OC Register: MLB renews 7-inning doubleheaders, runners on second in extras

[AngelsWin.com]

By RONALD BLUM

AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK — Seven-inning doubleheaders and runners on second base to start extra innings will return for a second straight season under an agreement for 2021 health protocols reached Monday between Major League Baseball and the players’ association.

The deal did not include last year’s experimental rule to extend the designated hitter to the National League or expanded playoffs. After allowing 16 teams in the postseason last year instead of 10, MLB had proposed 14 for this year before withdrawing that plan last month.

Last year’s expanded playoffs agreement did not come together until hours before the season’s first pitch.

“We’re comfortable with both rules,” San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler wrote in a text to the AP. “It seems like most were good with them in ’20, and with a year of familiarity under our belts, we’ll tackle them fine.”

There were 78 extra-inning games last year, and the longest by innings were a pair of 13-inning contests at Houston, won by the Dodgers on July 29 and by Oakland on Aug. 7. Every previous season since 1901 had at least one game of 15 innings or longer.

“During a season with the possible delays from COVID, I think the seven-inning and runner on second rules will help any teams make up for lost time,” Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Stephen Vogt wrote in a text to The Associated Press. “I would love to get back to traditional baseball ASAP, but I like them for the 2021 season.”

There were 45 games postponed for COVID-19-related reasons and just two were not made up, between St. Louis and Detroit. In order to accomplish that, there were 56 doubleheaders, the most since there were 76 in 1984. About 12% of games were part of doubleheaders, the highest percentage since 13.6 in 1978.

“I actually liked both the seven-inning doubleheaders and the runner on second,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin wrote in a text to the AP. “I was skeptical at first, but they both were successful in my opinion.”

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker agrees with keeping the experiment because it “saves pitching” during the pandemic.

“I don’t mind either rule,” Baker said in a text to the AP. “Besides, what are you gonna do?”

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The agreement includes more sophisticated contact tracing for COVID-19 that includes the use of technology, and more league rules on behavior to comply with coronavirus protocols.

Spring training opens Feb. 17 and the season is scheduled to start on April 1. The union last week rejected MLB’s proposal to delay spring training and Opening Day until April 28, a plan that would have led to a compressed schedule of 154 games per team instead of the usual 162.

The extended DH was included in last year’s health and safety protocols. MLB would not include it in this year’s after the union rejected the proposal for a delay in the season that included the DH being used again in the NL.

Last season’s start was delayed from March 26 until July 23 because of the pandemic, and each team’s schedule was cut to 60 games.

AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this report.

View the full article

[failos]

Stupid stupid stupid

[Angels_Make_Me_Drink]

Fucking stupid. 

[Pancake Bear]

Not crazy about either rule, but whatever. It is what it is. The league messing around with player safety by using the DH as a negotiating chip is just pathetic. 

[Dave Saltzer]

I truly hate the runner on 2nd rule for extra innings. I get the 7 inning double-headers, but putting a runner on base who didn't earn his way there makes no sense. I get why reporters like that rule--they get to finish their stories and go home earlier, but as a fan, I do not like the rule at all. It gives the visiting team too much of an advantage.

[Junkballer]

1 hour ago, Dave Saltzer said:

I truly hate the runner on 2nd rule for extra innings. I get the 7 inning double-headers, but putting a runner on base who didn't earn his way there makes no sense. I get why reporters like that rule--they get to finish their stories and go home earlier, but as a fan, I do not like the rule at all. It gives the visiting team too much of an advantage.

Dave, Im interested in why you say the runner on 2nd gives the visiting team too much of an advantage.  The home team always carries the strategic advantage of knowing the result of the top half of the extra inning.  Did you mean mitigates the home teams advantage?

[Taylor]

5 hours ago, Dave Saltzer said:

I truly hate the runner on 2nd rule for extra innings. I get the 7 inning double-headers, but putting a runner on base who didn't earn his way there makes no sense. I get why reporters like that rule--they get to finish their stories and go home earlier, but as a fan, I do not like the rule at all. It gives the visiting team too much of an advantage.

It also gives whichever team the Angels are playing an advantage since the Angels couldn't score a runner from second if their life depended on it.

[Torridd]

12 hours ago, AngelsWin.com said:

By RONALD BLUM

AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK — Seven-inning doubleheaders and runners on second base to start extra innings will return for a second straight season under an agreement for 2021 health protocols reached Monday between Major League Baseball and the players’ association.

The deal did not include last year’s experimental rule to extend the designated hitter to the National League or expanded playoffs. After allowing 16 teams in the postseason last year instead of 10, MLB had proposed 14 for this year before withdrawing that plan last month.

Last year’s expanded playoffs agreement did not come together until hours before the season’s first pitch.

“We’re comfortable with both rules,” San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler wrote in a text to the AP. “It seems like most were good with them in ’20, and with a year of familiarity under our belts, we’ll tackle them fine.”

