Mighty Manfred

Rob Manfred sat down with John Harper of the New York Daily News to discuss a number of issues, including pace of play.

What I found revealing was how Manfred got a bit agitated when I asked if he worried he might be messing with the fundamental nature of the sport by potentially implementing ideas such as a pitch clock, restrictions on the use of relievers, and curtailing the use of defensive shifts.

“Look,’’ he said, “people always posit these questions as: do you want to change the game? The fact of the matter is the game is changing on its own. You didn’t used to see this type of activity (managers using multiple relievers to match up against hitters).

“I think the issue for us is: it’s not change vs. no change. It’s change that’s organic or change that’s managed, and I do believe we need to manage the way the game is changing a little more aggressively.’’

The winning way may not be the entertaining way. I would personally like to see a rule that says a reliever is expected to finish an inning, and can only be removed if he allows a base runner (and I’m willing to count batters who reach on an error or a failed fielder’s choice).

On the the other hand, the game may be moving that way. More and more teams are designating a seventh, eighth, and ninth inning pitcher. Each starts their designated inning and only comes out if they get in trouble. Reliever use may be evolving in the direction Manfred wants.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/2iBgfp1