball Players Association) have a meeting to talk about the previous season and about negotiations on money and changes for the MLBPA for the next following season. This season was very different than the other years.
It was different because in the first meeting the MLB and MLBPA went into lockout because they weren’t able to come to an agreement on money for minor league players and the luxury-tax threshold. The lockout lasted 99 days and finally after the ninth meeting, the two sides came to an agreement and three changes that will start in the 2023 season: “Ohtani Rule,” banning the shift, and a pitch clock.
With the MLB banning the shift, teams will have a harder time on defense while the offense will seek to have more success at the plate.
Carson Chaing ’24 said, “I really like the shift and how the MLB is banning it because now defenses can’t just stack one side of the field when a pull hitter is up to prevent him from getting a base hit.”
With the MLB also changing the new DH rule or now called the “Ohtani Rule.” Now the NL and AL will both have a DH and the pitchers will not have to hit. And importing the “Ohtani Rule” a team can now list a player as the pitcher and designated hitter on the days he starts, then remove him in one role but not the other.
Sebastian Sun ’24, who has been playing since he was in elementary school, said, “The new rule will be good because
now it’s not like an automatic out if a pitcher comes up with runners on base with two outs.” He also said, “Now we can watch Ohtani pitch and hit and when he gets taken out we can still be able to watch him hit, which will be good.”
The final big rule change was adding a pitch clock. So now there will be a 14-second timer with no one on base and an 18-second clock with runners on base.
Life long baseball player Antonio Evangelista ’23 said, “The new rule will be good for the league because now the MLB games will not take three hours long and it will be less boring than what people say it is.”
Through all the meetings some fans believe the rule changes are good for the league because they will help the game be less “boring” than people claim, which will help the marketing for the MLB to grow more.
Others, however, are still on the fence about changing any rules.