There were 78 extra-inning games last year, and the longest by innings were a pair of 13-inning contests at Houston, won by the Dodgers on July 29 and by Oakland on Aug. 7. Every previous season since 1901 had at least one game of 15 innings or longer.

“During a season with the possible delays from COVID, I think the seven-inning and runner on second rules will help any teams make up for lost time,” Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Stephen Vogt wrote in a text to The Associated Press. “I would love to get back to traditional baseball ASAP, but I like them for the 2021 season.”

There were 45 games postponed for COVID-19-related reasons and just two were not made up, between St. Louis and Detroit. In order to accomplish that, there were 56 doubleheaders, the most since there were 76 in 1984. About 12% of games were part of doubleheaders, the highest percentage since 13.6 in 1978.

“I actually liked both the seven-inning doubleheaders and the runner on second,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin wrote in a text to the AP. “I was skeptical at first, but they both were successful in my opinion.”

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker agrees with keeping the experiment because it “saves pitching” during the pandemic.

“I don’t mind either rule,” Baker said in a text to the AP. “Besides, what are you gonna do?”

 

Related Articles

• Angels acquire right-handed reliever Aaron Slegers from Rays
• Angels avoid arbitration with Shohei Ohtani, reach two-year deal
• Dodgers announce 2021 minor-league coaching staffs
• Angels sign Juan Lagares to minor league deal
• Why Trevor Bauer, and what’s next for the Dodgers?

The agreement includes more sophisticated contact tracing for COVID-19 that includes the use of technology, and more league rules on behavior to comply with coronavirus protocols.

 

Spring training opens Feb. 17 and the season is scheduled to start on April 1. The union last week rejected MLB’s proposal to delay spring training and Opening Day until April 28, a plan that would have led to a compressed schedule of 154 games per team instead of the usual 162.

The extended DH was included in last year’s health and safety protocols. MLB would not include it in this year’s after the union rejected the proposal for a delay in the season that included the DH being used again in the NL.

Last season’s start was delayed from March 26 until July 23 because of the pandemic, and each team’s schedule was cut to 60 games.

AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this report.

View the full article

I still dislike it. Hopefully, we'll have better luck with it this season.

[Angel Oracle]

I had heard that the owners required expanded playoffs in exchange for having the universal DH.

Hate not having universal DH, but would have hated expanded playoffs even more.

[Taylor]

I was against expanded playoffs last year, but the best teams still seemed to rise to the top anyway

[Duren, Duren]

Looks like another season with more deviations from tradition, but some things may become the new normal in the future.

Expanded playoffs didn't help the Angels last year, but probably would this season. With no fans and a mostly TV/streaming source of revenue more playoff teams would help the bottom line. But it also dilutes competition and adds layers of confusion.

The seven inning double header rule hurts teams with good bullpens, but given the context it makes sense.

Don't like the extra innings rule. It makes the game more like football overtime. Extra innings strategy is an intriguing part of the sport. Getting a runner on base and using the sacrifice bunt, intentional walks and so on were some of the most interesting situations late in tight games. Baseball prides itself for not having a clock, but this changes the dynamics.  I hope it's temporary and the system resets back to normal next year. But I have a feeling it will be permanent. 

Glad the DH isn't universal yet. Having a pitcher bat may be boring, but it brings in all kinds of decisions about pinch hitting, bullpen use, double switches and the like.

Anyways, baseball will be back soon, and every team will have to deal with the same things.

[T.G.]

Not crazy about the 7 inning games for double headers, but I can live with it.

Would like universal DH. 

Hate the runner on second base in extra innings. 

[Taylor]

3 minutes ago, T.G. said:

Not crazy about the 7 inning games for double headers, but I can live with it.

Would like universal DH. 

Hate the runner on second base in extra innings. 

I agree 100%.

[T.G.]

I am neither one of those guys in that gif.  Just so you know.

[AngelsLakersFan]

4 hours ago, T.G. said:

I am neither one of those guys in that gif.  Just so you know.

You're the guy filming? 

[Mark PT]

16 hours ago, failos said:

Stupid stupid stupid

Exactly, screw it just have the home team named the winner if tied.

[Mark PT]

13 hours ago, Junkballer said:

Dave, Im interested in why you say the runner on 2nd gives the visiting team too much of an advantage.  The home team always carries the strategic advantage of knowing the result of the top half of the extra inning.  Did you mean mitigates the home teams advantage?

This is ridiculous. Home team has a major advantage. They know how aggressive to be based on the visitors results.

[Lou]

13 hours ago, Junkballer said:

Dave, Im interested in why you say the runner on 2nd gives the visiting team too much of an advantage.  The home team always carries the strategic advantage of knowing the result of the top half of the extra inning.  Did you mean mitigates the home teams advantage?

Yeah, saying the visiting team has an advantage is ridiculous.

[Taylor]

5 hours ago, T.G. said:

I am neither one of those guys in that gif.  Just so you know.

But off the record ...

[nando714]

Why are they messing with the game ? 
 

7 inning games ? What is this high school?

no universal dh . Keeping as is.

what is the point of all this?? Covid? Give me a break.